by Calvin Burrell When Scripture speaks of Jesus’ blood, it means His atoning death for the world’s sin. Neither the rugged stake where Jesus died nor the red blood He shed there has mystical or magical quality in itself. Christ and the sacrifice He made by His blood on the cross, however, have unlimited power […]
by Amber Riggs “Frogs! Frogs! Frogs!” “Lice! Lice! Lice!” “Flies! Flies! Flies!” As we chanted the ten plagues in triplicate, my elderly grandmother confusedly looked around the table at her family as if she were convinced that the grape juice in our cups was actually wine — of which we had all imbibed in excess. […]
by Max Morrow Celebration of Lord’s Supper has always seemed to me to be a family event. The entire family shares the service together — mother, dad, children, even babes in arms —as much as possible. It’s for the entire household, as Passover was. The Lord’s Supper also means gathering with fellow believers — the […]
by Tim Youngs When I’m on a road trip with my family, it’s important to me as the driver to take breaks to refresh myself and get an energy boost. It is imperative that I nourish my physical body and maintain an alert mind for safety on the road. With my mind and body strengthened, my […]
by Israel Steinmetz From an outsider’s view, Christianity is full of strange rituals. Even in non-liturgical churches like ours there is plenty of strangeness. We gather groups of people who mostly cannot sing and sing together every week. We dunk people under water as an initiation rite. We have a specialized language and social structure. […]
by Andrea Slawson How would you feel going into your favorite competitive sport against a formative opponent, knowing without a doubt you would win? Would you go in confident, maybe even a little bold or cocky? I’m pretty sure that’s how I’d face it, yet in the battles life throws at us, we tend to […]
by Jason Overman He had plenty of water to make wine for a wedding, to wash the disciples’ feet (John 2:7; 13:5), but now there was none. There had been water enough for Pilate to wash guilty hands, but on the cross Innocence cried out, “I thirst!” (Matthew 27:24; John 19:28). Two heartrending, heart-healing words […]
by Dorothy Nimchuk Jesus had been the central figure in the kangaroo court charade. Now, nailed to the cross, in the midst of untold pain, He viewed the gathered crowd. The chief priests and elders had been quick to mock: “He saved others. If He is truly the Son of God, let Him save Himself […]
by David Kidd Have you ever wondered why Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42, NKJV; author’s emphasis)? At the Lord’s Supper we often emphasize the terrible physical aspect of the cup of Jesus’ sufferings (the brutal cup): the floggings, the crown of […]
by Laurie Crowson “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who […]
