Here are three translations of this week’s passage –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202%3A14-26&version=NRSV,ESV,NASB IV.We are thinking about James’ claims about faith and works. Last week we heard him stress the importance of moving beyond hearing about “the word” and failing to put into action … Continue reading
I.Last week listened to James tell us that we must not be mere hearers of “the word” but must follow through the hearing, the listening, with action. This week he takes the challenge further and forces us to consider the … Continue reading
Below is a link to this week’s Scripture passage –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+1%3A1-12&version=NRSV VII.This week as we spent time with James we have thought together by trials, joy, faith, maturity, and encouragement. There remains one more item to consider, doubt. It’s not so … Continue reading
VII.Let’s take another look at how this scene in the synagogue unfolds. Here’s a link to the passage in both the NRSV and in The Message –https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6%3A1-6&version=NRSV;MSG VIII.Previous to his going to Nazareth Mark recounts Jesus healing a number of … Continue reading
VI.Judgement – Confrontation – Hope When you think of the Hebrew prophets how do you first characterize their messages? One of judgement, confrontation, calling attention to what the people’s problem is, or hope? If we think of it enough, probably … Continue reading
V. Picking up where we left off the other day, “… God … has fulfilled … the Lord has upheld the promise he made …” In the context of Solomon’s speech this covers many years and many events from the … Continue reading
VIII. I wonder if we hear Peter’s words to us as encouragement or scolding? It could be when we read, “… make every effort to support your faith with …” we could hear him speaking from disappointment and scolding us … Continue reading
V. I closed the other day with two questions – (1) What is the first step we take toward this knowledge? And (2) What steps do we take as we begin to gain this knowledge? Recall that the “knowledge” we … Continue reading
I. As we turn this week to the beginning of this letter I think it helpful to notice two things. First, Peter knows he is not sharing with his readers anything they do not already know, “Therefore I intend to … Continue reading
X. “Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.” (1 Peter 1.21) I wonder if we could use this … Continue reading