XI. Earlier we were talking about preparation for worship and I didn’t mention the singers and musicians. In David’s time just as in our’s, I have to think those folks prepared for their participation in public worship. Certainly it was … Continue reading
VI. What is recounted in 1 Chronicles 15 is a unique situation. The closest some of us might come to anything of this type might be the dedication or consecration of a church sanctuary, church building or some very special … 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
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
VI. Let’s read over the passage again today and look for the contrasts you see in the passage. For instance, “reverent fear.” Does “reverence” and “fear” create contrasting images of ideas for you? Or do they somehow “fit” together? What … Continue reading
I. On my first reading of this passage I had a sense of “overload.” There is a lot going on here. It starts with “… prepare … disciple … hope … conformed …” And toward the end, “… withers … … Continue reading
VIII. I have asked you to pay attention to what Paul writes about being “… imitators … [and] … example.” Actually, thus far I have mentioned being an imitator and asked you to recall persons (and groups) that are maturing … Continue reading
V. Let’s pick up where we left off Monday. Who and what is on the list I asked you to think about? Where have you encountered something of the lifestyle Paul saw in the folks he was writing to? I … Continue reading
I. This week we focus our attention on the first few sentences of a letter of Paul to the church in Thessaloniki. After the typical start to Paul’s letter where he invokes “grace and peace” for the community he writes, … Continue reading