Consider the Word, February 4, 2021

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Readings for February 7

• Isaiah 40:21-31
• Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
• Mark 1:29-39

 
Collect

Merciful Lord,

grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,

that we may be cleansed from all our sins

and serve you with a quiet mind;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. 

 
Reflection Questions

1. Even though there remains many needy people in Capernaum, Jesus doesn’t go back there. What lesson can we learn from this story? 
2. To what unique task is God calling us? 
3. Even though there are so many worthy endeavors, what good are we if we burn out?  
4. Prayer requires taking time apart and being patient. Are we patient enough to listen and wait in silence?  

 
Closing Prayer

Everlasting God,

you give strength to the powerless and power to the faint;

you raise up the sick

and cast out demons.

Make us agents of healing and wholeness,

that your good news may be made known

to the ends of your creation. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 1:29-39

^29-31 Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew’s house, accompanied by James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.

^32-34 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn’t let them say a word.

The Leper

^35-37 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.”

^38-39 Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.” He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

Consider the Word, January 28, 2021

Consider the Word, January 28, 2021
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Readings for January 31

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20

• Psalm 111

• 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

• Mark 1:21-28

 
Collect

Living God, in Christ you make all things new.

Transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching - with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. 

 
Reflection Questions

1. What “demons (destructive forces)” possess us as a community, as a nation, and as members of the human race?
2. Prayer can be thought of as, “the struggle to believe that change can really happen.” It takes courage to name those things that aim to control and destroy us, so what tools to we need to help the right change happen?

 
 
Closing Prayer

Holy and awesome God,

your Son's authority is found in integrity and living truth,

not the assertion of power over others.

Open our imaginations to new dimensions of your love,

and heal us of all that severs us from you and one another,

that we may grow into the vision you unfold before us. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 1:21-28
Confident Teaching

^21-22 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

^23-24 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!”

^25-26 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

^27-28 Everyone there was spellbound, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and tells them to get lost!” News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Living God,

Consider the Word, January 21, 2021

Consider the Word, January 21, 2021
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Readings for January 24

• Jonah 3:1-5, 10
• Psalm 62:6-14
• 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
• Mark 1:14-20

 
Collect

Almighty God,

by grace alone you call us

and accept us in your service.

Strengthen us by your Spirit,

and make us worthy of your call;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

 
Reflection Questions

1. Is the invitation, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people,” really a metaphor about proselytization? Or, can some other interpretation be considered?
2. What is the “good news”?

 
Closing Prayer

God of the prophets,

you call us from evil to serve you.

Fulfill in us your commonwealth of justice and joy,

that the light of your presence

may be revealed to all nations,

to the glory of Jesus' name. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 1:14-20

^14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

^16-18 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

^19-20 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Consider the Word, January 14, 2021

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Readings for January 17:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
• Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
• John 1:43-51

 
Collect

Almighty God,

your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

is the light of the world.

May your people,

illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed

to the ends of the earth;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." 

 
Reflection Questions

1. The invitation is to, “come and see”: what do we want people to see in us?
2. MLK dreamed of a day when the content of one’s heart was all that mattered, what is the content of Christ’s heart?
3. What “content” do we strive for in our hearts? As a community and as individuals.

 
Closing Prayer

Insistent God,

by night and day you summon your slumbering people,

So stir us with your voice

and enlighten our lives with your grace

that we give ourselves fully

to Christ's call to mission and ministry. Amen.

 
The Message: John 1:43-51

^43-44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)

^45-46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”

But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.”

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.”

⁴⁸ Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.”

Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.”

⁴⁹ Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”

^50-51 Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
 

Consider the Word, January 7, 2021

Consider the Word, January 7, 2021
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Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
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Readings for January 10

• Genesis 1:1-5
• Psalm 29
• Acts 19:1-7
• Mark 1:4-11

 
Collect

Eternal Father,

who at the baptism of Jesus

revealed him to be your Son,

anointing him with the Holy Spirit,

keep your children, born of water and the Spirit,

faithful to their calling;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What is the Holy Spirit?
2. Where does the Holy Spirit come from?
3. How do we foster more Holy Spirit?

 
Closing Prayer

Holy God,

creator of light and herald of goodness,

at the waters of his baptism

you proclaimed Jesus your beloved Son.

With the baptized of every time and generation,

may we say yes to your call to repentance

and be led to the life of abundance we experience

in your kinship and your love. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 1:4-11

^4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

^7-8 As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”

^9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson