Worship and the Lord’s Supper

The first day of the week is a special day for Christians. Within that day a special event occurs -- the Lord's Supper. This feast does not fit into "worship" that is geared toward spectators or television audiences. It is just ten minutes of "dead time" in this kind of "worship." To true worshipers, however, the Lord's Supper is a special time each Lord's Day.

In The Supper, We Remember
"Do this in remembrance of Me," Jesus said (1Corinthians 11:24-25). In partaking, we should not just give passing thought to the Lord's death. There is time for us to see Jesus in the garden in great anguish, praying, weeping, sweating; to see the kiss of Judas, the ill advised actions of Peter, the arrest; to see the Jewish trials, the false witnesses, the hypocrisy of Caiaphas and the Jewish council; to see them mock, slap, and spit upon Jesus; to see Jesus before Pilate and to hear the jeering crowd crying, "Crucify! Crucify!" to see the scourging, the purple robe, the crown of thorns; to see the soldiers bow before Jesus in mockery and strike Him with the reed; to see Him crucified, giving Himself for our sins; to hear Him say, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit," and to see Him die; to feel the earthquake and to hear otherwise callous centurion ex-claim, "Surely this was the Son of God"; and to remember that all of this was because of our sins.

In The Supper, We Proclaim
We proclaim the Lord's death (1Corinthians 11:26). When our children ask, "What do you mean by this service?" we tell them of Christ's death. We tell them that the bread and fruit of the vine represent His body and His blood. When friends visit with us and observe us for the first time partaking in a solemn and thoughtful manner, we proclaim to them the meaning of this feast. We proclaim our faith in Jesus' suffering and death on our behalf. A memorial stands as strong evidence of the event being memorialized. When we partake we are proclaiming to the world that we believe that Jesus is "the way, the truth, the life" (John 14:6) and that He is the only way to the Father.

In The Supper, We Have Fellowship
We are familiar with the word "communion" in relation to the Lord's Supper. The words communion and fellowship are synonymous. When we partake of the bread, we are in communion (fellowship) with the body of Christ. When we drink of the cup we are in communion (fellowship) with the blood of Christ (1Corinthians 10:16). In the Lord's Supperwe also are in fellowship with all in the body of Christ who legitimately eat of the "one bread" (1Corinthians 10:17). Every faithful local church has a fellowship hall, but it is not a place for fleshly nourishment, it is a meeting place where we sing together, pray together, and worship our Lord together. In its fellowship hall every faithful local church has a fellowship meal. That meal is the Lord's Supper. What a marvelous fellowship we have in our worship together! What a marvelous fellowship we have in Jesus Christ.

In The Supper, We Anticipate
In the Supper we proclaim Christ's death till He come (1Corinthians 11:26). We look toward the day when the Lord Himself will descend, when He will appear a second time (1Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28), when the dead will be raised in incorruptible, immortal, spiritual bodies, and when the living will be "changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1Corinthians 15:35-58). At that time we, with all the faithful, will worship forever around God's throne. We raise the question: if we do not have that hope, do we really have a place at the table of the Lord?

In The Supper, We Reflect And Renew
How can we possibly consider what our Lord has done for us without reflecting on the covenant we made with Him when we became Christians and renewing our determination to be faithful to Him? Because of the Corinthians' failure to partake worthily, many among them were weak and sick, and others dead (1Corinthians 11:30). We will experience the same results if we fail to consider our Lord's suffering and the commitment we have made to Him.

When we consider all that is involved in eating at the Lord's Table, surely we can appreciate the privilege, the honor that is ours. Let us approach this moment each week with reverence and respect, making it a time of spiritual refreshing Let us eat with happy anticipation of eternally communing with our Lord.

- by Bill Hall

Instrumental music in worship

Did you know that using instrumental music in worship is a fairly new practice?  Both the Bible and history tell us instrumental music was not part of the Christian faith as established by Jesus. Learn more about the history of instrumental music in worship with this free Bible study PowerPoint file.

