Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16 Key Verse(s): And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” Observation: In this parable from the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples… Read More That’s Not Fair!
Scripture: Exodus 14:19-31 Key Verse: Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. (v. 31) Observation: Israel being saved from the Egyptians by the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea is the ultimate act of God’s salvation in the… Read More Sea Change to See Change
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14 Key Verse(s): Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided… Read More Family Foundation
Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15 Key Verse(s): But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further,… Read More God Happens
Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10 Key Verse(s): Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. (2:7-8) Observation: Although this story includes Moses’ birth, this is really… Read More Lively Women
Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15 Key Verse: So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (v. 8) Observation: We recall that Joseph’s brothers initially wanted to kill him but decide to make a… Read More God Put Me Here
Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31 (ESV) Key Verse(s): Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (v. 26) Observation: Jacob’s trip back home is filled with mystery raising questions that do not have clear answers. In order to get at the more mysterious… Read More Unless You Bless Me
Scripture: Genesis 29:15-28 Key Verse: Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. (v. 17) Observation: This story has traditionally been told with a focus on Laban and Jacob. With this frame of reference, the point is made that Jacob gets what is coming to him because of the way he has treated his… Read More Through Whose Eyes?
Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22 Key Verse(s): And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the… Read More No Ladder Required
Scripture: Romans 6:1b-11 Key Verse: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too… Read More Alive to God, Dead to Sin
