Tag: forgiveness
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Reflecting on Genesis 45 1-15
We’re studying Genesis 45:1-15 for Sunday, September 27 – Joseph’s tearful reunion with his brothers – they have a history, as we know – after they beg for mercy for Benjamin. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we could consider as we think about how to read this text for…
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Taking Forgiveness Seriously
The gospel last week was Jesus’s words to Peter about forgiveness: “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Or, if we were raised on the KJV, “seventy times seven.” Either way, the main point is: Christians, following Christ, forgive. Or, aspire to. It’s a harder, more complicated lesson than it seems, actually. In the back of…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 6 9-15
We are studying Matthew 6:9-15 for Sunday, February 16 – the Lord’s Prayer! This is a text that most Christians, even most new Christians, will know well. Although there is a story of three hermits and the prayer that suggests that maybe not all the saints are familiar with it.[*] Anyway, some notes on the…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Luke 7 37-48
We are studying Luke 7:37-48 for Sunday, October 27. This is Luke’s version of the story of the anointing woman. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want to consider as we explore this text: In v37, Luke identifies the woman as “a sinner.” Otherwise, all we know…
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Study Notes – Luke 7 37-48
We are studying Luke 7:37-48 for Sunday, October 27 – we may know it as the story of “a sinful woman forgiven” (NRSV) or “Jesus anointed by a sinful woman” (NIV) or some similar heading in our Bible. We will be having class as usual, as much as we can on the day that is…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Numbers 14 10-20
We are studying Numbers 14:10-20 for Sunday, September 29. This is the next part of the story of the Israelites NOT entering the land right away – the part where God forgives them for not wanting to go ahead with the project. [Study notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions about…
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Study Notes – Numbers 14 10-20
We are studying Numbers 14:10-20 for Sunday, September 29. This continues the story we began last week, with YHWH’s response to the Israelites’ refusal to enter the land – or at least, a portion of that response! [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on the text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: This…
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Study Notes – Psalm 66
We are studying Psalm 66 for Sunday, February 17. Psalm 66 is a song of praise to God for God’s mighty works. [Study questions on Psalm 66 are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Again, all things we know about Psalms will help us in reading Psalm 66. These are…
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Study Notes – Psalm 103
The Uniform Series text we are studying for Sunday, December 16 is Psalm 103. Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The book of Psalms is a collection of songs or hymns of thanks and praise, and of prayers. Sometimes referred to as “the hymnbook of the 2nd Temple” – that is,…
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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This was one of those church days that gave us A LOT to think about. Everything seemed meaningful. In class, thinking more about Matthew 18:21-35, someone brought up the likely organizational structure of the king’s household. Maybe slave #2 reported to slave#1, in something like the way slave #1 reported to the king. And maybe…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 18 21-35
The Uniform Series text we’re studying for Sunday, July 1 is Matthew 18:21-35, the “parable of the unforgiving servant.” Here are some questions raised by the text that we might (or might not) find it useful to consider in class:
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Notes on Matthew 18 21-35
The Uniform Series or “common text” for Sunday, July 1 is Matthew 18:21-35, “the parable of the unforgiving servant.” Here are some notes on the text:
Matters of Interpretation 