There is also a "free Bible study handout" for the PowerPoint file.

*These files were created by Dan Williams.

Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

“Why do the nations rage, and the people meditate a vain thing?” The psalmist sees a mob. He sees the nations in violent agitation or commotion. He sees the kings and rulers of this world. What are they doing? They are plotting a vain thing.  They are trying to prevent the will of God from accomplishing its purpose on this earth (Psa 2:2). The psalmist sees the Jew and Gentile banded together against the Christ. They are trying to stop the Messiah and the kingdom from making its entrance into the world. The psalmist says they are plotting in vain.

King Herod tried to kill baby Jesus (Matt 2:16). He did not want another king to rule on this earth. Herod died; but Jesus lived. An angry mob demanded Jesus to be crucified (Mark 15:13). Pontius Pilate acceded and crucified Jesus (John 19:6). Pilate died but the tomb of Jesus was empty; our Lord lives. The Jews and the Roman government tried to stop the spread of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ (Acts 8:1). The Roman government collapsed; the kingdom of God still exists.

The nations of this earth are still in a rage today. Why? They don’t like the law of God.
The homosexual and lesbian movements are in a rage: they do not like God’s definition of marriage.
The pro-abortion movement is in a rage: they want the freedom to do with what they want with their bodies.
The atheists are in a rage today: they want to stop the creation from being introduced into the school curriculum.
The communist governments of this world are in a rage today: they do not want any other government other than their own.

Up to this day, kings and governments still try to prevent God’s government from having its dominion on this earth. They are still forming laws to stop the influence of the gospel. They devise laws to change God’s laws. They change God’s design of marriage and approve gay marriages. But God’s law does not change even if kings change it. The Supreme Court of America may approve anything it wants but when the Judgement Day comes, God sits on His own court and will judge men by His laws (John 12:48).

Many still live in open rebellion against God. They do not want God in their lives. They do not want God to rule in their lives. They want to do what they like. They want to stop the influence of the gospel from having its effect in their lives. The psalmist sees it three thousand years ago.

Unfortunately, it is not only the unbelievers who are in a rage against God’s government. There are many so called “believers” who rebel against God’s rules and governments? Do you think the ten persons who sit in the Supreme Court of the United States and decide laws for the whole nation are all unbelievers? Some are “church-goers.” There are many “church-goers” today. They go to church; that’s about all there is in their faith. Their faith starts and ends at the door of the church. They go to church on Sundays, but then they behave unchristian-like on other days.

The denominations are also in a rage. They do not like the laws and commandments of God. They change God’s law regarding salvation and worship. They change the commandments of God to the commandments of men. If you think only the Pharisees in Jesus’ time were doing it; you are wrong. Men are still doing it today. The words of Jesus to such person still stands: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:8-9).

Men of this world are still in a rage and are living in rebellion against God’s laws and government. But God’s law does not change because men change it. God’s law will still be the judge of all men. Let us be true disciples and worshippers of God: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

--
Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Strive to enter through the strait gate

Well, it’s springtime again and some things relating to this time of the year and the sports world have invaded my thoughts and, by doing so, have resulted in our lesson today.  The professional baseball teams are wrapping up their spring training.  They’re playing a few more practice games, getting themselves prepared for the real thing.  The real season.

Now here’s where I tie them in to, what I hope turns out to be, a spiritual lesson.  Why practice?  I mean, they’re all gifted athletes, aren’t they?  They’ve been blessed with great abilities.  Oh, some are better, more gifted, than the others, but they are all good or they wouldn’t be pulling down the enormous salaries they’re getting for playing a game.

So, I ask again, if they are so talented and so blessed with their innate abilities, why do they practice?  Think about it - they’re already successful.  They’re pros.  They’ve made it to the point that they’re getting paid large sums of money for doing what they do - play ball. 

