The lectionary reading for today gives us verses 14-21, but that’s like reading the end of the mystery book without knowing the whole story. So, we have included all of the verses today. [Read John 3:1-21] For many years, I lived in a small town. It was fun to be able to walk to the community center, the hair salon, and the library. Since I could walk there, I went to the library a lot. I knew the staff, and it was easy to run in and get a new book. It was fun to talk to the staff, and catch up on their ...
In this Easter season, we return to the scriptures where Jesus is saying goodbye to the people closest to him. They happen before his death, but they also have special meaning in the Easter season. Soon, the people who followed Jesus were going to have to live without him in their midst, in the same way that we do. We live with his resurrected presence. Here, he was giving them instructions about how to live in the world without him right there. Jesus was speaking, and he said: ‘I am the true vine, and my ...
Big Idea: Sin sometimes has devastating consequences: God’s justice must be satisfied. Understanding the Text The Structure and Function of 2 Samuel 21-24: These final chapters of 2 Samuel are an epilogue. They are arranged in a mirror structure, in which the elements in the second half of the literary unit thematically correspond to those of the first half, but in reverse order, creating a mirror effect:1 A Saul’s sin and its atonement: David as royal judge (21:1–14) B The mighty deeds of David’s men (21: ...
If You Build It, They Will Come [You need to describe the wonderful experiences of that person’s life and tell of the wonderful memories they’ve left behind.] There was a movie made several years back that I believe many will remember. The movie starred Kevin Costner. It was entitled A Field of Dreams. It’s a beautiful, whimsical tale of a young farmer who hears a voice from a cornfield say: “If you build it, they will come!”[1] “Build what?” He wants to know. Build a baseball diamond was the answer. “Who ...