Is taking the bread and the cup an addendum to the Breaking of Bread?

Is taking the bread and the cup an addendum to the Breaking of Bread?

The reason for this question is likely because sometimes taking the bread and cup may appear to be rushed, a necessary ritual before a hurried conclusion to the meeting. As with the assembly in Troas on the first day of the week (Acts 20:6, 7)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:6, 7), our stated objective in our primary meeting on Lord’s Day is to break bread. Our singing, thanksgiving, and Scripture readings are subservient to this purpose. "This do in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 22:19; 1Co 11:24, 25)" TARGET="_blank">1Co 11:24, 25) specifically refers to taking the bread and drinking the cup. An unlearned believer (14:16, 23, 24) may enter into the hymns and prayers of worship, but can remember the Lord only when he is in assembly fellowship and partakes of the two emblems, the bread and cup. Remembering the Lord in the breaking of bread is the high point of the gathering. All that precedes it leads up to it; all that follows flows from it.

D. Oliver
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Printable Cryptogram Puzzle Maker

Printable Cryptogram Puzzle Maker is a program that allows you to turn a phrase, such as a verse from the Bible or a quote from a famous speech into a printable word cryptogram worksheet.

Click here to go to step one of the printable word search puzzle page.

Instructions for the Printable Cryptogram Puzzle maker

1. Type in a famous phrase or select a verse from the Bible to make into a cryptogram puzzle.
2. The Cryptogram Puzzle maker will automatically encode the message using a random letter substitution algorithm. You may also choose to modify word spacing to make the cryptogram harder.

3. The third step is simply to view the printable cryptogram worksheet and print it.

Hints:

If your phrase does not make a very good printable word scramble, try adding a few more words to the sentence. The cryptogram puzzle program needs between 5 and 15 words. Phrases that have common words such as "the" "is" "or" "an" "and" etc. are useful starting points for decoding a cryptogram.

In addition to the printable cryptogram puzzles, you can make

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kjv sunday school lessons on samson

The Bible character Sampson is one of the great heros of the sunday school lesson colleciton. Here are some resources that you can use to teach Samson's life, Samson's faith and his mistakes.

See the lessons section for a kick start on what you should include in your sunday school lesson.

See the sunday school activities section for ideas on printable projects, power points and classroom activities to go along with the sunday school lesson.

If you wish to search the KJV Bible for any scripture passage click here .

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What does the Bible say about sex before marriage? or premarital sex?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL in your answer.

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How does one decide who is an overseer?

How does one decide who is an overseer?

The Lord decides (Acts 20:28)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28), but the oversight guides (Hebrews 13:7," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:7, AV margin). No man decides this for himself, yet he must be sure in God's presence that this is God's will for him.

The oversight (1 Timothy 4:14," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 4:14, a single unit, "presbytery") is not a secret society nor does it make independent decisions. Its responsibility is to determine God's will through His Word and to lead the assembly in fulfilling it. Overseers guide the assembly in recognizing men whom God has called and to whom He has entrusted the care of His people in that assembly. The man demonstrates the characteristics given in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-7;" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9)." TARGET="_blank">Titus 1:6-9). His activities and the course of his life express a care for fellow-believers and for the truth of God.

Overseers continually watch for evidence of this work of God, not limiting their search because the number of overseers is sufficient and not rushing it because the number of overseers is depleted. They allow God to do His work on His schedule.

D. Oliver
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Why did God speak through dreams?

Why has God communicated His message through dreams?

In general, God communicated truth through dreams when the Scriptures were not completed. In the future, He will also communicate through dreams to Israel, a nation which seeks signs (Matthew 12:39;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 12:39; 1 Corinthians 1:22)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:22) and whose language is like Thomas’, "Except I shall see..., I will not believe" (John 20:25)." TARGET="_blank">John 20:25). Perhaps all recorded dreams relate to God’s earthly purposes for Israel and unfold His immediate plans. This may suggest another reason for God’s instantaneous communication by dreams to a completely passive (sleeping) individual.

God links dreams with prophecy: "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28)." TARGET="_blank">Joel 2:28). This will have its fulfillment during Daniel’s seventieth week ("the Tribulation"), when events in the prophetic Scriptures will unfold. No additional truth will be revealed, because the canon of Scripture is complete (2 Timothy 3:16, 17;" TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Revelation 22:18);" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 22:18); instead, with prophetic authority, these "dreamers" will use language similar to Peter’s in Acts 2:16," TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:16, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." These dreams will not reveal new truth, but the fulfillment of what was previously revealed.

