Consider the Word, December 2, 2021

Consider the Word, December 2, 2021
Advent II
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for December 5:

• Baruch 5:1-9 Or Malachi 3:1-4
• Canticle 19 (Luke 1:68-79)
• Philippians 1:3-11
• Luke 3:1-6a

 
Collect

Almighty God,

who sent your servant John the Baptist

to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah,

inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth,

to turn our disobedient hearts to you,

that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge,

we may stand with confidence before his glory;

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

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, -as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; -and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

 
Reflection Questions

1. Why would John preach that the first step on our journey toward freedom is a baptism of repentance?
2. What is the nature of the Good News that John proclaims, that is not just for us, but for the whole world?

 
Closing Prayer

Out of the embrace of mercy and righteousness,

you have brought forth joy and dignity for your people,

O Holy One of Israel.

Remember now your ancient promise:

make straight the paths that lead to you,

and smooth the rough ways,

that in our day

we might bring forth your compassion

for all humanity. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 3:1-6

3 ^1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

Thunder in the desert!

“Prepare God’s arrival!

Make the road smooth and straight!

Every ditch will be filled in,

Every bump smoothed out,

The detours straightened out,

All the ruts paved over.

Everyone will be there to see

The parade of God’s salvation.”

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

Consider the Word, November 25, 2021 Advent I

Consider the Word, November 25, 2021
Advent I
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 28:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Psalm 25:1-9
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36

 
Collect

Almighty God,

give us grace to cast away the works of darkness

and put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life

in which your Son Jesus Christ

came to us in great humility,

that on the last day,

when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge both the living and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 
Reflection Questions

1. How is this “parable” more of an observation and a warning than a story with a moral?
2. How is this reading an expression of the need for patience, endurance, and trust in life?
3. How might we experience the nearness of the kingdom of God?

 
Closing Prayer

O God of all the prophets,

you herald the coming of the Son of Man

by wondrous signs in the heavens and on the earth.

Guard our hearts from despair so that we,

in the company of the faithful

and by the power of your Holy Spirit,

may be found ready to raise our heads

at the coming near of our redemption,

the day of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 21:25-36

25-26 “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

 

27-28 “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!”

 

29-33 He told them a story. “Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God’s kingdom is about here. Don’t brush this off: I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

 

34-36 “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”

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

Consider the Word, November 18, 2021 The Reign of Christ Sunday

 
Consider the Word, November 18, 2021
The Reign of Christ Sunday
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 21:

• 2 Samuel 23:1-7
• Psalm 132:1-13 (14-19)
• Revelation 1:4b-8
• John 18:33-37

 
Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,

whose will it is to restore all things

in your well-beloved Son, our Lord and King,

grant that the peoples of the earth,

now divided and enslaved by sin,

may be freed and brought together

under his gentle and loving rule;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

 
Reflection Questions
The charge of kingship is the central question of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Jesus never answers Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Who do we say Jesus is?

1. What are the implications for us and our claims for Jesus?

 
Closing Prayer

Most High God, majestic and almighty,

our beginning and our end:

rule in our hearts

and guide us to be faithful in our daily actions,

worshiping the one who comes

as Savior and Sovereign,

and who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

 
The Message:

³³ Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

³⁵ Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

³⁶ “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

³⁷ Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

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

Consider the Word, November 11, 2021

Consider the Word, November 11, 2021
Here’s the Bible Study, but there is no actually (via Zoom) study group this week.
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 14:

• 1 Samuel 1:4-20
• 1 Samuel 2:1-10, As Canticle
• Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18), 19-25
• Mark 13:1-8

 
Collect

Almighty God,

you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to be the light of the world.

Free us from all that darkens and ensnares us,

and bring us to eternal light and joy;

through the power of him

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

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 13:1-8

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."  When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"  Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

 
Reflection Questions

1. Does knowing that “apocalypse” means an “unveiling” or “revelation” help in our understanding of this scripture?

 
Closing Prayer

God of all life we give thanks for the signs

of your love and creativity

that surround us and bless us.

May it be so.

 
The Message: Mark 13:1-8

13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

² Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

^3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

^5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.

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