Psalm 2 The challenging verses at the end of the Psalm can only be read in context of the whole Psalm. The Psalm is a contrast between the rule of God and God’s chosen ruler, and the earthly rulers.  God’s anger and mockery are explicitly named here, in a way that perhaps we don’t think of as normal. God demands a deference…

Acts 2:1-4;  Galatians 4:1-7 [5:16-26]                                                                               Paul writes that the works of the flesh are obvious. And while the duality of flesh versus spirit is a problem, let’s go explore the obviousness. For Paul doesn’t call the works of the Spirit obvious.  Our behavior illustrates that it isn’t obvious, or that we don’t care. There is a strong contrast with the fruits…

Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29            The end of this passage is the familiar part. The start is a bit more aggressive, a bit more John the Baptist, a bit louder than the tone we normally read the familiar part in. Paul does a bit of work here, addressing the people of faith in Galatia and in Marion.            This duality between faith and…

Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21                          Paul is here calling the other disciples on the carpet. It’s an odd passage to read a week after the Jerusalem conference, when we just heard about the church opening to Gentiles. It is important that we read the letter carefully, and in the context, remembering the conversation from Acts 15 last week.            What Paul actually seems…

Acts 15:1-18                                           The Jerusalem conference is an important moment in the life of the Church. It is a defining moment. Do people have to join the church through Judaism, or is there another way? Is salvation through the circumcision of Moses alone or is there another way?            Fundamentally, the church and its leaders have to make a decision here.…

Acts 8:26-39            So often our assumption is that missionaries and evangelism and conversion work is just sent to people who have never heard the Gospel. Contained inside that assumption are several others. One is that the Gospel is do obvious, and so compelling, and so irresistible that one only needs to be introduced to it to be converted by it. Of…

Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60                       And it should look and sound familiar. When there’s lots of change, there’s lots of issues. There are problems between Jews and Greeks, and a perception of unfairness. There is calling of new leaders, and friction between Jews and Christians.  Stephen reprises the role of Jesus, as all Christians are called to do.            The world needs this…

Luke 24:13-35                 This is the 2nd Sunday of Easter. The items in the text take place on Easter, and spread out over a long day, with many miles on the road. Some of the followers of Jesus are on the road out of Jerusalem, having been informed of the resurrection, and yet sad. They are talking among themselves, processing the events…

Luke 24:1-12     Empty tomb, women perplexed, bring the message.            The story of Easter is one that we know fairly well. We know early on the first day of the week. We know the women. We know the cowered and hiding disciples. We know the disbelief.            The story all changes when the women remember. They remember who Jesus is, and…

Luke 19:29-44            Rocks are a theme in Scripture. Peter is the rock. Children of Abraham could be raised up from those stones. The church is made of living stone. And here, Jesus talks about stones that can cry out. We so often look at this passage at what the people cry out, moving from Hosanna to ‘crucify him!’ but what does…