communion

Worship IX Day 11 Spirit & Truth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 4:19-26
1 Samuel 15:20-25
Isaiah 1:11-21

Worship IX, Day 11

Worship is a lifestyle.
It is not just a Sunday act, but an everyday practice.
It is not just the status of being in awe for a few moments, but a lifetime habit.

The Bible teaches us to worship God in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:23)
What does it mean to obey this instruction? Let’s study God’s Word together and find out!

First, we can never truly worship a God we do not know.

I love Moses’ first encounter with God in the wilderness. He asked God about Who He is, before following Him and serving as God’s voice and hands in the rescue of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 3:13-18) Moses’ act was reasonable, born of a sincere desire to know the One he would be obeying and surrendering his life for. God answered Moses’ question by explaining, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), referring to His unchanging character. Moses could follow the great I Am with confidence because He had revealed Himself to Moses.

Similarly, as present-day worshippers, it is important for us to know the God we worship. The more deeply we know Him, the more “we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28); our everyday lives become offerings of worship that will be pleasing in His sight. Let’s pursue His heart in prayer, learn of His character through studying His Word, and respond by worshipping in spirit and in truth.

. . . in spirit and in truth. What does this phrase mean in real life?

  1. Worship God in spirit
    We can begin by acknowledging that along with our physical bodies, we have been created with spirits longing to connect with God. (Genesis 1:26-27, John 4:24)

More than our physical gestures, God longs for us to worship Him in spirit, because it involves the very core of our identities. Worship from our spirit flows from the bottom of our hearts, sincerely adoring the goodness of God and acknowledging He is enough. Worship in spirit doesn’t follow a prescribed order of service for a few minutes Sunday morning, or move through the motions of all the “religious things”. Rather, true worship offers our spirits to enter into deep communion with Him, transforming every little act of our lives into lavish acts of worship. Even mundane tasks like eating and drinking are now beautiful worship; this is worshipping in spirit every day! 

This worship in spirit is a natural response to His Holy Spirit who lives within every believer as described by Jesus in John 15:26. Through the Holy Spirit, we are better able to know and experience the God we worship.

  1. Worship God in truth.
    As we’ve discussed, it is important to know the God we are worshipping: the one true, authentic God. Our worship will not be sincere if we merely pay lip service to an unknown deity. Remember, we are not pretending when we worship; instead, worshipping in truth means being confident God is THE truth, and His Word is true.

When our worship overflows from revelation of the Lord we receive through His Word, our worship is not only sincere adoration, but also rooted in truth. Based on Scripture, we learn that a lifestyle of worship is found in following Jesus’ example and instruction to live in wholehearted pursuit of God and of the lost. (1 John 2:3-6)

When Jesus came to earth, He removed the condemnation of the law over our
lives. We are no longer slaves to sin and we are freed by His blood which offers us forgiveness! (Romans 6:6-11) Jesus has torn the veil between God and us so we can freely worship God, not just through traditions, but in spirit and truth, just as it says in John 4:23,
“But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.“

So sisters, let us come to know the fullness of God by reading His Word and being taught by His Spirit. May we lead lives of worship with full confidence He will accept us, and our offerings of worship, because Jesus has made a way to bridge the gap between us and God!

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Fervent Day 15 The Call To Family

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 22:35-40
Romans 15:5-6
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Fervent, Day 15

Unity. 

The quality or state of not being multiple. A condition of harmony. The quality or state of being made one. (Merriam Webster)

Oh Beloved. Does the mere definition make your heart ache the way it does mine? Division is evident in practically every corner and crevice of the world today, and sadly, within Christ’s Bride, the Church, as well. We squabble over semantics, and methods. How long services should be. Which translation of the Bible is best. We disagree over our prayer, our worship, and missions. We disagree over how often to serve Communion, and what to serve. Who we should vote for.

I could go on, but I don’t need to. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Our adversary’s chief aim is threefold, with a capital D. Division, destruction, and death. And the truth is we’ve allowed him to take ground in the Church on our watch.

