Readings for 29,30 November & comments

The Bible readings for Thursday 29 and Friday 30 November are -- 1 Sam 22:1-23:29; Ps 66:8-15; Pro 14:17-19; John 6:60-7:9.
Please feel free to add your comments.

Ps John has a comment on Jonathan and Saul (from 1 Sam 22,23 & Pro 14:17).

Readings for 23,24 November & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November are -- 1 Sam 17:1-58; Ps 65:1-8; Pro 14:10-12; Jn 6:1-21.
Please feel free to add your comments.

Ps John has a comment on 1 Sam 17 about David.

Readings for 11,12 November & comments

The Bible readings for Sunday 11 and Monday 12 November are -- 1 Samuel 3:1-5:12; Ps 62:1-8; Pro 13:23-25; Jn 3:1-21.
Please feel free to leave any comments.

Ps John has a comment on a couple of the hotly debated issues in Jn 3:1-21.

Readings for 5,6 November & comments

The Bible readings for Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 are -- Ruth 1:1-2:23; Ps 60:1-5; Pro 13:16-17; John 1:1-23.
Please feel free to leave your comments.

Ps John has given a brief overview of Ruth (as per sermon on 4.11.07).
Ps John has given a brief overview of John (as per sermon on 25.11.07).

Readings for 10,11 July & comments

The Bible readings for Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 July are -- Num 12:1-14:4; Ps 34:15-22; Pro 8:10-13; Mk 13:21-37.
Please feel free to leave a comment any time.

Ps John has a comment on Num about complaining.

Readings for 8,9 July & comments

The Bible readings for Sunday 8 and Monday 9 July are -- Num 10:11-11:35; Ps 34:8-14; Pro 8:8-9; Mk 13:1-20.
Please feel free to leave a comment any time.

Ps John has a comment about moving on.

Readings for 22,23 June & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 22 and Saturday 23 June are -- Lev 27:1-34; Ps 31:9-18; Pro 7:9-12; Mk 9:2-29.
Your comments/questions on these readings welcome.

Callum has a comment on Mk about authority.
Ps John has a comment on Mk about the Son of God.

Readings for 8,9 June & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 8 and Saturday 9 June are -- Lev 15:13-16:34; Ps 28:1-5; Pro 6:27-29; Mk 5:21-43.
Please feel free to comment on these readings (or comment on comments).

Ps John has a comment on Lev and Mk about healing.
Ps John has a comment on Lev about scapegoat.

Readings for 4,5 June & comments incl Trinity

The Bible readings for Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June are -- Lev 13:18-14:14; Ps 27:1-6; Pro 6:20-22; Mk 4:21-41.
Your comments on any of these readings or on the comments from others are welcome.

Anonymous comment about Ps John's sermon on Trinity.
In reply, Ps John has a comment about the Trinity.
Ps John has a comment on Mk about fear and faith.

15,16 Apr -- In My Staff I Trvst

The readings for Sun 15 and Mon 16 April are -- Ex 7:1-8:32; Ps 18:7-12; Pro 3:33-35; Mt 21:12-27.

In Sunday night's sermon, I suggested that God was dealing with some of Moses' deep personal issues when he told him to throw down his staff. Issues such as self-esteem, attachment, security, identity, purpose. A question to ponder -- What might God be telling you and me to "throw down"?

The first reference to Moses' staff after the burning bush is a highly significant one. "And Moses took God's staff in his hand" (Ex 4:20). It's now God's, but he has the use of it. I think (though not all would agree) that this is the same staff Aaron uses and which is sometimes called his staff. Moses and Aaron (his brother and spokesman) act as one in confronting Pharaoh and they share the staff. But it's God's staff. (See also Ex 17:9). Another question to ponder -- What does God give to us to use on the understanding that it's really His?

8,9 Mar -- Fear and Lies Instead of Faith

The readings for Thurs 8 and Fri 9 March are -- Gen 24:55-26:11; Ps 9:1-6; Prov 2:1-5; Mt 9:18-38.

Gen 26:1-11 tells the story of Isaac and Rebekah settling in Philistine territory during a famine. Isaac tells the locals she is his sister, fearing they might kill him if they know she's his wife. But Abimelech, the King, spots Isaac fondling Rebekah and realises Isaac had lied.

Do you get the feeling that something similar has happened before? Twice in fact. In Gen 12:10-20, Abraham and Sarah moved to Egypt during a famine. Because Sarah was so beautiful (at around 65!), Abraham passes her off as his sister. Pharaoh takes her into his household as a wife but uncovers the lie after God sends plagues on him and his household.

Then in Gen 20:1-18, Abraham repeats his mistake, but this time with Abimelech, the Philistine. (Poor Abimelech!) God speaks to him and stops him from touching Sarah. He is rightly upset with Abraham, saying to him: "You have done things to me that should never be done." (20:9) Abraham's excuse that he was afraid and that she was in a sense a sister (his father's daughter, but not his mother's) misses the point. A decided lack of faith for the "Father of Faith".

After what happened to Abraham twice, it is almost unbelievable to see it happening again in the next generation with Isaac. The sins of the fathers...! As D.J. Wiseman (Tyndale Commentary on Genesis) points out, "The repeated lapses emphasize (like Peter's three denials) the chronic weakness of God's chosen material." Yet God's plan will not be thwarted (Gen 26:2-5).