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Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14 Central Verse: “This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.” Exodus 12:14 NRSV Central Truth: This is a text that is primarily focused on the liturgical notion of faith. The story of Moses has been action packed up to this point and here at the culmination of the plagues we stop not just to be told about something the people of Israel are supposed to do, but how they are to do it. Typically the image we carry of this text is the Charleston Heston movie. This image is of people seriously eating together attempting to avoid accidental death by God. Viewing this text through the lens of a popular movie has, instead of breathing life into the text, solidified it as a significant historical event with very little meaning outside of its time. When we take the events out of their context like the movie but place it back into the contex...

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10 Central Verse: “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Exodus 1:8 NRSV Central Truth: This begins a few weeks in Exodus so some background material is important. Author: Unknown, tradition has accredited it to Moses. Some portions may have been written by Moses but they have been compiled together by various authors over the years before they arrived at their final work. In biblical studies, there are four primary redactors of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the bible). Their abbreviations are JEPD. J stands for Jehovah tradition which is the southern kingdom of Israel’s history. E is Elohim which is the northern kingdom. In the Hebrew, these two redactors are identified by their usage of these names for God. While we translate Jehovah and Elohim as God, and Yahweh as GOD traditionally these groups used the names listed above. P stands for priestly tradition, usually if the text deals heavily with priest and what priest do i...

Reading Amount: Revelation 14:1-20 Central Verse: Then I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation and tribe and language and people. He said in a loud voice. "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." Then another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, "Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, they will also drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up foreve...

Title: The Example of the Lamb Reading Amount: Revelation 12:1-13:18 Central Verse: Let anyone who has an ear listen: If you are to be taken captive, Into captivity you go; If you kill with the sword, With the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. But they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb, And by the word of their testimony, For they did not cling to life even in the Face of death. Revelation 12:9-11 Central Truth: Victory for a believer comes not from violence but from the victory that the Lamb attained and how well we follow that example. Food For Thought: Note the only mark of a true believer is not accepting the mark of the beast. Salvation doesn’t have anything to do with a confession of faith contrary to what many modern theologians say. This section continues with the fact that evil is just a parody of God. We see an evil "trinity" the dragon represents Satan. The beast from the sea represents the Roman governme...

Reading Amount: Revelation 10:1-11:19 Central Verse: We give you thanks, LORD GOD Almighty Who are and who were, For you have taken your great power And begun to reign. The nations raged, But your wrath has come, And the time for judging the dead, For regarding your servants, the Prophets And saints and all who fear your, Name, Both small and great, And for destroying those who destroy The earth." Revelation 11:17b-18 NRSV Central Truth: The role of the church in the book of Revelation is one of praise of God and reflection on what God has done. We often forget this role in the church today in favor of other modes of expression. Food for Thought: Seven Thunders - a curious thing happens and John is interrupted and told not to write down what the thunders say. Traditional Apocalyptic tradition would dictate that there must be seven different sections of seven woes. Here we see that God is not trapped by our own traditions but is powerful enough to say stop, we will move forward. C...

Reading Amount: Revelation 10:1-11:19 Central Verse: We give you thanks, LORD GOD Almighty Who are and who were, For you have taken your great power And begun to reign. The nations raged, But your wrath has come, And the time for judging the dead, For regarding your servants, the Prophets And saints and all who fear your, Name, Both small and great, And for destroying those who destroy The earth." Revelation 11:17b-18 NRSV Central Truth: The role of the church in the book of Revelation is one of praise of God and reflection on what God has done. We often forget this role in the church today in favor of other modes of expression. Food for Thought: Seven Thunders - a curious thing happens and John is interrupted and told not to write down what the thunders say. Traditional Apocalyptic tradition would dictate that there must be seven different sections of seven woes. Here we see that God is not trapped by our own traditions but is powerful enough to say stop, we will move forward. C...

Reading Amount: Revelation 8:1-9:21 Central Verse: The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21 NRSV Central Truth: The heart of Revelation is Salvation and the desire for the salvation of the world. As the plagues begin we find reason to mourn, people still don't turn to God when things are bad. Food For Thought: The description of the locusts in these chapters are often seen as a parody of the divine. We see they have golden crowns, like God, human faces like the creatures around the throne of God, and their hair has been understood as representing certain frenzy religious practices in the emperor cults. There are also biblical ties to the image of the locust. Locust were understood to ...

