Proverbs 30:1-4, 24-33; Philippians 3:1-11; John 18:28-38 Sometimes you just can’t beat the King James version for blunt clarity. Reading Philippians 3:8, for example, in several more modern translations suggests that Paul considers all his accomplishments and status to be “rubbish” or “garbage.” But the Greek word skubala is rendered best as “dung”—a pile of

Proverbs 27:1-6, 10-12; Philippians 2:1-13; John 18:15-18, 25-27 It is hard to resist recalling our own shameful denials of Jesus as we read of Peter’s, but resist we must. After all, there is a greater truth to recollect than our sinfulness. John’s gospel of Jesus’ unbounded love consistently rehearses that truth, just as Paul’s epistle does.

Malachi 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Luke 9:18-27 Today’s Gospel finds Jesus retreating with the twelve apostles, who’ve just completed a preaching and healing mission deployment. Jesus has debriefed the Twelve about what they’d seen, heard, and been doing in his name. He’s preparing them for what’s ahead when he puts them on the spot with

Genesis 24:28-38, 49-51; Hebrews 12:12-29; John 7:14-36 Moses speaks to us of God as a “devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deut 4:24). The author of Hebrews, similarly, is in awe of the kingdom we people of faith are to receive, a kingdom that can never be shaken, one that will remain forever. This is the

Genesis 24:1-27; Hebrews 12:3-11; John 7:1-13 The story in Genesis sounds primitive and silly to 21st century Western culture because it involves trusting God with life. I assume most of you men might have proposed to your wives in a romantic way, holding a rose in your mouth, kneeling, and opening the engagement ring box

Genesis 23:1-20; Hebrews 11:32-12:2; John 6:60-71 Our father Abraham was dumb like a fox. He was living as a sojourner in a strange land. When our mother Sarah died, he lacked a place to bury her. Although he was offered a free burial in Canaan, he insisted on paying for the land, which meant that

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