The writer of the book of Hebrews was a great stylist. He knew how to work allusion and metaphor. His vivid references to Old Testament imagery and characters makes a pivotal turn as he moves from chapter eleven into twelve. Chapter eleven is that seeming homage to the great hall of faith: from Abel through [...]
Ironically, Good Friday is the day Christians remember the passion of Jesus. It was on this day that he was beaten and crucified and laid in the tomb. Despite the darkness and the sadness of Jesus’ death, it is a very good day indeed. It makes us realize with cruel clarity how much God loved [...]
The worldwide Church celebrates Maundy Thursday this evening. It is a day that commemorates the last meal that Jesus had with his disciples, and the new commandment or mandate (mandatum novum, from which we got the now archaic word “Maundy”) he gave them: “love one another.” After what he knew would be his last meal [...]
December 29, 2011 – 9:30 am
You will not need flash cards and you will not need to take tests. You will however, learn The Lord’s Prayer in the language of the New Testament, Koine Greek. You will also learn part of John 1 and Revelation 1. Along the way, you will learn the Greek alphabet, many Greek words, how to [...]
December 21, 2011 – 9:51 pm
When I was a boy, we always had Christmas morning at home with just my immediate family — mom, dad, my three sisters, and me. But on Christmas Eve…oh! on Christmas Eve, that is when Christmas really happened. At 5 o’clock or so, we would gather at Grandma and Grandpa Ryman’s house for dinner. The [...]
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, May 16-22, 2011 Monday Morning Leviticus 23:15-21 This Sunday’s lesson, tells us the disciples had done just as Jesus commanded. He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit. This they have done, searching the scriptures as they waited so they would be led therein [...]
Reflections on the Expository Lectionary, May 9 – 15, 2011 Monday Morning Matthew 10:2-4 The ones who will have a share in Jesus’ ministry are numbered 12. The immediate image of the 12 tribes of Israel spring to mind. These disciples whom Jesus called are just as surprising a choice as the brothers who [...]
Reflections on Morning & Evening Readings, May 2 – 8, 2011 Monday Morning Micah 4:6-7 What is God’s kingdom like? Probably not what we expect it to be. We often think in terms of stuff when we think of kingdoms. Castles, thrones, courts, and courtiers. But there are two particular factors to consider in this [...]
Reflections on Morning & Evening Readings, April 25 – May 1, 2011 Monday Morning Luke 1:1-4 Luke was a disciple of Paul; at least he was with him on most of his missionary journeys. He knew what was happening in the early development of the Church. I remember when I was first reading the [...]
Beginning May 21, 2011, I began preaching through all 23 of the New Testament letters. Each letter will be handled one pericope per Sunday. This is part of a new preaching series called the Expository Lectionary that I developed so that preachers may spend the time necessary to systematically preach through entire books of the [...]