God Reminds During the month of August, we will examine themes found in the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. These themes will tell us about God, humanity, faith, and the world. Join us each week as we discuss each book in the Pentateuch. The book of Deuteronomy primarily consists of 3 speeches or sermons of Moses to the people of Israel. As we reach this fifth and final book of the Pentateuch, we hear Moses’ impassioned petitions to the people to follow the Law. The three speeches are roughly broken down like this: Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43 – Reminder of the Wilderness Wanderings ..read more

God Reorders During the month of August, we will examine themes found in the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. These themes will tell us about God, humanity, faith, and the world. Join us each week as we discuss each book in the Pentateuch. If you are lucky or stubborn enough to have made it through the end of Exodus and through the book of Leviticus, you will arrive at the book of Numbers. And while you might think that a reprieve is coming from what we often consider to be “dull” reading with the start of a new book after lengthy instructions about how to build a tent and how ..read more

God Rules During the month of August, we will examine themes found in the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. These themes will tell us about God, humanity, faith, and the world. Join us each week as we discuss each book in the Pentateuch. The book of Leviticus needs a makeover. It needs a re-branding event. It needs to be reclaimed. I’m not sure that any other book is more commonly tossed aside than the book of Leviticus. It is a book of case laws and instructions from God. There isn’t much drama, intrigue, or story-telling. It is just 27 consecutive chapters that tell you what y ..read more

God Relates During the month of August, we will examine themes found in the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. These themes will tell us about God, humanity, faith, and the world. Join us each week as we discuss each book in the Pentateuch. The book of Genesis begins by saying something that religions often fail to say. God begins his whole story in Scripture by saying something that is often very hard for us as religious people–or even just as people period: God saw all that he had created (including humanity), and he saw that it was good.  Have you noticed how difficult th ..read more

Isaiah 55 During the month of July, we will take a few opportunities to focus on the prophet Isaiah and some of his most well-remembered and influential chapters in his book. We close out the month of July by looking at Isaiah 55. Take a moment and read Isaiah 55 before we get started. Of the various chapters we have examined this month, Isaiah 55 might be the least quotable chapter. And yet, I think that as we read through this chapter, we recognize some significant themes from Isaiah and the rest of the prophets too.  Isaiah begins this chapter of oracles by declaring that we should o ..read more

Isaiah 40 During the month of July, we will take a few opportunities to focus on the prophet Isaiah and some of his most well-remembered and influential chapters in his book. We continue this week with Isaiah 40. Take a moment and read Isaiah 40 here. As you read these words from Isaiah, there are sure to be a few phrases or verses that stand out. Comfort, O comfort my people (v. 1) A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord” (v. 3) Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low (v. 4) The word of the Lord will stand forever (v. 7) Have you no ..read more

Isaiah 11 During the month of July, we will take a few opportunities to focus on the prophet Isaiah and some of his most well-remembered and influential chapters in his book. We continue this week with Isaiah 11.  One of the prophet Isaiah’s most famous oracle is concerning a shoot that shall come out of the stump of Jesse (11:1). Shoots and stumps are not commonplace objects or items of conversation in our daily life, and yet we immediately understand what Isaiah is trying to communicate with these simple images.  Take a moment and read Isaiah 11. Isaiah envisions a future for God ..read more