Tonight in our 7pm Maundy Thursday, along with many other gospel texts, we are dwelling on the words Jesus Christ spoke from the cross.
They are often referred to as “The Seven Words”.
The sixth word is TETELESTAI–or “It is finished.”
Spurgeon: Once again—when He said, “It is finished,” Jesus had totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin and of death. The Champion had entered the lists to do battle for our soul’s redemption against all our foes. He met Sin. Horrible, terrible, all-but omnipotent Sin nailed Him to the Cross. But in that deed, Christ nailed Sin also to the tree. There they both did hang together—Sin and Sin’s Destroyer. Sin destroyed Christ and by that destruction Christ destroyed Sin.
(All muggles can drop out now.)
This makes me think of the way Harry, our conquering hero, had to be destroyed by Voldemort in order to destroy Voldemort. Remember that final horcrux!? In the last battle Voldemort thought he was killing Harry but, ah glorious eucatastrophe!, the only thing he ultimately destroyed was his chance of survival. Boo yah, JKR! Well done.
Those of you who were in the services when we started at 9 and 10:30 will remember that I explained the call to worship.
Those of you who arrived late, we’re praying for you. And fighting our self-righteousness. Anyway, I just came across a helpful little note on The Call to Worship. I’ve put an excerpt below and the whole thing is worth reading.
Why the Call to Worship is so important. First, we live in a society that teaches us to think highly of our own ability. Americans are a fiercely independent, self-motivated people. The Call to Worship puts us in our place. We come to worship because God has a summons on our lives. We come to worship because God initiates with us, not the other way around. So the call to worship reminds us of God’s sovereign reign over us.
Second, the earliest word used to describe the Church in the Bible was ekklesia. (It’s where we get our words “ecclesiastical” and “ecclesiology.”) Its root is the Greek word kaleo, which means, “to call.” The people of God, as the ekklesia, are “the called-out ones.” When we hear the Call to Worship, we are being reminded of our identity as those called out and set apart by God for His holy purposes. We are reminded that we are not our own. We are reminded that we are “resident aliens” in this world. We are reminded that we are treasured and loved by God. So the call to worship reminds us of our identity in Christ.
Why We Need The Call to Worship
1.) This lecture by Richard Pratt, that I mentioned in Foundations tonight, is the mac daddy. Or so I think. And I haven’t seen it anywhere else online in years. Enjoy.
Infant Baptism by Richard Pratt
2.) Gospel Coalition document by Thabiti Anyabwile and Ligon Duncan.
All of Christ Community will be encouraged to read Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe very shortly. Go grab it for your kindle.
#curatorprivilege
Two New Adult Education Classes—Begins April 7th
9:00AM—“Gospel in Life – From Heart to Culture” Join author and pastor Timothy
Keller in a 12-week study of the gospel (10 minute videos from Tim Keller) and the ways to live it
out in your everyday life. Topics include: the focus on the city, the centrality of the heart, the need
to live by grace, the significance of idolatry, the importance of cultural engagement, the role of
work in mission, and more. Led by Ken French.
10:30AM—”From Gethsemane to Galilee: Poetry of Death and Resurrection”
Consider poetic responses to and reflections on Christ’s death and resurrection. For centuries,
poets have been drawn to the story of Christ’s passion, and we hope that each week the readings
will encourage our own thoughtful consideration of this central moment in the Christian story.
We hope to foster insight into how our contemplation of Christ might be both challenged and
renewed.
*Participants need not read in advance, but poems will be posted online. Led by Stephen Addcox.
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