The psalmists’ expressions can represent our own experiences. In Psalm 1, the happy meditators of God’s law are delighted as they prosper. They are trees planted beside a stream, enduring and...

It’s easy for us to read the question posed to the disciples and offer the right answer: You are Jesus, the Messiah. The more important question for us to wrestle with,...

The Gospel of Mark begins with the announcement of “Good News,” but it’s a bumpy ride at times. As Jesus is becoming more widely known, he explores with his disciples who...

Reminiscent at times of Proverbs, James is a collection of practical admonitions that encourage wise living while using literary techniques along the way for emphasis. Here James focuses specifically on the...

In the first half of this poetic psalm, David calls forth the revelation of God through nature. In the second half, he moves into exalting God’s revelation through scripture. The language...

Psalm 19 is a beloved psalm for many. For C. S. Lewis, it was the “greatest poem in the psalter.”* Structured into three parts, the lyrical psalm focuses on knowing God...

Solomon personifies God’s wisdom as the discerning (and fired-up) female voice of Wisdom. She’s expressing her righteous anger that “fools” haven’t been listening. At first glance, the text is full of...

The best storytellers know that to really get a reader’s attention, it’s smart to create a twist or come from an unexpected angle. Some of the most fun discussions I’ve had...

There is one fact that is easy to miss in this week’s readings: Nothing is required from those who are in need. Judaism has an epochal history of advocating for the...

In the earliest days of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, many churches closed to protect their members and slow the spread of the disease. It was a time of danger and anxiety....