Reading Amount: Revelation 7:1-17 Central Verse: After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "salvation belongs to our God who is Seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Revelation 7:9-10 NRSV Central Truth: Salvation has come to all. No one is excluded from God's plan of salvation. The appropriate response to God's salvation is praise to God and the Lamb (note that they both share the throne). Food For Thought: Great emphasis has been put on the 144,000 in recent church history. Some groups have emphasized this as an exclusionary tactic claiming that they are the 144,000 and no one else. There are two problems with this view, one is that it forgets the nature of symbolic/metaphorical language. John is using the biggest number he can thi...

Reading Amount: Revelation 2:1-3:22 Central Verse: And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. - Rev. 2:23b Central Truth: Christ knows his churches and his people, he deals with each of us differently but expects us to follow him regardless of our surrounding culture or the powers we find ourselves surrounded by. Food For Thought: There are seven churches that are dealt with, and these churches were in a circuit so that when the letter traveled each would see and hear what was spoken to the others. This reminds us of the universality of the message of Revelation but also reminds us that the intent of Revelation is pastoral in nature not future forecasting as many views of Revelation would have us believe. There is a pattern that each mini-letter to the churches holds Similarities of the prophecies to the churches To the angel of the church in a given city, write: Jesus (depicted in glory, ofte...

Reading Amount: Revelation 1:1-20 Central Verse: I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force. - 1:13b-16 NRSV As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches. - 1:20 Central Truth: Christ is the Lord over all creation but his love is manifest in that he is present with us as individuals and as a community. Food For Thought: In the opening chapter of Revelation we learn that it is a letter written to seven churches in particular. Bec...

Who, When and Where: The question of who wrote the book of Revelation, like most books in the bible, is not an easy question to answer. Fortunately there isn't much discussion about possible redactors or editors of the book. A redactor is similar to a second author who goes over the original manuscript inserting comments for what they deem as clarification. Most scholars seem to agree that that book was written by one individual. Historically and traditionally speaking that leaves us with two individuals as options. First in the traditional category is John the Apostle, or other wise known as "the Disciple whom Jesus loved" a reference to his nickname in the Gospel of John. The historical, and to some traditional, option is John of Ephesus who was a church elder in the city of Ephesus located in modern day Turkey. Some individuals believe that these are the same persons. Their reasoning that this is the same person is that tradition states that John the Apostle took Mary...

Reading Amount: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Central Verse: By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3b-5 Central Truth: The hope that we have in Christ comes not from forgiveness of sins or from his death on the cross, but from the resurrection. The Resurrection has brought us into a relationship with God with eternal rewards. Food for Thought (Questions about the text): As in the case of most letters in the New Testament Peter sets up the general themes that we will see reoccurring throughout the letter. In verse two Peter writes "May Grace and peace be yours in abundance." (1 Peter 1:2 NRSV). The greeting of grace is a traditional greeting in the Roman world, the addition of the word peace i...

Who: Like all biblical books the question of who wrote the book of 1 Peter is a complicated one. Tradition has taught that the author of 1 Peter is in fact the disciple Peter. This doesn't stand without some issues that have to be faced by faithful stewards of scripture. One of the difficulties with Peter being the author is that from the Gospels we know Peter as a fisherman. It is doubtful that Peter would have been able to write this letter in the form that it is written. For instance the Greek used in 1 Peter is very 'proper' and well articulated, hardly what we would expect from a fisherman. Another difficulty is that in this letter when the Old Testament is quoted it is the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint, abbreviated LXX) that is quoted. It seems reasonably safe to assume that Peter would have quoted the scriptures in Hebrew or Aramaic because that is what he would have grown up understanding. Peter would have quoted what was comfortable and he was ...

Reading Amount: John 21:1-25 Central Verse: But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down. I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 Central Truth: God is still speaking!!!!! Food for thought: (Questions about the text) The ending of the Gospel is a common form of ending, giving respect to all the information that doesn't make it into the written word. The disciples were back fishing, this may have been a sign that they were giving up on their mission. But Jesus appears to call them back to it. Jesus asks Peter to take care of his sheep three times, this may be a way of giving Peter forgiveness for denying him three times. Connections: (Time with Our Society) Why doesn't God speak to me? Why doesn't God speak today? These are questions that I've had to face quite often as a pastor. Usually its someone who is upset about something and there is honestly no answer to give. Wh...

