Our scriptures for this Sunday come from Psalm 103:1-8 and Luke 13:10-17. Compassion is a central theme in both passages. In Psalm 103:8, the LORD is compassionate and full of mercy. In Luke 13:12-13, Jesus looks with compassion onto the woman who has been bent over for over 18 years and heals her. Our God […]
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This Sunday, our scripture is Psalm 82. It’s a peculiar psalm that starts out with the Psalmist painting a picture of God speaking to a divine council. God accuses these gods of favoring wicked practices such as failing to provide for orphans, widows, and destitute while siding with the powerful. Furthermore, God declares to the
Our scripture readings for this Sunday can be found here. The author of Ecclesiastes writes about worrying. Worrying about his legacy, worrying about his hard work falling into someone else’s hands after he dies, and worrying about who is worthy to take over the work. In his parable from Luke, Jesus talks about a rich
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This Sunday, we are in 2 Kings 2:1-14 and Luke 9:51-62. The mantle is about to be passed from Elijah to Elisha in 2 Kings. In Luke 9, three people encounter Jesus and, well, he tells them like it is! In both passages, there’s denial. Elisha doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that his beloved
Our scripture this Sunday is Galatians 3:19-29. There’s been some controversy in the Galatian Church and Paul is not happy! Fraudulent preachers have infiltrated the Galatian church and are undermining his work. They are saying that one must follow the Law (given by Moses) in order to be a Christian. Paul declares: “Not so!” The
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This Sunday is Trinity Sunday and our scriptures are Psalm 8 and Romans 5:1-5. The Trinity is hard to explain. In the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!”, we sing in the first stanza: “God in three persons, blessed Trinity!” And while understanding the Trinity will take an eternity, I do want to lift
Our scriptures for Sunday are Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-21. Looking at them side by side, there are contrasts and similarities. Notably, the Genesis reading ends in a united people scattered and the Acts passage ends with a scattered people united. Or you may notice that one is about homogeneity (Genesis) and the other
Well, friends, here we are! The final portion of our journey through Revelation’s highlights! This Sunday’s passage is Revelation 22:6-21. John is giving the readers and listeners of this letter last minute encouraging words. He’s giving those who have inflicted harm upon the Church another opportunity for repentance. He’s reminding Christians to remain faithful. And
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This Sunday’s passage is Revelation 21:9-22:5. It places us in the fourth and final Spirit-induced trance. John’s vision is, most notably, about the New Jerusalem. It is a New City created by God and descends from the New Heaven onto the New Earth. It is a huge city! Bigger than our minds can imagine! And
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This week’s scripture is Revelation 21:1-8. It can be divided up into two parts. In verses 1-4, there is a voice from heaven that tells John “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind.” John is promised that there will be a new heaven and a new Earth. The former things will pass away and God will
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