Thursday 18 May 2017
Luke 3:1-4:13 Summary
Elizabeth’s son, John, proclaimed good news by criticizing the powerful, teaching the people, and baptizing the repentant near the Jordan River. One day Jesus came to be baptized by John, and a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved son.” Jesus was known as the son of Joseph, a descendant of David, of Abraham, of Adam, and of God (3). After the baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for forty days (4).
Sunday 14 May 2017
Friday 12 May 2017
Leviticus 9:1-27:34 Summary
Moses then had Aaron make a sin offering and burnt offering for himself, and a sin offering, burnt offering, peace offering, and grain offering for the people. The people were at the Tabernacle for these offerings and the glory of the Lord appeared to them as a blazing fire (9). Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, had been ordained as priests, but they failed to follow the commands the Lord had given through Moses, so blazing fire shot out from the Lord’s presence and burned them up. Moses then provided further instructions to the priests concerning the consumption of alcohol and various offering practices (10).
The Lord spoke to the people through Moses and Aaron about which animals were acceptable to eat or touch, and provided instructions on how to be purified if someone did touch an unacceptable animal (11). Then the Lord gave Moses instructions for purification after giving birth to a son or daughter, as well as noting that a newborn son was to be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth (12). Then the Lord provided a procedure for identifying skin diseases: an individual was to come to one of the priests who would determine whether the condition was serious; if it was, the individual would be ceremonially unclean and would need to live in isolation outside the camp. The priests were also required to determine whether mildew on fabric was dangerous; if it was, the fabric was to be burned (13). The priests were given a purification ritual for those who had been healed of a skin disease. The priests were also required to determine whether mildew in a house was spreading dangerously; if it was, the house was to be destroyed, and if not, then a purification ritual was to be performed (14). The Lord provided purification rites and regulations for the ceremonial uncleanness that results from an emission of semen, sexual intercourse, and menstruation (15).
After Nadab and Abihu died, the Lord told Moses what was necessary for Aaron to enter the Lord’s presence in the most holy place of the Tabernacle. This included many offerings and rituals of purification for Aaron and for the people, including the selection of a scapegoat by sacred lot which was to be sent out to Azazel in the wilderness. Aaron and the high priests who succeeded him were to perform these ceremonies once a year on a special Sabbath (16).
The Lord gave Moses further regulations about where burnt offerings must be made, why blood must not be eaten (17), with whom sexual intercourse is inappropriate, and why child sacrifice is abhorrent. The people in the land of Canaan had defiled themselves in these ways so the Lord was punishing them by giving their land to the Israelites. But if the Israelites also defiled themselves, they too would be punished with expulsion from the land (18). Then the Lord gave several instructions on topics such as respect for parents, sabbath-keeping, idols, peace offerings, harvesting, theft, oaths, fairness, loving one’s neighbour as oneself, witchcraft, prostitution, food, grooming, and the importance of honesty (19). The Lord told the people that individuals would be punished by death for child sacrifice, consulting the dead, dishonouring parents, and various unacceptable sex acts. Other unacceptable sex acts would receive a less severe punishment. The people in the land of Canaan had defiled themselves in these ways so the Lord was punishing them by giving their land to the Israelites (20).
The Lord gave Moses restrictions for priestly behaviour regarding dead kin, grooming, and prostitution or divorce within their families. The restrictions were tighter for the high priest. Priests with physical disabilities would have their priestly functions greatly restricted (21). Priestly functions were also restricted for those who were unclean. They were not to eat the sacred offerings until they had been cleansed by ceremonial washing. No one outside the priest’s family was permitted to eat the sacred offerings at all. Only animals without defect could be used for the offerings (22). The Lord gave Moses instructions for the people to observe holy days. Each week, they were to observe the seventh day as a day of complete rest. They were also to observe the Passover, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Harvest Festival, the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Festival of Shelters at the appointed times with the appointed offerings and practices (23). The people were to provide oil and bread to Aaron and his sons for use in the Temple, an ongoing expression of covenant faithfulness.
One day someone blasphemed the name of the Lord. The Lord then told Moses that blasphemy must be punished by death. The Lord also said that murder required the death penalty, whereas killing an animal would require paying for it in full, and causing an injury would result in the same injury being inflicted on the perpetrator: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. So the people stoned the man who had committed blasphemy (24).
On Mount Sinai the Lord told Moses that the people were to give the land a year of sabbath rest every seven years, and every fiftieth year to observe a year of jubilee where all ancestral land outside of walled cities is returned to its original owners and all Israelite slaves are set free, for the land and the people ultimately belong to God (25). The Lord promised that if the people were obedient they would be blessed–he would be their God and they would be his people–but that disobedience would be met with ferocious anger and eventual exile. But even if they were punished, the Lord would not destroy them completely (26).
The Lord gave Moses instructions about dedications and gifts of people and property to the Lord. One tenth of the produce of the land was to be set apart for the Lord as holy (27).
The Lord spoke to the people through Moses and Aaron about which animals were acceptable to eat or touch, and provided instructions on how to be purified if someone did touch an unacceptable animal (11). Then the Lord gave Moses instructions for purification after giving birth to a son or daughter, as well as noting that a newborn son was to be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth (12). Then the Lord provided a procedure for identifying skin diseases: an individual was to come to one of the priests who would determine whether the condition was serious; if it was, the individual would be ceremonially unclean and would need to live in isolation outside the camp. The priests were also required to determine whether mildew on fabric was dangerous; if it was, the fabric was to be burned (13). The priests were given a purification ritual for those who had been healed of a skin disease. The priests were also required to determine whether mildew in a house was spreading dangerously; if it was, the house was to be destroyed, and if not, then a purification ritual was to be performed (14). The Lord provided purification rites and regulations for the ceremonial uncleanness that results from an emission of semen, sexual intercourse, and menstruation (15).
After Nadab and Abihu died, the Lord told Moses what was necessary for Aaron to enter the Lord’s presence in the most holy place of the Tabernacle. This included many offerings and rituals of purification for Aaron and for the people, including the selection of a scapegoat by sacred lot which was to be sent out to Azazel in the wilderness. Aaron and the high priests who succeeded him were to perform these ceremonies once a year on a special Sabbath (16).
The Lord gave Moses further regulations about where burnt offerings must be made, why blood must not be eaten (17), with whom sexual intercourse is inappropriate, and why child sacrifice is abhorrent. The people in the land of Canaan had defiled themselves in these ways so the Lord was punishing them by giving their land to the Israelites. But if the Israelites also defiled themselves, they too would be punished with expulsion from the land (18). Then the Lord gave several instructions on topics such as respect for parents, sabbath-keeping, idols, peace offerings, harvesting, theft, oaths, fairness, loving one’s neighbour as oneself, witchcraft, prostitution, food, grooming, and the importance of honesty (19). The Lord told the people that individuals would be punished by death for child sacrifice, consulting the dead, dishonouring parents, and various unacceptable sex acts. Other unacceptable sex acts would receive a less severe punishment. The people in the land of Canaan had defiled themselves in these ways so the Lord was punishing them by giving their land to the Israelites (20).
The Lord gave Moses restrictions for priestly behaviour regarding dead kin, grooming, and prostitution or divorce within their families. The restrictions were tighter for the high priest. Priests with physical disabilities would have their priestly functions greatly restricted (21). Priestly functions were also restricted for those who were unclean. They were not to eat the sacred offerings until they had been cleansed by ceremonial washing. No one outside the priest’s family was permitted to eat the sacred offerings at all. Only animals without defect could be used for the offerings (22). The Lord gave Moses instructions for the people to observe holy days. Each week, they were to observe the seventh day as a day of complete rest. They were also to observe the Passover, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Harvest Festival, the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Festival of Shelters at the appointed times with the appointed offerings and practices (23). The people were to provide oil and bread to Aaron and his sons for use in the Temple, an ongoing expression of covenant faithfulness.
One day someone blasphemed the name of the Lord. The Lord then told Moses that blasphemy must be punished by death. The Lord also said that murder required the death penalty, whereas killing an animal would require paying for it in full, and causing an injury would result in the same injury being inflicted on the perpetrator: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. So the people stoned the man who had committed blasphemy (24).
