'eucharist' Tagged Posts

'eucharist' Tagged Posts

Daily Devotions: August 18, 2018

August 18, 2018 John 6:51-53…“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” vs. 52 As John tells this story, it’s pretty obvious that he has Holy Communion in mind. For him, the story of the feeding of the 5,000 was a prelude to the meal that would later become crucial for the life of believers. Even early on there were questions about what was happening as the bread and the wine…

Daily Devotions: August 5, 2018

August 5, 2018 John 6:30-35…“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” vs. 35 As followers of Jesus, we are rightly involved in programs to address the massive hunger problems that our world faces. The food supply, even on our fertile and productive planet, is often in jeopardy, and no one quite knows what the effects of global warming will be…

Daily Devotions: July 28 , 2018

July 28, 2018 John 6:1-14…“Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.” vs. 11 As we read these words from John’s account of the feeding of the 5000, we’re reminded of Holy Communion. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed the bread to the people, and all who ate were satisfied. Sometimes we get sidetracked in our reflection and…

Daily Devotions: May 30, 2018

May 30, 2018 Psalm 81:6-10…“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” vs. 10 According to the book of Deuteronomy, the purpose of the sabbath commandment was to continually remind the people of Israel that God had led them up from the land of Egypt. The psalmist knew that and believed that, as that exodus story was remembered and retold, the Lord would…

Daily Devotions: April 17, 2018

April 17, 2018 Acts 4:8-12…“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” vs. 12 The disciples were ecstatic! They had such good news for their leaders…and for the entire world. Through the Holy Spirit they had come to believe that Jesus was the Christ and that through him God’s salvation had come to humanity. As they traveled about proclaiming that audacious message it seemed…

Daily Devotions: April 16, 2018

April 16, 2018 Acts 4:5-7…“When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’” vs. 7 When the religious authorities in Jerusalem heard that the disciples were preaching that Jesus had been raised from the dead and were actually healing the sick, they ordered them to be arrested. They weren’t an impressive group–just a few Galilean fishermen and some hangers-on. When the wealthy, well-educated priestly types saw…

Daily Devotions: April 15, 2018

April 15, 2018 Luke 24:44-48…“Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,” vs. 45 Being familiar with the scriptures wasn’t enough for the disciples to have a clue about what had happened in Jesus. Nowhere was there a straightforward indication that the promised messiah would suffer, be crucified as a criminal, and then die. One option would have been for them to completely abandon the Hebrew scriptures and focus on building a new faith tradition–something no one ever seriously…

Daily Devotions: April 14, 2018

April 14, 2018 Luke 24:36b-43…“While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’” vs 41 While the experience of resurrection had galvanized the disciples of Jesus, there were plenty of questions remaining. In Luke’s story, multiple appearances weren’t enough to convince them and they needed further proof that he was really alive. Two thousand years later we’re still dealing with those same feelings! It’s wonderful to be able to…

Daily Devotions: April 13, 2018

April 13, 2018 1 John 3:4-7…“No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.” vs. 6 Those who earnestly try to live by scriptural teachings can get tied in knots by what seem to be contrary messages. On the one hand we are told that all are sinners, and if we say we have no sin, we are liars. But the same writer then turns around and tells us that no…

Daily Devotions: April 12, 2018

April 12, 2018 1 John 3:1-3…“And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” vs. 3 John is happy to tell his readers that God loves them and that they are God’s children. He writes, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” What a powerful affirmation! This really is the core of the good news. Just think of it,…

Daily Devotions: April 11, 2018

April 11, 2018 Psalm 4…“When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.” Vs. 4 It’s impossible to live without becoming disturbed about some encounter or experience, and we can never predict what sort of thing might set us off. It could be some major calamity or just some small thing, a conversation or maybe a text that provokes our anxiety receptors. In these moments our minds go wild, blood pressure may increase, and…

Daily Devotions: April 10, 2018

April 10, 2018 Acts 3:15-19…“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.” vss. 17-18 Once the disciples had come to believe that the suffering messiah was a part of God’s plan for salvation, it was relatively easy for them to give the leaders of their people the benefit of the doubt. Since those leaders had…
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