Acts 2:1-21, I Corinthians 12:3-13   Our Acts scripture is commonly read on Pentecost Sunday. It tells how the Holy Spirit descended on the believers. One act of the Spirit was to make people filled with it speak languages so all in the diverse crowd were able to hear in their own language. When they are sneered at for being drunk, Peter speaks out and tells how the prophet Joel predicted this, that all people men and women, young and old, slaves and free will have the Spirit poured out on them. Peter quoting Joel mentions one of the spiritual gifts we spoke of a few weeks ago that being prophecy. We saw a list of spiritual gifts when we studied Romans 12. Well, Paul expands them in I Corinthians. Our passage starts by stating that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. This is the power of the Holy Spirit in us to recognize Christ as Lord. Another aspect of the Spirit is its handout of a varieties of gifts. This magnification of the Spirit is for the commo...

Matthew 16: 21-28, Romans 12:9-21 In Matthew 16 Jesus rebukes Peter and his philosophy that only good things should happen to good people. Jesus tells him he is setting his mind on human things not on the divine which was the plan for Jesus to suffer and die for our sins. He tells how those that save their lives will lose them, but those who lose it for Jesus sake will find it. Forsaking human wisdom and following the divine Jesus and God’s divine plan of salvation one will truly be saved and find a life worth living. This passage ends with Jesus telling them how when Jesus returns he will repay everyone for what they have done. This is one scripture to claim for those who wonder what will happen to the Hitlers of this life. Paul in Romans talks about genuine love and how it is shown by holding on to what is good and to outdo one another in showing honor. We are to continually rejoice in the hope God has given us to be patient in affliction and to persevere in prayer. He lists th...

 Matthew 16: 13-20, Romans 12:1-8   There are many different thoughts today on who Jesus was. Some say just a prophet or a good man who lived righteously or what we as Christians believe, along with Peter in Matthew 16, that he is the Messiah the Son of God. People of Jesus’ time thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. When Jesus asks Peter the disciple replies “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” To this response Jesus calls Peter blessed and tells how Peter is the rock on which he will build his church. The Catholic church patterns its leadership as priests like Peter. In Romans Paul talks about how the church built upon Peter the Rock has many different members, but not all have the same function. He goes on to list spiritual gifts ones that differ according to the grace given us. Each of us has been given a talent, ability, or calling that when exercised builds up the church. The gifts listed are prophecy, ministry, teaching, encouragement, g...

Matthew 15:10-20; Romans 11: 1-2, 29-32 The Pharisees are at it again elevating their rules above God’s. The one in question here is the ceremonial washing of hands before eating. The disciples who ate on the run didn’t go through this complex ritual of hand washing before eating. Today for health reasons we wash our hands before eating but this was a much more elaborate washing dictated by the Pharisaic law. So, Jesus tells the crowd that it is not what goes into the mouth but the evils that come out of it and the sins that comes out of the heart are the things that truly defile one – not omitting the ceremonial handwashing. He calls these leaders blind leading the blind. Their focus instead should be on the truly defiling activities such as evil intensions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. We have seen the false witness and slander of what the Pharisees do to Christ and eventually they will be behind Christ’s murder on the cross. They do the...

Matthew 14:22-33, Romans 10:5-13 Our Matthew account is the famous one of Jesus walking on the water. Peter asks to join him yet fear wins over faith and he begins to sink. Peter calls out to Jesus, and the Lord reaches out his hand and saves him. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" The disciples fearing the storm are amazed when it calms down when Jesus arrives. Those in the boat worship him their faith confirmed as they say out loud, "Surely this is the son of God." These are the first humans to confess that Jesus is the son of God.   In Romans Paul tells how righteousness doesn't come from the law but by faith confessing that Jesus is Lord, believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. This confession leads to righteousness and by confessing with your mouth, like the folks on the disciple's boat, will lead to salvation. There are storms of life that make us fearful. We have initial faith like Peter that Jesus will help ...

  Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7,15 Back in Genesis 28 we had the account of Jacob’s ladder. Today in chapter 32 we have Jacob wrestling with a “man” who he later declares to be God. Jacob is seen as the aggressor here since when the “man” asks him to let go Jacob refuses unless the “man” blesses him. This request shows that Jacob saw this to be no ordinary man. He is then being told that his name will be changed to Israel since he has struggled with God and with humans and has prevailed. Again, this is another hint that this man must be God. Yet the man will not tell him his name but does finally bless him. Then Jacob declares, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved - saved.” A reminder of this encounter will always be the limp he has been given being struck on the hip. Psalms 17 is a prayer for deliverance from persecution. David the author gives the account of how faithful he has been with no deceitful lips and no wickedness to be found in him. This shows th...

 Psalm 105:1-11, Romans 8:26-39 Psalms 105 is a call to worship worshipping God for the Lord’s mighty acts. It recounts Israel’s history from Abraham to the settlement in Canaan. The Psalmist shows great trust that the covenant God made to Abraham will come true. Though times can get rough the Psalmist says to seek the Lord and God’s strength and also to seek his presence continually. Romans 8 talks about the new covenant of love. God has done the ultimate of giving up God’s son to die on the cross in our place to bring salvation. This is shown as the ultimate gift of love. As Paul puts it, “If God is for us who can be against us.” Another gift God has given us is the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Also interceding for us is Jesus who knows first hand how it is to be human. The famous verse 28 tells about how despite present suffering, believers trust that God will bring ...

 Genesis 28:10-19, Romans 8:12-25 Our Old Testament reading is the famous story of Jacob’s ladder. It tells of the dream Jacob has of a ladder ascending into heaven with angels. This shows God’s presence in a time of Jacob’s suffering. He is on the run from his brother Esau. God speaks to him and lists the promises given to Abraham saying that now Jacob is the heir to these covenant promises. The Lord assures him that God is with him and will not leave until God has done what the Lord has promised. Jacob is comforted by the realization of surely the Lord is in this place. Seeing God and hearing these promises gives Jacob great faith and hope. In Romans we are told how we have been adopted by God. We are not only children of God but due to this we are God’s heirs also. Due to this we can cry, “Abba Father.” The word “abba” represents a deeply personal trusting relationship with God. Jesus as our brother is a joint heir and if we suffer with him we may also be glorified with him....

Psalm 119:105-112, Romans 8:1-11 In Psalm 119 the psalmist talks about following God’s word like a lamp to his feet. He swears to observe righteous ordinances and to not forget God’s law. God’s decrees are considered his heritage and joy of his heart. He inclines his heart to perform God’s statues forever. The word incline means leaning and having a tendency toward a specific thought or action. The psalmist action here is to live up to God’s law. Romans, however, tells how difficult it was to live by the law since it is weakened by the flesh. Paul says God dealt with this problem by sending Jesus, God’s only son to die for our sinful natures. In this way the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us if we walk according to the Spirit, therefore setting their minds not on the sinful flesh but on the things of the Spirit. When we belong to God we have the Spirit which is life because of righteousness. Having the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead live in you, G...

 Matthew 11:16-19,25-30; Romans 7:15-25 Jesus in Matthew 11 is bemoaning the Jews – especially the Pharisees who would not believe in him. They said that John the Baptist must have a demon. Jesus, the Son of Man, who did what they cried for – dance but when he came eating and drinking he was seen as a glutton, drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Jesus then gives thanks to God that the uneducated saw Christ for who he was – a reflection of God – while the “wise” Pharisees has it hidden from them. Then comes a familiar verse: “Come to me those who are weary and carrying the heavy yoke of the law.” Yoke here is a metaphor for the law. But Christ’s grace is an easy yoke and his burden is light. Paul in Romans 7 talks about the inner conflict he has between wanting to do what is right yet doing what he hates. He talks about the sin that lies in him in his flesh. When he wants to do good, evil lies close at hand making him do what he does not want. He tells about t...

