Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?1 Corinthians 10:16Last Sunday we took communion together. There are many aspects and angles to the drinking of the fruit of the vine and the eating of bread in memory of Christ. For instance, we look upward to God the Father, who ...  Read More

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin.Westminster Shorter CatechismMythology contains many stories of ‘gods’ taking on human form. The Greek gods were described as devious ch...  Read More

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to y...  Read More

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeye...  Read More

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:1-2We’ll do this one ov...  Read More

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.Romans 12:4-6Have you ever tried to write with your feet/toes? What about something crazier, have you ever tried to eat through your nos...  Read More

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to...  Read More

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Romans 8:34A memorable scene in Lord of the Rings is the throne room of King Theoden. His advisor, Grima Wormtongue, has poisoned the King’s view of outsiders. At every chance, Grima whispers in the King’s ear, speaking against, well, eve...  Read More

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.Ok, don’t get tripped up by the ‘God’s elect’ bit. This question is all about the nature of Jesus. To explain, let me come at the question a bit sideways.W...  Read More

“Who is this that obscures my plans    with words without knowledge?Brace yourself like a man;    I will question you,    and you shall answer me.“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?    Tell me, if you understand.Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!    Who stretched a measuring line across it?On what were its footings set,    or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning ...  Read More

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:“By the decree of the king and his nobles:Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. L...  Read More

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect1 Peter 3:15We feel very uncomfortable with the idea of evangelism. Culturally and individually. And yet, if we do revere Christ as Lord, how can we not be prepared to love those around us with the good news of...  Read More