Genesis 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:23-31; John 6:52-59 The story of the near-sacrifice of Isaac has always been a text that has confounded the faithful. We wonder why God would ask Abraham to prepare his son, this promised child of Sarah that they waited so long for, to be sacrificed as a burnt offering? It seems nothing

Genesis 21:1-21; Hebrews 11:13-22; John 6:41-51 “All I have needed, thy hand hath provided…” goes the hymn that was so popular with the congregation where I grew up. It’s a nice little hymn and speaks in a personal way about the reality that our Scripture readings for today attest to: that God provides everything for his

Genesis 19:1-17 (18-23) 24-29; Hebrews 11:1-12; John 6:27-40 Today’s passage picks up the day after Jesus filled the bellies of 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish. But their stomachs were empty again, so they ask, What miracle do you have for us today? Moses gave our fathers bread from heaven every day for 40

Genesis 18:16-33; Galatians 5:13-25; Mark 8:22-30 Jesus looked at his closest friends and asked the question: “Who do people say that I am?” They gave multiple answers but then Jesus nailed them by asking, “Who do you say that I am?” At this point Peter makes his great confession: “You are the Christ.” He clearly

Genesis 18:1-16; Hebrews 10:26-39; John 6:16-27 We read in John 6 that the disciples were “frightened” at Jesus’ appearance on the water. Fear is something we can understand. Perhaps we are frightened by the terrible things that happen in the world. But there may be times when we are frightened because we become aware of

Genesis 17:15-27; Hebrews 10:11-25; John 6:1-15 In seminary, I was taught that numbers held secondary meanings in the Hebrew world. The number 7, for example, not only represented seven items, it also stood for completeness and perfection. In the book of Genesis, we learn that creation consisted of six days of work and one day

Genesis 16:15-17:14; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 5:30-47 In a trackless desert, God called Abraham, made him a promise, and gave him a sign. He was to be a great father, but before that Abraham was marked with the sign that he was a child of God. The sign was not for God’s sake but for Abraham’s.

Genesis 16:1-14; Hebrews 9:15-28; John 5:19-29 “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children” (Gen 16:1). As we have followed the unfolding story of Sarah and Abraham this week, we may well sense some growing desperation on their part. Ten years have passed, and the heir God promised has still not appeared. So the