DiscipleNow!

by Lia Scholl

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

For Sunday, November 4, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 31

When I was in high school, I was in a DiscipleNow group. We had a weekend retreat, followed by...

In children, Lia Scholl, Old Testament, rebel, love, shades of gray, Greatest Commandment, Featured, DiscipleNow, Deuteronomy, YearB, parents, Ten Commandments

When Job doesn’t Jibe with Reality

by Carol Howard Merritt

Old Testament Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17

For Sunday, October 28, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 30

I saw the young man in the fall. He looked like a well-equipped urban hiker, getting...

In Old Testament, meaninglessness, hopelessness, suffering, Theodicy, Featured, YearB, Job, homelessness

Searching for a Miracle

by Carol Howard Merritt

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52

For Sunday, October 28, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 30

My father and I entered a huge concrete block building, crowded with people. My dad didn’t use a...

In Doubt, prayer, faith, new testament, healing, Bartimaeus, magic, formula, Featured, YearB, Mark, sickness, faith healers, blind, carol howard merritt

This is Not an Answer

by Mark Stenberg

Old Testament Reading: Job 38:1-7

For Sunday, October 21, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 29

If you consider Job a formal theodicy that gives definitive, systematic answers about evil, Satan,...

In Old Testament, answer, Theodicy, Mark Stenberg, Featured, pie hole, YearB, job, advice, Job, three amigos

The Curse of the Really Great Text

by Mark Stenberg

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

For Sunday, October 21, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 29

So very often the hard questions come easy. But this text has so much beauty and subversive grace, so...

In Uncategorized, new testament, Gestalt, Mark Stenberg, atonement, slavery, Featured, ransom, YearB, Mark, rhetoric

Leather Swords and Lacy Handbags

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Epistle Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

For Sunday, October 14, 2012 Year B—Ordinary 28

Lutherans don’t show up to church carrying their Bibles. At first I thought this was weird because...

In Bible, violence, new testament, sword, nadia bolz-weber, Featured, Hebrews, Weapon, YearB, word

Inheriting Eternal Life

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-31

For Sunday, October 14, 2012 Year B—Ordinary 28

What must I do to inherit eternal life? asks the rich man.

This text always makes me roll my eyes a...

In new testament, progressive, possessions, rich, inherit, nadia bolz-weber, daily bread, Featured, conservative, YearB, Mark, Kingdom of God, eternal life

Whatever God has Pulled Apart

by Russell Rathbun

Old Testament Reading:  Genesis 2:18-24

For Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012—Ordinary 27

People feel very passionate about marriage. Not their own marriage, of course, other people’s...

In russell rathbun, Old Testament, Adam, Passion, same sex, divorce, bones, Featured, flesh, Eve, YearB, rib, Genesis, marriage

Jesus Questions the Text

by Russell Rathbun

Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:2-16

For Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012—Ordinary 27

When we started this blog, we set out with a clear resolve to take seriously the questions that came up as we...

In new testament, lectionary, russell rathbun, Jesus, question, law, stone, divorce, midrash, Featured, Moses, YearB, Mark

If This is a Pep Talk, I Give It an “F”

by Danielle Shroyer

Epistle Reading:  James 5:13-20

For Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 26

I don’t have any concrete evidence on this, but I think this passage may be in the running to win a...

In prayer, new testament, healing, wisdom, Featured, Danielle Shroyer, save, James, YearB, Elijah