September 25, 2023
Drinking Our Cup
Jesus was treated as he did not deserve so we could be treated as we do not deserve. . . .
Articles for tag: Lord’s Supper
August 14, 2023
Preparing for the Big Event
A big event is coming that will “eclipse” any other sight in the heavens.
July 31, 2023
A Work of Heart
God’s heart of compassion provides a remedy for our sin.
April 3, 2023
Fear and Truth
Thank God for the empty tomb! . . .
December 12, 2022
Restoring Koinonia in Today’s Church
Apparently there has been some debate about the meaning of "koinonia" (Christian fellowship/community) as described in Acts 2:42 and the rest of the New Testament. I didn’t know that . . . until I listened to a recent podcast on the topic. . . .
December 1, 2022
Throwback Thursday: ‘A Little Folks’ New Testament Church’ (1932)
The Little Folks' New Testament Church in Ada, Okla., has their own “elders” and "deacons” and their own minister. "They observe the Lord’s Supper. They make their gifts. Best of all they do genuine personal work."
November 14, 2022
November 20 | Application (‘The Strangest Verse in the 23rd Psalm’)
"One part of the 23rd Psalm puzzles me," David Faust writes. "It’s the verse that says, 'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies' (Psalm 23:5a). Who wants to sit at a table surrounded by enemies?"
November 7, 2022
Focused on Christ
By Lee Magness Many of us call the meal “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), but the Greek word translated “Lord’s” is not a possessive noun, but a descriptive adjective. Although the meal does belong to the Lord (Jesus inaugurated the meal, is present in the meal, presides at the meal, etc.), Paul was emphasizing that the meal is characterized by the Lord. It is the Lordly Supper. In every way it is focused on him—past, present, and future. The meal is a remembrance of Jesus past, not just a memorial of the meal he instituted, but a recollection of
October 13, 2022
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Restoration Movement: Then and Now’ (1984)
"With the passage of years the movement . . . has been identified with restoration, not unity," Lewis Foster wrote in 1984. "In fact, with many, this early essential unity thrust of the movement has been allowed to drift out of sight compared with the place it once occupied."
October 3, 2022
Sangre de Cristo
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis In the 16th century, Francisco Coronado and a group of Spanish soldiers explored the American Southwest, looking for golden cities! A priest accompanied them to carry God’s blessing and protection. When they reached the source of the Rio Grande River in what is now central Colorado, as the traditional story is told, that priest was mortally wounded by Native Americans defending their independence. As he lay dying in the Spaniards’ escape southward, he saw a glorious sunset on newly snowcapped peaks. “Sangre de Cristo! Sangre de Cristo!”
August 10, 2022
Communion Survey Results: Prepackaged Cups Widely Used (and That’s Likely to Continue)
A little more than half of the respondents (54 percent) reported their church uses the prepackaged Communion cups (with juice and bread sealed in a single container, purchased from a vendor). Among those folks, 42 percent either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” they were easy to use, while 45 percent either “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” the prefilled cups were easy to use. . . .
Take Our Communion Survey (Plus News Briefs)
The Communion survey has closed; look for results Aug. 10. (Thank you to all who participated.) This file also contains briefs about e2 partnering with Crossroads Church Partners, and Kentucky Christian University planning a Minister Appreciation Luncheon.
July 25, 2022
The Rock
I know of a rock that God created that can’t be moved by anything in all of creation. . . . Jesus described that rock as he was teaching his disciples . . .
June 13, 2022
Honor the Father
By Michael C. Mack Today is Father’s Day, a day we set aside to love and honor our dads. And it’s good that we do so! The fifth commandment instructs God’s people to “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you” (Deuteronomy 5:16). The commandment is repeated several times through Scripture. Jesus discussed it in his teachings, and the apostle Paul referred to it as he taught Christ followers how to live together in Christian households. So, it is right and proper to give honor to our dads. But we must remember that we
May 1, 2022
Is the Restoration Movement Relevant?
By Tom Ellsworth In 1856, postal authorities accepted a new name for a little community in southern Indiana: Santa Claus. Then, in the 1920s, the Postal Service decided there would never be another Santa Claus Post Office in the United States. Consequently, every December, more than 400,000 pieces of mail are routed through the town because of its Christmas-themed postmark. I suspect the community’s founders never anticipated the full impact of the unique name. On a little knoll just a mile or so south of Santa Claus stands quaint, white-framed Mt. Zion Christian Church, the oldest church building in Spencer
March 14, 2022
Welcoming Our Shame
By Stuart Powell By AD 32, the region of Judea had endured the shame of Roman oppression for a century. The Jews longed to see David’s kingdom restored but didn’t know how to make it happen. They dreamt of a kingdom where Jews ruled Jews and the Law of God brought perfect harmony in the Promised Land. The Jewish faithful opposed all Greek and Roman customs and mandates. They refused to offer sacrifices to the emperor, honor the false Roman deities, or willingly pay the tribute Caesar demanded. In response, the Romans ridiculed their faith and mercilessly killed any Jews
March 7, 2022
Different from the Herd
By Stuart Powell There is nothing strange about a herd of cattle in the farmland of Indiana. However, one herd contained a single member who stood out among the many. Amid the collection of four-legged bovine grazed a two-legged, feathered, web-footed, white goose. Nothing could hide the differences between the bird and the other grazing animals. Christians are called to be like that goose in the world. Just as a goose doesn’t belong in a herd of cattle, followers of Jesus don’t fit in with the ideas and priorities of worldly people. God expects us to intermingle with the rest
February 28, 2022
Clothed by God
By Stuart Powell God created humanity as male and female. He took care of their need for relationships by teaching them how to love him and each other. When they sinned and learned of their nakedness, God covered their shame, as explained in the Tree of Life Version: “Adonai Elohim made Adam and his wife tunics of skin and He clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). This is the first record of God clothing humanity. Initially, Adam and Eve knew nothing of evil, shame, or clothing. When they disobeyed, the fruit opened their eyes to evil, and evil exposed their shame. God
February 7, 2022
Harmony
When believers gather to share in the loaf and the cup of the Lord’s Supper, we too come together in harmony . . .
January 3, 2022
The Look
As we eat and drink, remember that Jesus knows our failures as clearly as he knew Peter’s.