On Mount Sinai the Lord told Moses that the people were to give the land a year of sabbath rest every seven years, and every fiftieth year to observe a year of jubilee where all ancestral land outside of walled cities is returned to its original owners and all Israelite slaves are set free, for the land and the people ultimately belong to God (25). The Lord promised that if the people were obedient they would be blessed–he would be their God and they would be his people–but that disobedience would be met with ferocious anger and eventual exile. But even if they were punished, the Lord would not destroy them completely (26).
The Lord gave Moses instructions about dedications and gifts of people and property to the Lord. One tenth of the produce of the land was to be set apart for the Lord as holy (27).
Thursday 11 May 2017
Luke 1:1-2:52 Summary
The angel Gabriel appeared separately to the elderly Elizabeth and to her younger, virginal cousin Mary, and announced that they would both embark on miraculous pregnancies. When Elizabeth gave birth, she named her son John just as the angel had commanded (1). Mary gave birth to her son in a Bethlehem manger, and shepherds arrived to worship him. Eight days later Mary and Joseph named the baby Jesus just as the angel had commanded and took him to the Temple to be circumcised. The Holy Spirit inspired Simeon and Anna, who had been waiting for the Messiah, to take notice of the child; they praised God and prophesied about him. Jesus’ parents went to the Temple for Passover every year. When Jesus was twelve years old his parents lost him at the festival. They found him three days later interacting with the teachers in the Temple (2).
Sunday 7 May 2017
Friday 5 May 2017
Leviticus 1:1-8:36 Summary
The Lord spoke to Moses from the Tabernacle and gave him instructions for a burnt offering. An individual could bring a male sheep, male goat, pigeon, or dove to the priests who would help present the animal as a gift to the Lord. The Lord promised to accept this offering as an act of atonement (1). For a grain offering, one could bring flour without yeast to the priests. A portion would be burned as an offering to the Lord, and the remainder would be given to the priests as food. The Lord promised to accept this offering as a holy gift (2). For a peace offering, one could bring a sheep or goat to the priests. A portion would be burned as an offering to the Lord. Fat and blood of any animal were never to be eaten. The Lord promised to accept this as a food offering (3). For a sin offering for unintentional sins, the high priest could deal with his own sins by bringing a young bull to the Lord. If the community sinned the elders would provide the bull; if one of Israel’s leaders sinned he would provide a young male goat; and if one of the common people sinned he would bring a young female goat or sheep. Through this process the people could be forgiven (4). A sin offering had to be accompanied by confession. Those who could not afford a goat or sheep could instead bring two pigeons or doves, and those who could not afford the birds could instead bring flour. If a sacred object were to be defiled, a special guilt offering would be made, a ram from one’s own flock. In addition to the ram, the person who defiled the sacred object must pay for the loss plus twenty percent. Through this process the people could be forgiven (5). A guilt offering would also be required for theft or false oaths, but the financial penalty would be paid to the person who had been wronged. The priests would be responsible for keeping the fire for the burnt offering burning at all times and for handling the ashes. They also had to eat their share of the grain offering in the Tabernacle.
The Lord then told Moses that in order to ordain Aaron and his sons, a special grain offering was to be made, but it was to be entirely burned up with nothing eaten. The priests also had to eat their share of the sin offering in the Tabernacle (6). Similar rules applied for priests eating the guilt offering. Peace offerings could be made to express thanksgiving or to fulfill a vow. The fat and the blood of any animal were never to be eaten. The breast and right thigh of the peace offering was to be the priests’ portion (7).
Moses then called all the people together and ordained Aaron and his sons as priests. As part of this ritual Moses slaughtered the animals for the sin offering, burnt offering, and ordination offering. Aaron and his sons stayed at the entrance to the Tabernacle for seven days and nights after the ceremony was complete (8).
The Lord then told Moses that in order to ordain Aaron and his sons, a special grain offering was to be made, but it was to be entirely burned up with nothing eaten. The priests also had to eat their share of the sin offering in the Tabernacle (6). Similar rules applied for priests eating the guilt offering. Peace offerings could be made to express thanksgiving or to fulfill a vow. The fat and the blood of any animal were never to be eaten. The breast and right thigh of the peace offering was to be the priests’ portion (7).
Moses then called all the people together and ordained Aaron and his sons as priests. As part of this ritual Moses slaughtered the animals for the sin offering, burnt offering, and ordination offering. Aaron and his sons stayed at the entrance to the Tabernacle for seven days and nights after the ceremony was complete (8).
Thursday 4 May 2017
Mark 16:1-20 Summary
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb with two other women, but instead of Jesus they found an angel! He told them to get Jesus’ disciples and meet him in Galilee, but the women fled for they were afraid. (Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to a pair of disciples, and then to the eleven disciples. After Jesus was taken up to heaven, they proclaimed the gospel everywhere.) (16)
Sunday 30 April 2017
Friday 28 April 2017
Exodus 25:1-40:38 Summary
The Lord commanded Moses to collect offerings from the people to build a Tabernacle for the Lord along with its furnishings. The Lord instructed him to have the people build an ark and to put stone tablets with the terms of the covenant inside. Two molded cherubim were to be placed on either side of the cover, which would be the place of atonement. The Lord would then speak to Moses from above the atonement cover between the cherubim. The Lord then gave specific instructions for a worship table upon which the bread of the presence would remain; an ornate lampstand (25); the Tabernacle itself, which would house the ark in the most holy place, set apart from the rest of the tabernacle by curtains (26); an altar and the necessary instruments for burnt offerings; and a large courtyard area for the Tabernacle. The lampstand would be placed in front of the most holy place and Aaron and his sons would be required to keep the lamps burning for the Lord all night (27). The Lord commanded Moses to call Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar as priests. The Lord gave detailed instructions for special vestments that they were to wear to set them apart from the people, and help them perform their priestly duties (28). The Lord explained a seven-day ordination ceremony, which included washing with water, offerings of bread and wine, animal sacrifice, the sprinkling of blood, and anointing with oil (29). The Lord gave specific instructions for an incense altar upon which incense was to be burned each morning and evening in the Lord’s presence; a head tax to be paid to maintain the Tabernacle; and the creation of holy water, oil, and incense that were to be used only for sacred rituals (30). The Lord appointed Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan to oversee all this work. The last thing the Lord told Moses before sending him down from Mount Sinai with two stone tablets with the terms of the covenant written on them by the finger of God was that all must observe the Sabbath or face the death penalty (31).
Moses had been away a long time, so the people asked Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. The Lord was furious, but Moses convinced the Lord not to destroy the people. When Moses made his way down the mountain, he smashed the stone tablets in anger, destroyed the calf, punished the people, and ordered his fellow Levites to kill those who did not stand with him. The Lord sent a plague against the people to show that he was with Moses (32). As Moses prepared to lead the people into the land that God had promised them, he asked the Lord to be with him. The Lord allowed Moses to see his glory to demonstrate his ongoing faithfulness (33). Moses again met with the Lord on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. He received two more stone tablets with the terms of the covenant written on them. When he returned to the people his face had a radiant glow that had to be hidden from the people (34).
Moses called the people together, reemphasized the importance of the Sabbath, took an offering for the construction of the Tabernacle, and appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to oversee its construction (35). The people gave more than enough for its construction, so Bezalel began his work. Bezalel made the Tabernacle (36), the ark of the covenant, the worship table, the ornate lampstand, the incense altar (37), the altar for burnt offerings and its utensils, and the large courtyard area for the Tabernacle. This was all built from the offerings of the people and the taxes paid by 603,550 men. The total included 2,193 pounds of gold, 7,545 pounds of silver, and 5,310 pounds of bronze (38). Bezalel also made the priestly vestments. When it was all finished, Moses inspected the work and blessed the Israelites for making it according to the Lord’s instructions (39). The Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the new year, and Moses consecrated it. Then he anointed Aaron and his sons as priests. Finally, he placed the stone tablets inside the ark of the covenant in the most holy place of the Tabernacle. When everything was finished, the cloud of God’s presence entered the Tabernacle. Whenever the cloud moved from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel followed (40).
Moses had been away a long time, so the people asked Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. The Lord was furious, but Moses convinced the Lord not to destroy the people. When Moses made his way down the mountain, he smashed the stone tablets in anger, destroyed the calf, punished the people, and ordered his fellow Levites to kill those who did not stand with him. The Lord sent a plague against the people to show that he was with Moses (32). As Moses prepared to lead the people into the land that God had promised them, he asked the Lord to be with him. The Lord allowed Moses to see his glory to demonstrate his ongoing faithfulness (33). Moses again met with the Lord on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. He received two more stone tablets with the terms of the covenant written on them. When he returned to the people his face had a radiant glow that had to be hidden from the people (34).
