Children At The Lord S Table

A growing trend among Reformed churches is the practice of admitting young children to the Lords Supper. In Children at the Lords Table?, Cornelis P. Venema provides an insightful analysis of the theoretical arguments used by advocates of this recent trend. After clarifying terms and explaining arguments often made in favor of paedocommunion, he considers the history of the churchs confessions, teaching, and practice regarding the proper recipients of the Lords Supper. Presenting a historical, exegetical, and systematic treatment of the subject, Venema demonstrates the validity and value of having covenant children partake of first communion subsequent to their personal profession of faith. This is an invaluable resource for every pastor within the Reformed tradition.

What age is it okay for a child to partake in the Lord's Supper? This book takes a constructive look at the doctrine of paedo-communion. Looking at this doctrine, these essays will provide food for thought across the various disciplines such as biblical, theological, historical and pastoral.

Every page in this book has been designed to help you mark a very important journey.Step by step it will help you to learn all about belonging to God's family. So it's aboutyou and God.You can fill in the pages by yourself, or with the help of a grown-up.If you are using this activity book as part of your church's Welcome to the Lord's Tableprogramme you will have the opportunity to offer it at your first Holy Communion as asign that you belong to God and are part of his family.

A growing trend among Reformed churches is the practice of admitting young children to the Lord’s Supper. In Children at the Lord’s Table? , Cornelis P. Venema provides an insightful analysis of the theoretical arguments used by advocates of this recent trend. After clarifying terms and explaining arguments often made in favor of paedocommunion, he considers the history of the church’s confessions, teaching, and practice regarding the proper recipients of the Lord’s Supper. Presenting a historical, exegetical, and systematic treatment of the subject, Venema demonstrates the validity and value of having covenant children partake of first communion subsequent to their personal profession of faith. This is an invaluable resource for every pastor within the Reformed tradition. Table of Contents: 1. Introducing the Question 2. Paedocommunion in Church History 3. Paedocommunion and the Reformed Confessions 4. The Old Testament Evidence Regarding the Participation of Children in Covenant Observances 5. The New Testament Evidence Regarding Paedocommunion 6. A Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 111:17-34 7. Concluding Observations and Evaluation Appendix: Covenant Theology and Baptism

"When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" —1 Corinthians 11:24 The Lord's Supper is more than a church tradition or a complex doctrinal controversy—it has practical importance to our daily lives. When Jesus instituted the Supper, it was meant to strengthen the faith of his followers by reminding them of his promises. God has always made promises to his people through covenants, and along with them given signs and meals to point to and confirm his blessings. Looking at the unity of the covenants throughout the Bible, this book will help Christians recover the practical importance of the Lord's Supper as both a sign and a meal of the new covenant blessings God has bestowed on believers in Christ.

Lord's Supper. Eucharist. Communion. Sacrament. Ordinance. While it's the meal that should unite us as followers of Christ, it sometimes appears we can't even agree on what to call it, let alone how we might share a common theological view of its significance. Even if we cannot reach full agreement, how can we better understand one another and t...