Category

Genesis 12 = Call of Abram and Sarai Bible Background: This is where the stories of God and God’s world move from “pre-history” to identifiable people, places, and dates. God’s dealing with humankind now focuses on one older, childless couple, to whom God... Read More →

John 6 = Feeding of the 5,000+ Bible Background: The Feeding of the 5,000 is perhaps Jesus’ most memorable miracle, and the only one recorded in all 4 gospels! But John doesn’t “do” ‘miracles’. John calls them ‘signs’. Signs point... Read More →

John 21=Do you love me? Bible Background: In John’s Gospel, this is the 3rd and final time the risen Jesus appears to his disciples. It’s at the lakeshore. The disciples have gone fishing (likely for ‘work’). The risen Christ directs them to an amazing... Read More →

The 9th & 10th Commandments=You Shall Not Covet Bible Background: Commandments #9 & #10 prohibit coveting. To covet is to want something badly, which is not rightfully ours. Part of the job of loving our neighbor has to do with respecting their relationships and... Read More →

Commandments and Holiness-Leviticus 19 Bible Background: The “Holiness Code” is the content of Leviticus 17-26, and gives instructions for how the people of God-about to enter the Promised Land-are to conduct their lives. These rules are both very ‘earthy’... Read More →

The Sixth Commandment-You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We are to fear (as in ‘respect’) and love God so that we lead pure and decent lives, and each of us honors his or her spouse. (The Small Catechism) Digging Deeper: 1. The Sixth commandment is... Read More →

4th-8th Commandments (Exodus 20:12f) Digging Deeper: These commandments have to do with ‘loving our neighbor’. They’re about how our well-being is tied to the well-being of our neighbors. In the Small Catechism Luther reminds us that the spirit of the... Read More →

Exodus 20:1-11 Commandments 1-3 Bible Background: The Commandments are recorded in Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5, with slight variations. Today we’re looking at the first three Commandments, that focus on our relationship with God. Digging Deeper: #1 “You shall have no... Read More →

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) Background: Our first worship ‘series’ this summer is on the Ten Commandments. We find them in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5 (Deuteronomy=the 2nd giving of the law). They are know as The Decalogue (Ten Words) in Jewish tradition. And... Read More →

John 17=Jesus Is Praying For Us! Bible Background: This is the last part of the “Farewell Discourse” in John’s Gospel, that spans chapters 14–17, and for which the setting is the Upper Room with the disciples. Jesus prays that God may be glorified; that... Read More →