Ephesians 5:6-14 is our scripture for this Sunday. Paul is calling out the converts to Christianity. Many scholars believe that congregation was mainly Gentile. So, of course, there are problems. There is this spiritual conflict facing many, if not all, in that congregation. Many are living as if they are children of ignorance instead as […]
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The scriptures for this Sunday are Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21. For many reading this blog, Genesis 3 is a familiar story. It’s the story of how a perfect world created by God becomes tainted with sin. Our parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden did not follow the one rule God laid out for
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Sunday’s scriptures are from Exodus and Matthew. In Exodus 24, Moses is led to the mountain. In Matthew 17, Jesus leads Peter, James, and John to another mountain. While there are similarities in the stories, there is one difference I wish to highlight: Moses embraces the mystery and glory of God while the disciples think
Micah 6:1-16 is our scripture for this Sunday. This passage takes place in a courtroom. God is laying out the case against the people of Israel. The hills, mountains, and the eternal foundations of the earth are witnesses to this lawsuit. What has happened? God’s chosen people have forgotten what the LORD did for them
Psalm 27 is the scripture for this Sunday. The psalm is attributed to David and it is a psalm of trust. While that title is not in the superscription, there are elements of trust in this psalm. The first six verses describe who God is: Light, salvation, fortress, and shelter. Does David need to fear?
Our scriptures for this Sunday are Isaiah 49:1-7 and John 1:29-42. In Isaiah, the servant acknowledges that the LORD knows them intimately. The LORD knew them before they were created, knew them in the womb, and knows them know. God is described as a protector of that servant and the source of their strength.
Our scriptures this Sunday are Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12. At first glance, Isaiah seems more hopeful than Matthew. Isaiah speaks of new growth, a new leader, and a new world where all will dwell together in peace. On the other hand, John the Baptist in Matthew seems to give us a bleaker picture of
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Our scriptures for this Sunday are Isaiah 12 and Psalm 98. Isaiah 12 is a hymn of trust. Psalm 98 is a hymn of praise. Neither of them were written in a vacuum. Isaiah 12 takes place after eleven chapters of doom and gloom relating to Israel’s eventual collapse and captivity to the Assyrians due
Psalm 32 and Luke 19:1-10 are the scriptures for this Sunday. In Psalm 32, David teaches us that fessing up to our shortcomings is the right thing to do. Furthermore, God rejoices when we fess up and is ready to embrace us! When we let something eat away at us or if we were to
Psalm 46 is our passage this Sunday. This Sunday also marks the Sunday closest to Reformation Day, which is October 31. On October 31, 1517, as legend has it, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses (brief statements) on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany which was the spark that lit the fire of the Protestant
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