 Matthew 10: 24-32, Romans 6: 12-23 Matthew 10 has Jesus talking about a slave being like its master. He mentions those whose master is Beelzebul who is a demonic presence attributed to Satan, the ruler of all sin and evil. They are told not to fear those who can only do damage to the body and not the soul. They are to fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell. In contrast to being a slave to sin and Satan, we are to have Christ as our master. Everyone who acknowledges Christ, he will acknowledge them to God the Father. Yet if you deny him and have sin and evil as your master, Jesus will deny you to the Father. In Romans Paul tells us about the freedom we have from the law and how grace has forgiven our sins. However, some took this as a “Get Out of Hell” card and continued to live in sin. Paul after stating how we are now under grace raises the question, “Shall we sin so that grace may abound?” To which he gives a very bold answer, “By no means!” He tells how the...

Psalm 116, Romans 5:1-8 My Bible records Psalm 116 as “Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness.” The Psalmist here gives thanks how the Lord has healed him from death, distress, and anguish. He says that God has delivered his eyes from tears and his feet from stumbling. Even though he was greatly afflicted he kept the faith. Paul in Romans 5 talks about boasting in hope during suffering. While the Psalmist boasts in God’s deliverance from his illness, Paul boasts in God’s character and love shown in the achievement of the sacrificial death of Christ to bring salvation. Paul tells of the peace we have due to this. Paul goes beyond just remembering God’s deliverance in the past like the Psalmist, but he tells of the good things to come out our of suffering. He even boasts about them. Affliction brings endurance which produces character to which we receive our hope. This is not just an empty wish but is hope that does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured in our hear...

 Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25 In Genesis, the Lord gives a command to Abram, who becomes Abraham, to go from his country to a land God will show him. He is promised that God will make of him a great nation where God will bless them. So, Abram went. This was not an easy task. He had a wife, a nephew, workers, and livestock to bring, yet he went. When God talks to him again at Canaan the Lord promises to give this land to his offspring. So, in response Abram builds an altar to the Lord and continues his journey. “So, Abram went,” is an extraordinary statement. It is free of indecision, self-doubt, or stubbornness and shows radical dependence on God’s word. Paul acknowledges this in our Romans passage where he praises Abraham’s faith saying it was reckoned – made to him as righteousness. He tells of all the factors which would have kept Abraham from believing and following God’s directive. Abram’s age being 100 and the barrenness of Sara’s body did not cause him to doubt. He h...

Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11 This Sunday was Ascension of the Lord Sunday celebrating Christ’s last words to his disciples before his ascension into heaven. Both of today’s scriptures were written by the apostle Luke. In our gospel account Jesus is doing the talking telling how everything he did fulfilled what the prophets, Mosaic law, and the Psalms wrote. He tells the disciples how they have been witnesses of Christ’s life, his death, and his resurrection – appearing to them after his resurrection. Christ then confirms God’s promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit who they are to wait for. Our Acts account is in Luke’s own voice writing down what he has witnessed at Christ’s ascension. He mentions that they will be Christ’s witnesses but here they will tell it to the whole world. There are two other differences in this account. One of these is a disciple asking when the kingdom of Israel will be restored. To this Christ replies, “It is not for you to know since it’s up to God’s au...

John 14: 15-21, Acts 17:22-31 Our John passage has been entitled in our Bibles as, “The Promise of the Holy Spirit,” yet there is so much more to explore. Jesus here says if you love me, you will keep my commandments. But by their own weak spirits the disciples cannot do this by themselves They can’t even stay awake in Gethsemane. So, he promises an advocate for them – the Spirit of Truth which will abide in them. When he talks about the time they will not see him, he is telling about the three days after his crucifixion. These days Christ will be considered a martyr. But Jesus promised them that they will see him again. He is talking about the days he will appear to them after his resurrection from the dead. He says the potent line, “Because I live you also will live.” Not only did Christ have life after death but the disciples will too due to his work on the cross atoning for their sins. The Acts account was written after Pentecost when the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit came...

