Faith,
I want to confess. Maybe you will resonate with me. For a good chunk of my adult life, I don’t think I valued the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism the way Jesus wanted me to value them. Communion Sundays were often, “We’re going to get out of here late today,” and baptisms seemed a too-mysterious-for-me ritual. Too often, I met both sacraments with the question: “Aren’t I supposed to be feeling something here?” In hindsight, I think I often focused on “What’s in this for me?” rather than on what God is seeking to do in me.
What has led me to raise the value of the sacraments in the life of Faith Covenant Church? God’s word! Look at these verses:
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:53
“Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 6:57
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38a
Clearly, the first disciples of Jesus valued the sacraments, and we, a disciple-making church, must value them today! This is why we will celebrate both sacraments this Sunday, and I will be preaching on their significance. Together we will worship our heavenly Father who feeds and bathes His kids!
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
***Message notes are here.
And here are our deeper dive videos for this week:
Christ’s Presence in the Lord’s Supper (4:52)
The Baptism of Jesus (5:23)