Tag: Bible Study

Bible Note#58: Zacchaeus #2–Some Background

~ gachorpenning ~ 5 Comments

In order to understand this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9), we need to know a little bit about the geography of the Holy Land in Jesus' time.  So, let’s start with this question: where was Jericho and what was Jesus doing there?  I’ll address the second question first. What was Jesus doing in … Continue reading Bible Note#58: Zacchaeus #2–Some Background

Bible Note #57: Zacchaeus #1–The Real Zacchaeus and That Terrible Children’s Song

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Christians, especially American Christians, can be really good at sanitizing the gospels in order to make Jesus less offensive.  We want a version of Jesus that doesn’t make us uncomfortable, one that fits with our American way of seeing things.  The story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is a case in point. One of the … Continue reading Bible Note #57: Zacchaeus #1–The Real Zacchaeus and That Terrible Children’s Song

Bible Note #56: Mark 10:35-45 & Serving or Ruling Over

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So, we’ve just come out of an election.  Some Christian folks are delighted.  Some Christian folks are despairing.  Both are wrong because both are badly misguided.  The first group—the delighted group—is delighted because they believe they now have their hands on the levers of power.  The second group—the despairing group—is despairing because they believe they … Continue reading Bible Note #56: Mark 10:35-45 & Serving or Ruling Over

Pastor Note #128: The Resurrection–A Devotional

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Introduction:If saving non-material human souls is all that matters, what is the point of the bodily resurrection of Jesus?  If the goal of the Christian faith is to get souls into heaven, then the bodily resurrection of Jesus is irrelevant and unnecessary.  And yet, there can be little doubt that the New Testament writers were … Continue reading Pastor Note #128: The Resurrection–A Devotional

Bible Note #53: Colossians 3 Series–Raised with Christ

~ gachorpenning ~ 1 Comment

There is richness and deep truth to be found everywhere in the Bible, often in passages that might seem mundane and unremarkable at first glance.  In fact, that sounds like an interesting challenge.  So, maybe someday I’ll do a series of studies on some of those seemingly uninspiring passages of the Bible.  But for now, … Continue reading Bible Note #53: Colossians 3 Series–Raised with Christ

Bible Note #52: James 2:5-7 & the Problem of Wealth

~ gachorpenning ~ 2 Comments

Photo by GAC I think I can safely say that James has a very low opinion of money and the accumulation of wealth.  Along with Paul, James gets his ideas about money and wealth from Jesus.  Jesus and all the New Testament writers are concerned about money and the accumulation of wealth because they believed … Continue reading Bible Note #52: James 2:5-7 & the Problem of Wealth

Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

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I enjoy fishing.  I’m not very good at it, but I do enjoy going out to the water and trying to catch fish.  As I share this with you, we are a day away from the opening of trout season in Pennsylvania.  Opening day can be a pretty crowded time on the water around here.  … Continue reading Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

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There is no question that our Christian faith can become corrupted.  And, of course, one of the ways that our faith can become corrupted is when we adopt bad or wrong doctrines.  That’s why it’s important for us to learn our theology carefully and well. The base of an abandoned steel-making blast furnace; photo by … Continue reading Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

Bible Note #48: Justice for the Weak–Ezekiel 34:11-22

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Here God proclaims his love.  God proclaims the bias of his heart.  God proclaims the direction of movement of his heart. photo by GAC Above all, he is for the weak.  Above all, he is for the vulnerable, the wounded, the broken, the lost.  (Does this sound familiar?  “For the Son of Man came to … Continue reading Bible Note #48: Justice for the Weak–Ezekiel 34:11-22

Bible Note #43: Peter’s Denial & Following Jesus–A Lenten Meditation

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Peter’s Denial and Following JesusDrawn from Mark 14 Peter was standing by a fire in the middle of the courtyard of the high priest’s compound.  He was standing among a group of men.  He was trying to be inconspicuous, trying to sort of blend in.     He was chilled to the core, so that the … Continue reading Bible Note #43: Peter’s Denial & Following Jesus–A Lenten Meditation