Moses called the people together, reemphasized the importance of the Sabbath, took an offering for the construction of the Tabernacle, and appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to oversee its construction (35). The people gave more than enough for its construction, so Bezalel began his work. Bezalel made the Tabernacle (36), the ark of the covenant, the worship table, the ornate lampstand, the incense altar (37), the altar for burnt offerings and its utensils, and the large courtyard area for the Tabernacle. This was all built from the offerings of the people and the taxes paid by 603,550 men. The total included 2,193 pounds of gold, 7,545 pounds of silver, and 5,310 pounds of bronze (38). Bezalel also made the priestly vestments. When it was all finished, Moses inspected the work and blessed the Israelites for making it according to the Lord’s instructions (39). The Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the new year, and Moses consecrated it. Then he anointed Aaron and his sons as priests. Finally, he placed the stone tablets inside the ark of the covenant in the most holy place of the Tabernacle. When everything was finished, the cloud of God’s presence entered the Tabernacle. Whenever the cloud moved from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel followed (40).
Thursday 27 April 2017
Mark 8:27-15:47 Summary
Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah, but was shocked when Jesus predicted his own crucifixion. Jesus explained that to follow him meant losing one’s life for the sake of the gospel (8). Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain; they saw Jesus transfigured and heard a voice say, “This is my dearly loved son.” Jesus predicted his death and resurrection, and taught his disciples to focus on the kingdom of God (9). As he traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus denounced divorce, welcomed children, and encouraged divestment. He predicted he would be crucified and raised up, and commanded his disciples to serve others as he had served them. When they met a blind man who identified Jesus as the Son of David, Jesus healed him (10).
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to shouts of praise from the crowds, but offended the Temple authorities by disrupting the business of the Temple (11). Jesus told parables and answered questions to show that the religious leaders were abusing their power. The only leader Jesus commended summarized the Law with two commands: love of God and love of neighbour. As Jesus left the Temple a poor widow give all she had away and Jesus commended her faith (12). The disciples were in awe of the Temple, but Jesus predicted that it would be destroyed, warned them of the many troubles to come, and predicted the return of the Son of Man (13).
When a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume Judas was offended and set out to betray Jesus. During the Passover meal Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, telling them it was his body. Then he took the wine, blessed it, poured it out, and told them it was his blood. As they walked to the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him. After Jesus prayed Judas arrived and betrayed Jesus to the authorities. Jesus was taken to the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance. As Jesus met with the high priest, he accepted the title of Messiah, and was condemned to death. When someone confronted Peter, he denied knowing Jesus, but then felt ashamed (14). The priests brought Jesus to Pilate who agreed to crucify Jesus to mollify the crowds. When Jesus died on the cross the curtain of the Temple was torn in two and a Roman officer exclaimed, “This man really was the Son of God!” Joseph of Arimathea was given permission by Pilate to bury Jesus’ body (15).
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to shouts of praise from the crowds, but offended the Temple authorities by disrupting the business of the Temple (11). Jesus told parables and answered questions to show that the religious leaders were abusing their power. The only leader Jesus commended summarized the Law with two commands: love of God and love of neighbour. As Jesus left the Temple a poor widow give all she had away and Jesus commended her faith (12). The disciples were in awe of the Temple, but Jesus predicted that it would be destroyed, warned them of the many troubles to come, and predicted the return of the Son of Man (13).
When a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume Judas was offended and set out to betray Jesus. During the Passover meal Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, telling them it was his body. Then he took the wine, blessed it, poured it out, and told them it was his blood. As they walked to the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him. After Jesus prayed Judas arrived and betrayed Jesus to the authorities. Jesus was taken to the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance. As Jesus met with the high priest, he accepted the title of Messiah, and was condemned to death. When someone confronted Peter, he denied knowing Jesus, but then felt ashamed (14). The priests brought Jesus to Pilate who agreed to crucify Jesus to mollify the crowds. When Jesus died on the cross the curtain of the Temple was torn in two and a Roman officer exclaimed, “This man really was the Son of God!” Joseph of Arimathea was given permission by Pilate to bury Jesus’ body (15).
Sunday 23 April 2017
Friday 21 April 2017
Exodus 19:1-24:18 Summary
Two months after leaving Egypt the Israelites set up camp at the bottom of Mount Sinai. The Lord told Moses that the Israelites would be his kingdom of priests, his holy people. The Israelites prepared themselves for three days, after which God appeared to them in fire, smoke, lightning and thunder (19). God gave them a series of ten commandments about other gods, idols, the use of the Lord’s name, sabbath observance, respect for parents, murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and property. The people were very afraid and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen, but don’t let God speak to us directly, or we will die.” So Moses approached the dark cloud of God’s presence. The Lord gave him instructions about using altars for sacrifices (20); slave ownership; dealing with violence in the community (21); rectifying property disputes; religious purity; care for the most vulnerable; honouring God through sacred offerings (22); being committed to honesty; observing sabbath days and years; and celebrating the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering. Then the Lord promised Moses that an angel would be sent ahead of him to protect the Israelites and enable them to utterly destroy the peoples of the land they were about to enter so long as the Israelites worshiped the Lord alone and made no treaties with those peoples (23). Moses relayed all the Lord’s instructions to the people and they agreed to obey them. The covenant between the Israelites and the Lord was confirmed through sacrifices, and Moses splattered the blood from the sacrifices over the people. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders climbed Mount Sinai and ate a covenant meal in the Lord’s presence. Moses then instructed everyone but Joshua to stay put as he climbed higher on the mountain to meet with God, and Moses stayed on top of the mountain for forty days and forty nights (24).
Thursday 20 April 2017
Mark 1:1-8:26 Summary
The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when John the Baptist began preaching in the wilderness. When Jesus came to be baptized by John a voice from heaven declared, “You are my dearly loved son.” After John was arrested, Jesus began preaching the good news of God saying, “The kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the good news!” Jesus traveled around Galilee calling disciples, teaching in the synagogues, casting out evil spirits, healing the sick, and spending time alone in prayer (1). The news about Jesus spread quickly, but the Pharisees were skeptical. They criticized Jesus for forgiving sins, eating with tax collectors and sinners, having overindulgent disciples, and employing an overly lenient attitude toward Sabbath observance (2). After Jesus healed a man in a synagogue on the Sabbath, the Pharisees began to plot with Herod’s supporters about how to kill Jesus.
Jesus took his disciples to a mountain and appointed twelve to be apostles. But Jesus’ family was very worried. They tried to bring Jesus home for they thought that he was crazy while the Pharisees accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan. When Jesus’ mother and brothers returned, Jesus refused to see them, declaring that those who did God’s will were his true family (3). Jesus taught the crowds using parables, but only explained their true meaning to his disciples in private. One evening, they were crossing a lake when a great storm arose. The disciples feared for their lives, but Jesus rebuked the storm and the water was suddenly calm; the disciples were terrified (4). When they reached shore, a demon-possessed man approached them. Jesus cast out the evil spirit, but the crowd was terrified and begged Jesus to leave. He obliged and returned to the other side of the lake where he healed two women, one who had been suffering for twelve years and the other a twelve-year-old girl (5). When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, the people dismissed him, so he traveled between villages teaching. He sent the apostles out in pairs to heal the sick, exorcise demons, and proclaim the good news. At this time Herod Antipas had John the Baptist executed. When the disciples returned, Jesus hoped to talk with them in private, but the crowds found them. Taking compassion on the crowds, Jesus taught them. Then he took five loaves of bread and two fish, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. Five thousand families were fed! Jesus then went off to pray while the disciples left in the boat. Later that night, Jesus approached them, walking on the water; the disciples were terrified (6).
One day, the Pharisees criticized the disciples for not following their ancient traditions. Jesus quoted scripture as he criticized the Pharisees for elevating their traditions above the Law. Then a Gentile woman came to Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter. Jesus was reluctant because she was a Gentile, but she used her wits to convince him (7). As Jesus continued his ministry the crowd again became very large, so Jesus took seven loaves of bread, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. Four thousand families were fed! The Pharisees then asked for a sign, but Jesus rebuked them and privately warned his disciples not to listen to them. When they arrived at Bethsaida, Jesus healed a blind man (8).
