Lectionary
Ruminations 2.0 is a revised continuation of Lectionary Ruminations. Focusing on The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the upcoming Sunday from New Revised
Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, Lectionary
Ruminations 2.0 draws on nearly thirty years of pastoral experience. Believing that the questions we ask are often
more important than any answers we find, without overreliance on commentaries I
intend with comments and questions to encourage reflection and rumination for
readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are
invited and encouraged. All lectionary
links are to the via the PC(USA)
Devotions and Readings website.
FOR AN UPDATED AND REVISED VERSION, GO TO
THIS LINK
4:32-25 If you plan to preach using this
passage you may want to read Acts 2 for context.
4:32 What is the size of this group? Have you ever known of any group, or a
Church, of one heart and soul? Why did common ownership go by the wayside?
4:33 What was great power look and sound
like? Are there gradations of grace?
4:34 Are there needy persons in your
church?
4:35 Who determined the need?
133:1 Is this Psalm about kin or kirk? Do
you know of any family or church that lives together in unity?
133:2 I love this sensual imagery but
think it means more when we anoint with oil at the times of Baptism and when
praying for healing and wholeness. If we never anoint with oil the imagery
seems to loose some of its power.
133:3 What and where is Hermon and what
is so special about its dew?
1:1 Who are “we”? I think three of the
five senses are mentioned. What about the other two? How can we offer worship
and other spiritual and religious experiences that address all the senses? I think many of our churches need a more fully
embodied, sensual worship that will help us get out of always being in our
head. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
1:2 What is the meaning of
“revealed”? What is the difference between eternal life and everlasting life?
1:3 What is the nature of
this fellowship?
1:4 How can writing a
letter complete one’s joy?
1:5 Who is the “him” from
whom they heard this message? How can we be sensitive to and deal with issues
of racism when contrasting images of light and darkness?
1:6 Why would someone say
they have fellowship with God when they really don’t?
1:7 Why is walking in
lightness connected with being cleansed with or by the blood of Jesus?
1:8-9 These verses are
often used as part of a Call to Confession, such as found in the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) Book of Common Worship
page 52.
1:10 What if someone knows
they have sinned but do not care that they have sinned?
2:1 Why the “little
children” address? Is it possible not to sin? “Advocate” is usually associated
with the Holy Spirit, not Jesus.
2:2 What is an “atoning
sacrifice”? How many theories of the atonement are you familiar with?
20:19 Why did the disciples fear the Jews? What is
the meaning and significance of “Peace be with you.”?
20:20 Did the disciples not rejoice when they heard
the Lord? Why is seeing more significant than hearing?
20:21 Why does Jesus repeat his greeting?
20:22 What is the significance and meaning of
Jesus’ breathing on the disciples? Is “Receive the Holy Spirit” an invitation
or a declarative command?
20:23 I thought only God had the power to forgive
sin(s). Why do we and the Scriptures sometimes speak of sins (plural) and other
times speak of sin (singular)? What is the difference and does it matter?
20:24 Why was Thomas called the Twin? I wonder
where Thomas had been.
20:25 Notice they say nothing about hearing the
Lord. I think we should call him Skeptical Thomas rather than Doubting Thomas.
The other disciples and Jesus were living in the resurrection but Thomas was
not.
20:26 Is there anything special about this house?
Note that we are told that the doors were shut, not locked. (See 20:19). This
is the third time we hear this greeting.
20:27 Jesus invites Thomas to do so but the text
does not say that Thomas did as invited. Was seeing and hearing Jesus, and the
invitation, enough for Thomas?
20:28 Is this an early Christian confession of
faith?
20:29 Was “seeing” enough? (Reconsider my question
for 20:27.) We are not Thomas or the first disciples. We did not witness this
or the other signs Jesus did. We cannot put our finger in Christ’s wounds and
see his hands. All we have are the stories passed on to us down through the
centuries. Yet we ought to come to worship expecting to see Jesus. Can “Magic
Eye” 3D images teach us anything about seeing Jesus in the present day?
20:30 What other signs? Why are
20:31 I wonder what the criteria was for including
these signs but not others.
ADDENDUM
I am currently serving at the Interim Pastor of The Presbyterian Church of Cadiz, worshiping at 154 West Market Street, Cadiz, Ohio, every Sunday at
11:00 AM. Please
like The Presbyterian Church of Cadiz on facebook.
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