First Communion (the power of the Lord’s Table)

From A Scent of Water, p. 92, by Nancy Ashcroft, WEC missionary from England

The account of the new Karen Christian’s first communion. The Karen is a tribal people of Thailand.

After the baptism (first baptism in the Karen of Thailand church) we were all to gather on my porch to observe communion. I longed that this time of remembering His death until He comes again would be a time when we could all be aware of His presence.

I did so hope that in our gathering together, just a tiny group, we would be aware of Him. I so hoped that His body broken for us would capture our full thoughts. I longed that His blood shed on the cross would assume importance in all our lives. But I knew that is was most unlikely that we would have the sacred atmosphere in which such a contemplation and awareness are possible.

We could expect to have 4 babies all crying at once and several toddlers and older children trying to quiet them.

We did not own the lovely sort of communion sets that are used at home (England). There were cases of tuberculosis, thus we opted against the one communion cup. So we used every glass I owned. The elements were grape Kool-aid and cakes from old flour. I could hardly believe that the Karen were going to be able to see the eternal reality behind those symbols for there seems nothing sacred, nothing venerable, nothing hallowed about the common tray of drink and bread.

But I had never been able to put myself in the place of the spirit-worshiping Karen who walks in dreadful fear and awe of the sacrifice bleeding in the hands of the spirit doctor. I did not know that just the reading of the familiar passage, “The Lord Jesus, the same night He was betrayed, took the bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat, this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me..’ And after the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in My blood; this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me,’” would send thrills of understanding through the group. Others had told me since of their first communion and its electrifying effect on them. They knew already that the Son of God had died for them, that in His death He reconciled them to the Father. But it was seeing the bread broken in the hands of the one leading the communion service, it was seeing the red liquid, that caused Calvary’s bleeding sacrifice to become real to them. Then the ugly offense of spirit worship with its blasphemous counterfeit sacrifice became their greatest shame.

I had told the gospel stories and the parables of Christ. I had explained the picture charts and the flash cards, but it was the picture of communion about the broken bread and the cup that would get past ears that only wanted to be entertained and eyes that wanted to be charmed. The communion service was going to speak to hearts.

We were a pitiful and despised handful that made up the Maw Dta church family. But the testimony we had to give would not long be despised…..In the next few months, how God would surprise me, doing what I never anticipated at all.

Facing Death


Context: The Greeks orientation to life and history was circular. That life cycles. Jesus's thought and prophecy based on events connected linearly.

Luke 12: 49-50
49 "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!"

His baptism = the Cross

John 12:20-23

John 12:23-26

John 12:27 -- Jesus feels the weight of his death

John 12:28 -- Jesus' response

Jesus' process v. 23-28

1. The Greeks come (thus He knew He was going to the cross).
2. Jesus thinks about death.
3. Jesus feels his death.
4. His feelings cause Him to want to run.
5. Instead, He surrenders to the Father.
6. He worships the Father.


John 12: 20 - 28

20Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."

The Last Week of the Life of Christ: SADNESS

Facing Rejection: Luke 13:34-35
Jesus loudly wailed

Feeling the Pain of Israel: Luke 19:35-44, Luke 23: 27-31

The Beauty of Jesus' Sadness: Judas John 13:18-30
"Agitated" (v. 21)

The Last Week of the Life of Christ with Monte Starke

“Humility”

- The disciples argue and fight over their greatness 3 different times (Matt. 18, 20, and John 13)
- Jesus used the lowest of the culture to show the humility – children, Gentiles and servant
- Jesus models humility in washing the disciples feet
- Humiliation is when your circumstances are humbled. Humility is when your heart is humbled.
- John 10:17-18, Luke 14:11, Matt. 5:5
- Jesus showed us true humility by his incarnation – Phil. 2


Don't miss one Sunday!

Talitha kum!

Jesus has the answer for us. Mark 5:36 "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." That is our charge by Him. He then demonstrates why we should follow Him and "only believe." He command that the dead child arise, talitha kum. The child arose and began to walk.

We enjoyed Josiah Bancroft this morning.

Bible Reading Plans


Bible Text and Audio Sites:

Read the NIV, King James, New King James, New Am. Standard, ESV and others on line:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
(You can listen to the King James and the NIV Old and new Testament here)

The MP3 Bible:
http://www.mikerogal.com/bible/
(here you can download the Am. Standard Version of the Bible to play from a computer or burn to CD.)

Buy CD/DVD of the New International Version, King James Version, & New King James Version:
http://www.audiotreasure.com/order.htm

The ESV and NIV by Max McClean:
http://www.listenersbible.com/landing/lb_both.html?siteid=google.com&camp=ListenBible&motiv=GALB0505

The King James spoken by Alexander Scorby:
http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Reading Plan Sites:

Chronological Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway’s NIV version.
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=chronological

Blended (Old and New Testament) Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway’s NIV version.
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=blended

This one is called Old and New Testament together Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway:
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=together

Bible Reading Schedule for your palmtop:
http://www.avantgo.com/frontdoor/index.html

Bible reading plans and Bible sites:

Bible Text and Audio Sites:

Read the NIV, King James, New King James, New Am. Standard, ESV and others on line:
http://www.BibleGateway.com
(You can listen to the King James and the NIV Old and new Testament here)

The MP3 Bible:
http://www.mikerogal.com/bible/
(here you can download the Am. Standard Version of the Bible to play from a computer or burn to CD.)

Buy CD/DVD of the New International Version, King James Version, & New King James Version:
http://www.audiotreasure.com/order.htm

The ESV and NIV by Max McClean:
http://www.listenersbible.com/landing/lb_both.html?siteid=google.com&camp=ListenBible&motiv=GALB0505

The King James spoken by Alexander Scorby:
http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Reading Plan Sites:

Chronological Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway’s NIV version.
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=chronological

Blended (Old and New Testament) Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway’s NIV version.
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=blended

This one is called Old and New Testament together Bible Reading Plan that links directly to BibleGateway:
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/readme.htm?level=together

Bible Reading Schedule for your palmtop:
http://www.avantgo.com/frontdoor/index.html