Well, it’s really pretty simple.  They are successful because they practice.  So that they will get even better at their chosen field of endeavor, even if it is only a sport - a game.  Even during the regular season, they come early to the ballpark and “practice” before each game.  Because they’re dedicated to being the best they can be at playing baseball.

And, not just ballplayers practice all the time.  Look at professional golfers.  They’ll go out and play 18 holes in a tournament and then go directly from the last hole to the practice area and hit probably another 200-300 golf balls.  Why?  Because they’re just like the baseball players, they know that their success comes because of the practice.  Their striving towards the best they can be.

Thinking about these professional athletes and their continual “practicing” brought to mind something the apostle Paul once wrote to Timothy whom he described as his “son in the faith.”  In his first letter to him, notice in chapter 4, verses 13-15 he tells him to keep “reading the scriptures” and to devote himself to “preaching and teaching.”

Also we note there that, like our professional athletes, Timothy is “gifted” in his line of work.  Paul tells him “don’t neglect the gift you’ve been given...” In other words, Paul is saying, you’ve been blessed with ability so don’t neglect it. “Practice these things” is referring to studying the scriptures and getting better at your ministering abilities.

That is the same principle we see behind the professional athletes and why they “practice” all the time.  To better their skills, their abilities.  And, this same principle holds true in all of our endeavors, too.  By practicing to be the best, most faithful Christians we can be, provides the best rewards, the most success for our souls.

Now, there are some other Biblical words that are closely related in meaning to the intent seen in the word “practice.”  Words such as “strive” and “be diligent or give diligence” and “labor.”  Along with “practice” all of those terms are applicable to us and our Christianity.

I think a good example of this is found in Luke 13:24 where Jesus, in answer to a question asked of him, said:   “Strive to enter through the strait gate (narrow door)...” because that is the entryway of the saved (vs. 23).

Another lesson we can learn from looking at our professional athletes is, just because we’ve obeyed the Gospel, we’ve become a Christian, doesn’t mean that we no longer need to “strive,” to “be diligent” or to “practice” our Christianity.   We should be working towards improving our knowledge, our Christian skills, if you will. 

It’s for that same purpose that Paul told Timothy that he should “devote yourself” to studying “the scriptures” and to “practice” his preaching and teaching.  And he caps that thought off with these words: “So that all may see your progress.”  (1 Tim. 4:15)

In other words, so that by your “practice” you’ll become a better “preacher” a better “teacher” and a better “Christian.”  By doing so you’ll become a better example to others.

For a close to these thoughts today, I’d like you to take notice of a passage that relates to why we, as Christians, “practice.”   Why we “labor” and “strive” to be the best we can be at our chosen “calling.”  Let’s read 1 Tim. 4:9-10 together.  “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

Pro athletes continue to practice because they have a goal - to be the best they can be.  To successfully reach that goal.  Can any earthly reward be any more desirous of reaching than an eternal one?  Absolutely not.

“...Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.   (1 Tim. 4:7-8)

Ron Covey

Gad means “troop”

Gen 49:19  Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Jacob blessed his sons before he died. Concerning Gad, he alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, foresees the character of that tribe, that it should be a warlike tribe, and so we find (1Chron 2:8) the Gadites were men of war fit for the battle.

Gad was the son of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid. Leah already had four sons and when she saw her sister gave to Jacob her handmaid Bilhah and she bore two sons, she too gave her handmaid to Jacob. When Zilpah gave birth to the first son, she said: “A troop cometh” and named him Gad (Gen 30:11); she was so happy that another son was born and she wanted more, a troop of children, perhaps.

Gad means “troop:” and therefore, Jacob saw the Gadites were men of war fit for the battle. He saw also that the troops of their enemies would overcome them; yet, the Gadites were not discouraged by their defeats, and he saw them overcome at the last.

We find that the men of Gad were among the most valuable of David’s warriors. Of the Gadites, we read, " And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains,” (1 Chron 12:8).

