Maundy comes from ‘mandatum novum’ the Latin for commandment.  The three themes that typically mark a Maundy Thursday remembrance are: The events in the Upper room, where Jesus celebrates the last Passover with His disciples, and institutes the Lord’s Supper in his name; The washing of the disciples’’ feet; and Jesus’ new command to his disciples to love one another.  The commandment reference originates in Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 13, where after the Passover he says “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you.”? Last Sunday in addition to considering the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem we also looked at these three main ‘maundy’ themes.  Let me encourage you to look at the story again tonight and take time to be thankful for Christ’s servant expression of love and grace.  Remember tonight that He has commanded us to remember.

Good Friday has a rich tradition in the church and is a time of remembering the crucifixion and death of Christ. While it is often observed that, “it seems strange to refer to such a tragic event as good,” we must never forget that this day and event is a remembrance of not just a good thing, but a best thing.  Were it not for the death of Jesus, fulfilling the promises of God since the garden, we would be hopeless and lost.  Christ’s willingly giving His life as our substitute and paying our debt for sin is indeed a glorious reality.  Without His death, we have no life.  I want to suggest that you take time tomorrow to remember the scandalous glory of Christ’s death. Say thank you to Him. Rejoice that your debt has been paid and that, in Christ, you are no an object of wrath, but a display of God’s glory.

Even without the traditional services we are a people called to worship. So, take time by yourself, with your family or even a small gathering of friends to celebrate together the sadness and joy of these special days and events.  Then, having prepared your heart, come join us Sunday at 6pm as we celebrate the rescue or redemption of Resurrection Day! Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

We gather to remember, reflect, and repent. We depart to sacrifice, engage, and anticipate.

Some Scripture to ponder on this day:

Genesis 3
19 “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Job 42
5 “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;? 6therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Mark 1
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Hebrews 9
11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

1 John 1
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I want to encourage each of you to prayerfully consider your response to this day.  Will you take time to consider with others around the world where you are in your walk with Jesus?  Will you take the time to ask yourselves the hard questions regarding faith, obedience, idolatry, and living and dying in light of the gospel?  I trust that you will see beyond the ritual and look at the heart of this day to remember, reflect and repent.

I would write more, but have found a very well stated ongoing series of posts on the entire Lenten season from Elliott Grudem at Christ the King Church. You can find it here http://www.ctkraleigh.org/article/why-bother-with-lent-part-one/ . This is part one of a three part series to come. I encourage you to follow it.

At this point it works out like this.  We are integrating Swahili and Arabic into our services through prayers by individuals.  These are not translated.  We also read Scripture in all three languages with translation being projected on the screen in the languages not being read at the time.  We are verbally translating the Bible story phrase by phrase.  We are still fine-tuning translating the main points of the sermon on the screen in both Swahili and Arabic.

We are still considering several other ideas.  One is to use electronic devices for headset translation.  This is a challenge due cost and the need for an extremely talented real-time translator.  It also raises the question of how many languages can be supported with this technique.  We minster in a neighborhood with 70 people groups and certainly can’t fully translate to all of the languages that might come to a service.  Another thought is to provide translators in cluster seating during the service, so that, those who want to hear things translated, that are not translated from the stage, can be close enough to do so.

The realities of striking a language balance in a multi-ethnic church are always going to be difficult.  It requires grace and understanding.  It requires sensitivity to those participating.  It demands careful and thoughtful planning by leaders.  But, believing that the celebration of multi-ethnic worship is one worth pursuing all of the demands are worth it.  One further note, this type of worship also demands that opportunities are given, in our case through weekly Family Groups, for gathering in a context where the language barrier is not issue.

Please feel free to ask questions or comment, or by all means, if your church has a handle on these ideas share your solutions.

If we are simply doing missions, then we are by definition relegating the mission to a task, action or program.  So, we simply go on mission trips.  We have a missions department or ministry.  We organize people to sign up and get equipped to do something.

If on the other hand, we are living missions, i.e. being missional, then by definition our mission begins to define who we are.  We are equipping people to be something.  Missions is not something we do, but instead runs through the fabric of how we think, what we love, and how we relate to others.  We see the church as a community of called out people living out the gospel in every aspect of their lives.

Jesus came to live the redemption mission.  God didn’t send us a revamped program of how to engage Him.   He came, He lived, He died, and He rose again.  This is what the mission looks like.  It is an “all in” affair.  We can’t just do “missiony” things and declare ourselves faithful.

Like the description on the Kingdom of God, living missionally, living “for the sake of the gospel” is like yeast it permeates everything.  In other words you can’t be a little missional, slightly gospel centered or a tad Kingdom minded.  The gospel captures everything about us and therefore our response should be to live it out in every aspect of our daily lives.

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find Him, report to me so that I too may go and worship Him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The fourth candle of Advent symbolizes Love.  God’s love is so powerfully illustrated in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.  His love is so vivid in the humility of Christ to leave glory to come in flesh to save the world.  His love is so deep in knowing that He came as a baby not to live only, but to die as a sacrifice for our sin.  As the Magi are remembered for bringing gifts to Jesus, let us never forget that the real gift of Christmas is the loving gift of Jesus.

