Mark 9:1-29 “…But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22b-24 Who among us cannot relate to this …
Author Archives: John S.
March 24 / Mark 8:27-38
Mark 8:27-38 Today’s reading has long been seen as the pivotal passage of the Gospel of Mark, first with Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ (or the Messiah, the Anointed One) (Mark 8:29), and then with Jesus’ teaching about his approaching suffering, death, and Resurrection. (Mark 8:31) The notion of a suffering Messiah is …
December 17 / I Timothy 1
I Timothy 1 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Timothy 1:5 This verse reminds me of I Corinthians 13 — “The Love Chapter” — along with its introduction, I Corinthians 12:31: And I will show you a still more …
December 16 / Micah 7:7-20
Micah 7:7-20 I expect that most of us are unfamiliar with much of the context into which Micah prophesies. Sure, we may have a reasonable grasp of the sweep of Israel’s history — the united kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon; the divided kingdom with Israel in the north and Judah in the south; the …
December 15 / Micah 6:1-7:6
Micah 6:1-7:6 In the absence of a post from Fred, I suggest taking a look back at my post from last year, when we read through Micah much more quickly: June 14 (2023) / Micah 4-7.
September 17 / Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31 Take a few minutes to think about how you, deep down, might describe an excellent wife. (Pr. 31:10) Knowing that your perspective has been shaped by a variety of forces — for example, your parents and the home you grew up in, societal shifts and expectations over your lifetime, your own marriage (if …
September 16 / Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30 This is the way of an adulteress:she eats and wipes her mouthand says, “I have done no wrong.” Proverbs 30:20 If that doesn’t sound like our current culture, I don’t know what does. Our culture calls evil good, and good evil. It does not confess sin; rather, it proclaims its sin with pride, …
September 15 / Proverbs 28-29
Proverbs 28-29 The wicked flee when no one pursues,but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 Without explicitly saying so, this proverb speaks of courage. In watching the Being Human video series from The Ridley Institute, I was reminded of this quote from C. S. Lewis: Courage is not simply one of the …
September 14 / Proverbs 26:13-27:27
Proverbs 26:13-27:27 Do not boast about tomorrow,for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1 Of course, generally speaking, boasting isn’t particularly good form, over-stating our own self-importance. But boasting over something that hasn’t happened yet is that much more over the top. James puts it this way: Come now, you who …
September 13 / Proverbs 25:1-26:12
Proverbs 25:1-26:12 A word fitly spokenis like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 Indeed. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 Let your speech always …