Readings for the week of March 12, 2017

The Israelites conquered the Promised Land as recorded in the book of Joshua.  Our story from Rahab was part of that history.  Today, we read the story of Hannah.  Once the Israelites were settled, they were initially led by ‘judges’, military and judicial leaders who rose up regionally to deal with invasions or other matters of importance.  Samuel, whose mother is Hannah, is the transitional judge before the kingdom was established.  Our readings in 1 Samuel detail his origin, his life, and judgeship.

Sun., Mar. 12-1 Samuel 1

Mon., Mar. 13-1 Samuel 2

Tue., Mar. 14-1 Samuel 3

Wed., Mar. 15-1 Samuel 4

Thu., Mar. 16-1 Samuel 5

Fri., Mar. 17-1 Samuel 6

Sat., Mar. 18-1 Samuel 7

Readings for the Week of March 5, 2017

Memory Verse: Matthew 5:3

The Lenten Sermons are going to be on the Beatitudes, the opening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, illustrated with stories of women in the bible whose lives demonstrate the Beatitude in question.  This week, we open the book of Joshua (we read a more extended portion of Joshua a couple of weeks back) to set the context of Rahab’s story.  The rest of the week sets the context of and covers the extent of the entire Sermon on the Mount.

Sun., Mar. 5: Joshua 2: 1-24; 6: 22-25

Mon., Mar. 6: Joshua 1

Tue., Mar. 7: Joshua 2

Wed., Mar. 8: Matthew 4

Thu., Mar. 9: Matthew 5

Fri., Mar. 10: Matthew 6

Sat., Mar. 11: Matthew 7

Readings for the week of Feb. 26

The stories from Isaiah and Luke overlap in theme.  Our readings from the book of 2 Kings outlines the entire story of Hezekiah and the readings from Luke provide a context to the teaching cycle of Jesus when this passage occurs.  In the readings from 2 Kings, there are a lot of names and what might be unfamiliar history.  Know that the history is in light of the king’s faithfulness to God.  Know also that you can ask pastor any questions you have about the context or just what the heck is going on.

Sun., Feb. 26- Isaiah 39:1-40:5; Luke 16 :19-31     

Mon., Feb. 27-2 Kings 18

Tue., Feb. 28-2 Kings 19

Wed., Mar. 1-2 Kings 20

These chapters are the story of King Hezekiah from the ‘histories’ of Israel, offered to set a context for the reading in Isaiah.  The prophet is mentioned by name in the book of 2 Kings.

Thu., Mar. 2-Luke 15: 3-32  The chapter before our passage from Sunday, Jesus provides three parables of grace.

Fri., Mar. 3-Luke 16  This includes our Sunday passage and concerns teachings about money.

Sat., Mar. 4-Luke 17  The chapter following is in contrast, teaching about faith and forgiveness.

Readings for the Week of February 19

The readings this week are the lead-up to our chapter in Joshua from today’s sermon.  It is the beginning of the conquest of the Holy Land under the leadership of Joshua.

Memory verse: Matthew 15:28

Sun., Feb. 19: Joshua 9; Matthew 15: 21-28

Mon., Feb. 20: Joshua 1

Tue., Feb. 21: Joshua 2

Wed., Feb. 22: Joshua3-4

Thu., Feb. 23: Joshua 5

Fri. Feb. 24: Joshua 6-7

Sat., Feb. 26: Joshua 8

Readings for the Week of Feb. 5

The writer of the fourth gospel is also credited with writing the book of Revelation and these three letters, the last two being among the shortest books of the bible.  There are many parallels in the language and metaphors that John uses.  His is a different voice from both Peter and Paul.  In 2 John and 3 John, the letters read the most like personal correspondence in the New Testament.

Sun. Feb. 5: 1 John 1:5-2:3

Mon. Feb. 6: 1 John 1

Tue. Feb. 7: 1 John 2

Wed. Feb. 8: 1 John 3

Thu. Feb. 9: 1 John 4

Fri. Feb. 10: 1 John 5

Sat. Feb. 11: 2 John & 3 John

Readings for the Week of January 29, 2017

The reading this week is from Peter’s first letter.  Unlike Paul, he wrote only two letters contained in the New Testament which, instead of going to a specific church, appear to have been circulated in a region where Peter was active.  The readings are going to begin with a chapter in Acts, where Peter is preaching in the early church, and then through the chapters of 1 Peter.  As you read, see if Peter’s preaching voice, as recorded by Luke, is similar to his writing voice.

Sun. Jan. 29: 1 Peter 1: 13-21

Mon. Jan. 30: Acts 3

Tue. Jan. 31: 1 Peter 1

Wed. Feb. 1: 1 Peter 2

Thu. Feb.2: 1 Peter 3

Fri. Feb. 3: 1 Peter 4

Sat. Feb. 4: 1 Peter 5

Readings for the week of January 22

After explaining that God has a plan for each of us, when speaking to someone about the Christian faith, the next point is to speak of the sinfulness that is in all of our lives, that no one is worthy of God’s love on our own.  The point is not to dwell on condemnation from God, but rather on the saving grace God has for each of us in God’s plan for each of us.  Still, sin is a difficult and often abused concept in the church.

Sun. Jan. 22-Romans 7:7-25  Paul is here trying to encapsulate the reality of sin in the context of God’s Word given as the law.

Mon. Jan. 23-Genesis 3  This is the story of Adam and Eve and the Serpent, what happened and the aftermath with God, the story of “Original Sin”.

Tue. Jan. 24-Psalm 1  This Psalm speaks of the contrast between the wicked and those who follow God’s path, a duality that many Christians divide all people into.

Wed. Jan. 25-Isaiah 59  The language here, of a disobedient people, of the sins they commit against God, and God’s punishment in return for their deeds, is the language that is preached on about our own disobedience to God as sinners and the punishment we can expect, except for Jesus.

Thu. Jan. 26-Luke 12: 13-34  These are Jesus’ words, first a parable of the rich man whose riches could not save him, then words of comfort as to the true power of God coming to us.

Fri. Jan. 27-Romans 8: 1-17  The follow on to the verses from Sunday, here Paul speaks of how are relationship to God changes in Jesus.

Sat. Jan. 28-Romans 8: 18-30  It is not only we who are caught up in sin, but all of creation, thus the plan of God is not just for us, but also for all of creation.

For all the complexities of sin, the reality is far simpler.  God saves us from it by Jesus.  That is God’s plan, that is our salvation, not something to be confused by, but something to embrace.