Month: August 2019
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Genesis 19 1, 5-26, 29
We are studying Genesis 19:1, 15-26, 29 for Sunday, September 1. This is the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which involves God’s rescue of Abraham’s nephew Lot, and a couple of his daughters, from that destruction, by means of a helpful angel. [Notes on the text are here.] Normally, this is where […]
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Study Notes – Genesis 19 1, 15-26, 29
We are studying Genesis 19:1, 15-26, 29 for Sunday, September 1. Our newly redesigned curriculum also gives us the background scripture, which in this case is Genesis 18:6-19:29, the whole story of YHWH’s negotiation with Abraham over how many people it will take to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, along with chapter 19 up to Lot’s […]
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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our preacher of the day told us he was 12 years old before he realized that not all old people had Dutch accents. Up till then, he’d more or less assumed that people just started to talk that way as they aged, since all the grandparent-aged people he knew had Dutch accents. Because he grew […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Ephesians 5 21-33
We are studying Ephesians 5:21-33 for Sunday, August 25. [Study notes on this text are here.] This may mean we’ll have a lively discussion, or it may mean we’ll have no discussion at all, because no one will want to step on anyone else’s toes. Whatever happens, here are a few questions about the text […]
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Study Notes – Ephesians 5:21-33
We are studying Ephesians 5:21-33 for Sunday, August 25. God, make speed to save me. [Some questions on the text are here.] This is one of the most controversial passages in scripture, and I think not only “these days.” The person I know at church who told me “I ripped the book of Ephesians out […]
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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the members of our congregation calls the children’s message “the Spider Man message,” probably because the talk in the children’s message often turns to Spider Man. This thematic turn gets a frequent impetus from the youngest member of the congregation, who is exceptionally knowledgeable about Spider Man and also extremely forthcoming with that […]
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Ruth 3
We are studying Ruth 3 (selected verses) for Sunday, August 18. This is the episode where Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions to meet Boaz on the threshing floor and, in effect, boldly propositions marriage. [Study notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to consider before class, or discuss in class: […]
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Why Not?
Claiborne, Shane and Martin, Michael. Beating Guns: Hope for People Who are Weary of Violence. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2019. [An Installment of the “Read Me” Project.] Why I wanted to read Beating Guns: It said it was for people who are weary of violence. My demographic. One of the authors, Michael Martin, is […]
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Study Notes – Ruth 3
We are studying Ruth 3 for Sunday, August 18. This is the part of the book of Ruth where Naomi devises a plan for Ruth’s future, and Ruth and Boaz go along with it. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: After the opening of […]
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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
[A sermon delivered at the Corydon Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 11, 2019.] A lot of times these Bible stories we read in church start sort of the in the middle of things, and we need some backstory … but we can read the book of Ruth as a whole self-contained little story, really, and […]
Matters of Interpretation 