Tag: Communion
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Beach Party!
1 Corinthians 11:20–29; John 21:1–13 Have you ever been to a beach party? I have…once. It was a surreal yet enjoyable experience. I was the 3rd wheel. We had a huge pallet bonfire and roasted hot dogs. Even as the outcast that I normally am (or perceive myself to be), I felt included. These weren’t…
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What a Feast!
Matthew 22:1–14; John 6:53–58 When you’ve been invited to a party or some sort of celebration, have you ever received a little card that had you select from entree and/or other options? Or have you been to a buffet and been overwhelmed by the selection (or underwhelmed)? Over the years there have been many tales…
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Barrier Breaker
Luke 16:19–31; Acts 16:1–5; 1 Corinthians 9:16–23 (read online ⧉) One of the more interesting things that is occurring in this event called COVID-19 and its physical distancing are the conversations that are going along with it. There are plenty of political and health conversations (neither necessarily with all the facts or research, and this…
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Maundy Thursday
Note: If you are reading this as group, have different people read each passage. Even more difficult, do so around a small light, like a candle. Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:12-19; John 13:1-20; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:21-35 (read online ⧉) Passover is a key, if not the key festival of Jewish life. It is expected that…
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Sinning Fear
Hebrews 10:26–11:1, 1 Corinthians 10:1–14 (read online ⧉) When we read verse 26 many people will become consumed by fear. There are a lot of people who were taught (and are being taught) that if you confess your sins (usually at church) then commit one immediately after, and then die, it’s as if the confession…
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Why of Baptism
John 1:19–28, John 3:22–28, Acts 19:1–7 (read online ⧉) Baptism holds a central place in the Christian church from its very beginning. The only other act that is of equal or perhaps greater importance is the Eucharist (i.e., Communion). Today, it is the ceremony/event by which people are welcomed into the church universal. Over the…
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Nourishing
Exodus 16:13–36, John 6:29–41 Who’s On First? was a comedy routine honed and made famous by the comedy team of Abbot and Costello. It is a masterful—and frustrating—play on words. Mana ≈ What is it? How would you like your food—for 40 years, no less—to be named, “what is it?” Imagine teaching a child the…
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Maundy Thursday
Psalm 116, Psalm 117, Mark 14:12–52, Ephesians 5:15–21 Many churches observe Maundy Thursday through a communal recreation of the Last Supper (or the First Communion). It is an especially poignant time to do it, as the shadow of Good Friday sits right there…waiting. John 13–18:27 is a much longer version of Maundy Thursday, and well…