Tag: providence
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Coverage
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,and everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there. God fills time and space. We don’t always notice that. We get distracted, and forget to remember that God is always with us. But wherever we are, whatever is happening, we can worship…
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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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Reflecting on Genesis 41
We are studying Genesis 41:14-57 for Sunday, September 13 – the continuation of the story of Joseph, with Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s revelatory dreams, and Joseph’s rise to power and authority in Egypt. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to consider as we reflect on and discuss…
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Study Notes – Matthew 10 1-15
We are studying Matthew 10:1-15 for Sunday, April 7. This is the beginning of Jesus’ second long teaching in Matthew, often referred to as the “missionary discourse.” It covers material that shows up in the other synoptic gospels (Mark and Luke), but contains some possibly important differences, so it’s invited a fair amount of speculation…
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Study Notes – Luke 2 21-35
We are studying Luke 2:22-35, together with Luke 1:26-31, for Sunday, December 23, along with everyone else using the Uniform Series texts. Luke 2:21-35 is most of the account of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem, up through the end of Simeon’s speech. Just for the sake of length, notes on Luke 1:26-38 appeared…
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
So, Rebekah says “Yes, I will go.” This is what we know for sure. That she says “Yes, I will go” to “the man,” who comes from who knows where, with lavish gifts. Actually, we know he comes from Abraham’s household in Canaan, we know he has been praying for guidance from YHWH, we know…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Genesis 24
The text we’re studying for Sunday, October 28, is Genesis 24, and in particular the sections of the narrative that focus on what Rebekah does and says. Here are a few questions we might want to consider in class: What image do we have of Rebekah from her description in vv15-20? Where does that image…
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Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
[A sermon partly on Jeremiah 1:4-10, delivered at a small church in southern Indiana] We’re continuing to look at stories of God’s calling in the Bible; this is the prophet Jeremiah’s autobiographical account of his call, which came in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, in the late 7th century, and whose career…
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Christian Doctrine (9)
Summary notes and comments on Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr., Christian Doctrine Chapter 9, “Why Doesn’t God Do Something About it? – The Doctrine of Providence and Evil”: The doctrine of providence is related to the doctrine of creation. Not only does God create everything that is, but God provides for it – taking care of…
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1st Sunday in Advent
The focal text is the very brief remark made by one official of the ancient Roman Empire to another, after hearing the Apostle Paul’s testimony in his own defense, which was really his narration of his own recent story; I think it may make us notice the parallels between the Apostle Paul’s situation and our…
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Exegetical Exercise Joshua 5 13-15
Looking this week at Joshua 5:13-15. This is a short episode wedged in between some preparatory events in ch. 5 – the mass circumcision of the men of military age who had been born in the wilderness; the first Passover in Canaan; eating the fruit of the land and the end of the manna –…
Matters of Interpretation 