As the words of Paul’s prayers for unity wash over us,
may they sink into our very souls and spirits,
and may God answer his prayers in our own lives and in the universal Church today.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer, which begins with the familiar line, “Our Father in heaven…”.  The Holy Spirit-led, inspired Christian, Andrew Murray, unpacks this prayer in With Christ in the School of Prayer at great lengths, but our focus today is simply the first word: our.

In one single word, Jesus illustrated the heart of our Father and the way of His Kingdom.
Family.
Brothers and sisters, beseeching their Father for what they need.
Not individually, or independently, but together, as one.

Prayer is most effective when we are united in it, together. Jesus Christ was the first person in history to speak of God as Father. In this brief interaction with His disciples, He called them up and into family with Him. It’s easy to see from where Paul absorbed his method of high challenge and high invitation; Jesus did it. As He called them to unity, He also called them into family.

Because this is the Gospel work of the Kingdom, Loves.
We who were fatherless, through Christ can know our Father.
We who were imprisoned to our sin, through Christ are made free.
We who were isolated and alone, through Christ are adopted into God’s family, and made co-heirs of His Kingdom. 

Paul knew firsthand the incredible, redeeming power of God, and his fervent desire was for all God’s children to experience their full inheritance in Christ. He prayed passionately for all believers to be made one. To be of one mind and spirit. To approve all things righteously, together.

Do we desire the same? It’s easy to nod and agree, but do we really? Do our actions, words and prayers reflect a passionate desire for unity in the body of Christ? Are we desperate for the unity Christ commanded and prophesied?

I’m not sure I can say yes. Can you?

It’s one thing to comment about the division we see ravaging the Church our brothers and sisters us, but do we weep over it? Don’t mistake gravity for condemnation here, Loves. This is for all of us, including me. Here’s the thing: we are not capable of changing the desires of our heart, or our passions. But God can. We have only to ask Him, and He will do it! 

In order to come to the realization that something must be done, we must have a clear view of where we actually are.

Where are you, Beloved? Are you numb, or indifferent to our divisive plight? Do you find yourself unable to muster a desire for unity? Are you comfortable where you are, but aware that maybe you shouldn’t be? Does this talk of passion, change, and a togetherness as yet unseen spark excitement in your belly? Or does it spark fear?

I’m with you. We are all weighing our hearts in this space, and our Father is doing the same. So where do we go from here?

We go to our Father, together!

Our Father. It’s only by Your mercy and grace we can come to You, together. And hopefully, confidently, if stumblingly, we come to You. Lord, we don’t possess the kind of love that knits hearts together in one mind and spirit, but You do. Your word says we can ask for anything in Your name, and it will be done. Abba, we want to want unity in the Church. We don’t know how to go about it, but You do. Would you fill us with the Spirit of unity? Would you pour out love like we’ve never seen in Your Church in this age? Make us one, as You are one. You’re the only One Who can. This day, our lives and all we have are Yours alone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Questions 2 Day 11 Rescue Mission

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Exodus 20:1-17
John 3:1-21
Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:9-20

Questions 2, Day 11

How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?

The question is a reasonable one. The juxtaposition of a God who loves mankind so much He would send His very Son to die for them appears to be utterly at odds with a God who would send good people to a fiery destination for all of eternity.

However, the very question itself is hinged on a dangerous and erroneous assumption: people are inherently good. It’s tempting to lean toward the thought. After all, as humans, we tend to categorize wrongdoing at varying “levels.” We wouldn’t categorize a murderer with, say, a person who told a lie to spare someone’s feelings. Our natural instinct is to determine who is good, and how good they are, by their actions and our own perception of morality. But this view is absolutely inaccurate. 