Jesus took his disciples to a mountain and appointed twelve to be apostles. But Jesus’ family was very worried. They tried to bring Jesus home for they thought that he was crazy while the Pharisees accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan. When Jesus’ mother and brothers returned, Jesus refused to see them, declaring that those who did God’s will were his true family (3). Jesus taught the crowds using parables, but only explained their true meaning to his disciples in private. One evening, they were crossing a lake when a great storm arose. The disciples feared for their lives, but Jesus rebuked the storm and the water was suddenly calm; the disciples were terrified (4). When they reached shore, a demon-possessed man approached them. Jesus cast out the evil spirit, but the crowd was terrified and begged Jesus to leave. He obliged and returned to the other side of the lake where he healed two women, one who had been suffering for twelve years and the other a twelve-year-old girl (5). When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, the people dismissed him, so he traveled between villages teaching. He sent the apostles out in pairs to heal the sick, exorcise demons, and proclaim the good news. At this time Herod Antipas had John the Baptist executed. When the disciples returned, Jesus hoped to talk with them in private, but the crowds found them. Taking compassion on the crowds, Jesus taught them. Then he took five loaves of bread and two fish, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. Five thousand families were fed! Jesus then went off to pray while the disciples left in the boat. Later that night, Jesus approached them, walking on the water; the disciples were terrified (6).
One day, the Pharisees criticized the disciples for not following their ancient traditions. Jesus quoted scripture as he criticized the Pharisees for elevating their traditions above the Law. Then a Gentile woman came to Jesus, asking him to heal her daughter. Jesus was reluctant because she was a Gentile, but she used her wits to convince him (7). As Jesus continued his ministry the crowd again became very large, so Jesus took seven loaves of bread, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. Four thousand families were fed! The Pharisees then asked for a sign, but Jesus rebuked them and privately warned his disciples not to listen to them. When they arrived at Bethsaida, Jesus healed a blind man (8).
Sunday 16 April 2017
Friday 14 April 2017
Exodus 13:17-18:27 Summary
The Israelites took the bones of Joseph with them from Egypt, and traveled toward the Red Sea. The Lord guided the people with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (13). After the Lord led the people to make camp, he hardened Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh decided to chase after the Israelites. When the people heard Pharaoh’s chariots coming, they panicked saying, “Better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” Moses calmed the people down, and then lifted his staff over the Red Sea. The sea split in two and the Israelites passed through on dry ground. When the Egyptians pursued them, the Lord closed the waters and swept them away (14). Miriam and Moses led the people in celebratory singing. But not long after this, the people complained against Moses at Marah because they were running low on water. The Lord heard their cries and worked a miracle through Moses to provide them with water (15). Next the people complained against Moses and Aaron because they were running low on food. God provided them with quail and a bread called manna, but the Lord only allowed them to collect enough for one day and never allowed them to collect on the Sabbath. Some people tried to save the food, but it would always go rotten. The only exception was a small amount of manna that Aaron collected and put in the ark of the covenant. This was to teach the people to trust in the Lord’s provision (16). When the people moved on to Rephidim, there was again no water for them to drink so they complained against Moses. The Lord commanded Moses to hit a rock with his staff, and when he did, water gushed out, so Moses named the place Meribah. While the people were at Rephidim, some Amalekites attacked them and Moses sent Joshua into battle against them, and the Lord helped Joshua prevail (17). Now Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, back to Jethro, his father-in-law. But when Jethro heard about all that had happened he came to visit Moses. Jethro gave him some wise advice about leadership and then returned home to Midian (18).
Thursday 13 April 2017
Matthew 26:1-28:20 Summary
As the religious leaders plotted to have Jesus killed, a woman publicly anointed Jesus with expensive perfume and Judas decided to betray Jesus. Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, said his death would fulfill the Scriptures, and instituted a table ritual of bread and wine by which his disciples would remember him. He said they would soon deny him, but Peter was convinced he wouldn’t. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus offered anguished prayers, but the disciples fell asleep. Judas arrived and had Jesus arrested while the disciples fled. Jesus was convicted of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin who planned to have him killed. When Peter was recognized, he denied Jesus three times (26). Judas was filled with remorse and hanged himself. When Jesus was brought to Pilate, the Roman governor capitulated to the crowds and ordered that Jesus be crucified. Jesus was placed on a cross and was ridiculed by many while his female followers watched from a distance. When Jesus died, there was a great earthquake, many dead were raised, and the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. A terrified Roman officer exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus’ body in a tomb as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary watched (27). On Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary visited the tomb and discovered that Jesus had been raised from the dead and would meet the disciples in Galilee. The eleven disciples went to Galilee and met Jesus on a mountain. He told them to go and make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them in the way, and he promised that he would be with them always (28).
Sunday 9 April 2017
Friday 7 April 2017
Exodus 1:1-13:16 Summary
Jacob’s descendants multiplied in the land of Egypt over many generations. One day a new king came to power in Egypt. He knew nothing of Joseph, and was worried about how numerous the Israelites had become. The king enslaved the Israelites and subjected them to forced labour, but the Israelites nevertheless continued to multiply. The king then ordered a group of Egyptian midwives to kill all the male Hebrew infants immediately after they were born. The midwives defied this order and were blessed by God, but the king would not step back from his plan: he ordered all his people to throw any male Hebrew infants into the Nile river (1). It was at this time that a young couple from the tribe of Levi had a son. The boy’s mother hid him for three months before placing him in a basket along the Nile river while her daughter watched over him. Just then, the king’s daughter found the boy! She had compassion on him and adopted him as her own son, and she named the boy Moses.
When Moses grew up he saw that his fellow Hebrews were being abused. He was so angry that he killed one of the Egyptian slave-masters. Once it became clear to Moses that the murder wasn’t a secret, he fled to Midian, evading the king’s attempt to kill him. When Moses arrived in Midian he saved the daughters of Reuel, the priest of Midian, from a group of shepherds. Reuel welcomed Moses and gave him one of his daughters, Zipporah, to be his wife. When Zipporah gave birth to a son, Moses named him Gershom.
Many years passed, the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites continued cry out to God for help. God heard their cries, and remembered the covenant he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (2). One day Moses was tending the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, and he led them to Mount Sinai. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed. The Lord told Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites into the land that God had promised. Moses objected and asked that God reveal his name. God said, “I am who I am” and told Moses to tell the people that he was speaking for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3). The Lord performed several miraculous signs, but still Moses objected. Finally, the Lord made Moses’ brother Aaron his spokesperson and Moses agreed to go. Along the way, the Lord confronted Moses and nearly killed him, but Zipporah circumcised their son Gershom during the confrontation and saved Moses’ life. Moses and Aaron met at Sinai before returning to Egypt and performing miraculous signs for the people so that the Israelites would believe that God had sent them (4).
Moses and Aaron met with Pharaoh and demanded that he let the Israelites go into the wilderness to worship the Lord. Pharaoh responded by making the Israelites’ work even harsher. The Israelites confronted Moses and Aaron, and Moses cried out to the Lord in lament (5). The Lord responded by telling Moses that he would deliver the people out of Egypt and into the land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses relayed this message to the people, but they no longer believed him. When the Lord told Moses to go back to Pharaoh a second time, even Moses himself objected (6). Eventually Moses agreed to go back to Pharaoh. He turned his staff into snake and all the water of Egypt into blood, but the Egyptian magicians duplicated these signs, so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard to Moses’ request (7). When God empowered Moses and Aaron to send a plague of frogs the Egyptian magicians again duplicated the sign, but Pharaoh was desperate to be rid of the frogs. He asked Moses and Aaron to pray to their God for relief, but once they did he refused to let the Israelites go! After sending plagues of gnats and flies that the Egyptian magicians couldn’t duplicate, Pharaoh suggested the Israelites worship their God in Egypt, but Moses refused this compromise. Pharaoh finally relented, but after Moses and Aaron prayed for relief, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened yet again (8). The Lord then sent a plague of sickness on livestock, a plague of boils, and a plague of hail, but even when the plagues impacted only the Egyptians and had no impact on the Israelites in the land, Pharaoh still wouldn’t listen (9). When the Lord sent plagues of locusts and darkness even Pharaoh’s officials couldn’t convince him (10).
