Tag: New Covenant

Morning Reading: Acts 3.12-26 NLT – faith in Jesus’ name

Reading: Acts 3:12-26 NLT

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.

“People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this.

“This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

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“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

“Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’  Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’

“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’

“When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Give me a passion and heart for the lost… a passion to reach one more for Jesus. Holy Spirit – Usher in a season of refreshment… of power healing and evangelism where sins are forgiven,  lives are changed,  and families,  tribes and nations turn to God.  Lord Jesus – You reign over heaven and earth… pray for us… may your Kingdom come and your will be done… so that in the end every knee shall bow and tongue confess you as Lord. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “In the name of the Lord” – Sandi Patti

Crowds Have Lined The Narrow Street / To See This Man From Galilee / Just A Carpenter Some Say Leading Fools Astray / Yet Many Kneel To Give Him Praise

And In His Eyes They Glimpse The Power / That Sees The Heart Of All Men / And He Knows His Fathers Mind He Speaks His Fathers Words / For He Comes In The Name Of The Lord

There Is Strength In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Power In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Hope In The Name Of The Lord / Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord

When My Plans Have Fallen Through / And When My Strength Is Nearly Gone / When Theres Nothing Left To Do But Just Depend On You / And The Power Of Your Name

And When We Call Upon Your Name / Your Strength Through Weakness To Show / We Can Know The Master Plan Extend The Masters Hand / When We Come In The Name Of The Lord

There Is Strength In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Power In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Hope In The Name Of The Lord / Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord

His Name Will Be Worshiped Forever / Creator Redeemer And King / There Is Strength In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Power In The Name Of The Lord / There Is Hope In The Name Of The Lord / Blessed Is He Who Comes / Blessed Is He Who Comes / Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord / In The Name Of The Lord

Holy Communion Sunday: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 NLT – my body / my blood

Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 NLT

holy_eucharistFor I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said,“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people — an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am not worthy to receive you under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Examine my heart… scrutinize my thoughts and actions… and cleanse me from my wicked ways. So that, as I eat the bread and drink from the cup of the new covenant, I may declare your death for me… until you come again… to take me home. Amen.

Communion Hymn: “Bread of the World in Mercy Broken” – Reginald Heber (1827)

Bread of the world in mercy broken, wine of the soul, in mercy shed, by whom the words of life were spoken, and in whose death our sins are dead… and in whose death our sins are dead.

Look on the heart by sorrow broken, look on the tears by sinners shed; and be your feast to us the token that by your grace our souls are fed… that by your grace our souls are fed.

Morning Reading: Luke 22:7-23 NLT – my body / my blood

Reading: Luke 22:7-23 NLT

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”

“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.

He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

"Last Supper" Simon Ushakov, 1685
“Last Supper”
Simon Ushakov, 1685

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

Prayers of Confession and Pardon: The Book of Common Worship, 1946

Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.

Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Communion Hymn: “Take and Eat” – James J. Quinn; (refrain): Michael Joncas

Refrain: Take and eat; take and eat: this is my body given up for you. Take and drink; take and drink: this is my blood given up for you.

I am the Word that spoke and light was made; I am the seed that died to be re-born; I am the bread that comes from heaven above; I am the vine that fills your cup with joy.

I am the way that leads the exile home; I am the truth that sets the captive free; I am the life that raises up the dead; I am your peace, true peace my gift to you.

I am the Lamb that takes away your sin; I am the gate that guards you night and day; You are my flock; you know the shepherd’s voice; You are my own; your ransom is my blood.