When we come to this Table, we are doing as we have been instructed. We observe communion because the Lord established the meal, and instructed us to observe it. This is one reason for coming, and of course it is the foundational one. Partaking of this meal is an act of glad obedience.
But part of the reason the obedience is glad is that the more we observe it, the more we have an understanding of what obedience is like. When the apostle Peter tells us to desire the milk of the Word, he tells us to do it the way a newborn infant does. When a newborn is rooting for milk, he is doing it in obedience, but he is not following orders in some stoic fashion, bound to his duty. But he is obeying a deeper law.
And then, Peter adds, we are to keep coming, now that we have tasted that the Lord is good. When we discover that obedience is delightful, this does not make the obedience evaporate. No, it means that our obedience is maturing, growing up.
And it is the same with this ingestible Word as it is for the Word preached, or the Word read. Come to Jesus Christ, here presented to you, as a newborn infant, instinctively seeking out your life. And after you have been coming for a time, after you have tasted that the Lord is good, keep coming, keep returning. Obedience keeps tasting better.
So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.
I’m sure the preaching is superb, for sure. Though a tad long, if I may be so bold. The point is to be together to do and enjoy.
The entire service from call to worship through communion and exhortation is 90 minutes give or take 30 seconds or. Sermon length is a predictable laser focused 45 minutes. No rambling.
Hi Nord357 —
Occupying half the worship time does say something about what this service is about, doesn’t it?
My take on it. Extremely well prepared scholarly exposition of scripture. Wastes no time and gives the saints meat to digest. Even my 12 year old daughter stays engaged.
Have you listened to the podcasts?
Doug
You write…
“We observe communion because the Lord established the meal,
and instructed us to observe it.”
Just wondering about the word communion.
The word communion; What does it mean in the Bible?
Not from a religious standpoint, or a doctrine of man, or a tradition of Man,
or a religious sacrament, or a religious ritual…
But – What does the Bible have to say about the word communion?
Hi — I agree that Doug does nice work. I think we need his work done — it’s a gift. I’m asking if the plenary worship service is the best use of time & occasion to do this work. Does occupying half the time together with a scholarly exposition not tend to bend the service away from worship liturgy & celebration God-directed and toward man centered experience (folks getting fed, teacher presenting, etc)? What’s the average weekly Sabbath sermon length you can recall from the OT? How long were Jesus’ or Paul’s or your average Pharisee’s synagogue Sabbath sermons? When… Read more »
It certainly seems to be the best use of time for this body. I see here a growing thriving and vibrant Christ centered community. One that has gone through many changes over the years. At the end of the day isn’t that the goal?
That, if we do stuff in a godly way.
I’d go there, if I were there.
Nonetheless, serving up a burrito with 50% meat seems like how things are done there at worship time.
I question whether this is the time for burrito making..
Now that you mention it. I see it more like sword sharpening, and armor polishing. I am persuaded that it is time for that.
Again — this is predictable Protestant polemics, whereby worship time morphs into direct service to self more than worship to Him.
At some point, it’s nice to take a break from sword sharpening and come together to focus our attention on God maybe a bit more than all the nifty stuff a teacher can lecture at us.
Do you remember the sermon John spoke about at the last day when all the saints were gathered?
You seem to be making more than one assumption. As though you have a particular issue you wish to militate against, and you think you may have found it here.
Maybe … not sure what you’re saying. My “issue” begins with the assumption that the worship service could & should be the epicenter, the defining focus, of who we are and what we’re about. It’s the ground and the goal. Everything we do there and then should typify what life is and will be about. Heaven should be reflected then. It’s a mini experience of heaven. Will the Word be in heaven? Will others be around? Will we eat & drink there? Will there be music and singing? Will there be fun? Passion? I think Doug wants to get that… Read more »
Well I think your initial presupposition and mine may differ a bit. I think Sunday service should be a celebration ceremony. Different families have different rituals and traditions when they celebrate. As I stated previously this covenant community has gone through a number of changes over the years. From a Jesus people flavor through to the current flower that is blooming on the Palouse. We just celebrated our 40th birthday yesterday Lots of good food, drink song and games. If you have any idea at all that Doug has brought any “Baptisty” thing at all apart from “one Lord one… Read more »
I’m going to guess Doug is more after the dictates of Jesus rather than his or your own collective conscience. Was Paul coming up with a stringent charismatic mold when he exhorted the participation behaviors for public worship? Your defensiveness attests to strong sentiment in favor of the home team, and I appreciate that. It’s a good team. You note so many changes? — Is that because of fickleness or because you’re getting closer to the Biblical mold of how He wants things to be? Are you all settled now, got it all down pat — what with how you’re… Read more »
More after the dictates of Jesus? As far as I am able to discern He is after the person of Jesus. I can paste that label an just about everyone I rub up against in that house as well. Not sure how I come across as defensive. I am trying to be responsive. In point of fact I have nothing to defend. As I stated in my previous post .We are quite pleased. Families change over a 40 year period in many respects, it needs no fickleness. Nor yet does it need “having arrived”. As God brings in new members… Read more »
Not interested in fighting. I would agree that reformed worship liturgy can & should be improved — but I say that out of love & appreciation for its superiority over most everything else out there. And what your group has already done to improve it is heartwarming. Therefore I’d like to encourage those who’d like to keep discovering what the Person of Jesus has dictated for us for our own good. I’d like to encourage such that having Sunday-go-to-meeting liturgy that’s half occupied by scholarly lecture needs adjusting to better approach the worship that Jesus seeks from His children. I’ve… Read more »
That does (from my hillbilly saddle) appear to be an extremely well placed backhanded complement.
My experience has taught me that families will grow and mature as they meditate on the Word and seek the person of Jesus. This one does that.
It has also taught me that there is no dearth of prophets eager to excite change in a family that is growing and producing.
One cannot help but wonder why.
Some folks just love to complain.
Some love to tear down.
Some can’t leave good enough as good enough.
That is precisely the way I see it. So we agree then.
.If a sacrifice is pleasing to the Master then who may judge the sacrifice of another’s servant. And who dare claim that wholehearted worship of any body is not good enough for the Master You perhaps?