 John 14:1-7, Acts 7:55-60 Our John passage is read at many a funeral. In it Jesus assures the disciples that where he is going, to his Father’s house – many believe heaven, he will prepare a place for them. Thus, when we die Jesus has prepared many dwelling places. When Philip asks him to verify the way there, Jesus states one of his greatest “I am” statements. He says, “I am the Way.” Remember last week we spoke of Jesus being the gate for his sheep – his people to come through. He states this again saying, “No one comes to the Father but through me.” He not only states that he is the way but the truth and the life also. He is the way then to eternal life. He is the way to the Father’s house. He will bring them there so that where he is they may be also. In Acts we have the account of Stephen, one of the early converts of the disciples who shared this passage of hope. Stephen is known as the first Christian martyr. He gives a long sermon telling the truth about their Jewish...

John 10:1-10, I Peter 2:19-25 We all know the metaphor of Jesus being the Good Shepherd but in our John account Jesus says he is not only the Good Shepherd but is also the gate for the sheep. Those who enter through him will be saved and find pasture. This image of Jesus being the gate may reflect the practice of shepherds lying in front of the opening to the sheep fold. This shepherd-sheep relationship is one of intimacy, guidance, and care. Jesus being the Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name and leads them out since the sheep know his voice. This is in contrast to the stranger, thief, and bandit who climb in another way. These thieves represent the political and religious leaders of the time. While the Good Shepherd gives abundant life, these thieves come only to steal, kill, and destroy. This passage is followed by Jesus stating he is the Good Shepherd and details the good he does for the sheep. Our Peter account talks about suffering justly and unjustly. Enduring unjust suf...

Acts 2:14, 36-41; I Peter 1:17-23 Our Acts passage is a continuation of last weeks where Peter preached the good news of Jesus being the Messiah, crucified for our sins, and raised to life again. The third part of his sermon here focuses on the resurrection and its implications. Peter tells about God’s purpose in the crucifixion of the perfect Jesus for our sins- the only sacrifice needed now. He contrasts God’s loving action with those who crucified Jesus. The Jewish listeners response was they were cut to the heart. This phrase in the Greek means to be severely pierced, stung, or severely troubled in spirit. These listeners recognized their guilt in crucifying Jesus and asked, “What can we do?” To this Peter tells them to repent and be baptized so that their sins can be forgiven. He verifies that this promise is for all their children and even those who are far away. The result of this piercing sermon is that 3,000 people are baptized and saved. Peter speaks to us again in I Pe...

Psalm 16, Acts 2:14, 22-32 Our scripture readings for this week are quite interesting since they shows Peter in the New Testament Acts quoting David in the Old Testament Psalms. David wrote what has become known as a refugee song. It is a plea for protection and pledge of loyalty. David contrasts two communities associating himself with the cohort of the holy ones. He tells how the Lord is his chosen portion. The word portion refers to a spiritual inheritance, allotment, or share. It is as if he is saying, “God is my source of happiness and blessing.” Then comes the part that Peter somewhat quotes in our Acts passage. “The Lord is always before me.” Due to this David will not be moved since his body rests secure. Then he says, “You show me the path of life.” He tells how in God’s presence there is fulness of joy and in God’s right hand there are pleasures forever. The Act’s account takes place at Pentecost after the tongues of fire of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When the...

Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 10:34-43 How is it that after hundreds of years the Easter story of the resurrection is remembered and celebrated? Who were the first witnesses of this? In our Matthew account it is Mary Madgalene and the other Mary who encounter the earthquake that removes the stone showing the empty tomb with the angel sitting on the stone. The angel tells them to not be afraid like the guards who shook and became as dead men, but tells them news that Jesus is not there since he has risen from the dead. They are told to go quickly and tell the disciples, “He has risen from the dead and will meet you in Galilee.” These women have been tasked to deliver this message. It’s amazing that God chose women to be the first witnesses and messengers of the good news. Peter and John are told of in John 20 of going to the tomb and seeing only the linen wrappings wrapped up. Even though they see and believe they return to their homes not sharing the news. Peter makes up for this in ou...