Common Lectionary

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 In seminary a professor would always say, "Be kind to the people you minister to, they all are facing hard times." The church at Thessalonica was facing hard times - persecution, testing of their faith, and spiritual opposition. The situation was so gri

Mark 10:46-52 Someone has proposed a Dial-a-Prayer line for atheists. You dial the number; it just rings and rings. No one answers. When we pray - thank God! - He does hear us. In this text, a blind beggar beside the road heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He began to shout, “

Song of Solomon 2:8-13 His parents were thrilled. He was eight years old and was learning how to read. He was happy, too, for now he could read that bundle of letters in his parents’ bedroom closet. H... Continue Reading...

Mark 10:35-45 John Mark's portrait of Jesus shows him girded, not in the regal robes of a King as in the gospel of Matthew, but in the plain tunic and apron of a servant. The key verse of his whole gospel is this text: "Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the

Mark 10:17-31 A key verse of this text is the question of the astonished disciples, "Who then can be saved?" (vs. 26). If a devout and diligent seeker of salvation can't find salvation, who can? I. No one has eternal life who trusts in his own works (vv. 19-20). He was

Mark 10:2-16 Brian McLaren states, "In the early church, one of the most powerful images used for the Trinity was the image of a dance of mutual indwelling. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in an eternal, joyful, vibrant dance of love and honor, rhythm and harmony, grace and beaut

Mark 9:38-50 I read from the internet that "Flavor is the sensory impression of a food or other substance. It is determined by the three chemical senses of taste, olfaction (smell), and the so-called trigeminal senses, which detect chemical irritants in the mouth and throat. The taste

Mark 9:30-37 I love a parade! As a high school band student I played the bass drum. The preparation, practices, and formation drills led up to the day of the American Royal Parade in Kansas City. Once on the bus we laughed, talked and made lots of noise as teenagers. However, when we got to

Mark 8:27-38What did Jesus mean when He said His followers had to "take up their cross"? What does it mean for us?"Cross." What comes to mind for most people today when they hear that word?"Cross?" Oh, that's the decorative altar ornament or something that rests on top of a church steeple or a piec

Mark 7:24-37 An elderly woman who was a member of the church I pastured once invited me over for a gathering of her friends. She answered the door and showed me to the living room, her aged dog with yellow teeth, growling at my heels, which I was certain any moment would become milk bone b