Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Acts 18:1-11; Mark 8:11-21 Where will the money come from? We need more volunteers. Our church attendance is too low. We do not have enough. Such are the doubts and fears of a congregation not focused on Christ, but on the struggles of the moment at hand. Following the miracle of

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 6:12-23; Romans 14:7-12; John 1:43-51 Luther explained the Ninth Commandment by saying, “We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.” David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant from Baale-judah

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 5:22–6:11; Acts 17:16-34; Mark 8:1-10 Today, in Mark’s Gospel, we read of the feeding of the 4,000. The original Greek in verse 6 for “took” and “given thanks” and “broke” are expressed with the aorist tense that shows these were definite actions. However, the verb “gave” is in the imperfect tense, showing

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-12; Acts 17:1-15; Mark 7:24-37 What might happen if you knew that the Lord was with you? David conquered every stronghold and reigned as king. The early believers “turned the world upside down.” Jesus healed people of unclean spirits, deafness, and impediments and diseases of all kinds. All of these people did great things

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 4:1-12; Acts 16:25-40; Mark 7:1-23 We always want to know the intention of someone’s actions. In today’s Scripture from Mark, the religious leaders were questioning the actions of Jesus’ disciples. The tradition of outward ritual cleanliness was the issue in their eyes. Jesus replied to their nit-picking about external appearance by zeroing

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 3:22-39; Acts 16:16-24; Mark 6:47-56 They touched the fringe of his cloak and they were healed. This seems too magical and easy. There is nothing more to it? No request. No conversation. No response. The mere faith to touch his hem suffices? Has it happened to you? You are dispirited, weighed down

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 3:6-21; Acts 16:6-15; Mark 6:30-46 The disciples have returned from their first excursion into ministry, eager to tell Jesus all they have done and taught. Now it is time to debrief and rest awhile, for many were coming and going to receive what Jesus and the disciples had to give: blessing after

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 2:1-11; Acts 15:36–16:5; Mark 6:14-29 In Acts 15, we hear about an early rift between Paul and Barnabas. They had a serious difference of opinion about who to take with them to visit towns where they had previously preached, to see how they were doing. A sharp disagreement sent them off in