Solomon explains the normal source of dreams, "A dream cometh through the multitude of business," or, as a less literal translation (TCV) says, "Bad dreams come from too much worrying" (Ecclesiastes 5:3)." TARGET="_blank">Ecclesiastes 5:3). Most dreams, then, are an expression of the individual’s thoughts, happy or sad, optimistic or pessimistic, worrisome or encouraging. Dreams tell us more about ourselves than about God. Even dreams in which God speaks to the unconverted (Job 33:15)" TARGET="_blank">Job 33:15) may result from thoughts stirred by the Spirit during waking hours. Such dreams do not reveal truth, but impress it on the sinner.

D. Oliver
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What ways does God communicate to us?

The following is a listof ways that God has used to communicate with us in the past. The Holy Scriptures are now completed and provide us with the entire revealed word of God. You should not expect to receive visions, dreams or prophets speaking to God today.

How God communicated His message in the past:

His secret things.
Amos 3:7" TARGET="_blank">Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

At various times and in different ways.
Hebrews 1:1." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 1:1.God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

By an audible voice.
1 Samuel 3:4-14." TARGET="_blank">1 Samuel 3:4-14. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

By angels

Dan 8:15-26;" TARGET="_blank">Dan 8:15-26; …when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

By dreams and visions.
Numbers 12:6;" TARGET="_blank">Numbers 12:6; If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Men who were under the influence of the Holy Spirit while prophesying.
Luke 1:67;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 1:67; And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied…

Spoke in the name of the Lord.
James 5:10." TARGET="_blank">James 5:10.Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,

Frequently spoke in parables and riddles.
2 Samuel 12:1-6;" TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 12:1-6; And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor

Shad Sluiter

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What will happen to infants whose parents are taken at the Rapture?

What will happen to infants whose parents are taken at the Rapture?

God has not given us a definite answer to this question that parents often ask and that believers have raised for years. As emotionally charged as this matter is, we cannot answer it based on our emotional response and preferences.

The Bible often answers problems by citing principles. One example of this is 1" TARGET="_blank">is 1 Corinthians 14:33 where God’s character, "not the author of confusion, but of peace," determines how gifts must function in the assembly.

In a similar manner, we can cite two features of God’s character: His righteousness and His kindness. We can rest that God will always do what is right (Genesis 18:25)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 18:25). God will not condemn those who have not understood His requirements (Romans 5:13)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 5:13). In addition, knowing that God is kind (Luke 6:35)," TARGET="_blank">Luke 6:35), we can expect that He will deal kindly with infants whose parents depart at the Rapture. We cannot state with assurance how God will express His kindness, but it is difficult to understand how these infants could be left behind without parental care. From our limited perspective, we expect that these infants will go with their parents.

Anxious parents can rest in the certainty of God’s kindness. To faith, knowing God is as good as knowing precisely what He will do.

D. Oliver
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Is the Spirit

Is the Spirit’s leading relevant to assembly meetings?

We worship by the Spirit (Phi 3:3," TARGET="_blank">Phi 3:3, JND); we work by means of the Spirit (1Co 12:4-7);" TARGET="_blank">1Co 12:4-7); we walk together with others by the Spirit (Gal 5:25)." TARGET="_blank">Gal 5:25). The Spirit’s leading is essential in every aspect of our assembly life and service. If our assembly meetings do not display the sovereignty of the Spirit ("the Lord the Spirit," 2Co 3:18)" TARGET="_blank">2Co 3:18) in directing them, we have nothing more than mere ritual and empty form. The substance, timing, and coordination of our worship, prayer, teaching, and preaching must result from the leading of the Spirit. This will be very limiting to those of us who know little of His leading in our daily lives.

D. Oliver
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Are Christians now like the church of Laodicea?

Are Christians now like the church of Laodicea?

Sitting in judgment on others is relatively easy. The characteristics of professed testimony for God mark the seven assemblies in Asia (Rev 1-3)." TARGET="_blank">Rev 1-3). The characteristics in Laodicea (3:14-20) are searching: activity without effective power, self-promotion without contrition, apparent success without spiritual character, Christian involvement without personal communion. These characteristics will mark professed Christian testimony before the coming of Christ and they are apparent around us today. The Lord’s specific concern in writing to those seven assemblies, however, is that these golden candlesticks to whom He has entrusted true testimony sadly reflect the characteristics of those who profess to bear testimony for Him. In writing to the last four assemblies, the Lord indicates that His testimony is only a remnant, a part of the whole.

Our peaceful coexistence with the world is strong evidence that Laodicean characteristics mark us.

D. Oliver
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