I was honored to receive an email from Nate Bobbett, who's the Antioch pastor who delivered the message I referred to below.

Nate had a few explanatory comments on the message he preached, and Antioch's position on the Lord's Supper:

Antioch officially stands on a doctrinal continuum somewhere between Calvin and Luther – when it comes to The Lord’s supper. We believe there is power and there is presence. But officially, we would say that there is not actually Jesus’ body in the elements. ...

And personally I am comfortable with believers taking different stands on this issue. Of greater importance is that we come together with reverence, and that we come together often around the Lord’s table, recognizing his great power and presence in this sacrament!

I think we're all growing and mindful of the fact that even if it's not the literal body and blood, it certainly is a holy sacrament -- and an incredible honor.

Looks like we're headed inexorably toward a new building. That's a good thing. Jimmy said he thinks God wants us to prepare for 5,000 people on Sunday mornings, so I think that would mean a 2,500 seat sanctuary and two Sunday services.

I think Antioch is officially a "megachurch," but one of the things that's great about it is that it has a small, intimate feel to it. (Of course, many in the shoulder to shoulder herd at the 10:15 service probably wouldn't agree with me.)

Should know something in January about a new building project. Personally, I hope we don't have to buy Autozone to get it done. It's nice having an auto parts store practically on our campus. :-)

My name is Eric Guel. I've been involved with Antioch since the fall of 1995 (in the Highland Baptist Church days). Back in those days most people called me Bird, a childhood nickname. I still answer to that name, and many of my close friends still default to that name when talking to me.

As far as my history with Antioch goes, I cut my teeth at Baylor Landing Lifegroups in the mid-90s, married a beautiful Highland/Antioch woman in 1997, and to this day my wife and four children all enjoy fellowship with the imperfect community of believers under the arch at 20th and Waco Drive.

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my week-to-week life at Antioch. Truth be told, I don't have much of an agenda here. I didn't create this space in order to criticize my church (though some things I write may be construed that way), and I didn't make this blog in order to be obsequious to anyone or anything associated with Antioch. In all things, I hope this blog honors the Lord, and I hope anyone who identifies with Antioch will find it interesting, informative, and encouraging.

Welcome to Under the Arch.