Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

The word in Greek for the pity and compassion of Jesus refers to a profound inner emotion. The root of the word is splanchna, the Greek for “bowels.” From the tenderest feeling of love to the strongest outrage, the physical center of our bodies is the place from where deep feelings come.

Chapter 10 begins “The Missionary Discourse” of Jesus, the second of five major addresses in Matthew’s Gospel. The twelve apostles are named and sent forth, even as the hands of a clock point to the twelve hours that radiate outward to mark the movement of the day and night.

Today when you look at a clock or watch with a face, be reminded that you are going forth to a day of loving compassion and healing with the same energy of Jesus.

Matthew 9:35—10:8

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Like sheep without a shepherd 9:36

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Numbers 14:1-7.

Jewish tradition gives names to every Sabbath as Christians name Sundays in the sacred year. As you read the Torah readings, especially this year A (the first of the three-part division of each portion), see how the title relates to the subject matter of the reading. “Send” refers to the Lord’s command to send out spies into the land of promise.

13:16 is the very first time that the name of Joshua appears. Moses does something to his name as God did to Abraham and as Jesus did to Simon; the name is changed or slightly altered to give it special meaning. Moses changed Hoshea to Joshua, the latter meaning “Yahweh (the Lord) is Salvation.” It is the same name as Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew name.

Fear paralyses the hearts of the other spies. Notice the “Yes, but” to which they yield in 13:28. “But” cancels out all that goes before it. Pray that you face the “enemies” in your life as fearlessly as Joshua and Jesus faced theirs.

Numbers 13:1—14:7

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Shelah L’cha (Send) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Numbers 13—15

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Inward milk and honey flows 13:27 

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Matthew 9:14-17.

The wider context for last Sunday’s Gospel is before you. Jesus has returned to his home base, Capernaum. Beginning with the freeing of a paralytic, there are seven brief accounts, each no longer than eight verses. Four of these are healing stories, with remaining units reporting the call of Matthew, a comment by Jesus about fasting and the new wine, and a concluding statement about the profound compassion of Jesus.

You might divide the day and evening into seven parts, each one beginning with a meditation from this chapter. Among your appointments for the day, make seven brief ones with the Word of God. Surely even the busiest of days offers moments to read eight verses; it would only take a minute. If the Lord were to come up to you and ask, “May I have a minute of your time?” Would you deny him?

Matthew 9

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: New wine into fresh wineskins v. 17

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Matthew 8 to 18.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.