Read Romans 10:5-15

Drawing a distinction between the works of the law and faith, Paul proclaims:  “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (v. 9).  In vv. 5-8, what contrast does Paul make between righteousness of the law and righteousness of faith? What similarities do you find between Deuteronomy 30:11-14 and vv. 6-8? What is the point of these verses? What comfort would vv. 8-11 give to a Christian who wonders if his or her faith is firm and strong enough to connect with God? How do the questions Paul asks in vv. 14-15 challenge you?

Prayer for the week

God of awe, from whom we flee in holy terror:  your silence burns like ice; your whisper cuts through fear; we long to hear your faithful word of righteousness and peace.  Bless us with bold believe even in the darkness of the night and the assault of life’s storms, that we may be messengers of your justice, in the name of the One whom wind and wave obey.  Amen.

Read 1 Kings 19:9-18

King Ahab, of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, had Jezebel who brought with her the priests of Baal.  Loyal to Yahweh, Elijah challenged the Baal priests to a showdown:  Would their power or Yahweh’s power end the drought in the land (1 Kings 18:20-46)? Yahweh won and furious Jezebel set out to kill Elijah.  Read 1 kings 19:1-8. How would you describe Jezebel’s feelings? How did Elijah react? Why might Elijah have felt this way? What did God do in response? Read Exodus 34:27-28. What connection does that passage have with this lesson? What other period alone with God does it remind you? Compare this lesson with Ex. 33:17-23. What similarities do you find? Read Mark 9:2-8; who appears at the Transfiguration? What does this information suggest to you about the significance of Elijah?

Prayer for the week

God of awe, from whom we flee in holy terror:  your silence burns like ice; your whisper cuts through fear; we long to hear your faithful word of righteousness and peace.  Bless us with bold believe even in the darkness of the night and the assault of life’s storms, that we may be messengers of your justice, in the name of the One whom wind and wave obey.  Amen.

Read Psalm 85:8-13

With anticipation and enthusiasm, the psalmist awaits God’s word as he paints a descriptive picture of a beautiful future that he envisions will indeed come to pass.  What are some of the images characterized by harmonious and complementary relationships?  God’s glory has come to dwell in our midst!  Yet the peace and prosperity God promises for all of creation has yet to reach its fullness.  How can you as an individual, and we as a church, work for peace and justice?

Prayer for the week

God of awe, from whom we flee in holy terror:  your silence burns like ice; your whisper cuts through fear; we long to hear your faithful word of righteousness and peace.  Bless us with bold believe even in the darkness of the night and the assault of life’s storms, that we may be messengers of your justice, in the name of the One whom wind and wave obey.  Amen.

Read Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Though Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, his jealous brothers sold him into slavery.  What feelings are aroused by Jacob’s sons plotting revenge on Joseph (vv. 18 and following)? By Reuben’s rescue attempt and sense of loss (vv. 21f, and 29f)? By Judah’s successful intervention (vv. 26f)? By Joseph’s actual fate (vv. 28, 36)? Can you imagine some of Joseph’s, and also his father Jacob’s “if-only’s” as this story comes to pass? What is one of your biggest regrets (“if only…”)? How has God acted in the ensuing time since?

Prayer for the week

God of awe, from whom we flee in holy terror:  your silence burns like ice; your whisper cuts through fear; we long to hear your faithful word of righteousness and peace.  Bless us with bold believe even in the darkness of the night and the assault of life’s storms, that we may be messengers of your justice, in the name of the One whom wind and wave obey.  Amen.

Read Matthew 14:13-21

After John the Baptist is murdered, Jesus desires a time of solitude. Still, his compassion for others will not allow him to dismiss those who need him, and he is moved to perform one of his greatest miracles. This is the only miracle story that appears in all 4 Gospels:  Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-44, Luke 9:10b-17, John 6:1-15. Which versions have the people sitting in military formation, platoons, and companies? Which Gospel mentions a specific source for the loaves and fishes? Which versions mentions the cost of buying enough bread in town? Which Gospel suggests that there were more than 5,000 persons involved? What connection do you find between this Gospel reading and the reading from Isaiah 55?

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Read Romans 9:1-5

This begins a new section in Paul’s letter in which he will deal with the place of Israel in God’s saving plan. He opens by highlighting how Israel’s heritage and legacy include being God’s children, having God’s covenants, being given God’s law, participating in worship of God, and receiving divine promises. Though many early Christians were Jews, not all Jews accepted Jesus as Messiah. This hurt Paul, who was a faithful Jew, but he still mentions many spiritual blessings belonging to the Jews. What are they? In v. 4, we read of covenants, in the plural. Read Genesis 9:8-17 and 17:1-8. With whom were these 2 covenants made? From the human side, what benefits did these covenants promise? What covenant did we read in Tuesday’s reading from Isaiah 55?

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Read Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21

What is the divine King’s true greatness (v. 8)? How does God treat subjects (v. 9)? How does the Lord return the loyalty given? What kind of king is this?

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Read Isaiah 55:1-5

The writer addresses the exiles in Babylon. Compare Isaiah 55:1 with Proverbs 9:1-6 and Luke 22:28-29. What is the common theme of these passages? Who is the “host” of each? God invites Israel to a great feast at which both food and drink are free.  Compare v. 1 with v. 2a. How does the tone of v. 2a differ from that of v. 1? What is the contrast the writer intends to make?  In v. 2b, we find images of food, but the images are not literal. What do you think the food images represent? God also promises to make an everlasting covenant with all the people, with promises that previously had been limited to the line of kings. As David was a witness to the nations, these nations shall now acknowledge the ways in which God has glorified Israel. Read 2 Samuel 7:4-17. What is the main point of the passage?

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Read Genesis 32:22-31

Why do you think Jacob chooses to be alone on the eve of Esau’s arrival? Jacob wrestled all night with God, and when God wanted to get away as dawn was breaking, Jacob would not let God go until God had blessed him. What might God be trying to teach Jacob by wrestling with him? In what sense does this story summarize Jacob’s life? Jacob’s name is changed to Israel to mark his new relationship with God as he enters the land. Jacob is astonished that he remains alive after seeing God face to face.

Prayer for the week

Gracious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance.  Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Read Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

What is the subject of these 5 parables? What is the basic theme shared by the first two parables (vv. 31-33)? What do you think that theme would have meant to the first readers of this Gospel in the first century? What does it mean to you today? What is the basic theme shared by the two parables in vv. 44-46? What do you think that theme would have meant to the first readers of the Gospel? What does it mean for you? How does the parable in vv. 47-48 differ from the others? Think of a time when some little thing or action developed, to your amazement perhaps, into something large and significant?

Prayer for the week

Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy.  By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.   Amen.