Month: March 2017
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Exegetical Exercise – Psalm 23
The Uniform Series text for Sunday is Psalm 23. This is such a familiar text, it’s almost pointless to make notes on it. This is the NRSV’s version, which differs slightly from the probably more familiar King James: (1) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (2) He makes me lie down in…
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Fourth Sunday in Lent
I’m guessing at least a few people here have heard those “good news, bad news” jokes. Like the one where the doctor comes into the room and says to the patient, well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news … the good news is, we’re going to name a disease after you.” Or…
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Exegetical Exercise – Joel 2 12-32
Sunday’s Uniform Series text is Joel 2:12-13, 18-19, 28-32; but here for reference is all of Joel 2:12-32: (12) Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; (13) rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he…
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Third Sunday in Lent
The Uniform Series (Sunday School) Bible text for today is John 15:1-17. It is part of the long (long) discourse Jesus gives his close disciples during and after the last supper, before leaving for the garden (of Gethsemane), before his arrest, trial (or “trial,”) sentencing to death, and crucifixion. By now, Jesus has been talking…
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Exegetical Exercise – John 15
The Uniform Series text for Sunday, March 19 is John 15:1-17: (1) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. (2) He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. (3) You have already been cleansed by the…
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Second Sunday in Lent
This is an effort to put together something like a coherent reading of Ephesians 2:1-10, which was the Uniform Series text for today, and the topic of some exegetical notes earlier in the week. Focus statement: Ordinary life, apart from God, is actually a form of death, no matter how “successful” or even “religious” it…
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Exegetical Exercise – Ephesians 2 1-10
Here’s the text for Sunday’s Uniform Series lesson, Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV): (1) You were /dead through the trespasses/ and sins (2) in which you once /lived*/, following the /course/* of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at /work/ among those who are disobedient. (3) All…
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Christian Doctrine (7)
Here are a few notes from Chapter 7 of Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr. Christian Doctrine (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), “What Does God Want with Us? The Doctrine of Predestination” (118-141). Guthrie reviews three “classical” doctrines of predestination or election – maybe a stretch, since this includes the Augustine/Calvin version of double predestination, universalism, and…
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First Sunday in Lent
Those of us who have spent a lot of time hanging out in or around churches have a tendency to know “the right church answers” to a lot of things. We have the idea that we should give this right church answer if the question or the topic comes up.
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Thinking about the Mahabharata
I have been thinking about the Mahabharata. Not because I am an expert. I finally acquired the new-ish huge-for-an-abridgement English translation of this epic sacred text by John D. Smith, but haven’t read it. I have read the Bhagavad-Gita, but my knowledge of that is still mostly superficial, honestly. I know the outline of the…
Matters of Interpretation 