Here is a recap of our message from this weekend...

Encounter Sunday

This Encounter Sunday message from Pastor Jared dives deep into the sacred significance of communion. Rather than a religious ritual, communion is a divine re-entry into the covenant made through the blood of Jesus Christ. Through worship and reflection, the church is reminded that we don’t just hold a cup — we hold forgiveness, grace, and restoration.

Weekly Bible Study List

1. Luke 22:20 – "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
2. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 – “Do this in remembrance of me.”
3. Romans 7:15 – “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
4. Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions... and by his wounds we are healed.”
5. Hebrews 9:15 – “He is the mediator of a new covenant...”

The Sunday Outline & Notes

Pastor Jared followed the opening worship set of the service with a reminder that Encounter Sunday isn’t a typical Sunday at One City Church. It's a day where the church intentionally steps out of routine to fully pursue the presence of Jesus. Authentic worship is the goal — not perfection, not performance.

The Power of Communion

Using the analogy of signing waivers for excursions, Pastor Jared compares modern-day flippancy toward communion with our general tendency to agree to things we don’t fully understand. Communion is too sacred to be approached lightly. It is not just a memory exercise — it’s a holy covenant.

What Communion Really Means

He teaches that the word “remembrance” in the original Greek implies re-entering a covenant, not just mentally recalling a moment. Jesus wasn’t asking His disciples to reflect on the past — He was inviting them to re-engage in the relationship He established through His sacrifice.

Understanding Covenant in Jewish Tradition

The concept of covenant, especially in ancient Jewish culture, was literally a "cutting." Two parties would walk between the pieces of a sacrificed animal to establish the seriousness of their agreement. Jesus redefines this covenant — not between man and man, but between God and humanity. He becomes the sacrifice we pass through to enter unity with the Father.

Communion is a reminder that despite our mess, our brokenness, and even our shame, we are not defined by our past but by the new covenant in Christ. Pastor Jared urges anyone feeling unworthy to see communion as proof of God’s forgiveness and their worth.

From Sermon to Action

Having re-entered the covenant, the church was invited into powerful, Spirit-filled worship — not out of obligation, but out of revelation. We worship because we’ve been redeemed, restored, and covered by the blood of Jesus.

Worship Setlist

1. Another Stone
2. I Thank God
3. Gratitude
4. Way Maker
5. Be Enthroned
6. Worship team went in and out of many songs throughout the day

Quotes Worth Reposting on Social Media

1. “Sometimes we need to get out of the ordinary to step into the extraordinary.”
2. “Communion is not just a remembrance — it’s a re-entry into the covenant of Christ.”
3. “You don’t hold your mistakes in your hand. You hold forgiveness.”
4. “Jesus didn’t come to remind us who He is — He came to reenter relationship with us.”
5. “You are not holding a cup — you are holding a covenant.”
6. “If Paul couldn’t get it right all the time, we probably can’t either.”
7. “Brokenness is not where God leaves you. He brings restoration.”
8. “We have no greater weapon than our worship.”
9. “Jesus became the sacrifice so we could come into unity with our Creator.”
10. “When you understand the significance of communion, you’ll never take it the same again.”

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