Reading Amount: John 20:1-31 Central Verse: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they ware forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:21-23 Central Truth: The Holy Spirit has been given to all of us so that we might spread the light of Christ to all the world! Food For Thought: (Questions about the Text) The word for "breath" here is meant to call to mind the text in Genesis where God breathed life into Adam and Eve, it is also meant to call to mind the text in Ezekiel where the dry bones are given life. There is nothing in the text that limits the disciples to only the twelve. It is safe to assume that there were more followers than just the twelve present. Making this text about forgiveness of sins inclusive of all the church life not just the clergy. Connectio...

Reading Amount: John 18:1-19:42 Central Verse: Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." John 19:11 NRSV Central Truth: There is a sin that is worst than all others according to the Gospel of John. It is the rejection of God in the form of Jesus, you can be redeemed from this sin but it is the primary issue in the way of salvation for John. Food for Thought: (Questions about the text) There is always a question of who was responsible for the death of Jesus, it is important theologically and historically. Who do you think is responsible? Connections: (Time with our Society) In many of our churches there is an almost constant emphasis on sin. This also happens in how our churches interact with society there is a huge emphasis on what people do and the sin that people engage in. In the Gospel of John the greatest sin is to not acknowledge who Jesus is. Pil...

Reading Amount: John 13:1-17:26 Central Verse: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35, NRSV Central Truth: At the heart of the Gospel is love. Love for God and equally as important is this commandment by Jesus to love one another. Food for Thought: (Questions about the text) Our theme verse comes to us in a section of discourse by Jesus. The statement of loving one another actually occurs at another place in this discourse as well. What do you think the over all theme of these chapters are? Is there a theme? Connections: (Time with our Society) On 7 July 1967 the Beatles release one of their most easily recognizable song "All You Need Is Love." A song with simple but powerful lyrics it spoke of the power that love can and should have in our lives. The song came at a time when our world was rife with...

Reading Amount: John 11:1-12:50 Central Verse: He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. John 11:51-52 NRSV Central Truth: God uses imperfect, even conniving, vessels to speak of the work that Jesus would complete. Jesus work was not just for the salvation of the people of Israel but for all the children of God! Food for Thought: (Questions about the Text) The office of high priest was intended to be a lifelong position. John seems to remark that Caiaphas was only shortly in office this may have been noticing the reality of living under Roman rule. In fact a number of years later Caiaphas was removed from leadership. There is a marriage of political wisdom with a strong underlying of prophecy in the wisdom of Caiaphas. The political wisdom was contained in their precarious set-up with Rome. Connections: (Time with our Society...

Philippians - Who: The letter to the Philippians was written by Paul to the church in the city of Philippi. The idea of Paul being the author is not disputed much by scholars. Historically speaking the letter to the Philippians has always been considered Paul's. One of the only major problems with the text of Philippians is that some scholars feel it may have been two or three letters compiled into one. For the sake of this study I will reference the author as Paul and treat the letter as one entity as we have inherited it. What: As you may have noticed in the previous paragraph I referred to the text of Philippians as a letter. This is something of the upmost importance for us to remember. Philippians is not a book but a letter to friends and should be read as such. One of the defining themes in this letter is joy and that is to be expected in a letter between friends. My opinion is that is also why this letter is varied as much as it is. With thoughts seemingly interrupted and s...

Reading Amount: John 6:1-10:42 Central Verse: And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. - John 6:39; 51 Central Truth: Christ has come to save all, and all means all! The intent of Jesus' mission while fraught with misunderstanding is to bring life. Food for Thought: (Questions about the text) We are to understand what Jesus says about bread and wine, flesh and blood on two levels; literally with the bread and wine and figuratively as the symbol of communion. We must allow John to challenge our understandings of communion today. John's view of communion is not the same as the other gospels and offers challenges to our preconceived notions of communion. Connections: (Time with our society) It has been easy over the last few hundre...