April 29: Speaking in Tongues

So TNL is a group of people that come from different religious backgrounds, and speaking in tongues can be a topic that we don't all agree about. Let take a look at scripture and see what the Word has to say about it.

—Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

This verse is talking about the first time that the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is seen.

These are other verses in scripture that talk about Speaking in tongues.

—Mark 16:15-18
—Acts 10:44-47
—Acts 19:6
—1 Corinthians 12:27-31
—1 Corinthians 14:1-5
—1 Corinthians 14:14-19
—1 Corinthians 14:37-40
—Jude 20

These are not all of the scriptures about speaking in tongues, but they are a good place to start your study.

Let's take a look at One more verse.

-1 Corinthians 14:27-28 "If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God."

This passage gives the following restrictions for the use of tongues in the church:
1. No more than three may speak.
2. Only one at a time (by course).
3. Tongues must be interpreted or not spoken at all.

So what do you think of speaking in tongues?

April 15: The Body and the Blood

Luke 22:14-20 (New International Version)
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Let's talk about communion. I want to know what you think. There are three common theological ideas about communion:
1)Transubstantiation
2)Consubstantiation
3)Symbolism

The first idea is predominantly held by our Catholic brothers and sisters. Transubstantiation is a belief that the bread and the wine physically turn into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Consubstantiation is a belief that the power of the body and blood of Christ is in the bread and wine, while the elements still hold their physical characteristics.

Finally, the third idea is very simple. Taking communion is done for remembrance only. The bread and wine are just symbolic of the body and blood, and have no physical or spiritual significance.

What do you believe? Let’s see what the word has to say about it.

John 6:49-55 (New International Version)
"Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink."

Imagine if someone told you that you needed to eat him! I would think that gentleman was ten different kinds of crazy! That’s what the Jews who heard Jesus speaking thought, too. But, Jesus repeated himself in verse 55. "For my flesh is real food and my body is real drink."

These are not the only scriptures in the bible about communion. You should research this topic and leave a comment about what you believe.

Think about these questions as well:

• Should communion only be given in church by a priest or pastor?


• Do we have to use wine and unleavened bread?


• Should we be concerned about how the elements were stored?


• Is there a time when people should not take or be allowed to take communion?

April 8: Re-Crucify Christ?

I like to challenge our group with problems or ideas that I'm currently dealing with. I gave a message to the Fuel Youth in Springboro last week. It was about sin that we continually deal with.

Do you ever feel like you have a sin that is harder to stay away from? The example I gave to the youth was me driving. I am a very aggressive driver. If you're "parked" in the fast lane going 15 mph under the speed limit, I'm going to get ticked off and ride your bumper until you move over. After I road rage a bit, I calm down and feel bad about my behavior. At this point I usually, and very casually, ask God to forgive me.

OK, so I'm not out killing people. But, I know I shouldn't act like this. Besides, that's just an example in my life that I'm not too shameful to admit.

After casually asking for forgiveness the other day, a song shuffles onto my iPod. It’s an old punk rock song that starts with this lyric:
"No more speeches, no more words, no more talking, no more noise. I've heard your speech, you didn't tell me anything, I hadn't heard before. You gotta give me something more, something more."

That's when I realized I just continually ask for forgiveness without even trying to change my behavior!

Later, I read Hebrews 6:4-6:
"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace."

Now, we'll talk about the possibility of losing salvation at a later time. But the second half of that passage, starting with verse 6 is where I want to focus. That hit me like a brick! I keep re-crucifying Christ! I keep subjecting Him to public disgrace!

Rob Bell: Resurrection