Mill Creek Blog

The Lord's Supper. Sunday, I surveyed some of the things that "communion" is about--things we participate in through the Lord's Supper. This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Lord's Supper...and I am providing these items to help prepare us for that special time together:

Commemoration  It might be that the word celebration should go here as well. We do more than just remember Jesus in some bald sense. We actually honor and celebrate him through communion.

Introspection  Paul bemoaned that the church in Corinth had ruined the whole experience of the Lord's Supper. He encouraged them that they should "examine themselves" so that they don't "eat and drink judgment to themselves" (1 Cor. 11:28-30). The idea is that one should not presume to worship Christ in this way when he has no intention of living for him when communion is over!

Confession  Introspection often leads to a time of confession. Confession is a very simple but sincere acknowledgement of sin. Confession repairs what my sin has done to distance me (in fellowship, not relationship) from Christ.

Proclamation  Paul said that in communion we "proclaim the Lord's death until he come" (1 Cor. 11:26). In our eating this symbolic meal together, we proclaim Jesus' Lordship.

Anticipation  In communion we proclaim him "until he comes." Jesus told his disciples the day would come when he would share this meal with them again. As his disciples we anticipate that reunion with him. (see Mark 14:25)

Adoration  All of this sums up to worship of the Son. To remember him is to acknowledge him as the Son of God who gave himself for us...and to worship him.

Think through these items in preparation for this coming Sunday as we share communion together.

 Special service August 15: We will hear from our students who just returned from a trip to Nicaragua with DYM (DeSoto Youth Ministries). They had an amazing trip...and on Sunday, August 15, we will actually see what they did while there!

Jesus commended a woman for her extravagant way of honoring him. Her worship of him was "over the top." Are we too calculating--too careful in our worship of Jesus? This woman gave what she had...though to others it seemed wreckless. And Jesus commended her.  Mark 14:3-9.

 This week some of our students are in Nicaragua giving to proclaim Christ. They have given money, time, and energy to go. Now they are giving their week, their comfort...and even risking some to just share Christ. 

See their most recent video blog here. 

Our walk-through of Mark 13 over the last couple weeks was pretty challenging. At least it was for me...trying to compress so much information into two messages. Let me summaraze a few take-aways...

1. Confidence: The disciples should not be downcast in the face of the execution of Jesus. It is part of God's broad redemptive plan that culminates in the victorious return of His Son. Sadly, some believers actually lose confidence through studies of prophecy!
2. Worship: The plan of God should bring about a worshipful attitude in the believer. This mindset of worship is not generated by musical styles of ambience, but by the awesome truths of God's soverign power. Read Rev. 7:9-12; 15:1-4. This Sunday's message picks up on this theme (read ahead: Mark 14:1-9).
3. Readiness: The believer today is called to be ready for his Master's return--which could come at any moment. No signs will "tip us off" as to when that may be. We live in readiness every day.  Mark 13:37.
4. Holiness: Paul wrote that in light of the "hour" the believer should live in conformity to God's plan...holy living. Read Romans 13:11-14.

Are you confident in God? Are you a worshipper of God? Are you ready for the return of His Son? Are you living as if He will actually return?