What did David see in the Gadites?
1. Faithful – they “separated themselves unto David.” They stick to their king.
2. Rugged – they followed David “into the hold to the wilderness.” They were not men who sit in comfort while others were fighting.
3. Courageous – they were “men of might.” They were not afraid. They were brave soldiers.
4. Disciplined – they were “men of war fit for the battle.”  They disciplined themselves ready to fight.
5. Talents – they “could handle shield and buckler.” They did not just have one skill; they had two. They used their talents to serve their king.
6. Strength – they had faces like “the faces of lions.” They were strong. The strength of their character and their determination could be seen in their faces.
7. Fast – they “were as swift as the roes upon the mountains.”  They were strong as lions and quick as gazelles. They were not those who procrastinate but they get the job done; and fast.

The church needs people who possess the spirit of the Gadites. How many can you name in the church:
1. Who are faithful to the cause of Christ and the church? Matt 7:21
2. Who are not afraid to leave their comfort zones and serve Christ? Luke 9:23
3. Who are brave soldiers of Christ and are not ashamed to be called Christians? 1 Pet 4:16
4. Who are disciplined and set themselves to serve God? 2 Tim 4:5
5. Who are talented and use their talents to serve God? Acts 18:24-25
6. Who are strong and use their strength to serve God? 1 Tim 4:12
7. Who you can trust to give a work to and they will complete in the fastest time without you having to worry about it? Eccl 9:10

Do we have a troop of Gadites in our midst? The Gadites were not quitters. They might lose a few battles, but they would come back stronger and defeat the enemies. “Quitters never win; and winners never quit.” We need men and women who are faithful and remain steadfast in the faith.

The Gadites were brave fighters. We need to be good soldiers of Christ. They fought with David in the wilderness. We need men who are willing to step out of their comfort zones to go to places where no one wants to go to preach the gospel. We need men who are willing to endure hardship as a good soldier: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3).

Are you a Gadite? Are you a fighter or a quitter? God wants you to work. He wants us to be workers in the kingdom. On my death bed, the last words that I want to hear is: “He never quits” (Rev 2:10). And, the only words that I want to hear from God is: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23).

Let us be a Gadite! “Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.”

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Three Dog Night One is the loneliest number

Way back in 1969 a group known as "Three Dog Night," recorded a song called "One is the loneliest number." The basic concept is that being alone is no fun and not something most of us want. I was reminded of that song this week in an unexpected way.

This week I got to re-experience a young children's bible class. My wife's helper was out of town and I wasn't teaching, so I "assisted" with the 2^nd grade bible class. You might think that you couldn't learn much from a class presented for children that young, but then, you would be wrong.

The class was about a man in the bible with no friends. No one wanted to be around him; he wasn't nice and didn't treat others very nice either. In fact that was the main thing he was known for, cheating and mistreating people. Besides that he looked weird, he was really short and people probably found it easy to make fun of him because of that, but maybe that is why he turned out to be such a mean person.

Jesus saw in this man the potential for greater things. He turned his life around and took the pain of loneliness out of his life. And just in case you haven't figured it out, the man's name was Zacchaeus and you can find his story in Luke 19. He was a Tax Collector working for the Romans collecting taxes and cheating people to line his own pockets. He was so alone that he was looking for someone to make a difference in his life and so anxious to find one, he even climbed a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus.

The bible class centered on how difficult it is to feel all alone and how you would feel in different situations. There are times we all feel alone, we feel unloved, and unliked. On the outside we may look to others like we have it all together. We may dress nice, we may have a good job, and we may have things that the world says means success, but we can still be alone. You may have none of those things and be alone and miserable because of that. Maybe that causes you, just like Zacchaeus, to treat others in unkind ways, but Jesus still is the answer to the loneliness and pain we sometimes feel.

Once Zacchaeus understood how much Jesus cared, that he could really understand his pain and loneliness. When Zacchaeus understood that Jesus really wanted to be his friend, his life was changed as no one else could change it. He literally became a "new man." In Luke 19:8-10 we read: "Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." 

--Russ Lawson