The theme for this week in the church calendar is our minds; the scripture passages traditionally associated with this week all speak of using our minds in a way that glorifies God and opens our minds and hearts to his wisdom. 1 Kings 3 tells us how Solomon gained his noted wisdom; notice that his [...] Read more »
Archive for ‘Articles’
Church Year Calendar: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Week 13 of Ordinary Time Aug. 22, 2010)
SaturdayAug 21,2010
by John Smith
Church Year Calendar: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Week 11 of Ordinary Time, Aug. 8, 2010)
SaturdayAug 7,2010
by John Smith
The theme for this week in the church calendar is our bodies. The following are the scripture passages traditionally associated with this theme: Psalm 128, Song of Songs, Matthew 6:25-34, and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Psalm 128 and Matthew 6:25-34 both focus on God’s physical care of those whose highest goal in life is to seek [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Week 10 of Ordinary Time, Aug. 1, 2010)
SaturdayJul 31,2010
by John Smith
The theme of this week in the church calendar is hospitality. On the surface, the biblical and redemptive significance of hostility may not seem obvious, but a quick look at some of the scriptures traditionally associated with this week shows us otherwise. Genesis 18 recounts the hospitality of Abraham to no one less than the [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Week 9 of Ordinary Time, Jul. 25, 2010)
SundayJul 25,2010
by John Smith
The theme of this week’s church calendar is the church as a sending community. The Old Testament passages, Psalm 67 and Genesis 12:1-9, both focus on the call of Abraham. That call of God was not only a promise to Abraham and his descendants, but also promised that through him all nations on earth would [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Week 8 of Ordinary Time, Jul. 18, 2010)
MondayJul 19,2010
by John Smith
The theme for this week in the church year is confronting the powers. While scripture affirms the necessary role of human government in a fallen world (see, for example, Romans 13:1-7), it also affirms the very real danger that human government can be perverted in an idolatrous tool in the hand of the evil spiritual [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Week 7 of Ordinary Time, Jul. 11, 2010)
TuesdayJul 13,2010
by John Smith
The theme for this week in the church calendar is focused on the church, the body of Christ, as an embracing and reconciling community. There are a number of scripture passages traditionally associated with this theme, beginning in the Old Testament Psalm 133. This psalm is one of the psalms of ascent, sung by the [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Week Six of Ordinary Time, Jul. 4, 2010)
SaturdayJul 3,2010
by John Smith
The theme for this week in the church calendar is setting people free. The following passages are traditionally associated with this week: • Psalm 116 • 1 Kings 17:17-24 • Luke 13:13-14:17 • Acts 8:4-9:43 • Acts 28:1-10 In a variety of ways, these passages show us both what God has done to set us [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Week Four of Ordinary Time, Jun. 20, 2010)
SaturdayJun 19,2010
by John Smith
The theme for this week of the church year is facing persecution. Whether murderous and overt or only psychological and hidden, opposition from unbelievers and, indeed, from the Evil One, is a part of the Christian life. The Apostle flatly states, In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Third Sunday after Pentecost, Week Three of Ordinary Time (Jun. 13, 2010)
MondayJun 14,2010
by John Smith
The great redemptive events of Advent, Christmas, Passion Week, Easter, and Pentecost are clustered at the very end and the first half of the calendar year. So it is that the weeks that follow Pentecost until the four weeks of Advent at the end of the calendar year are sometimes referred to as ordinary time, [...] Read more »
Church Year Calendar: Second Sunday after Pentecost (Jun. 6, 2010)
SaturdayJun 5,2010
by John Smith
The theme of this week in the church calendar is Proclaiming Good News. Among the scripture passages associated with this week are Psalm 96, which calls on us to sing in worship and shout in witness. Notice that here and throughout the Old Testament, God is celebrated as the transcendent Creator God of all nations. [...] Read more »