Advent Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for seeking to remove Your presence and influence from our lives today.  We confess our rebellion against Your absolute sovereign lordship, and ask that You would create instead a deep desire for You to rule over us.  Enable us to delight in this little child who is now the King of kings, and to show our love for Him through our obedience.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem.

Monday, December 21, 2009
Luke 1:39-56—Elizabeth and Mary

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Luke 2:1-20—The Birth of Jesus

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Luke 2:21-38—Presentation in the Temple

Thursday, December 24, 2009
Colossians 1:15-23—The Pre-eminent Christ

Friday, December 25, 2009
Revelation 5:1-14—Worthy Is the Lamb

Saturday, December 26, 2009
Revelation 21:1-7—The New Heaven and New Earth

Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The third candle of Advent is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolizes Joy at the Advent of the Christ.  Joy is a non-circumstantial reality in the life of the believer.  It is based in our hope in Jesus Christ.  That joy is never more real than in our remembrance of Christ’s coming as a baby to “seek and save the lost,” and in the hope of His ever present return to take his people home to glory.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,

There is a lot about Your birth and life we do not understand, but we understand enough to be amazed just as the shepherds were.  Forgive us for not marveling more at such a gift; for not pondering this great message in our hearts.  Help us to remember You.  And help us to notice somebody who needs to be told about Your love today.  Give us the courage to spread the Word.  For the sake of Christ’s kingdom we pray.  Amen.

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem.

Monday, December 14, 2009
Jeremiah 23:5-6—A Righteous Branch

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Micah 5:2—A Ruler over Israel

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Zechariah 9:9-10—Your King is Coming

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Malachi 3:1—The Messenger is Sent

Friday, December 18, 2009
Luke 1:1-25—The Birth of John Foretold

Saturday, December 19, 2009
Luke 1:26-38—The Announcement to Mary

So, here is why I say that things are “going great” at Antioch Church.  God is answering our prayers!  He is clearly and unequivocally working in and through us in response to our prayers.  It is enough to be great that He is working at all, but that He is blessing us to let us be a part, through our asking, is just plain mind-blowing.  We have been asking God to bring us faithful, godly people.  Ones who will be a part of this church family with the same passion and desire to reach the nations for Christ that He has placed in us.  We have asked, no begged, for God to raise-up leaders that will reflect the community and be willing to pour themselves into the lives of others for the sake of the gospel.  I see God graciously answering both of those requests.  The greatest asset that God has given us as a church is to entrust us with His sheep.  He is raising up a true community for His glory here in the Southend.  Faithful men and women of God have joined in the journey, have moved into the neighborhood, have begun to give, have opened their homes, have started investing in neighbors and each other.  This is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing…gospel thing!  New leaders are beginning to emerge that love Christ, love this community and are burdened to serve.  God IS answering our prayers.

We have also prayed that God would allow us to be fully faithful to His commission to the church.  He is answering that prayer as well.  This Sunday we will celebrate our first baptisms.  Two men in their twenties will make their public declarations of faith in Christ.  These two men, because of their backgrounds, will be doing this at great risk.  Already in their discipleship they have determined that the gospel compels them to be bold, and having counted the cost, they will take the next step in their journeys with Christ.  This is one more beautiful example of answered prayer.  Others are being drawn by the power of the gospel, still others are being shaped and carved into more faithful disciples.  Answered prayer, answered prayer.

So at the end of each day I am thankful that things are “going great,” not because of the reasons that I have celebrated in the past, but because I see the same God who called us to start Antioch Church, being faithful to work out His plan in and through HIS church.  We have a God that for whatever crazy reason hears our prayers and in His mercy responds to them according to His will. So, no matter what else happens or whether we have all the tangible evidence that things are great, if we know that God is still listening and we see Him continuing His work, then I think I’m safe to conclude that not only are things “great,” but more importantly I am reminded that He is “GREAT.”

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:   “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means “God with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.

Luke 2:1-7

In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

The second candle of Advent, while it may be associated with different aspects of the Advent story in different churches, or even in different years, is focused on Peace.  We recognize this morning that the light of the world is Jesus, and He is our peace in the midst of everything.  His coming into the world as an infant and His coming return as King both usher in ultimate peace for the heart of man.   The Scripture readings, prayers, lighting of the candle, the participation of worshippers in the service, all are geared to telling the story of redemption through God’s grace in the Incarnation and His second coming.

Advent Prayer

Almighty God,

You are the Author of history.  You created the heavens and the earth, all that is seen and unseen.  In the fullness of time, Your

Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.  Open our eyes, so that we cannot overlook the coming of Your only-begotten Son.  Purify our hearts as we await His coming in glory.  Through Your Son we pray.  Amen

Bible Readings

These daily Bible readings are for you to use at home as you prepare your heart for the coming Messiah.  Set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem

Monday, December 7, 2009
Isaiah 19:19-25—A Savior and Deliverer

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Isaiah 40:9-11—The Sovereign Lord Comes

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Isaiah 42:1-4—Behold My Chosen One

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Isaiah 49:1-7—A Servant Brings Salvation

Friday, December 11, 2009
Isaiah 53:1-12—A Man of Sorrows

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Isaiah 61:1-3—God’s Spirit Is Upon Him