November 22, 2020, Acts 4:32-5:11, ISSL Reflections, Post 2

IV.Let’s focus here for while – Acts 4:32, 34-35Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common…. There … Continue reading

November 22, 2020, Acts 4:32-5:11, ISSL Reflections, Post 1

I.I’ll get us started on our text for this week as I do most weeks asking you to read over the passage a couple of times. For our first reading let’s read the entire passage without stopping to pay particular … Continue reading

November 15, 2020, 1 John 3:11-24, ISSL Reflections Post 1

I.As you read these words from 1 John what stands out to your? What do you take as the theme of this passage? II.1 John 3:11-24 (NRSV) For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we … Continue reading

August 23, 2020 James 3:1-12 Post 2 ISSL Reflections

Take some time to slowly read this week’s Scripture passage. Don’t rush over it. Let the words find a resting place in you and soak them in. Here is a link to three translations of the passage –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%203%3A1-12&version=NRSV,MSG,GNT IV.As you … Continue reading

July 12, 2020, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7b; Luke 2:39-52 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflections

.Who’s listening? Who’s talking? You can find this week’s Scripture at –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A1%2C+7b%3B+Luke+2%3A39-52&version=NRSV VI.Here is a 12 year old boy sitting with the Rabbis. Is he in the background, on the sidelines. How long is he there before the Rabbis notice … Continue reading

May 10, 2020, Zechariah 8:1-8, 11-17 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflections

This week’s Scripture passage –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+8%3A1-8%2C+11-17&version=NRSV IV.These words were first heard and later read in a world far distant from our own. The passage as we find it in our Scriptures was selected to be read for this coming Sunday several … Continue reading

May 10, 2020, Zechariah 8:1-8, 11-17 – ISSL Reflections

I.Zechariah tells us, “The word of the Lord of hosts came to me saying …” Where is the Prophet Zechariah? The Lord of Hosts? The people who are receiving this Word? First, read the passage through slowly and with an … Continue reading

April 19, 2020, Esther 7:1-10 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflections

VI.Who was there as Esther “discerned” her path forward? Mordecai, her guardian, her mentor (another word that is used maybe too often, but to me fits here), one that can speak the difficult word to her. Who, like a Mordecai … Continue reading

September 22, 2019, Numbers 13; 14:1-10a – Post 3

IX. Before we move on to the activities of the weekend, let me put one more thought before you. I have often thought of approaching Scripture with different lens (or templates) that might help us draw out the meanings and … Continue reading