Week 6 – Matthew 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16-30 “Jesus’ Nazareth Sermon”

Week 6: October 31^st to November 6^th

Bible Text: Matthew 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16-30

Key Verse: Luke 4:18-19 & 21

Matthew 13:54-58 his hometown…took offense at him: Opposition to Jesus includes his own hometown. Jesus’ brothers named Joseph and Simon are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Judas is mentioned in Jude 1. James likely is the same person who becomes a leaders in the early church (Acts 2:17, 21:18).

Mark 6:3 the son of Mary: it is unusual and perhaps even insulting that Jesus is identified as “the son of Mary” rather than as the son of his father. They [his brothers] took offense as they saw no reason to believe that he was different from them, much less that he was specially anointed by God.

Luke 4:19 the year of the Lord’s favor: this refers to the Year of Jubilee. Any land that had been sold was to be returned. Any person held as a slave was to be freed.

Luke 4:22-30 all spoke well of him: the people gathered in the synagogue approve of what Jesus has said. The question (is not Joseph’s son?) does no t imply rejection, only amazement. This makes Jesus’ words in 4:24 puzzling.

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Monday:     Devotional Reading – Time for prayer & adoration:

Read through the scripture several times, just listening to the words.

 

Tuesday:     Literary Reading – Listen for literary content:

Focus on the text, itself.

 Wednesday:     Lutheran Theological Reading – Read from a Lutheran perspective:

Reflect on the convictions, insights and expectations that rise particularly from our Lutheran Heritage.

Thursday:     Historical Reading – Read with an ear for History:

Reflect on the historical situation.

Friday:     Catch up on missed reading time

Saturday & Sunday:     Day of Rest

 

For More Detailed Reflection Questions please check-out the link "Daily Reflection Questions" link.

 Daily Reflection Questions

Scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.

Week 5 – Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 “Wilderness Temptations”

Week 5: October 24^th to October 30^th

Bible Text: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

Key Verse: Luke 4:12-13

           

Matthew 4:1-11 into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil: The Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted. The temptations drew on his identity: “If you are the Son of God”. Jesus answered with scripture, see Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 16:13.

Mark 1:12-13 in the wilderness forty days: This is a time of testing for Jesus, like the forty days of preparation for Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8) and forty years in the wilderness for Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2-6).

Luke 4:3-12 bread…authority…throw yourself down: These tests echo the tests the first humans failed. Adam was offered food and ate it without question. Eve was offered a chance to be like God and took it. Jesus responds to each test with scripture.

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Monday:     Devotional Reading – Time for prayer & adoration:

Read through the scripture several times, just listening to the words.

 

Tuesday:     Literary Reading – Listen for literary content:

Focus on the text, itself.

 Wednesday:     Lutheran Theological Reading – Read from a Lutheran perspective:

Reflect on the convictions, insights and expectations that rise particularly from our Lutheran Heritage.

Thursday:     Historical Reading – Read with an ear for History:

Reflect on the historical situation.

Friday:     Catch up on missed reading time

Saturday & Sunday:     Day of Rest

For More Detailed Reflection Questions please check-out the link "Daily Reflection Questions" link.

 Daily Reflection Questions

Scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.

Week 4 - Luke 2:25-35 “Simeon”

Week 4: October 17^th to October 23^rd

Bible Text: Luke 2:25-35

Key Verse: Luke 2:30-32

This reading continues the story of Jesus in Jerusalem.

2:25 consolation of Israel…: The comfort the Messiah would bring to his people at his coming not in a common way. Simeon was given special insight so that he would recognize “Christ”.

2:29-32: The hymn of Simeon has been called the Nunic Dimittis meaning “[You] now dismiss”.

2:32 a light for revelation…: Jesus will reveal God’s glory not only to the Jews, but to non-Jews (Gentiles). Also see Isaiah 42:6, 52:10.

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Monday:     Devotional Reading – Time for prayer & adoration:

Read through the scripture several times, just listening to the words.

 

Tuesday:     Literary Reading – Listen for literary content:

Focus on the text, itself.

 Wednesday:     Lutheran Theological Reading – Read from a Lutheran perspective:

Reflect on the convictions, insights and expectations that rise particularly from our Lutheran Heritage.

Thursday:     Historical Reading – Read with an ear for History:

Reflect on the historical situation.

Friday:     Catch up on missed reading time

Saturday & Sunday:     Day of Rest

For More Detailed Reflection Questions please check-out the link "Daily Reflection Questions link.

Please follow the Daily Reflection Questions this week to reflect on the above scripture.

Scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.

Week 3 - Luke 2:1-20 “The Birth of Jesus”

Week 3: October 10th to October 16th

Bible Text: Luke 2:1-20

Key Verse: Luke 2:10-11

Please join us for face-to-face conversation and reflection this Saturday October 15th at 8:00 a.m.

2:1-2 In those days: Emperor Augustus, also called Caesar Augustus, was the Roman emperor at the time Jesus was born. The registration of listing was done so that the people could be taxed by the Roman government.

2:4 Bethlehem: This means “house of bread” in Hebrew. Bethlehem is located south of Jerusalem.

2:7 no place for them in the inn: The word translated as “in” is translated as “guest room” in 22:11. The exact meaning remains uncertain, but it may refer to a guest room in a house. Bethlehem was Joseph’s hometown, so family members may have lived there.

2:11 messiah: This Hebrew name means “anointed one”. Anointing involved pouring oil on someone’s head to set that person apart. In Greek the name is Christos, translated as Christ. Faithful Jews had waited centuries for the Messiah promised by God.

Please follow the Daily Reflection Questions this week to reflect on the above scripture.

Scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.

Week 2 - Matthew 2:1-12

Week 2: October 3rd to October 9th

Bible Text:  Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse:  Matthew 2:2-3

2:1 King Herod…wise men:  Herod, king of Judea 37-4 B.C.E., was an ally of Rome. He rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem to restore its glory. The wise men (magi) were probably Zoroastrain priests from Parthia or Persia.

2:4 chief priests and scribes:  The chief priests were leaders of the priests in the Jerusalem temple, where they were in charge of temple sacrifices and purification rights. The scribes were scholars whose work often involved writing. They tend to be connected with the Pharisees in Matthew’s Gospel.

2:5-6 Bethlehem:  Like David, the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem, a town just south of Jerusalem.

Please follow the Daily Reflection Questions this week to reflect on the above scripture.

All scripture descriptions are taken either in full text or edited text from “Lutheran Study Bible” from Augsburg Fortress.