Consider the Word Bible Study

 We will be taking a break from the Bible study group for the month of May.

Consider the Word, April 27, 2023

Consider the Word, April 27, 2023
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for April 30

• Acts 2:42-47
• Psalm 23
• 1 Peter 2:19-25
• John 10:1-10

 
Collect:

O God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ,

that great shepherd of the sheep,

by the blood of the eternal covenant,

make us perfect in every good work to do your will,

and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 
The Psalm (23)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 
Reflection Question

1. Where is the “comfort” in being in the “presence of those who trouble me”?

 
The Gospel: John 10:1-10

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

 
Reflection Question

1. If Jesus is the “good shepherd,” could there be bad shepherds?
2. Do we think of “eternal life” that prepares us for a life in the hereafter with no concern for what life is like in the here-and-now? Or do we decide to inhabit this world with the hope that a life in the present is what Jesus calls us to? 

 
Closing Prayer:

Holy Shepherd,

you know your sheep by name

and lead us to safety through the valleys of death.

Guide us by your voice,

that we may walk in certainty and security

to the joyous feast prepared in your house,

where we celebrate with you forever. Amen.

 

Consider the Word, April 20, 2023

Consider the Word, April 20, 2023
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for April 23

• Acts 2:14a, 36-41
• Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17
• 1 Peter 1:17-23
• Luke 24:13-35

 
Collect:

O God, 

your Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread. 

Open the eyes of our faith, 

that we may see him in his redeeming work, 

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

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

 
Reflection Question

1. Although we often think of sin as wrong deeds and actions, a much fuller understanding is that sin is a sense of alienation from our true selves. What then is repentance and how does it help?

 
The Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

 
Reflection Question

1. How can it happen that “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”? And how may we avoid the same fate?
2. Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives the bread to them, the same sequence of actions we recall from his final meal: reflect on the significance of the Holy Eucharist today?

 
Closing Prayer:

Elusive God,

companion on the way,

you walk behind, beside, beyond;

you catch us unawares.

Break through the disillusionment and despair

clouding our vision,

that, with wide-eyed wonder,

we may find our way and journey on

as messengers of your good news. Amen.

 

Consider the Word, April 13, 2023

 Consider the Word, April 13, 2023
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for April 16

• Acts 2:14a, 22-32
• Psalm 16
• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• John 20:19-31

 
Collect:

Almighty and eternal God,

the strength of those who believe

and the hope of those who doubt,

may we, who have not seen, have faith

and receive the fullness of Christ's blessing,

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

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know - this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.' Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, 'He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.' This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."

 
Reflection Question

1. Peter clearly intends to draw a connection between the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with the idea of new life. How is this a hopeful message?

 
The Gospel: John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

 
Reflection Question

1. It seems that Thomas doesn’t doubt the resurrection, he doubts the testimony of his fellow disciples. What might this lesson tell us about proclaiming the resurrection today?
2. Considering the upheaval and disorder that is so much a part of life, how might the peace of Christ help?

 
Closing Prayer:

Creator of the universe,

you made the world in beauty,

and restore all things in glory

through the victory of Jesus Christ.

We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured

by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,

the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,

to the glory of your name. Amen.