Finally, Moses went to Pharaoh and told him that the Lord would kill the firstborn child of every family in Egypt that night, and that all of Egypt would come to Moses and beg him to lead the Israelites into the wilderness (11). Moses then gave the Israelites instructions for the celebration of the Passover, a day that they would mark each year forever to remember the time that the Lord struck down the firstborn sons of the families of Egypt but passed over the families of the Israelites. That night, the Lord struck down the firstborn son of every family in Egypt and loud wailing could be heard throughout the land. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and commanded them to take their people and leave. The Egyptians gave the Israelites anything they asked for just to be ride of them. The Lord had thus fulfilled his promise to bring the people out of Egypt (12).
As Moses led the people into the wilderness he gave them instructions for the dedication of every firstborn, human or animal, to the Lord (13).
When Moses grew up he saw that his fellow Hebrews were being abused. He was so angry that he killed one of the Egyptian slave-masters. Once it became clear to Moses that the murder wasn’t a secret, he fled to Midian, evading the king’s attempt to kill him. When Moses arrived in Midian he saved the daughters of Reuel, the priest of Midian, from a group of shepherds. Reuel welcomed Moses and gave him one of his daughters, Zipporah, to be his wife. When Zipporah gave birth to a son, Moses named him Gershom.
Many years passed, the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites continued cry out to God for help. God heard their cries, and remembered the covenant he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (2). One day Moses was tending the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, and he led them to Mount Sinai. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed. The Lord told Moses to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites into the land that God had promised. Moses objected and asked that God reveal his name. God said, “I am who I am” and told Moses to tell the people that he was speaking for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3). The Lord performed several miraculous signs, but still Moses objected. Finally, the Lord made Moses’ brother Aaron his spokesperson and Moses agreed to go. Along the way, the Lord confronted Moses and nearly killed him, but Zipporah circumcised their son Gershom during the confrontation and saved Moses’ life. Moses and Aaron met at Sinai before returning to Egypt and performing miraculous signs for the people so that the Israelites would believe that God had sent them (4).
Moses and Aaron met with Pharaoh and demanded that he let the Israelites go into the wilderness to worship the Lord. Pharaoh responded by making the Israelites’ work even harsher. The Israelites confronted Moses and Aaron, and Moses cried out to the Lord in lament (5). The Lord responded by telling Moses that he would deliver the people out of Egypt and into the land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses relayed this message to the people, but they no longer believed him. When the Lord told Moses to go back to Pharaoh a second time, even Moses himself objected (6). Eventually Moses agreed to go back to Pharaoh. He turned his staff into snake and all the water of Egypt into blood, but the Egyptian magicians duplicated these signs, so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard to Moses’ request (7). When God empowered Moses and Aaron to send a plague of frogs the Egyptian magicians again duplicated the sign, but Pharaoh was desperate to be rid of the frogs. He asked Moses and Aaron to pray to their God for relief, but once they did he refused to let the Israelites go! After sending plagues of gnats and flies that the Egyptian magicians couldn’t duplicate, Pharaoh suggested the Israelites worship their God in Egypt, but Moses refused this compromise. Pharaoh finally relented, but after Moses and Aaron prayed for relief, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened yet again (8). The Lord then sent a plague of sickness on livestock, a plague of boils, and a plague of hail, but even when the plagues impacted only the Egyptians and had no impact on the Israelites in the land, Pharaoh still wouldn’t listen (9). When the Lord sent plagues of locusts and darkness even Pharaoh’s officials couldn’t convince him (10).
Finally, Moses went to Pharaoh and told him that the Lord would kill the firstborn child of every family in Egypt that night, and that all of Egypt would come to Moses and beg him to lead the Israelites into the wilderness (11). Moses then gave the Israelites instructions for the celebration of the Passover, a day that they would mark each year forever to remember the time that the Lord struck down the firstborn sons of the families of Egypt but passed over the families of the Israelites. That night, the Lord struck down the firstborn son of every family in Egypt and loud wailing could be heard throughout the land. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and commanded them to take their people and leave. The Egyptians gave the Israelites anything they asked for just to be ride of them. The Lord had thus fulfilled his promise to bring the people out of Egypt (12).
As Moses led the people into the wilderness he gave them instructions for the dedication of every firstborn, human or animal, to the Lord (13).
Thursday 6 April 2017
Matthew 19:1-25:46 Summary
When Jesus arrived in Judea the Pharisees asked him about divorce, which the Law of Moses permitted; Jesus taught from the Scriptures that divorce was not part of God’s plan. Parents brought their children to Jesus, and he welcomed them. When a rich man asked about eternal life Jesus told him to sell his possessions and become a disciple. The man left and the disciples were astounded. Jesus promised that all who sacrifice now will eventually be rewarded (19) using a parable to illustrate that the last will be first and the first last in the age to come. As the group approached Jerusalem, Jesus again predicted his death and resurrection, but the disciples argued about being the greatest. Jesus taught them that being great meant being a servant to all. He then healed two blind men who recognized him as Son of David (20). As Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for Passover the crowds praised him, which fulfilled the Scriptures. Jesus performed signs against the Temple and told parables against the religious leaders who had refused to believe John and now questioned Jesus’ authority (21). As Jesus was teaching, people tested him with questions about taxes, the resurrection of the dead, and the Law of Moses. After answering them, Jesus posed a question about the Messiah that none could answer, so they stopped questioning him (22). Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders promising that they would be punished, for though they were careful to obey the details of the Law, they forgot its larger purpose of justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus then lamented Jerusalem’s sins (23). After leaving the Temple Jesus predicted that it would be destroyed. He foresaw a dystopian future for God’s people that would end with the return of the Son of Man. He warned his disciples to be ready because the Son of Man could return at any time (24). Jesus told them parables about the need to be ready for his return and the faithful use of their gifts. He followed this with a description of the Last Judgment wherein people were judged based on how they’d treated others (25).
Sunday 2 April 2017
Friday 31 March 2017
Genesis 37:1-50:26 Summary
Joseph was Jacob’s favourite son, which led to his brothers resenting him. Joseph made this problem worse when he told them about his dreams where they bowed down to him. One day, Judah convinced the brothers to sell Joseph into slavery without their father’s knowledge, so Joseph became a slave of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers (37). Judah also treated his daughter-in-law, Tamar, poorly. He refused to give his youngest son to her in marriage after his other sons, to whom she was married, died. This was in violation of the law, so Tamar shamed Judah through a bit of sexual trickery that resulted in Judah and Tamar having twins (38).
The Lord blessed Joseph in Egypt, and thus also blessed Potiphar’s household. One day, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused her. She accused Joseph of attempted rape, and Joseph was sent to prison. But even in prison the Lord blessed Joseph (39). There, Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams of the other prisoners (40). Two years later, one of those former prisoners was working in Pharaoh’s court. When Pharaoh had dreams he could not interpret, this former prisoner suggested that Pharaoh call on Joseph. Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams and warned Pharaoh about an impending famine. Pharaoh was so impressed that he made Joseph his second-in-command, and Egypt prospered. Joseph married Asenath, a daughter of the priest of On, and had two boys, Manasseh and Ephraim (41).
When the famine came, Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but they failed to recognize him. Joseph spoke harshly to them and only let them leave when they promised to return with Benjamin (42). Jacob was very upset when he heard the news, and only let Benjamin go after Judah promised to take responsibility for Benjamin’s safety. After they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had a feast prepared for his brothers; it was at this feast that they all bowed down to Joseph (43). After the feast, Joseph had their bags filled with grain and sent them on their way, but he had a silver cup planted in Benjamin’s sack. He accused Benjamin of stealing and threatened to enslave him. Judah pleaded with Joseph, asking to take Benjamin’s place and explaining the vow that he had made to his father, Jacob (44). Joseph was overwhelmed with emotion and revealed his identity. His brothers were gobsmacked, but Joseph reassured them that it was God, and not them, who had sent him to Egypt. The news soon reached Pharaoh who sent the brothers to get their father so that they could return with him and settle in the land of Egypt.
