Jeremiah Week 7
Bad, Bad News
Our political mythologies celebrate the hero who persists despite all odds. When things look their bleakest, the hero perseveres, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Full reading and audio »
Selections From the Prophets Week 7
The Righteous Shall Live by His Faithfulness: Habakkuk 2
The Talmud is a collection of rabbinical entitled the Makkot (23b–24a) there is a famous debate seeking to reduce duties of faith to the most basic principle… Full reading and audio »
Hebrews Week 7
Why “Melchizedek” for Heaven’s Sake? Hebrews 7:1–28
Hebrews is a strange read, as exemplified by the appeal to the obscure Old Testament figure of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17–20). To frustrate us further, we are made aware that this reference to Melchizedek underwrites the importance of the Son’s priestly mediation during the covenant community’s long journey toward the future Promised Land. Full reading and audio »
Mark Week 7
Teaching at the Temple: Mark 11:1–13:37
In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, a rich heiress named Portia sets a test for her prospective suitors. She will consent to marry whoever passes the test. Three suitors in a row choose between gold, silver, and lead caskets. Full reading and audio »
1 & 2 Samuel Week 7
How the Mighty Have Fallen: 1 Samuel 31–2 Samuel 4
The contents of this Lectio can be summarized briefly as follows: Saul dies and David rises to power. David is not yet king over all Israel; that will take place in next week’s selection of text. But these chapters contain what we knew would happen. Full reading and audio »
Selections From Israel's Story Week 7
The Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16
As we continue in the book of Leviticus, we encounter another text that takes some work to understand. At first read, this is a strange text, filled with details about animal sacrifices, burning incense, and sprinkling blood. Full reading and audio »
Romans Week 7
Israel: Romans 9–11
Often church historians say that the first major split in Christianity occurred between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054. That is not quite accurate. Before there were Western and Eastern Christians, there were Jewish and Gentile Christians … Full reading and audio »
Matthew Week 7
Instructing the Church: Matthew 17:14–20:34
This week’s reading finds Jesus continuing the task of forming his new community by instruction and example as he makes his way to the cross. After glancing at the final narrative scenes from Chapter 17, we’ll spend most of our time studying the fourth sermon in Matthew, the sermon on community. Full reading and audio »
Genesis/Exodus Week 7
“Saving the Future and Seeing the Face of God”: Genesis 25:1–36:42
Isaac comes into focus once his parents die. Abraham’s other children reflect good fortune, but only Sarah’s child, Isaac, counts in terms of God’s agenda. Pointedly, Abraham keeps his other offspring separated from Isaac. Full reading and audio »
Selections on New Creation Week 7
Vocation and Calling: Isaiah 60; 65:21-25; Revelation 21:1-5, 22-27
In business and organizational life we often begin by thinking about the end. What do we hope to accomplish? How will the world be different if we’re successful? Full reading and audio »
Revelation Week 7
God’s Victory Already Realized in Heaven (Revelation 12:1–17)
Take a couple of deep breaths! We have traveled wide and far through this visionary world over the last couple weeks. The risen Jesus commanded John to write down the revelation that would disclose the past, present, and future history of God’s restoration of all creation. Full reading and audio »
John Week 7
Dirty Feet and Discipleship: The Depth of Love: John 13:1–14:31
If you watch commercials and storefronts in the U.S. at Valentine’s Day, you might believe that you can develop a recipe for love with three simple ingredients: buy a sweet and/or funny card, add some flowers, and finish it off with some chocolates. Full reading and audio »
Psalms Week 7
Out of the Depths, Onto the Heights: Psalms 79, 80, 81
Psalms 79 and 80 are communal laments, whereas Psalm 81 is a glorious psalm of worship. All three psalms are connected to Asaph, about whom little is known except that he, or at least his family, is involved in priestly and liturgical ministry. Full reading and audio »
Week 7 Wisdom Literature
Against Optimism: The Vanity of Life (Ecclesiastes 1:1-4:7)
In this Lectio series, we are examining four themes that figure prominently in Old Testament Wisdom Literature. Weeks 2–5 were devoted to the “orthodox” treatment of those themes given in the oldest of the Bible’s Wisdom writings, the book of Proverbs, and Weeks 6–9 to questions and criticisms raised by later Hebrew sages against the orthodox positions. Full reading and audio »
Acts Week 7
How to Raise a Ruckus — the Right Way: Acts 13–15
I owned a leather Bible once, its edges gilded in gold, Jesus’ words printed in red, and its pages crinkled from the dew that moistened it when I set the Bible down in the grass to jump onto the swing set, where I waited for my two older sisters to daub on their makeup before church. Full reading and audio »
Luke Week 7
“Jesus Taught in Parables”: Luke 13–15
Some people thrive on data. Maybe you don’t! Here’s just enough data to launch us into a parable-rich section of Luke. Full reading and audio »
Isaiah Week 7
Hope for a Righteous King: Isaiah 28:1–33:24
Trust. For some the word may seem antiquated. They may say, “Trust [in others] is for the naïve, the foolish, the weak. Trust will only lead to disappointment and hurt. Suspicion and autonomy are for the strong. The only one you can trust is yourself.” Full reading and audio »
1 Corinthians Week 7
Called to … Build One Another Up in Love: 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1
In our longest passage to date, Paul addresses a key question facing the Corinthian believers: Should we eat food that has been sacrificed to idols? A burning question for the Corinthians in more ways than one! Full reading and audio »
Joshua/Judges Week 7
Location, Location, Location!: Joshua 13:1-24:33
About seven chapters of the latter part of the book of Joshua detail the distribution of the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel. You will not hear many riveting sermons on these chapters or read gripping theological books based on them. Full reading and audio »
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