- What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a ceremony established by Christ that shows us the meaning of the New Covenant.
- Christ established the sacraments to signify the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:23)
- Explain to the child that God uses sacraments as a visual symbol to teach us about the meaning of the Christian Faith.
- What are the sacraments of the New Covenant?
The sacraments of the New Covenant are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- The New Covenant sacraments are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:20 and 26)
- Have you ever seen someone baptized?
- What was most interesting about watching someone be baptized?
- How does baptism represent our union with Christ and our commitment to Him?
In baptism a person is immersed in water showing that he has been buried with Christ and has died to sin, and then he comes up out of the water showing that He has been risen with Christ to live a new and holy life for God.
- Baptism signifies dying with Christ to sin and living with Christ to God (Romans 6:3-4)
- Tell the child about when and why you chose to be baptized.
- Who can be baptized?
Baptism is only for those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ for salvation.
- One must repent and believe to be baptized (Acts 2:38 and 8:37)
- Talk with the child about their salvation. Discuss their sin and the judgment of God. Tell them that Jesus died for them and rose again to give them a new life. And tell them that they must turn from their sins and trust in what Christ has done.
- How does the Lord’s Supper show the sacrificial death of Christ?
In the Lord’s Supper the bread is broken representing the body of Christ that was broken for us on the cross, and the wine represents the blood of Christ that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
- The bread and wine signify the broken body of Christ and the poured out blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
- Have you ever seen people eat the Lord’s Supper?
- What was most interesting about watching people eat the Lord’s Supper?
- What does the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine in the Lord’s Supper represent?
When people share in the Lord’s Supper they show that they trust in the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and commit to take up their cross and follow Him.
- When people eat the bread and drink the wine they are declaring their faith in, and commitment to, Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
- Tell the child why the Lord’s Supper is important to you. And explain how you prepare your heart before eating.
- Who can partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Only those who have repented, believed and been baptized can share in the Lord’s Supper.
- Only those who have been baptized can share the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42)
- Once again share with the child the need to be born again. Describe how Jesus’ body was broken during His crucifixion. Explain that since He died for them, they should live for Him.
Gospel Commission Indonesia 
You say,
Let’s assume that synergism is true for a moment. If synergism is true, then the logic of monergism, if believed, could cause much destruction. If synergism is true, then monergism would be a dangerous error.
I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. However you go on to state,
Now let’s imagine that monergism is true. If this is the case, then the teaching of synergism cannot harm anyone.
I certainly beg to differ with you here. You seem to assume, the only important thing is salvation. In other words, as long as people are saved, then that’s all that matters. Please allow me to give just a couple of quotes form Charles Finney.
“There is nothing in religion beyond the ordinary powers of nature. It consists entirely in the right exercise of the powers of nature. It is just that, and nothing else. When mankind becomes truly religious, they are not enabled to put forth exertions which they were unable before to put forth. They only exert powers which they had before, in a different way, and use them for the glory of God.” From this he concludes,
“A revival is not a miracle, nor dependent on a miracle, in any sense. It is a purely philosophical result of the right use of the constituted means—as much so as any other effect produced by the application of means.”
Now I wholeheartedly disagree with this as I hope you do as well. I will agree with Finney, that nothing in (religion), is beyond ordinary means, however we are not talking religion here, rather we are talking about the Christian Faith. Hopefully, we agree that the Christian Faith, is beyond ordinary means.
My point here is, Finney’s theology has had a tremendous adverse effect on the church at large. The emphasis, is on us and what we do, as opposed to what God has done, and continues to do. I believe this causes many churches to focus the preaching,and teaching on us, and what we should be doing for God, rather than the focus being on what God has done and continues to do for us. This, I believe, causes us to preach morality, as opposed to the gospel. We as believers, (i.e. the elect) need to continue to hear the gospel, even after the new birth, I believe the gospel is what sustains us. If we only preach morality, we may be successful, in having good moral people in hell, such as the Pharisees. The church will then be filled with Pharisees, that we allow to infiltrate the church. The believers (i.e. elect) will then, only hear what they need to be doing for God, as opposed to what God has done for them, and even though they may be elect, they may starve to death spiritually.
This has been my experience, here in the south (the so called bible belt), where the emphasis is on what I need to do. So then, when I am weak and heavy laden, I am told what I need to do, instead of leaning on Christ, and what He has done, so that I may have rest for my weary soul. So then when you say,
If this is the case, then the teaching of synergism cannot harm anyone.
If you are only talking about salvation, then I would agree, however, what of those of us who are elect, who are starving to death spiritually, on a continual diet of what we need to do? Could synergism, be causing us harm? I believe it can and has in my case.
With the mind set of Finney the overwhelming majority, of churches in my area, preach the gospel of, you can do it if you try, if you do the right thing, if you live right, if you stay away from sin, if you love God with all your heart. The question I have is, what happens when I realize, that I am not doing the right thing? What happens when I realize that I am not living right? What happens when I realize that I am not a sinner, because I sin, rather I sin because, I am a sinner. Am I just to try to do better? Am I to trust in my ability to keep my promise? Or am I to depend on the, One and, Only true Promise Keeper? In other words. do I depend on my promise to God, (which I have demonstrated over and over that, I am not a promise keeper), or do I depend on God which is the Only Promise Keeper?
Over the past 15 years I have searched for a church in my area that was God centered as opposed to man centered. I have failed in doing so, until about three weeks ago. It is a long story, but thanks be to God, I believe I have found one within walking distance, in my own neighborhood. As I said it is a long story, but there are people driving over an hour to this church that I can now walk to. The reason they drive this far, is because of the fact, otherwise they would have to hear the gospel of self.
Just look at the many churches today, that are filled with Finney theology.
“If this is the case, then the teaching of synergism cannot harm anyone.
If you are only talking about salvation, then I would agree…”
Yes, I mean the teaching of synergism has never caused one soul to go to hell, nor ever will, if monergism is true.
Gbu!
Sent from my iPod
Amen! I do believe you got it right bro! It’s all summed up in the two greatest commandments and this topic is reflective of that. Thank you.
Oh so true, and well stated by you, that synergism nor any other false doctrine can interfere with God’s *causing* His elect to come to the truth and being saved (John 6:37). God will indeed flawlessly and successfully turn His elect away from thinking that they have “a role to play” in their salvation and *cause* them to depend and trust in His role alone. However, just because the error of synergism won’t stop God’s process in saving His elect from that error doesn’t mean the Gospel shouldn’t be given. As you said, God has decreed the means. Synergism is a false teamwork gospel of works that destroys faith and grace; and that is dangerous and deadly indeed (Rom 4:4-5; 11:6). Pointing out error, especially when concerning the Gospel, isn’t un-loving, simply because it hurts to see and deal with one’s self-righteousness. Synergism and Monergism are an eternity apart. Heaven and Hell to be exact. My repentance and my faith are His doing. That’s why I can only boast in Him (1 Cor 1:29-30). If I had “a role to play” then I could boast at least in my role, no matter how small. http://3qgames.com/titus35/wrws.htm
Emmit,
Thx for your imput.
Gbu,
Chris