From the moment mankind fell from a perfect relationship with God and chose knowledge and self over trust in Him, every human being has been marked by the consequences of that choice. We are born with sin’s DNA woven into ours by our own failings, but the truth is humans have never been “good” on our own. Even Adam and Eve, who had every opportunity to continue in a right relationship with God, and who enjoyed perfect communion with Him in the Garden of Eden, lost everything the moment they chose the allure of sin’s temptation for self. Sin excluded them from fellowship with Him. Because God is completely righteous, holy, and just, He can not be in the presence of sin. Adam and Eve could not remain in the place of intimacy with God while sin existed in their hearts.

The same is true for us. 

Loves, not one of us is good. Romans 3:23 reminds us all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God. As we studied in Ten, God says if we have broken even one part of the Law, we are guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10) Furthermore, Jesus said if we so much as think sinful thoughts, we have actually committed that sin in our hearts. (Matthew 5:21-22) This is why Jesus came to earth as a man. He was the only One Who could live a perfect, sinless life and serve as the spotless sacrifice for all our sins, past, present and future.

Only One who was righteous, both fully God and fully man, would ever be able to do it. 

Because of His selfless sacrifice, our ability to be in communion with God was restored. The sin we have all chained to ourselves has no power against the blood of Jesus Christ when we surrender to Him. God’s master plan for a relationship with His beloved creation is perfectly fulfilled in the salvation He purchased for us. We, who are born sinners, can access communion with God through the shed blood of Jesus when we give our lives to Him and trust Him over ourselves. We were born dead in our sin, but we are made alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5) When God looks at those who have trusted Him for salvation, He no longer sees our sinful nature. Instead, we are completely, totally wrapped in Christ. When He looks at us, He sees His Son in us. He sees righteousness.

Do you know what the enemy’s master deception is, Beloved? He’s been singing the same tired tune for literally ages.

It’s to sell all of us on the lie that we are basically good, on our own. That we, ourselves, are righteous, apart from Christ’s blood. That we are capable of saving ourselves. In fact, he would love for us to be so completely infatuated with who we are, what we’re like, and how we feel, that we have no room in our thoughts for God. After all, if we’re basically good, and we can be trusted to do the righteous thing, why do we need Jesus, anyway?

This is why the Law is such a vital part of God’s ultimate rescue mission: without the knowledge of God’s law, we are absolutely incapable of recognizing we are sinners. Romans 3:20 says, “For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.”

Read that again. Twice, if you must.

Every one of us are born sinners. There’s nothing we can do about it. No amount of denying will change it. No amount of good works will offset it.

Our adversary is against us from day one. He endeavors to convince us that we’re good, and if we’re honest, most of us are inclined to agree.

But God. 

Long before we were born, long before Jesus was born, He handed His Law to Moses. It is the very knowledge of this Law that brings us to the realization that we are filled with sin. But the knowledge of this sin isn’t designed to condemn us! It’s to draw us to repentance and confession that we need salvation through Jesus Christ, so we can enter into relationship and communion with God! 

Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your very Son to die for my sins. There’s no One else like You. Help me to understand how deep and how wide Your great love is for all mankind. Show me every place where I haven’t invited You to rule and reign. All I have belongs to You alone. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Pause IV Day 3 Coming Justice

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Pause IV, Day 3

Contrary to what Habakkuk felt, the Lord God did indeed see every single violent act, every rebellious exploitation, and every painful fallout from yet another sinful decision. He saw, and He cared. He cared enough to cut to the heart of the issue, Israel’s idolatry.

They had long since traded walking in sweet communion with the Lord for continuing down a pathway of setting up themselves as their own god. They lusted in their hearts for everything under the sun. They traded worshipping the Creator God for mere things He had lovingly created. Worshipping things instead of God feels nicer for a while. It gives us a sense of control, and oh how we love that!

But the Lord knew Israel would ruin themselves as long as they worshipped themselves.
So, after decade upon decade of their hardened rebellion, and watching the heartbreak of people like Habakkuk, He chose, at just the right time in history, to send His justice. He wanted to break Israel’s prideful trust in themselves, so they could properly worship the only One deserving worship, Yahweh.

Make no mistake, God sent a just punishment to Israel, because He loved her.

