The Lord’s Supper

Posted: July 29, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Simon Green took this class, reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-end and asking, with insights from Puritans Stephen Charnock and Flavel, (V27-29) what is ‘worthy participation’?
Wycliffe opposed transubstantiation. Luther ended up with consubstatiation. Zwingli symbolic only. Calvin spoke of Christ being present and taken up, that believers feed spiritually upon Christ. Perhaps we have lost that? Feeding on him, as per John 6
Westminster Confession of 1640’s – strengthening spiritual vigour. Real presence – frequency and forms
Assurance…
1. Repentance and faith – Flavel’s 5 tests
But we should have the garment but it should be also be clean
Self examination and preparation
Brakel’s work was recommended: http://www.heritagebooks.org/the-christians-reasonable-service-4-vols/
Serious examination : judicial trial by my own conscience. Examine our attitude towards sin – all of this should take at least 30 minutes
We should come believing, humbly – thinking what we should have suffered, and thankfully so.
Flavel, ‘come with sharp and hungry appetites’: universal appetite – all of him every part of Christ. Also a continued appetite and industrious – do we use all means at our disposal? An insatiable appetite for him alone.
Where do our loves lie?
Examine our motives of our love. Even if we come sincerely, we may have malice. Christ said we should be right with our brother. These things can take time. There are risks associated with failing to prepare.
Think of Calvary, consider his sufferings. Think of our part, mourn for sin, great evil can assert itself into our minds.
Preparation leads to less interruption at the feast.
Ask, did Christ find pleasure in suffering for you?!
A sense of unworthiness
Having paused to examine ourselves, we should come.
There followed a brief discussion about whether it was right to let the awareness of sinfulness prevent our taking of the bread and wine.

Survey of the Bible 25. The Church extends from Jerusalem 30-33 AD

Posted: July 13, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: meetingnotes, New Testament, Survey of the Bible | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Jeff Gilbert took this class.

This study covers most of Acts 1-12. The physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus: Luke 24:44-53 all evidence suggests that the disciples were not expecting Jesus to be alive on the third day Luke 24:11 you might expect them to at least have some lingering hope, some connections being made in their minds as events unfolded. Thomas really does refuse to make this connection with the testimony of Jesus before he died and that of the disciples after Jesus rose. Yet God will accomplish his purposes, in spite of our frailty and lack of faith and insight. We noted that the resurrection is a very prominent doctrine in Acts preaching (see also 1 Peter 1:3)

Power – effects felt by gentiles too. Power to bear witness.
Preaching – the ‘word of God increased’ meanings: rivers of living water as promised by the Lord, growth in influence and significance for those who were being saved, and in every way really.
Persecution – caused the spread of the church Acts 8:1
So little of this New Testament Christianity is seen in our day. The contrast is sadly very sharp.

Tozer quote: The difference between faith as it is found in the New Testament and faith as it is found now is that faith in the New Testament actually produced something – there was a confirmation of it. Faith now is a beginning and an end. We have faith in faith – but nothing happens. They had faith in a risen Christ and something did happen. That’s the difference. Life in the Spirit, p41

Survey of the Bible 24. Passion-Assension 30 AD

Posted: July 1, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: meetingnotes, New Testament, Survey of the Bible | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Pastor Dewi Higham took this class. Compared with some of our survey studies, this 47 days is short in time but very long on significance, with the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ being central to our gospel message and history itself.

What a struggle to get a man to get the gospel! We compared the ‘hosana’ of the crowds with the with the weeping of the Lord in Luke 19:41
The place of sorrow in the Christians heart. Mourning for sin. We must live at His very feet. That is a place of agitation and peace! The agitation is a compulsion to strive for godliness and service, the peace is that which passes knowledge and reaches deeper than the greatest distress.
On Monday of passion week a lot is said! It includes the cursing of a fig tree. Puzzling miracle – a picture of Israel. This many favored nation but here it isguilty of barrenness again. How careful are we of the ‘inside of the cup’? Some (antinomian) groups have said that you can look terrible on the outside so long as the inside is right but we do not find that in scripture. Inside and outside are important!
2nd cleansing of the temple. God can bless or curse as he wishes.
Once saved saved forever but backsliding should frighten us. Many tests will come of genuine conversion.
Tuesday – revival amongst the Jews of today hoped for – taking a slightly differently to Hendricksen. Destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world spoken of but these events are on the same time-line and idea-line. Wednesday was the day of the blood money
Thursday and Friday so much was said!  John 13 -16 the upper room. Passover lamb, washing feet… Real historical events, real symbolic meaning, real power, real effects reaching right across time. Real sin needed a real saviour.
Wrestling in prayer. trial(s) overnight, 9am Friday crucified, the apparent triumph of enemies. Hours of darkness. Although he said, ‘ it is finished ‘ but the final humiliation was the burial.
Saturday a quiet day. That is about all we had time to cover.