New Church Audio - Rev. Malcolm G. Smith

When the Lord sent out His disciples, after His resurrection, He told them to make disciples of all the nations and baptize them “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Why? Why did He not just tell them to baptize people into His name — Jesus? And what is the value to each of us of knowing that we have been — or can be — baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?

How do we recognize the Lord, and how do we recognize Him for who He truly is — our God and Savior who rose from the dead? In the gospels we see that some people recognize the Lord and some do not; and we see that some take longer than others to recognize Him. All of these stories have something to teach us about how we can grow in our recognition, understanding, and trust of the Lord our God.

When we think of being the Lord’s disciple, we might think of all the good parts — and there are countless good things about following the Lord. However, when we look at the experience of the Lord’s twelve disciples, we are reminded of how often they were confused and scared, how often they were rebuked and challenged by the Lord, and how often they didn’t understand what was going on or what the Lord was saying. And yet they kept following Him. This Sunday, as we approach Easter, we will reflect on what we should expect in our efforts to be the Lord’s disciple.

There are lots of good things about following the Lord, but there are hard things too. The Lord’s disciples were often confused and scared; they were often rebuked and challenged by the Lord; and they often didn’t understand what was going on or what the Lord was saying. And yet they kept following Him. This Sunday, as we approach Easter, we will think about what we should expect in our efforts to be the Lord’s disciple.

There are lots of good things about following the Lord, but there are hard things too. The Lord’s disciples were often confused and scared; they were often rebuked and challenged by the Lord; and they often didn’t understand what was going on or what the Lord was saying. And yet they kept following Him. This Sunday, as we approach Easter, we will think about what we should expect in our efforts to be the Lord’s disciple.

Did you know that the teachings for the New Church reveal that everything in our spiritual reality and our natural reality is in the human form — from a friend group, to a nation, to a planet, to the entirety of heaven? Heaven in the human form is called the “Grand Man” or the “universal human.” On Sunday we will explore how we relate to and find our place in the Grand Man.

The teachings for the New Church reveal that everything in our spiritual reality and our natural reality is in the human form — from a friend group, to a nation, to a planet, to the entirety of heaven. All of heaven in the human form is called the “Grand Man” or the “universal human.” This is a concept with many implications and applications. On Sunday we will explore a few of the teachings on this fascinating topic, with a particular focus on how we relate to and find our place in the Grand Man.

Part of understanding the importance and value of holy supper is understanding its connection to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…." (John 6:51). And in the teachings for the New Church it says this: "The Lord is present and opens heaven to those who worthily approach the Holy Supper" (True Christian Religion 719). Let’s talk this Sunday about how we can experience heaven through the holy supper.

Part of understanding the importance and value of holy supper is understanding its connection to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…." (John 6:51). And in the teachings for the New Church it says this: "The Lord is present and opens heaven to those who worthily approach the Holy Supper" (True Christian Religion 719). Let’s talk this Sunday about how we can experience heaven through the holy supper.

When Zacharias’ mouth was opened after being mute, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied. We will go through the words he said, as a way of reflecting on what the Lord accomplished when He came. We will also reflect on what each of us might say if we were filled with the Holy Spirit.