Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

In the trial scene of the play and movie by Richard Bolt, “Man for All Seasons,” Thomas More breaks the silence he had previously kept while striving to be both faithful to God and loyal to the King, Henry VIII of England. When he is finally convicted and sentenced to death, he declaims the evil of putting temporal before eternal law.

In a similar way, Jesus denounces the scribes and Pharisees in his last words to them. He pours out his anger upon those who had relentlessly opposed the grace of the Good News.

Be moved by the grief of Jesus as he laments over Jerusalem in the last three verses. He then departs forever from the Temple. Jesus doesn’t want to depart from your spirit, his temple. Is there anything you are doing that is driving Jesus away

Matthew 23:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Bearing each others’ burdens v. 4

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 Nick read the Firestarter and Genesis 19:1-26.

The depravity of the people of Sodom is expressed in this episode of brutal disregard for the sanctity of life and sexuality, as well as the sacredness of the law of hospitality to the stranger in one’s house. There is a similar story in Judges 19:22ff. with striking similarities in its account.

Just as Gibeah in the story from Judges, Lot is willing to expose the women in his family to the brutality of wanton men. They completely forget God.

What do you do when it is time to take a stand when the rights of others are violated? There is a temptation to succumb to evil in the manipulative powers of people who reactively “Want what they want, when they want it.” Disregard for human dignity demands a strong response with a desire to please the Lord alone—no one else.

Genesis 19—20

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayera (And He Appeared) 
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.

Genesis 18—22

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:

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 Nick read the Firestarter and Matthew 26:36-46.

Agony, arrest, trial, and denial are four movements that bring Jesus closer to Calvary. As you pray the Passion Narrative, go slowly, allowing the scenes of this tragic, yet salvific drama draw you into their mystery.

In the Agony in the Garden, Jesus’s suffering was the more intense because his closest friends slept while he was in such great emotional pain. Sleep was the anesthesia to avoid being with Jesus in his hour of agony. Is sleep sometimes a pain-deadener for you also?

Think of it: Jesus needs you to pray with him. We are ordinarily aware of ourselves doing the praying, God doing the answering. However, the Lord needs your prayer for his Body that still suffers. Pray so that the agony of others may be the less because you are vigilant in prayer beside them.

Matthew 26:36–75

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Not my will, but Yours be done. v. 39

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Matthew 19 to 28.

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.