November 2008
You are browsing the archive for November 2008.
Connection and Expectation: In Tension or Complementary?
It’s not surprising that, as I read the passages for Advent 1B, [corrected from 1A-What can I have been thinking?] I got the sense of expectation, and even just a bit (or more) of impatience. We have the prayer for God’s intervention and protection in Psalm 80, the cry for God to rend the heavens [...]
Introduction to 1 Corinthians (Audio)
The following audio introduction comes from a previously podcast series on 1 Corinthians. It will serve as introductory notes for the various comments I will make on passages from 1 Corinthians. I think it is very important to consider the structure of the letter in understanding these passages. The first epistle to the Corinthians is [...]
Sheep, Shepherds, or Both
I have posted a devotional to my wife’s devotional list under this same title. It includes a partial translation of the Old Testment lectionary for this week (Christ the King Sunday) and some meditations on Judgment. Read it at Jody’s Devotionals.
Standard Reference Sources and Abbreviations
I will use a number of standard references, and will cite them in brackets [] by abbreviation. I list the references I expect to cite regularly in the list below. I will expand this list as I work. In cases of lexicons, dictionaries and commentaries, where the particular reference is quite obvious, I will just [...]
The Arrogance of Certainty
This week’s gospel reading is Matthew 25:31-46. There will be plenty of sermons preached on serving one’s neighbor and how this is serving Christ himself. There will also be quite a number preached on the judgment and how we will stand in it. I have already written a bit about how the texts today would [...]
Psalm 100 – How to Meet YHWH
A Psalm of Thanksgiving1Shout to YHWH,all the earth.2Serve YHWH with rejoicing,Come before him with triumphant shouts.3Understand that YHWH is Goda,He made us and we are hisb.We are his people,The sheep in his pasture.4Enter his gates with thanks,And his courts with praise.Thank him, and bless his name.5For YHWH is good,HIs grace is eternal.His truth lasts from [...]
Christ the King Sunday – Preliminary Thoughts
My pastor preached from the gospel lesson, Matthew 25:31-46 this past Sunday, and reminded me of something important. Though this is called a parable, it is really much more of an apocalyptic vision, presenting the scene of judgment day. Besides the differences in the way one would understand a vision and a parable, this provides [...]
One Talent Christians
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30, especially 24-27. Partially cross-posted from Jody’s Devotionals. I’m interested in knowing just what meets God’s disapproval. We all have our ideas on this, which often involve truly despicable and perverted behavior according to our cultural standards. But sometimes the Bible will shock us and make us stop and think. This thought was [...]
Matthew 25:14-30 (The Talents)
14[The kingdom of heaven] is like a man going on a journey. He calls his slaves and hands his property over to them. 15To one he gives five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his strength. Then he goes on his journey. As soon 16as he goes, the [...]
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1Brothers and sisters, you don’t need me to write to you about the times and the seasons, 2because you yourselves are well aware that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 3When people are saying “Peace and security,” then destruction will come on them suddenly, like labor pains on [...]