Examination questions for communion

Tomorrow morning we will remember the death and resurrection of Christ through communion. To prepare our hearts for that ordinance, here are a few questions I’ve adapted from the Puritan, Thomas Watson: Am I diligent in my pursuit of God through prayer? Do I thirst for the living God? Do I desire holiness as much […]

Sunday leftovers: communion and transubstantiation

One of the dominant views about the biblical ordinance of communion is what is called “transubstantiation.” The term comes from the Latin terms trans (meaning “change”) and substantiation (meaning “substance,” or “essence”). The view is that the bread and cup of communion substantially become the literal body and blood of Christ. The outward form is […]

Book blurbs

In the interest of “something is better than nothing,” here are a few blurbs and comments on some books I’ve recently completed reading: Title: Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well Author: Randy Newman Publisher: Crossway, 2011, 216 pp., $14.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): Summary: Newman not […]

Christ’s sacrifice

A healthy baby was born in the hospital down the street. Ho-hum. God provided for your basic needs again this week. Yawn. You shared the gospel with someone this week and he trusted Christ. Of course. Your spouse/child/parent/friend loves you. Okay. The extraordinary has become ordinary. It happens in life. And it happens in the […]

Preparing for communion

This Sunday we will observe the ordinance of communion in our worship service. As I have been preparing for that (and my sermon) this week, I have been thinking about the gospel and its implications. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians, it is most important — of first importance. John Stott captures some sense of […]

Forgiveness and communion

The practice of communion is not only a fundamental activity of the church, but it is also an indicator of the spiritual health of a believer — including his fellowship with other believers and his trust in God’s work in his life in past events. Your willingness to forgive is directly related to your remembering […]

Why some Reformers were martyred

Queen Mary was known as “Bloody Mary” for a reason — some 288 Reformers were burned at the stake under her reign. That is fairly well-remembered. What is forgotten is why many of them were put to death. J. C. Ryle offers the astonishing explanation: The principle reason why they were burned was because they […]

What should we feel at communion?

Many years ago we had occasion, because of when Easter occurred in the month, to have communion twice in close proximity — about only a week apart. I suppose it was just too much for someone who lamented to me, “it feels like we’re having communion all the time…” It was more a complaint than […]

Today’s Quote – Self-Examination (Alexander)

J. W. Alexander, Remember Him: The greatest care is necessary in an affair so important as the examination of your state before God. You will naturally be reluctant to come to an unfavourable conclusion about this and so self-love combined with self-ignorance will expose you to the danger of self-deception. Earnestly endeavour to exercise a […]

Book Review: Remember Him

Title: Remember Him Author: J. W. Alexander Publisher: Banner of Truth (reprint), 2000; 56 pp. $5.00 Recommendation (4-star scale): For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) Those words by the apostle Paul are familiar to believers, who likely […]

Today’s quote (8/31/08)

Paul Wells, Cross Words: the Biblical Doctrine of the Atonement: Among the momentous events of history that come and go, buried in the sands of the past, [the cross] holds the fascination of eternal newness. When the dramatic events woven into the tapestry of time are consigned to the pages of the history books, or […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/1/08)

Communion is remembrance and celebration not only of what Christ has accomplished already at the cross, but also an anticipation of what will yet be fulfilled completely. Thinking about the themes concerning the cross we have already talked about the last several weeks, that means: we recall His work of salvation and anticipate salvation from […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/24/07)

The cross is God’s “foolish” work to extricate pride from our lives. Now don’t misunderstand; by that it is not meant that men should not boast. Not only do all men boast, but all men should boast. The question is not whether or not we should boast. The question is whether we are boasting in […]

Additional communion thoughts

In preparation for communion, I often like to read a chapter out of a book on the cross, or an article that I have previously harvested from a magazine or journal. This week a friend gave me an article that I will undoubtedly read multiple times again. Russell Moore (“The Red Cross of Jesus” — […]