Our Lord Jesus instituted two ordinances to be observed as acts of worship by his church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Both are memorial acts which beautifully communicate the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ.  It has been our practice in the past to observe the Lord’s Supper once a quarter throughout the year.  Of those four observances, we have usually designated one observance on Sunday morning.
          Most of you are probably aware of my desire to fully explain the meaning of the Supper prior to our observing it.  I have always felt that to simply tack it on the end of a service left people in ignorance about the true meaning of the Supper.  That being said, I don’t think an entire service devoted to the meaning of the Supper is biblically necessary for the proper observance of the ordinance.
          The elders, along with other members, have felt the need to observe the Supper more often than four times a year.  I would also add that more of these observances should be on Sunday morning.  We plan to at least double the number of times we observe the Supper in a given year.  Most of these observances will not consume the entire service, although I am committed to devoting at least 3 or 4 services solely to the biblical understanding of the Lord’s Supper. 
          We will observe the Supper this Sunday evening June 28th.  I hope that you will make that service a priority.  We will sing as usual.  I will teach in Luke as usual, but our worship will culminate in our corporate participation in taking the Supper.  God willing it will be a beautiful response of God’s people to the Word of the Gospel we have heard.  May God be glorified in all that we do.

In Christ,

Blain Craig

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4: 10-13).

These are the Holy Spirit inspired words of the Apostle Paul.  They are relevant to every culture of every age, but especially to Americans in the 21st Century.  Often we are not content with what we have.  We live in a society of more.  We want more of everything.  We need to heed the words of Scripture regarding God’s wonderful blessings in this life.  Whatever we have, however much of it we have, is all by God’s wonderful grace.

Notice, Paul’s hope and encouragement is true contentment.  There is a difference in just being resigned to the reality of our lot in life and true contentment.  Paul says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  In other words, he can face any adversity through the power of Christ.  Often that verse is quoted to encourage people to do things that seem impossible.  That may be a part of it, but the verse is not first and foremost about trying great things.  The better sense of the verse is that we can face all difficulty and all circumstances through the power and the grace of Christ who strengthens us.  We don’t have to go through it alone.  Regardless of the adversity, whether disease or famine or financial failure or destruction of relationships, we can be content because Christ is our ultimate treasure above all those things.

Contentment in the life God has granted us does not mean satisfaction with the status quo.  Contentment should never be an excuse for laziness or inaction in the areas God has called us to “contend for the faith.”  For example, I can’t say I’m content that my neighbor is lost or I’m content that sin is rampant in the culture.  No, contentment means that we strive in holiness yet we are satisfied in the results that God sovereignly allows.  At Oak Crest let’s never be satisfied, but always be content.  In doing so, God is glorified and we are joyful.
 
In Christ,

Blain Craig

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” 1 John 3: 1.  It is good to pause on occasion and think about the overwhelming grace God has given us in our salvation.  I can say with absolute certainty that I am the worst sinner I know.  I can say that with certainty because I know myself better than I know anyone else.  You should be able to say the same thing about yourself.  It is precisely because I know the depth of my own sin so intimately, that God’s grace is so overwhelming. 

          There is nothing good within me.  There is nothing that makes me more deserving of God’s forgiveness than anyone else.  It is all GRACE.  In fact, Peter even says all of the truths of the gospel are “things into which angels long to look” 1 Peter 1: 12.  Isn’t that a humbling thought, even angles do not enjoy the kind of grace that has been shown us in the death and resurrection of Christ.  Of all the angels that fell, none have the opportunity for redemption.  The sobering thought is that God would have been totally within his perfect right and sovereignty to extend to us the same measure of grace he extends to the angels.  If God had chosen to save none of us, he would have been righteous and just in giving us what we deserved – condemnation.  The glorious truth of the gospel is that he has gone beyond justice (giving us what we deserve), to GRACE (giving us what we don’t deserve, namely forgiveness.)  As one author has reminded us, the angels for all eternity will never be able to sing.

          Redeemed – how I love to proclaim it!

          Redeemed by the blood of the lamb;

          Redeemed through his infinite mercy –

          His child, and forever, I am.

Thank God, those of us found in Christ can sing that forever.

 In Christ,

Blain Craig