Articles for tag: Lord&#8217;s Supper

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

Church Life

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.

November 29, 2021

Proclaim the Savior

Angels received the privilege of announcing the birth of Jesus, but God gave the church the task of announcing to the world Jesus' sacrificial death to pay for sin.

November 25, 2021

Key Documents Restoration Movement History

Throwback Thursday: ‘He . . . Gave Thanks’

In a 1954 editorial about Thanksgiving, Burris Butler wrote: "As a nation we have been blessed with abundant material benefits. For these we may properly give thanks, but our thanksgiving should not stop there . . ."

November 22, 2021

Crushing God

We often ponder the impact of our sinful choices on our lives and spirits, but do we consider the impact of our sin on God?

August 16, 2021

Chosen

At least once this past week you almost certainly felt overwhelmed or inadequate. But knowing Christ and how much he values us should lift us up as nothing else can.

July 26, 2021

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

Truly Marvelous

What the world needs is someone who can do what the heroes of the Marvel universe cannot—kill evil at its root.

May 3, 2021

Family & Relationships Parenting

The Hen

The metaphor Jesus' used, “as a hen gathers her chicks,” surely got his disciples' attention.

March 29, 2021

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

Seeds to Be Planted

We don’t have to fear death any more than a seed needs to fear being planted.

February 1, 2021

Jerry Harris

Worship Worship & Prayer

10 Foundation Stones of the Church No. 10: Praise

A few weeks before the pandemic’s arrival in early 2020, my wife and I drove to Grand Island, Nebraska, to speak to a conference of rural churches from across the state. We had the privilege of encouraging 125 leaders. That was a pretty long trip, even in a hybrid vehicle, so we needed to stop every so often to fill up with gas. If we were to run out of gas, it would be pretty silly to get mad at the car. It’s our responsibility to fuel up when needed. In a similar way, we need regular fuel stops to

October 26, 2020

Not a Waiting Room

By Stuart Powell What do you do before you see a doctor? Most people simply sit and wait. Many idly leaf through old magazines or survey their surroundings to pass the time. Have you ever pictured the Christian life this way? I hope not, because the Christian life most definitely is not a waiting room. Paul explained the life of grace to Titus using these dynamic words: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting

October 5, 2020

Two Important Questions

By Randy Ballinger Everyone needs to answer two important questions: “What am I living for?” and “For what am I willing to die?” We may forget to answer these two fundamental questions as we go about our fast-paced lives. So, how do you answer them? This table points us to the One who clearly and resolutely answered those questions. What was Jesus living for? His purpose was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). For what was Jesus willing to die? “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). For Jesus, though, death was not

September 28, 2020

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

Full Hands

By Stuart Powell God intended to keep the wonders and miracles of the exodus alive in the hearts and stories of the Israelites. To help with that, he preserved the narratives and established new traditions where the stories could be retold and relived. As part of the Law, God established three weeklong holidays—the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. (The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated this week.) At each feast, a sacrifice was brought before God, to be dedicated to remember him. Listen to part of God’s description for what he intended in Israel’s celebration. “Celebrate the

September 22, 2020

Jerry Harris

10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 6: Communion

By Jerry Harris The church established in Acts 2 identified two sacred observances: baptism, which was discussed in week 1 of this series (May 2020), and Communion, termed “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42, that this article discusses. The word sacred is used to describe baptism and Communion for a reason. These rituals are often labeled as “ordinances,” but they are much more than obligations to adhere to, for they possess an aspect of holiness that connect us to the blood of a sacrifice. This blood is connected to both cleansing and the forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22), meaning

September 21, 2020

Save Us!

By Stuart Powell Each of the Gospels rushes through Jesus’ earthly ministry until they come to the cross. Then they slow down the narrative, bringing us the full impact of Jesus’ passion. Luke shared the details of a conversation Jesus had with the two criminals as they hung on their crosses on Good Friday. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting

August 10, 2020