Jacob was overjoyed (45). On his way to Egypt, Jacob stopped at Beersheba and God appeared to him in a vision. God reassured Jacob that even in Egypt God would be with him. When Jacob arrived, Joseph embraced his father and wept (46). Jacob met with Pharaoh and blessed him. Then the whole family settled in Goshen, some of Egypt’s best land. Joseph continued to work for Pharaoh and helped him accumulate great wealth. Meanwhile in Goshen Jacob’s family was fruitful and multiplied. As Jacob’s death drew near he had Joseph promise to take his body back to Canaan for burial after his death (47). A little while later Jacob claimed Manasseh and Ephraim as his own children and blessed them. Though Joseph objected, Jacob gave the better blessing to Ephraim even though Manasseh was the firstborn (48). Jacob then called all his sons together and gave each of them a special blessing. To Reuben he said, “You are my firstborn, but you will be first no longer, for you went to bed with my wife,” and to Judah he said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from his feet.” After Jacob finished blessing his children, he died (49). Joseph had Jacob’s body embalmed and then took him to Canaan so that he could be buried in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. With their father dead, the brothers worried that Joseph might take revenge on them, but Joseph reassured them that what they had intended for evil, God had used for good (50).
The Lord blessed Joseph in Egypt, and thus also blessed Potiphar’s household. One day, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused her. She accused Joseph of attempted rape, and Joseph was sent to prison. But even in prison the Lord blessed Joseph (39). There, Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams of the other prisoners (40). Two years later, one of those former prisoners was working in Pharaoh’s court. When Pharaoh had dreams he could not interpret, this former prisoner suggested that Pharaoh call on Joseph. Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams and warned Pharaoh about an impending famine. Pharaoh was so impressed that he made Joseph his second-in-command, and Egypt prospered. Joseph married Asenath, a daughter of the priest of On, and had two boys, Manasseh and Ephraim (41).
When the famine came, Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but they failed to recognize him. Joseph spoke harshly to them and only let them leave when they promised to return with Benjamin (42). Jacob was very upset when he heard the news, and only let Benjamin go after Judah promised to take responsibility for Benjamin’s safety. After they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had a feast prepared for his brothers; it was at this feast that they all bowed down to Joseph (43). After the feast, Joseph had their bags filled with grain and sent them on their way, but he had a silver cup planted in Benjamin’s sack. He accused Benjamin of stealing and threatened to enslave him. Judah pleaded with Joseph, asking to take Benjamin’s place and explaining the vow that he had made to his father, Jacob (44). Joseph was overwhelmed with emotion and revealed his identity. His brothers were gobsmacked, but Joseph reassured them that it was God, and not them, who had sent him to Egypt. The news soon reached Pharaoh who sent the brothers to get their father so that they could return with him and settle in the land of Egypt.
Jacob was overjoyed (45). On his way to Egypt, Jacob stopped at Beersheba and God appeared to him in a vision. God reassured Jacob that even in Egypt God would be with him. When Jacob arrived, Joseph embraced his father and wept (46). Jacob met with Pharaoh and blessed him. Then the whole family settled in Goshen, some of Egypt’s best land. Joseph continued to work for Pharaoh and helped him accumulate great wealth. Meanwhile in Goshen Jacob’s family was fruitful and multiplied. As Jacob’s death drew near he had Joseph promise to take his body back to Canaan for burial after his death (47). A little while later Jacob claimed Manasseh and Ephraim as his own children and blessed them. Though Joseph objected, Jacob gave the better blessing to Ephraim even though Manasseh was the firstborn (48). Jacob then called all his sons together and gave each of them a special blessing. To Reuben he said, “You are my firstborn, but you will be first no longer, for you went to bed with my wife,” and to Judah he said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from his feet.” After Jacob finished blessing his children, he died (49). Joseph had Jacob’s body embalmed and then took him to Canaan so that he could be buried in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. With their father dead, the brothers worried that Joseph might take revenge on them, but Joseph reassured them that what they had intended for evil, God had used for good (50).
Thursday 30 March 2017
Matthew 13:53-18:35 Summary
Jesus taught in Nazareth but was rejected (13). When Herod Antipas heard about Jesus he thought John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had been raised from the dead. While Jesus was grieving John’s death, a crowd arrived; Jesus multiplied loaves and fish to feed them. After time alone in prayer Jesus walked on water and invited Peter to do likewise; when Peter sank, Jesus saved him, calmed the storm, and joined his disciples in a boat. Amazed, they worshiped him as the Son of God (14). Jesus then argued with the Pharisees about eating customs. Jesus taught that it’s what comes out of mouths–words–rather than what goes in–food–that makes a person unclean. A Gentile woman taught Jesus about inclusivity and Jesus healed her daughter. He healed others and multiplied food to feed the multitudes (15). The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded that Jesus perform a sign to prove his authority; Jesus refused and rebuked them. He asked his disciples about his identity and Peter said, “You are the Messiah.” He accepted the title and honoured Peter, but instructed the disciples to tell no one. When Jesus predicted his own death Peter objected, but Jesus rebuked him (16). Peter and two others accompanied Jesus up a mountain and they had a vision: Jesus was transfigured, and a voice declared, “This is my dearly loved son.” Back down the mountain Jesus exorcised a demon and told his disciples they would need great faith. He again predicted his death before arriving in Capernaum where he paid a religious tax but made it clear to his disciples that he wasn’t obligated to pay it (17). Jesus responded to a question about greatness by saying that one becomes great in the Kingdom of Heaven through humility. He taught his disciples about conflict and forgiveness, suggesting that they use God’s forgiveness as a model for their treatment of others (18).
Sunday 26 March 2017
Friday 24 March 2017
Genesis 25:19-36:43 Summary
Rebekah was barren, so Isaac prayed to the Lord and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. Rebekah prayed over the twins in her womb and the Lord told her they would become rival nations. When the twins were born, they named them Esau and Jacob. Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. One day, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal (25). When a famine forced Isaac into Gerar he deceived the people, but then acquired the king’s protection. The Lord reiterated to Isaac the promise of land, descendants, and blessing. After Isaac gained great wealth the king asked him to leave, so Isaac traveled to Beersheba and the Lord appeared to him there. Isaac then agreed to a covenant of peace with the king of Gerar and Esau married two Hittite women even though his parents did not approve (26). As Isaac was getting old, he prepared to give the firstborn’s blessing to Esau, but Jacob and Rebekah deceived Isaac and stole the blessing, invoking the name of the Lord as part of their deception. Because Esau was planning to kill Jacob once Isaac died (27), Rebekah had Isaac send Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran under the pretense that her main concern was finding Jacob a suitable wife.
On his way to Haran Jacob stopped at Bethel and the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The Lord reiterated the promise of land, descendants, and blessing to Jacob, and Jacob vowed that if the Lord was faithful to him he would make the Lord his God (28). When he arrived in Haran Jacob fell in love with Rachel, his cousin. He agreed to work for her father Laban for seven years so that he could marry her; but Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter, Leah, first, and thus acquired another seven years of labour from Jacob so that he could marry Rachel too. Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. The Lord saw this and blessed Leah with four children: Reuben, Levi, Simeon, and Judah (29). Rachel was distraught because of her infertility. One day Rachel told Jacob to sleep with her servant Bilhah so that Rachel might have a child through her. Bilhah had two sons and Rachel named them Dan and Naphtali. Not to be outdone Leah then told Jacob to sleep with her servant Zilpah so that Leah might have more children through her. Zilpah also had two sons, and Leah named them Gad and Asher. Leah herself then bore three more children: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, her daughter. Finally, God remembered Rachel, and she gave birth to Joseph (30).
As Jacob’s wealth increased, Laban became jealous. After speaking with the Lord in a dream, Jacob secretly left for Canaan. Laban chased after Jacob. When Laban caught up, they argued at first, but then made a covenant of peace before Jacob continued his journey (31). As Jacob continued, he discovered that Esau was coming out to meet him and became very afraid, so he sent gifts ahead to appease his brother. That night, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious figure through the night who renamed him Israel saying, “You have fought with God and with men and have won” (32). That day, he met up with Esau and the two brothers made peace (33). One day Shechem, a local ruler, raped Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. Shechem’s father, Hamor, then approached Jacob and his sons about having Shechem and Dinah marry. The brothers agreed deceitfully, asking that the men of Hamor’s household first be circumcised. While they were recovering Simeon and Levi killed them all (34). Jacob returned to Bethel under God's protection. God confirmed his name would be Israel and told him to be fruitful and multiply. The family traveled to Ephrath, and Rachel died on the journey after giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. That was also the trip when Reuben had sex with Bilhah. Soon after that Isaac died; his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him (35). Esau had many descendants through his three wives, Adah the Hittite, Oholibamah the Hivite and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael (36).
