Category: John - A Little Bit About A Lot...

Here comes the Spirit....

6/5/2014

This week the spirit is poured out on 70 Elders tasked with assisting Moses as the Israelites journey through the wilderness. The apostles recieve the Holy Spirit with tongues of fire on their heads, and Jesus speaks of the Spirit which is yet to come.

Send me your questions:
Email: schlundt@csl.edu
Twitter: @TallT84
Or leave them as a comment here

This week's readings:
Old Testament: Numbers 11:24–30
2nd Reading: Acts 2:1–21
Gospel Reading: John 7:37–39

Paul the babbler, Peter says Baptism save you, and here comes the Holy Spirit!

5/22/2014

This week Paul takes a trip to Athens and teaches the Greek philosophers about the "unknown god" for which they have an altar. Peter tells us to be prepared to suffer on account of our faith and to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that we have in us. He reminds us that in the same way that Noah and his family were saved through the ark, we too are saved by our baptisms that connect us to Christ's death and resurrection. Finally, in John, we hear Jesus give us a promise that the Father would send the Holy Spirit.

This week's readings:
1st Reading: Acts 17:16-31
Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 3:13--22
Gospel Reading: John 14:15--21

Next week's readings:
First Reading: Acts 1:12-26
Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19, 5:6-11
Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11

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@TallT84
schlundt@csl.edu

The shepherd, the sheep, the church, and suffering!

5/7/2014

This week we hear Luke describe the practices of the first Christians after Pentecost in the book of Acts. Peter will tell us that we should expect suffering because Christ suffered and then Jesus talks about sheep, gates, and hearing his voice.

I've also introduced a new opportunity to ask questions. Send me a comment about this or any other video in this series. Comments can be:

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I hope to hear from you!

Hosanna! A quick look at Palm/Passion Sunday!

4/10/2014

Our journey through Lent is quickly coming to a close. This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday and remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as he heads towards the cross!

Readings:
Palm Sunday Processional Gospel: John 12:12–19

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4–9a
Epistle: Philippians 2:5–11
Gospel: Matthew 26:1—27:66 or Matthew 27:11–66 or John 12:20–43

Where's our hope? (And a little Monty Python for fun)

4/3/2014

Hope is the theme of our readings this week. Ezekiel spends some time with dry bones as the people of Israel feel hopless after recieving punishment from God. Paul tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and implores Christians to live in the Holy Spirit rather than in the flesh. Finally, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, giving us the hope that all who die in Christ will be raised on the last day.

Readings:
Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1--14
Epistle: Romans 8:1--11
Gospel: John 11:1--53

Sights and Lights!

3/26/2014

Sight and light are the themes we see in our readings this weekend. These two things go together well and describe our spiritual condition apart from God. In our Old Testament reading we hear about the Children of Israel being spiritually blind and in the darkness of their idolatry. God is faithful and promises to bring them back out of the darkness and to restore their sight. Paul tells us that we have been brought out of darkness and should live as children of the light. Finally in our Gospel reading we hear about Jesus healing a man who was born blind and exposing the spiritual blindness of the people around him.

Readings:

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:14--21
Epistle: Ephesians 5:8--14
Gospel: John 9:1--41

One drink of water to never be thirsty again!

3/21/2014

Water is a foundational element for life on Earth and it also happens to be the theme in our readings this week. The people of Israel complain about not having water in the desert so Moses strikes a rock and they have water to drink. God pours out his Spirit like water into our hearts so that we can rejoice in our sufferings and Jesus shares living water with the people in Samaria.

Readings:

Old Testament: Exodus 17:1--7
Epistle: Romans 5:1--8
Gospel: John 4:5--26 (27--30, 39--42)

It is all about faith!

3/14/2014

Faith is our focus this week as we see Abram stepping out in faith to follow God to a new land when he was already 75 years old. Paul tells us that it was God's gift of faith to Abraham that caused him to be saved, not his own works and Jesus clarifies things for Nicodemus so that he too may know how one enters the Kingdom of Heaven and what Jesus mission was on earth.

Readings:
Old Testament: Genesis 12:1--9
Epistle: Romans 4:1--8, 13--17
Gospel: John 3:1--17