The army who would carry out His justice was another nation hell-bent on rebelling against God. Their atrocities against the Lord’s holiness, made even Israel look good in comparison. But, to God, there is no sliding scale for sin. The gossiping tongue, the hateful thought, and the vile murderer are all equally guilty of marring the standard of holiness. God would use an evil nation to bring just punishment upon His chosen nation because He loved her and wanted her heart to return to Him.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of Habakkuk 1:9-11 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, consider the heart position of both the Chaldeans and Israelis. Both had hearts that snubbed the Lord of All, trusting themselves and their ways over Yahweh. Ask the Holy Spirit to humble your heart as you pour over His Words.

2) Choose one of these options to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.
            a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
            b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
            c) Leave a comment here about it.
            d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
            e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
            f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
            g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

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Habakkuk 1:5-11

5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause IV!

Hallel Day 2 Lifting Hallelujah: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) What meal were they eating?

2) What were they singing in verse 30?

3) What does it mean to fall away in verse 31?

Matthew 26:26-35

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.

Original Intent

1) What meal were they eating?
If we look back to Matthew 26:17 we see these events took place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and they were having the Passover supper. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated annually on the Jewish calendar and was a time to celebrate and remember when God saved His people from slavery in Egypt. One part of the festival was the Passover meal where the Israelites would feast and remember the night the Angel of Death passed over all the homes that were covered in the blood of an innocent lamb. The Angel of Death moved throughout all of Egypt. Those families whose doorposts were not covered by the blood of a lamb suffered the loss of their firstborn son. This was the final plague which prompted Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. We find the account in Exodus 11:1-10. Jesus and His disciples were doing what all Israelites would have been doing that night, enjoying the Passover meal together. God instructed this time of remembrance Himself in Exodus 12.

2) What were they singing in verse 30?
Matthew does not tell us exactly what they were singing as they closed their meal. However, we do know the Israelites traditionally closed Passover by singing the Hallel hymn found in Psalm 113- Psalm 118. If we look at these psalms they all sing joy and give praise to God while remembering that He is the God who does great things! The Hallel concludes with the reminder that God is good and His love endures forever. The disciples, along with all other Jews during Passover, were singing the truths of freedom as they prepared to leave for the Mount of Olives where Jesus knew His journey on earth would begin to come to a close. Soon, He would complete His purpose for coming… to save us all!

3) What does it mean to fall away in verse 31?
Jesus looks around at the men with whom He had spent the most time with on earth. These are the men He has invested in, and the men who know Him best and Jesus tells them point blank they will all fall away. To truly understand this, we must first know Jesus is quoting Zechariah 13:7. Zechariah had long ago foretold the Shepherd (Jesus) would be alone. Jesus is telling His disciples they will scatter and He will face the last hours alone. Matthew Henry says we could read this as, “because of what happens to me this night.” Jesus is not caught off guard by what happens, but it is not what His disciples are expecting, and they fall away leaving Jesus alone to accomplish what He came to finish. Fittingly, it work only He could do.

Everyday Application

1) What meal were they eating?
As Christians, we do not typically celebrate Passover or the Festival of Unleavened Bread. However, on the night we are reading about, Jesus instituted a new celebration of remembrance we, as believers, should be familiar with. Jesus is instituting what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion. It is a time for us to join together and remember what Jesus did for each of us through His ultimate sacrifice. Just as Israel looked back to remember how God had freed them from slavery, Christ’s death ushered in freedom from our slavery to sin and death and we are called to remember!

2) What were they singing in verse 30?
As Jesus closes the Passover meal with His disciples and institutes Communion, He sings. Likely the lyrics of the Hallel psalms were the last song of praise Jesus would sing on earth as He concluded His final Passover meal with His disciples. The Hallel declares praises to God for all He had done. In those moments Jesus knew what was awaiting Him at the Mount of Olives, where He was headed next. He knew His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and eventual resurrection was now happening. Yet, in those moments, He still chose to sing praise to the Father. We can learn from His example. While we should always sing praise to our Father for the good things He has done in and through us, we learn from Jesus that even in the midst of hard times, we can choose to worship and praise just as He did!

