Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Psalm 130 • Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24 or Lamentations 3:22-33 and Psalm 30 • 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 • Mark 5:21-43
What does it take to be open for healing... for grace?
Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Psalm 130 • Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24 or Lamentations 3:22-33 and Psalm 30 • 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 • Mark 5:21-43
Scripture:1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20 or
Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13 and Psalm 20 • Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17 • Mark 4:26-34
This Sunday's gospel parables of the gardener who sows and then sleeps, and of the mustard seed look at the mysteries of life, especially when we have no control, or limited control. In "The Sleeping Gardner," Debie Thomas offers us astonishing insights and life lessons as she considers Jesus' parables. Astonishing? Isn't that what a wonderful life should be? It's not always easy to cease worrying, and cede control, but we miss a lot if we don't heed the lesson of these parables.
Scripture:1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 • Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Psalm 81:1-10 • 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 • Mark 2:23-3:6
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 and Psalm 29 • Romans 8:12-17 • John 3:1-17
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14 • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b • Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21 • John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Scripture: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 • Psalm 1 • 1 John 5:9-13 • John 17:6-19
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48 • Psalm 98 • 1 John 5:1-6 • John 15:9-17
αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμή ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
How do we love one another as Jesus has loved us? This is the passage in John which follows Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches. In this passage he also called us friends.
The Greek agape (ᾰ̓γᾰ́πη) is the form of love Jesus uses in his commandment. Different than the brotherly, friendship kind of love.
So what does Jesus mean? How do we love as Jesus commanded us to love? Read Debie Thomas' "It's All About Love." See also Lucy Strandlum's "Abide in Love."
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 • Psalm 22:25-31 • 1 John 4:7-21 • John 15:1-8
How and When does a church grow? Both John's gospel account of Jesus and the vineyard and the branches, and the reading in Acts teach us about growth - personal and as a church.
Read Debie Thomas's "When All Are Welcome," and Melissa Earley's "The vine branch doesn’t put “make grapes” on its to-do list. It just makes them."
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12 • Psalm 23 • 1 John 3:16-24 • John 10:11-18
The LORD Is My Shepherd
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.a
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousnessb
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,c
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surelyd goodness and mercye shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwellf in the house of the LORD
forever.g
Scripture: Acts 3:12-19 • Psalm 4 • 1 John 3:1-7 • Luke 24:36b-48