Sunday’s Coming
Monday lectionary email, archived here on Friday
Delighting in the story (John 6:1-21)
This week’s Gospel reading is profoundly delightful.
Doing things for God? (2 Samuel 7:1-14a)
David and Nathan both get it wrong, and so do we.
Grace and peace (Ephesians 1:3-14)
It’s hard to greet people with a blessing without sounding ostentatiously pious.
Consensus is hard (2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10)
When David was anointed, no one voted.
Reaching out (Mark 5:21-43)
The Gospel of Mark tells the story of a precarious moment.
Our very human pastors (2 Corinthians 6:1-13)
Paul comes to the Corinthians as he is and ministers among them from God’s grace dwelling in his distinct and dented life.
This particular soil (Mark 4:26-34)
Seeds do not grow without soil, and soil is a factor of place.
On not losing heart (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1)
Learning to trust in God requires an act of will.
Jesus’ very Jewish question about sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6)
Jesus is in alignment with many rabbis when he asks, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath?”
Corrected by Jesus (John 3:1-17)
Jesus’ response to Nicodemus takes the form of a mild rebuke.
Third group
Going away and coming closer (John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)
How could it be better for Jesus to go away?
Divine testimony in our hearts (1 John 5:9-13)
According to 1 John, we have received more than mere mortal attestation.
Jesus in the clouds (Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23)
Is there anything more embarrassing than believing in a three-story universe?
An imperative to praise (Psalm 98)
The psalmist is bossy: “Sing to the Lord a new song.”
On watch (Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8)
Fruitful ministry becomes sustainable when it is shared, person to person and generation to generation.
Psalm 23 in conversation (Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18)
This familiar text takes on new dimensions when read in tandem with this week’s epistle and gospel texts.