3) What does it mean to fall away in verse 31?
The disciples all fall away or scatter in the last hours of Jesus’ life. They walked with Jesus and Jesus told them what was coming, yet they were still caught off guard. This same temptation exists in our lives when life doesn’t look like we expect or when life catches us off guard. We can choose to lean into Jesus, trusting Him because He is always at work, or we can flee. The disciples didn’t stay scattered. They came back, and God used them in mighty ways as the Church began. However, just as with the disciples in those moments where life is hard, it is our choice to draw near and lean in or pull away and trust ourselves or wallow in fear. I pray we all choose to find refuge in the God of the Universe in those moments. We have one thing the disciples didn’t have as they headed to the Mount of Olives… we know He rose again, defeated death and the grave, and is now reigning on the throne!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Pray Together!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Hallel Week One!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Creed Day 14 The Table: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

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Matthew 26:17-29 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

The Questions

1) What is Matthew referencing when he speaks of the “first day of Unleavened Bread”?

2) Jesus says, “My time is at hand” in verse 18. What is Jesus talking about in this verse?

3) At the end of this passage, what is Jesus describing for the disciples?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is Matthew referencing when he speaks of the “first day of Unleavened Bread”?
The Feast of Unleavened Bread was instituted as a way to prepare for the Passover. Exodus 12:14-15 describes the process of cleansing the house of anything that had leaven in it. This cleansing process would lead up to the actual Passover meal that Jewish families celebrated as they recounted the Israelites Exodus from Egypt.

2) Jesus says, “My time is at hand” in verse 18. What is Jesus talking about in this verse? Throughout the Gospels, especially John, Jesus references time and specifically His time. God had a very specific plan and when Jesus says this at the beginning of this passage, He is letting His disciples know that His time has arrived. They don’t clearly see in this moment that Jesus is referencing the crucifixion.

3) At the end of this passage, what is Jesus describing for the disciples?
At the end of this passage, Jesus is foretelling of His second coming. A time when He will drink of the vine with his disciples in His Father’s Kingdom.

The Everyday Application

1) What is Matthew referencing when he speaks of the “first day of Unleavened Bread”?
There is something to be said for rituals such as the purification and remembrance that goes into the celebrating of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover. With Christians today, we are offered a remembrance in the Communion table. It serves to help us recall where we have come from, where we are destined to be eternally, and the sacrifice of the perfect lamb that made right our relationship with God, the Father.

2) Jesus says, “My time is at hand” in verse 18. What is Jesus talking about in this verse?
There were many who tried to impose timetables on Jesus and His ministry. From the beginning of time, God had a plan, a perfectly timed plan to redeem His people and that plan was set in motion from the moment Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus on so many occasions knew it wasn’t time yet but when it was, He was ready and willing. So often we try to rush God into our own timetables seeking our plan rather than His. God is faithful in His timing even in seasons of wondering, waiting, and wandering!

3) At the end of this passage, what is Jesus describing for the disciples?
As Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, he looks forward to a day where He will be reunited with His beloved disciples. Part of our celebration of the Lord’s Supper is just that, remembering the hope that Jesus’ death and resurrection bring to those who know Him and follow Him. Praise be the Lord that we do have hope for a day when we will all be united in our Father’s Kingdom!

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I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Creed Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

The Why!

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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Creed Day 13 The Table

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 12:21-28
Matthew 26:17-29
Ephesians 5:25-33
Matthew 25:1-13

My mind tends to work like a puzzle. I hear a little bit of something over here, and I learn a little bit from over there, and I read something at the doctor’s office and suddenly… an “Aha!” moment has occurred and every piece fits into place. I typically don’t “get” things instantly. I distinctly remember sitting in a science class one day and it was as if everything I’d learned that semester was slowly being put together and all of a sudden, I could see the whole picture.
That is exactly what happened four years ago, sitting on a balcony at a camp called Windermere. Everything I’ve always known about “The Lord’s Supper” and “Communion” and “Christ and the Church”… it all just CLICKED! Today, as I begin writing, I pray that the same revelation happens for you. I pray that you will be able to understand and comprehend this precious practice we call…

Communion.

