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
16:16 Who are the
“we”? What makes a place of prayer
different from any other place? What is a spirit of divination?
16:17 Why was she following
Paul and those with him? Why would she proclaim such a thing?
16:18 Why might Paul have
been annoyed, after all, she was speaking the truth and seemed to be giving
them free publicity? Note that what this girl was saying was not soothsaying
but truth telling. What was Paul’s motivation
for casting out the demon?
16:19 And the moral of the
story is “do not threaten someone’s livelihood”?
16:20 Who are the
magistrates? How were Paul and Silas disturbing the city?
16:21What customs might
Paul and Silas have been advocating and why were these customs not lawful.
16:22 Why would the crowd
join in attacking them?
16:23 What is a flogging?
16:24 How many were so
incarcerated?
16:25 Is there any
significance or symbolism associated with midnight? When did Silas enter the
scene? Who was he? What do we know about him?
16:26 Is this a description
of a mere natural phenomena or something more? I can imagine chains coming loose
from the wall, but stocks coming loose?
16:27 Why was the jailor
about to kill himself?
16:28 Why would Paul
announce their presence?
16:29 Why did the jailer
fall down trembling before them?
16:30 Might there be a multi-valent
meaning here?
16:31 How can a household
be save based on one person’s faith?
16:32 Is speaking the word
of the Lord the same as preaching a sermon.
16:33 Do you think the
jailor washed their wounds using the same source of water used for the baptism?
16:34 Even though Paul and
Silas were eating a meal in the jailor’s house rather than the jail, were they
still prisoners?
97:1 Does it make any sense
to talk about the LORD being king when living in a democratic republic? What do coastlands symbolize or represent?
97:2 Why are clouds and
thick darkness all around the LORD? What
is the relationship between righteousness and justice?
97:3 What does fire
symbolize or represent?
97:4 What, if any, is the
connection between thunder storms and God? How does the earth tremble?
97:5 Is this a description
of volcanic activity?
97:6 Project images taken
by the Hubble Space Telescope here! Yes, peoples (note the plural) behold God’s
glory but do they know they are beholding God’s glory?
97:7 What about people who
do not worship images? How do gods bow
down before the LORD is there are no other gods?
97:8 What is the difference
between Zion and Judah?
97:9 How can the LORD be
over all the earth if the earth is round? Who or what are these other gods?
97:10 Rather than hating
evil I prefer loving the good.
97:11 Do the
unrighteousness not see or experience the sunrise?
97:12 How can one give thanks
to the LORD’s holy name when the LORD’s holy name is not to be pronounced?
22:12 Who is speaking? This sounds like a verse in support of “works
righteousness”. Will the reward enable the repayment?
22:13 Does this still need
explanation or do all those in the pew understand it?
22:14 What do washed robes
symbolize? What would one wash them
with? What is the tree of life”? How
else would one enter a city if not by the gates (note the plural)?
22:16 What angel is Jesus
referring to? How can one be both a root
and a descendant? What is “the bright
morning star”?
22:17 Who is the bride? What
is the “water of life” and how does it differ from “the tree of life”?
22:20 Who is testifying to
these things?
22:21 Who is offering this
blessing? Who are all the saints?
17:20 Who is asking? Who
are “these”?
17:21 How does “oneness”
lead people to belief?
17:22 How does glory
promote oneness?
17:23 Why will complete oneness lead to the world’s knowing anything?
17:24 What would it mean
for “those” to be where Jesus is?
17:25 What might this verse
suggest about religious and/or spiritual knowledge?
17:26 What is the
significance or symbolism of making God’s name known?
ADDENDUM
I am currently a Member at Large of Upper Ohio
Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I am a trained and
experienced Interim Pastor currently available to supply as a fill-in
occasional guest preacher and worship leader or serve in a half-time to
full-time position.
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