Tag: gospel
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“Our Problem”
Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and lost coin, told to grumbling Pharisees and scribes, raise a lot of uncomfortable questions …
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“Keeping and Blessing”
Keeping the witness of Jesus Christ before our minds and hearts is a blessing in itself, that leads to further blessings.
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Making History
St. Matthew’s [Episcopal Church] priest showed a small group of us the balcony, which was added to the church mid-nineteenth century to segregate its enslaved members from the landed gentry below. Those southern gentlemen imagined themselves as great fathers, writing often in their personal letters about “our family, black and white.” But they also understood…
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Study Notes – Matthew 7 1-6, 15-23
We are studying Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23 for Sunday, July 28. This is some, not all, of the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount. [Some discussion questions for this text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: This is our fourth [and last, for awhile] week studying the…
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Study Notes – Matthew 5 38-48
We are studying Matthew 5:38-48 for Sunday, July 21. This is Jesus’ summation of “the antitheses,” that concludes with what may be Jesus’ most difficult command: being perfect, by loving our enemies. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: We are still working our way…
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Study Notes – Mark 14 17-24
We are studying Mark 14:17-24 and Hebrews 8 for Sunday, June 2. Here are my very brief notes on the Mark text, which includes Jesus’ remarks to his twelve disciples at the last supper; notes for Hebrews 8:6-12 are here. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: The Gospel of Mark is thought to be the earliest of all…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Romans 3 21-31
We are studying Romans 3:21-31 for Sunday, May 5. This is Paul’s proclamation of the good news that “a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” (Romans 3:28) We’ll definitely be talking theology on Sunday. [Study notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Matthew 26 1-13
We are studying Matthew 26:1-13 for Sunday, April 14 – Palm Sunday, or Palm/Passion Sunday, which will lead us into the events of Holy Week. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions we might want to consider before or during class: In vv1-2, Jesus reminds the disciples of the nearness…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Luke 19 1-10
We are studying Luke19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus, for Sunday, March 24. [Study notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions we could consider before or in class: Have we heard this story before? Where? When? What images do we associate with this story? Where did those images come from? (E.g., illustrations…
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Study Notes – Matthew 25 31-46
The text for Sunday, December 30 is Matthew 25:31-46 – a story we often refer to as “the judgment of the nations,” and the main referent of the phrase “the sheep and the goats.” Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: This is a story in Matthew’s gospel. We might recall that…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion Matthew 15 1-9
The Uniform Series text for Sunday, June 17 is Matthew 15:1-9. [Some notes on that text are here.] Here are some questions we might (or might not) want to consider in class:
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Notes on Matthew 15 1-9
The Present Word and Uniform Series text for Sunday, June 17, is Matthew 15:1-9, Jesus’ endorsement of the distinction between the commandments of God and the traditions of “men.” Here are my [hasty*] notes on that text: Background and Context We are still in Matthew, in the midst of a long narrative section that features…
Matters of Interpretation 