What exactly is Communion?
The first communion is often known as “The Last Supper”, when Jesus and His disciples were gathered together to celebrate the Passover right before His crucifixion. In this incredible moment, Old and New Testaments collided in one epic evening.

First we go back, way back…to when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. Through Moses, the Lord told the Israelites to sacrifice a perfect lamb and smear his blood on their door frame because the angel of death would soon “pass” “over” (hence, “passover”). Whoever was not covered by Lamb’s blood, their firstborn son would be dead by morning. This was the final plague that drove Pharaoh to release the Israelites into freedom. As a reminder of this freedom, “Passover” was to be celebrated every year.

Fast-forward to the night before Christ’s death… and we find Jesus celebrating the Passover with His disciples. While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it before telling His disciples, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He then took a cup and told the disciples to drink, “…for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” He was foretelling what was to come later that night.

You see, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb that both Hebrews and Egyptians had to use to cover their doorframe to save their sons. As you read in Exodus, it wasn’t just any lamb the Israelites were called to use, it was a perfect and spotless, male lamb.
Jesus is the perfect sacrificial lamb.
His blood covers us, just as the lamb’s blood covered the door frame, and we don’t have to worry about spiritual death because of His victory over death!

We celebrate and remember His sacrifice as a Church – His bride, by taking communion together. The bread is a symbol and representation of Jesus’ body. The wine (or grape juice), a symbol of His blood that was spilled. When we take Communion, it’s to remember the great sacrifice Jesus made to save us!

So what do Communion and marriage have in common?
This is the part that just gets to me. It is so incredibly amazing that the Lord put this much detail into His relationship with us and the relationship between a husband and wife! The literal definition of communion is: “the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.” When we take the bread and drink the wine, and remember the great sacrifice of Jesus, we are remembering that because of Him, we are His bride. There is so much about this that we could study, but for now, I’m going to point you to a study Mike Bickle has done on how the Church is Christ’s bride, for more on this.

The act of consummating our marriage (devoting ourselves to a holy relationship with our spouse), is a representation of taking communion (remembering and devoting ourselves to a relationship with Jesus). God created marriage as a physical example of what He wants His relationship with us to look like! Husbands are commanded to love their wives just as Christ loves the church!
That is why our marriages are so incredibly sacred.
Not only because we’ve taken a vow before God to choose love over our own feelings, but because marriage was designed to imitate the Lord’s great love for us.
God would never leave us.
He would never forsake us.
He chooses to love us despite the fact that we often forget to spend time with Him.
We put other things and people above Him, but He never stops loving us!

The Old Testament beautifully points towards Jesus being our Bridegroom, our heart’s true soulmate. Song of Songs poetically describes the incredible love between a groom and his bride. In Hosea, God calls a man to marry an adulterous woman to visibly depict His boundless love for us as His own bride, even though we stray often from His love.

Can only Christians take Communion?
If someone doesn’t know Jesus, if they don’t know why they even need to be covered by His blood, then there is no point in taking communion because there is nothing sacred or special about it for that person. Paul even warns Christians about taking communion without actually stopping to think about why we are taking it. So, yes, only Christ followers are invited into communion.

Author and pastor Francis Chan states that if we all just take a few moments before praying and think about who God is, His power and glory, then we can more reverently pray and approach His throne with a holy fear of the Lord.
I believe this to be the same about communion.
If we pause before communion to remember why we are taking it, then we can more reverently participate in this remembrance and celebration of the wonderful gift God has given us in His Son… the perfect, spotless Lamb.

Listen in on this incredible dramatic poem by Hosanna that portrays why we need Jesus’ blood to cover us and how vast His love is for us!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Creed Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Creed!