On his way to Haran Jacob stopped at Bethel and the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The Lord reiterated the promise of land, descendants, and blessing to Jacob, and Jacob vowed that if the Lord was faithful to him he would make the Lord his God (28). When he arrived in Haran Jacob fell in love with Rachel, his cousin. He agreed to work for her father Laban for seven years so that he could marry her; but Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter, Leah, first, and thus acquired another seven years of labour from Jacob so that he could marry Rachel too. Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. The Lord saw this and blessed Leah with four children: Reuben, Levi, Simeon, and Judah (29). Rachel was distraught because of her infertility. One day Rachel told Jacob to sleep with her servant Bilhah so that Rachel might have a child through her. Bilhah had two sons and Rachel named them Dan and Naphtali. Not to be outdone Leah then told Jacob to sleep with her servant Zilpah so that Leah might have more children through her. Zilpah also had two sons, and Leah named them Gad and Asher. Leah herself then bore three more children: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, her daughter. Finally, God remembered Rachel, and she gave birth to Joseph (30).
As Jacob’s wealth increased, Laban became jealous. After speaking with the Lord in a dream, Jacob secretly left for Canaan. Laban chased after Jacob. When Laban caught up, they argued at first, but then made a covenant of peace before Jacob continued his journey (31). As Jacob continued, he discovered that Esau was coming out to meet him and became very afraid, so he sent gifts ahead to appease his brother. That night, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious figure through the night who renamed him Israel saying, “You have fought with God and with men and have won” (32). That day, he met up with Esau and the two brothers made peace (33). One day Shechem, a local ruler, raped Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. Shechem’s father, Hamor, then approached Jacob and his sons about having Shechem and Dinah marry. The brothers agreed deceitfully, asking that the men of Hamor’s household first be circumcised. While they were recovering Simeon and Levi killed them all (34). Jacob returned to Bethel under God's protection. God confirmed his name would be Israel and told him to be fruitful and multiply. The family traveled to Ephrath, and Rachel died on the journey after giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. That was also the trip when Reuben had sex with Bilhah. Soon after that Isaac died; his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him (35). Esau had many descendants through his three wives, Adah the Hittite, Oholibamah the Hivite and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael (36).
Thursday 23 March 2017
Matthew 11:1-13:52 Summary
Jesus spoke about John the Baptist’s greatness, rebuking the crowds for not believing in John or in him. He thanked God for revealing the truth to the weak, and invited them to find rest in him (11). Jesus and the Pharisees argued about the Sabbath. Jesus had healed many, arguing that mercy and goodness were most important, but the Pharisees thought his power was demonic and planned to kill him. When Jesus’ family arrived, he said that all who do the will of God are his true family (12). Crowds came to Jesus so he taught them about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Last Judgment using parables, but only explained their meaning to his disciples in private (13).
Sunday 19 March 2017
Friday 17 March 2017
Genesis 11:27-25:18 Summary
One of Shem’s descendants was Terah, father of Abram. One day Terah took Abram, Abram’s wife Sarai, and Abram’s nephew Lot, and moved from Ur to Haran (11). After Terah died, the Lord called Abram to go to a new land and promised him that he would both become a great nation and be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. So Abram traveled to Canaan and built two altars to worship the Lord, one in Shechem and another between Bethel and Ai. There, the Lord promised Abram that the land of Canaan would be given to his descendants.
A famine forced Abram into Egypt where he deceived Pharaoh. His deception led first to gifts, then to plagues on Pharaoh, and finally to Abram’s expulsion from the country (12). After returning to Canaan Abram and Lot separated to their own territories, but the Lord reiterated the promise of the entire land of Canaan and numerous descendants to Abram (13). When war broke out Lot was captured in battle, but Abram rescued him. When Abram returned from war Melchizedek, the king of Sodom, blessed him with bread, wine, and words. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils (14). Some time later the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, promising the old man that he would have a son of his own and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. A terrifying darkness came upon Abram that night and the Lord told him that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, but the Lord also reiterated the promise that the land of Canaan would be given to Abram’s descendants (15). Years passed without a son. One day Sarai told Abram to sleep with her servant Hagar so that Sarai might have a child through her. When Hagar became pregnant, the two women feuded and Hagar ran away. The angel of the Lord found Hagar in the wilderness, promised her a son named Ishmael, and encouraged her to return. Hagar called the the Lord who spoke to her El-Roi, the One Who Sees. Abram named the boy Ishmael. Finally, at eighty-six years old, Abram had a son (16).
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord renamed him Abraham and made a covenant that required the circumcision of the males in Abraham’s household forever. God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and promised Abraham that she would bear a son named Isaac. When Abraham laughed, God reiterated the promise (17). Three men arrived in Abraham’s camp, so he and Sarah fed them. They announced that Sarah would have a son. When Sarah laughed, the Lord reiterated the promise. After the men left, the Lord told Abraham about the plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the righteous living there (18). Two angels warned Lot and his family about the coming destruction, and as they left the cities were destroyed. Lot settled in a cave with his daughters; desiring children, the daughters tricked Lot into having sex (19). Meanwhile, Abraham settled in Gerar where he deceived the king. His deception led first to plagues on the king, then to gifts of livestock and land (20). But the Lord was faithful to Sarah and gave her a son. Abraham named the boy Isaac.
As Isaac grew up Sarah perceived Ishamel to be a threat, so Abraham expelled Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. God comforted Hagar there and promised to make Ishmael into a great nation (21). Meanwhile, God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son, his only son, his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham was prepared to comply; he took Isaac to the top of a mountain, bound him, and had his knife in the air when the Lord called out to stop him. Because of Abraham’s obedience, God reiterated the promise that Abraham would have many descendants and be a blessing to all nations (22). Sarah died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven and was buried in a cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites (23). Then Abraham sent his oldest servant back to the homeland to find a wife for Isaac. He was adamant that Isaac should neither marry a Canaanite nor return to the homeland himself. When the servant arrived in Aram, where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled, he stopped at a well to pray for the Lord’s help. As he was praying Rebekah, Abraham’s great-niece, greeted him. Her family agreed to send her to Canaan where she married Isaac (24). Abraham married Keturah and had six more sons before he died. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites (25).
A famine forced Abram into Egypt where he deceived Pharaoh. His deception led first to gifts, then to plagues on Pharaoh, and finally to Abram’s expulsion from the country (12). After returning to Canaan Abram and Lot separated to their own territories, but the Lord reiterated the promise of the entire land of Canaan and numerous descendants to Abram (13). When war broke out Lot was captured in battle, but Abram rescued him. When Abram returned from war Melchizedek, the king of Sodom, blessed him with bread, wine, and words. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils (14). Some time later the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, promising the old man that he would have a son of his own and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. A terrifying darkness came upon Abram that night and the Lord told him that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, but the Lord also reiterated the promise that the land of Canaan would be given to Abram’s descendants (15). Years passed without a son. One day Sarai told Abram to sleep with her servant Hagar so that Sarai might have a child through her. When Hagar became pregnant, the two women feuded and Hagar ran away. The angel of the Lord found Hagar in the wilderness, promised her a son named Ishmael, and encouraged her to return. Hagar called the the Lord who spoke to her El-Roi, the One Who Sees. Abram named the boy Ishmael. Finally, at eighty-six years old, Abram had a son (16).
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord renamed him Abraham and made a covenant that required the circumcision of the males in Abraham’s household forever. God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and promised Abraham that she would bear a son named Isaac. When Abraham laughed, God reiterated the promise (17). Three men arrived in Abraham’s camp, so he and Sarah fed them. They announced that Sarah would have a son. When Sarah laughed, the Lord reiterated the promise. After the men left, the Lord told Abraham about the plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the righteous living there (18). Two angels warned Lot and his family about the coming destruction, and as they left the cities were destroyed. Lot settled in a cave with his daughters; desiring children, the daughters tricked Lot into having sex (19). Meanwhile, Abraham settled in Gerar where he deceived the king. His deception led first to plagues on the king, then to gifts of livestock and land (20). But the Lord was faithful to Sarah and gave her a son. Abraham named the boy Isaac.
