Readings for the week of June 26, 2016

Psalm 96 is one Psalm whose historic context we can nail down with great accuracy.  It was sung by David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought up to Jerusalem.  David brought the ark close, but it did not enter Jerusalem until his son Solomon built that temple.  This is the story from 1 Chronicles.  Understand that the book of Chronicles is not so much a historic document as a genealogical document, recording those in the Lord’s nation who were present during these monumental times.

For added perspective, read the parallel account of David bringing the Ark up toward Jerusalem as found in 2 Samuel 7.  There are wonderful similarities and differences in the purposes and the perspectives of the stories.  It is akin to different points of view found in the parallel gospel accounts.

June 27-Monday: 1 Chronicles 14: 1-17

June 28-Tuesday: 1 Chronicles 15: 1-15

June 29-Wednesday: 1 Chronicles 15: 16-29

June 30-Thursday: 1 Chronicles 16: 1-34

July 1-Friday: Psalm 96

July 2-Saturday: 1 Chronicles 16: 35-43

Bible Readings for the Week of June 19, 2016

For Father's Day, we are considering Jesus' words to the people about who their Father was.  He had some choice words for them, piercing the bubble that God was their Father, accusing them of having the Devil as their Father instead. 

The Scripture verses for this week include the story from Sunday, but also the stories before and after this one from the Gospel of John.

Mon. June 20-John 8: 1-11

Tue. June 21-John 8: 12-20

Wed. June 22-John 8: 21-30

Thu. June 23-John 8:31-59

Fri. June 24-John 9: 1-12

Sat. June 23-John 9: 13-41

Readings for the Week of June 12, 2016

This Sunday, we will be looking at Acts 10, the story of Peter and Cornelius, the Centurion.  The focus will be on the result, Peter sharing the Good News with and finally baptizing Cornelius and his household. 
The readings for the week will give the full story from the book of Acts, and also the interactions that Jesus had with a Centurion (not named) in the Gospel of Luke.  As Luke and Acts are two parts of an ongoing story, this is a theme that follows between them, the theme of what constitutes belief in God.

Mon. Jun 13-Luke 7:1-10  Jesus heals the servant of a Centurion popular in Galilee

Tue. Jun 14-Luke 23: 44-49  The Centurion (we believe) is at Jesus’ death.

Wed. Jun 15-Acts 10: 1-16  The Prelude to Peter and the Centurion Cornelius

Thu. Jun 16-Acts 10: 17-29  Peter comes to the Centurion

Fri. Jun 17-Acts 10: 30-49  The Holy Spirit comes to the Centurion on our behalf, as Gentiles

Sat. Jun 18-Acts 11: 1-18  Peter makes a report to the Church of the change.

Readings for the Week of June 5, 2016

The first Sunday of the month is communion Sunday at the Church.  Our Scripture reading for worship is the story of Communion from the Gospel of Luke.  The Lord’s Supper leads in to the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  This week, we shall read that story as told in the Gospel of Luke.

Jun. 5, 2016-Sun: Luke 22: 7-30

Jun. 6, 2016-Mon: Luke 22: 31-46

Jun. 7, 2016-Tue: Luke 22: 47-70

Jun. 8, 2016-Wed: Luke 23: 1-12

Jun. 9, 2016-Thu: Luke 23: 13-42

Jun. 10, 2016-Fri: Luke 23: 43-55

Jun. 11, 2016-Sat: Luke 24: 1-12

Weekly Readings for the week of 5/29/16

Sunday's text, in commemoration of Memorial Day, is Psalm 91, the "First Responder's Psalm".

Different Psalms offer different reasons to sing to the Lord.  This week, we will sample those.

Mon, May 30: Psalm 88-Crying out to be saved from death.

Tue, May 31: Psalm 34-Singing to the Lord in praise and trust.

Wed, Jun 1: Psalm 43-Calling out to the Lord for vindication.

Thu, Jun 2: Psalm 144-A psalm for the soldier preparing for war.

Fri, Jun 3: Psalm 111-A psalm singing why we should praise our God.

Sat, Jun 4: Psalm 148- A psalm of praise that outlines the chorus of who should sing to the Lord.

Readings for the week of May 22, 2016

5/23 Monday: Gen. 17: (1-8) 9-27  The story of the completion of the covenant from Sunday’s text.

5/24 Tuesday: Gen. 18: 1-15  Following the covenant comes the promise of and heir through Sarah.

5/25 Wednesday: Acts 3: 1-10 (11-16)  This is the full story of the healing that leads to Sunday’s passage.

5/26 Thursday: Acts 3: 17-25  This is the conclusion of the chapter and the after-preaching.

5/27 Friday: Acts 4: 1-22  Peter and John speaking before the religious leadership in Jerusalem.

5/28 Saturday: Acts 4: 23-37  How their testimony affected the growth of the church.

Readings for the Week of May 15, 2016

We are dealing with the book of Revelations.  The readings this week lead into the Rev. passage from this Sunday.  We begin with an introduction on why John is writing the book from Rev. 1 and then look to chapters 17 and 18, leading into 19.

A couple of images to consider: “Babylon” and “the whore of Babylon” are the city of Rome.  The city is built on 7 hills.  It was the busiest trade city in the empire and considered to be the most "paganly" and corrupt. 

These passages are shorter this week because the imagery is so dense.

Mon. May 16: Rev. 1: 9-19   Why this book was written.

Tue. May 17: Rev. 17: 1-8

Wed. May 18: Rev. 17: 9-18

Thu. May 19: Rev. 18: 1-10

Fri. May 20: Rev. 18: 11-19

Sat. May 21: Rev. 18: 20-24

The concluding passage from May 15 is Rev. 19: 1-10.  You are invited to read it again in contrast to what came before.