Jeremiah Week 12

The End

If things are constantly destabilized, it is very hard to live faithfully. Nevertheless, in particular times and places, God needs to shake things up. Sending prophets is one of the ways God does this. Full reading and audio »


Selections From the Prophets Week 12

The Ancient of Days: Daniel 7:1–14

Daniel is an Old Testament book that is moving betwixt and among various cultures, eras, rulers, and even languages in order to demonstrate that which lasts beyond such diversity and division, and how the people of God will thrive even in the midst of oppressive circumstances. Full reading and audio »


Hebrews Week 12

Wesley’s Doctrine of Christian Perfection: Hebrews 6:1

One of John Wesley’s most familiar and misunderstood pastoral benedictions is “go on to perfection.” Full reading and audio »


1 & 2 Samuel Week 12

David’s Finale: 2 Samuel 21–24

Though the books end, it is not the end of David’s life; that will happen in 1 Kings. Additionally, 2 Samuel does not have one of those “and they lived happily ever after” endings. It may leave something to be desired. Full reading and audio »


Selections From Israel's Story Week 12

Blessings of Balaam: Numbers 22-24

Many of the Lectios we have read this summer have been either serious or tragic: about God’s anger and punishment, about people who made grave mistakes, about important laws that provide guidelines for holy living. This week’s Lectio, however, has a different flavor — full of humor and irony. Full reading and audio »


Romans Week 12

Conclusion and Reflection

The Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is an incredible work, one whose elegance, breadth, depth, and imaginative scope are unrivaled in the New Testament. Attempting to do justice to this epistle in the limits of this series has not been easy. Full reading and audio »


Genesis/Exodus Week 12

“From the Frying Pan Into the Fire”: Exodus 11:1–15:27

We have come to the final plague with which God afflicts Egypt. This one, too, is reflective of divine sovereignty. This time around, according to the Lord, the result will be Pharaoh’s release of Israel. But with this plague there is a twist. Full reading and audio …


Selections on New Creation Week 12

Scripture’s Final Voice: “Come Lord Jesus”

The sanctuary flooded as hundreds poured in through the doors. Grief-stricken, fearful, and confused, we held hands or linked arms as we entered in a hush. We crowded way too close together on hard wooden pews, overflowed the balcony, lined the aisles, filled each chair hastily set up. Full reading and audio »


Revelation Week 12

The “Amen” of John’s Revelation (Revelation 22:10–21)

In introducing this Lectio series on Revelation, I suggested that John wrote down the visions he received from the risen Jesus in the form of a pastoral letter. It was his choice to do so, and he did so to address his congregations not as prophet, the bringer of God’s word, but as priest, the giver of pastoral care. Full reading and audio »


Psalms Week 12

“Going Up (to the Temple)”: What Shall We Sing on the Way? Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 130, 132

This complex of psalms belongs to a group called “Psalms of Ascent.” Occasionally, they have the additional designation “of David” or “of Solomon” , Going up is a pregnant phrase in the Old Testament. Full reading and audio »


Isaiah Week 12

A Return to Justice and Righteousness: Isaiah 56:1–62:12

Religion or activism, which does God truly desire? Recently a video titled, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” which argued that Jesus came to abolish religion, went viral on YouTube. Another Christian responded with a video titled, “Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus,” which argued that Jesus came to establish religion. So which is true? Full reading and audio »


Joshua/Judges Week 12

Israel With Two Black Eyes: Judges 17:1–21:25

While this book of the Bible is called Judges, and spends most of its chapters focused on the incomprehensible moral decline of these supposed leaders of the people, the last five chapters look at, more broadly, the depravity and lawlessness (in particular the “Torah-lessness”) of the whole nation. Full reading and audio »