As Isaac grew up Sarah perceived Ishamel to be a threat, so Abraham expelled Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. God comforted Hagar there and promised to make Ishmael into a great nation (21). Meanwhile, God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son, his only son, his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham was prepared to comply; he took Isaac to the top of a mountain, bound him, and had his knife in the air when the Lord called out to stop him. Because of Abraham’s obedience, God reiterated the promise that Abraham would have many descendants and be a blessing to all nations (22). Sarah died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven and was buried in a cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites (23). Then Abraham sent his oldest servant back to the homeland to find a wife for Isaac. He was adamant that Isaac should neither marry a Canaanite nor return to the homeland himself. When the servant arrived in Aram, where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled, he stopped at a well to pray for the Lord’s help. As he was praying Rebekah, Abraham’s great-niece, greeted him. Her family agreed to send her to Canaan where she married Isaac (24). Abraham married Keturah and had six more sons before he died. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites (25).
Thursday 16 March 2017
Matthew 8:1-10:42 Summary
Jesus then healed a man with leprosy before going to Capernaum. There Jesus met a Roman officer with great faith and healed his servant. At Peter’s house, Jesus performed many exorcisms and healings in fulfillment of the Scriptures. As he and the disciples crossed a lake Jesus spoke about the high cost of discipleship before calming a storm; the disciples were amazed at his authority. After landing Jesus performed exorcisms on two men, but the town’s residents begged Jesus to leave (8), so he returned to Capernaum. He forgave a paralyzed man’s sins to the chagrin of the religious leaders; to prove his authority, Jesus healed the man’s paralysis. He convinced a tax collector named Matthew to follow him, but first Jesus took his disciples to Matthew’s house to eat dinner with him and his “sinful” friends. Jesus then answered a question about fasting and healed many people. The crowds were amazed but the Pharisees thought Jesus’ power was demonic (9). He called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to exorcise, heal, and preach. He gave them many instructions before they left, promising that they would endure hardship, but that the Spirit would be with them (10).
Sunday 12 March 2017
Friday 10 March 2017
Genesis 1:1-11:26 Summary
When the earth was formless and the wind of God was hovering over the waters, God created the universe in six days. God started by speaking light into existence, and finished by creating human beings in God’s image, telling them to be fruitful and multiply. God declared that creation was very good. (1). God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and declared it holy.
The Lord created a man from the ground, breathed life into him, and placed him in the Garden of Eden to care for it. The Lord told the man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord then made many animals in order to find the man a suitable partner. The man named them, but did not find a partner. So the Lord made a woman out of the man’s rib and the man was overjoyed (2). One day the man and the woman were tricked by a snake into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord cursed the man, the woman, and the snake. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, for the Lord was worried that they might eat from the tree of life (3). After leaving Eden Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel, but the brothers did not get along. One day Cain became jealous of the way the Lord favoured his brother and killed him. The Lord punished Cain by sending him away, but Cain was nevertheless blessed with many children. The Lord then gave Adam and Eve another son named Seth, (4) through whom Adam and Eve had many generations of descendants (5).
But even the descendants of Seth were vulnerable to human failing. The Lord was heartbroken by their wickedness and decided to destroy all living things with a flood. The only exception would be righteous Noah who was to build a giant boat for himself, his family, and a male and female representative of every kind of animal so that life might be preserved (6). Noah also took seven pairs of animals approved for eating and sacrifice. Then the Lord sent the flood; it rained for forty days and forty nights until the highest mountains of the earth were covered and all living things had died (7). Then God remembered Noah and the creatures on the boat. God sent a wind to blow across the earth and the waters receded. Once the waters dried up God told Noah to leave the boat; Noah built an altar and made an animal sacrifice to the Lord, and the Lord promised that the earth would have order despite human wickedness: there would be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night (8). God blessed Noah and his family, telling them to be fruitful and multiply, and giving them rules about food and murder. God made a covenant with them, promising them that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood and providing them with the rainbow as a sign. But even Noah was vulnerable to human failing: one day he became drunk and exposed himself in front of his son, Ham, which prompted him to curse Ham’s son Canaan (9). Nevertheless, Noah’s three sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem had many generations of descendants (10).
At one time humans all spoke the same language. They united in Babylonia to build a great city with a tower that would reach into the heavens. The Lord punished them by confusing their languages and scattering them across the earth for the Lord was worried that if they could achieve this, they might be able to achieve anything (11).
The Lord created a man from the ground, breathed life into him, and placed him in the Garden of Eden to care for it. The Lord told the man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord then made many animals in order to find the man a suitable partner. The man named them, but did not find a partner. So the Lord made a woman out of the man’s rib and the man was overjoyed (2). One day the man and the woman were tricked by a snake into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord cursed the man, the woman, and the snake. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, for the Lord was worried that they might eat from the tree of life (3). After leaving Eden Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel, but the brothers did not get along. One day Cain became jealous of the way the Lord favoured his brother and killed him. The Lord punished Cain by sending him away, but Cain was nevertheless blessed with many children. The Lord then gave Adam and Eve another son named Seth, (4) through whom Adam and Eve had many generations of descendants (5).
But even the descendants of Seth were vulnerable to human failing. The Lord was heartbroken by their wickedness and decided to destroy all living things with a flood. The only exception would be righteous Noah who was to build a giant boat for himself, his family, and a male and female representative of every kind of animal so that life might be preserved (6). Noah also took seven pairs of animals approved for eating and sacrifice. Then the Lord sent the flood; it rained for forty days and forty nights until the highest mountains of the earth were covered and all living things had died (7). Then God remembered Noah and the creatures on the boat. God sent a wind to blow across the earth and the waters receded. Once the waters dried up God told Noah to leave the boat; Noah built an altar and made an animal sacrifice to the Lord, and the Lord promised that the earth would have order despite human wickedness: there would be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night (8). God blessed Noah and his family, telling them to be fruitful and multiply, and giving them rules about food and murder. God made a covenant with them, promising them that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood and providing them with the rainbow as a sign. But even Noah was vulnerable to human failing: one day he became drunk and exposed himself in front of his son, Ham, which prompted him to curse Ham’s son Canaan (9). Nevertheless, Noah’s three sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem had many generations of descendants (10).
At one time humans all spoke the same language. They united in Babylonia to build a great city with a tower that would reach into the heavens. The Lord punished them by confusing their languages and scattering them across the earth for the Lord was worried that if they could achieve this, they might be able to achieve anything (11).
Thursday 9 March 2017
Matthew 1:1-7:29 Summary
Jesus is the messiah, a descendant of Abraham and David who was born to Mary, a virgin who became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the Scriptures; an angel explained this to Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, in a dream (1). Foreign wise men came to worship the child, but Herod tried to kill him. Joseph had been warned by an angel in a dream and took his family to Egypt. Once Herod died Joseph brought his family to Nazareth (2).
John the Baptist was calling people to repent and be baptized. His message was especially harsh toward those in positions of religious authority. After Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit descended upon him and a voice declared, “This is my dearly loved son” (3). Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan, but he rebuked Satan using scripture. After John was arrested, Jesus took up John’s message. He called four fishermen as disciples and began to teach, heal, and perform exorcisms throughout Galilee. Large crowds followed him (4). Jesus took his disciples to a mountainside and taught them about what it means to be blessed by God; the importance of good deeds; the purpose of the Law; anger; adultery; divorce; vows; revenge; loving one’s enemies (5); humility and heavenly reward; giving; prayer; forgiveness; fasting; wealth; the security of God’s provision (6); judging others; perseverance in prayer; loving others as oneself; the challenge of living faithfully; identifying the righteous by their actions; and using his teaching as a foundation for life (7).
John the Baptist was calling people to repent and be baptized. His message was especially harsh toward those in positions of religious authority. After Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit descended upon him and a voice declared, “This is my dearly loved son” (3). Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan, but he rebuked Satan using scripture. After John was arrested, Jesus took up John’s message. He called four fishermen as disciples and began to teach, heal, and perform exorcisms throughout Galilee. Large crowds followed him (4). Jesus took his disciples to a mountainside and taught them about what it means to be blessed by God; the importance of good deeds; the purpose of the Law; anger; adultery; divorce; vows; revenge; loving one’s enemies (5); humility and heavenly reward; giving; prayer; forgiveness; fasting; wealth; the security of God’s provision (6); judging others; perseverance in prayer; loving others as oneself; the challenge of living faithfully; identifying the righteous by their actions; and using his teaching as a foundation for life (7).
Sunday 5 March 2017
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