Mark 2:1-12 What is happening in this Scripture? Last week, we considered Jesus’ healing of the leper in the wilderness. The news of this encounter drove Jesus further away from town and prevented him from entering anywhere. Now, after letting some of the excitement calm down (or so Jesus…

Exodus 4:14-20, 27-31 What is happening in this passage? In this passage, Moses takes the first steps in following God’s call to liberate the people of Israel from captivity and slavery in Egypt. Moses meets up with his brother, Aaron, and goes into Egypt to talk to the leaders…

Matthew 18:1-5 What is happening in this passage? This is the beginning of a series of teachings in the Gospel according to Matthew (Jesus’ 4th in Matthew). He reminds the disciples that the Kingdom of God looks different. They are wondering who is the greatest – likely considering wealth…

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 What is happening in this scripture? Ecclesiastes is a book in the wisdom tradition in the Old Testament. It’s written from the perspective of Qohelet. While not much is really known about this author for sure, it appears that Qohelet was a teacher whose teachings and sayings…

Luke 1:1-4 What is this scripture about? This is the prologue to the Gospel According to Luke, the third Gospel account in the New Testament. There are many noteworthy differences between Luke and the other Gospels, not the least of which is that it’s the only Gospel that comes…

1 John 4:7-19 Wait… what? This is an interesting text. On the first read, my main takeaway was from the second sentence in verse 16: “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” I think this is one of the…

Matthew 10:40-42 What is happening in this text? This is the end of Jesus’ instructions to the twelve disciples when he sent them out on their first mission throughout Israel. This passage is part instruction and part pep-talk. It’s a reminder to the disciples that everything they do and…