“And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”
(Matt. 26:27-29)
The early Christians met upon the first day of the week to partake of communion, as instituted by Jesus himself in Matthew 26:26-29 (see also Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17ff.). Have you ever wondered why “the fruit of the vine” was chosen to represent the blood of Jesus?   Consider that-
1.     The Passover Feast (Ex.12:43-51; Deut. 16:1-8) centered around the blood of a lamb. Christ is the Christian’s Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 6:11). His blood is redemptive (Eph. 1:7).
2.     Grapes had to be pressed to make a drinkable beverage [Gr., oinos]     (fresh or fermented). Jesus could “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God” (Rev. 19:15) because he, himself, was pressed upon the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:2,4,7,10,12).
3.     Genesis 49:11 contains an unmistakable connection between blood and grapes. It is an ancient correlation with contemporary Christian relevance.
Before there were government grants to study grapes, there was a plan to grant pardon by the fruit of the vine which flows from Immanuel’s veins.
-Robert M. Housby
(Belonging)
“All mine are thine, and thine are mine”
(John 17:10, KJV)
“…All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them”
(John 17:10, ESV)
Introduction:Â Â Â Jesus’ use of possessive pronouns in John 17:10 captures that part of us which longs to belong.
I. The Prayer (Jn. 17:1) -to belong
II.      The Personnel (Jn. 17:9) -to belong
III. Â Â Â Â Â The Plea (Jn. 17:10) – to belong
Conclusion: The options are clear enough. His prayer has spoken to us. Not to belong is to not thrive; not to belong is to just survive; not to belong is to eventually die; to die alone-all alone.
“The Lord is the strength of his people”
(Ps. 28:8; Ex. 15:2; Deut. 5:7; 12:30; Isa. 43:10-12; Phil. 4:13)
Introduction: What would Hercules be doing in Samaria? Nevertheless, a sculpture of the Greco-Roman hero Hercules was discovered in Samaria (Aharoni and Avi-Yonah, The MacMillan Bible Atlas,131). What could this possibly mean? And why would it matter today?
I. What is the allurement of the Hercules Myth?
A.   Strength
B.    Protection
C.    Savior
D.   Identification
II. Have we really evolved away from mythological hope? (Well, certainly we do not call it Hercules, etc.– Nevertheless…)
A.    Protectionism
B.    NASA/SETI
C.    Secular society (supposed as superior)
III. Â Â Â Â The Biblical Grounding (Non-mythological) (Acts 1:6-8; 8:1-25)
A.   ___________ B. __________ C. ___________
Conclusion: Now, as ever, religious syncretism is extremely relevant. So, who’s your savior, protector, and strength these days? How do you identify when it comes to these ultimate matters?   Is your Jesus just a Herculean myth, or the Lord of the universe (Ps. 28:8; Acts 4:12)?
“Behold now is the favorable time; behold now is the day of salvation”
(2 Cor. 6:2)
The gospel was meant to be accepted (2 Cor. 11:4). The gospel must be accepted because it was meant to be accepted; meant by the Lord to be received by men (Acts 11:1; 1 Thess. 2:13). The appeal of the gospel always has urgency and expectancy within its message (2 Cor. 6:2).
1. Accepting the gospel is an individual affair. Notice the emphasis upon “each one” in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and throughout the New Testament. Individual responsibility is clearly meant.
2.Accepting the gospel entails ownership. Ownership also infers responsibility-a right of possession. 2 Peter 1:1,3,4,8,12, etc. indicate ownership by verbs such as-“have obtained,” “granted to us,” and “you have.”
3. Accepting the gospel means accepting the consequences of following Christ (1 Pet. 4:12-19).
My son has a personal web site which displays the Sphinx of Egypt; the Eiffel Tower of Paris; and the Tower of Pisa. All of these are places which he has visited in person. They are not mere hopes nor dreams; but for him they are realities, facts, moments of his life. Is the gospel such a reality for you?  Have you owned it yet?
Robert M. Housby
Categories: 2 Corinthians, accepted, Acts, Bible, Genesis, God, gospel, Hebrews, John, Matthew, New Testament, Psalms Tags:
“What then did you go out to see?
(see Luke 7:24,25,26)
When John the Baptist came on the scene, he preached a message of repentance to the people of God (Lk. 3). Then, after he was departed from this world by order of Herod’s execution, Jesus raised the question to the crowds-“What did you go out to see?” [re: John] (Lk. 7:24-26). The options are provocative:
1.     “A reed shaken by the wind” – a sensitive tender individual?
2.    “A man dressed in soft clothing” – a wealthy individual?
3.   “A prophet” – a man of God?
There was considerable disillusionment about John. Expectations often differ from reality. John had quite a following; but among those who were considered most educated and most religious-John was rejected; they were not about to subscribe to his message of repentance. In fact, the biblical text says that the elite “rejected the purpose of God,” by their rejection of John and his message (Lk. 7:36).
Disillusion comes in many forms, but when it means the rejection of the purposes of God, it is a severe form of disillusionment. Be careful, then, that your own disillusionment is not a reflection of lack of repentance toward the ways of the Lord. “Blessed is the one,” Jesus said, “who is not offended by me” (Lk. 7:23).
-Robert M. Housby
“Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe”
(Hebrews 12:28)
Introduction: “What, no music!” [puzzled, perplexed, and perturbed]?
I. Some important dates-
A.   c. 650 A.D. – ________________________
B.    1250 A.D. – __________________________
C.    2009 A.D. – __________________________
II. Some relevant Scriptures –
A.   Re: the Jewish sacrificial temple cultus
1. 1 Chron. 23:5; 2 Chron. 29:20-36
2. Hebrews 9:1,10,15-17; 10:1, 5-9
B.     Therefore…
1.     abolished
2.     improved
C.     Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
Conclusion:Â Â Â We sing because _____________________________
____________________________________.
“And so we came to Rome”
(Acts 28:14)
The Appian Way (Via Appia in Latin and Italian), is the route which Paul’s captors used when he was brought to Rome. It is the most important ancient Roman road. It is designated after Appius Claudius.
The main part of the road was begun and finished in 312 B.C. Tight and interlocking stones provided a flat surface. Some of the stones were said to fit so well that a knife could not slide between the stones. The via Appia is the first Roman road believed to have featured the use of lime cement.
The Germans in WWII counterattacked the Allies down the via Appia from the Alban Hills. And, perhaps the most pitiful scene is that of the crucifixion of Sparticus and his 6000 along the Via Appia. But, for Paul, the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth and the gospel message of the kingdom of God was the reason for his famed walk down the via Appia.
Acts 28:24 records two responses to Paul’s arrival and message-“some were convinced…but others disbelieved” . These two responses are as relevant today as when Paul came to Rome on the via Appia. These responses serve to remind us that Challenge & Response is the nature of the call of the gospel; Some will, but most will not (Matt. 7:21-23). What is your response to the gospel?
-Robert M. Housby
“For to me to live is Christ…”
(raison vivri)
(Phil. 1:21)
Introduction: In Acts 28:14, Paul’s traveling companion, Luke, reports, “And so we came to Rome.” In those four words, we are exposed to the last lap of Paul’s long and arduous journey. In this story, we have a window into Paul’s reason for living.
Reason 1 (Acts 28:17-19): ____________________________
Reason 2 (Acts 28:20): _______________________________
Reason 3 (Acts 28:23-24,30-31): _______________________
Conclusion: Paul’s reason for living is well expressed in Galatians 2:20. Do you have a reason for living?