Category

JEREMIAH 31 = WHAT’S ON YOUR HEART? Background on Jeremiah: Jeremiah was a ‘reluctant’ prophet, called by God as a youth. He has the thankless task of speaking God’s Word to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) around the time of exile to Babylon, around 608 BC.... Read More →

John 3 = For God So Loved the World! Bible Background: This most favorite Bible verse comes after a conversation Jesus has with a good Jewish leader named Nicodemus. They talk about being “born again or anew”. It all sounds a little mysterious! Then Jesus keeps... Read More →

Exodus 20=The Ten Words Background: The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years. God brought them out of Egypt. Now, they need to learn how to live as God’s people. Think of the Ten Commandments not mainly as a list of “do’s and don’ts” but as a... Read More →

GENESIS 17=PROMISES! PROMISES! Bible Background: Abram and Sarai enter the story in Genesis 12. God makes a covenant with Abram in Chapter 12. God reaffirms that covenant with Abram in 15. Why a third time in 17? A couple of things: Genesis is a compilation of several sources or... Read More →

GENESIS 9 = COVENANT WITH NOAH AND ALL! Bible Background: The flood is God’s anguished response to the whole human race choosing every kind of evil, breaking God’s heart. The covenant with Noah and every living creature is a promise that God will set aside God’s... Read More →

THE TRANSFIGURATION – MARK 9 Bible Background: Jesus has just told his disciples that he will suffer and die and be raised. Peter resists that kind of talk. Then Jesus speaks these hard words about taking up the cross and following. The Transfiguration scene on the... Read More →

MARK 1:29-39 JESUS HEALS! Bible Background: The 1st chapter of Mark is a flurry of activity (underscored by his use of the word “immediately”.) Jesus has healed a possessed man in the synagogue. Now he heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and crowds of sick people. Then... Read More →

Mark 1:21-28 “Jesus Makes His First Move” Bible Background: After Jesus’ baptism, testing in the wilderness, and call of the first 4 disciples, he’s really doing his first teaching and healing. It’s impressive! In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’... Read More →

MARK 1:14-20 CALLING DISCIPLES Bible Background: We’re just 14 verses into Mark’s gospel. (Can you say: “brief”?) We’ve met John; seen the baptism of Jesus-who was then tested in the wilderness; and now, the excitement begins! Mark uses the word... Read More →

JOHN 1:43-51 “COME AND SEE!” Bible Background: John reports how the first disciples came to know Jesus. In this story (and the previous one), one who is ‘called’ by Jesus, finds another and passes the invitation along. This is a model for how we are... Read More →