Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the Gospel.

The original version

St. Luke is the evangelist that lets us listen in on the largest segment of John the Baptist’s preaching. John astounds whole crowds with ear-piercing calls to repentance. The opening verse of the reading hardly follows the principles of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People! John is not on a self-centered search for friends; he is out to win hearts for the Kingdom—your heart and mine.

Luke singles out three classes of people and specific changes needed for each: 1) people in general; 2) tax collectors; 3) soldiers. The essence comes down to sharing with those in need.

Place yourself among the crowd. Now is no different than then. This is no time to mince words. The Holy Spirit gets right to the point with you. Allow the Lord to burn away what is dead in you, so that what needs to come to life has inner space to grow.

Luke 3:7–18

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example Today may I bear good fruit. v. 9

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read the Gospel of St. Luke.

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 Genesis 35:16-21.

[From the original version]

Do you know any mothers who died at childbirth? There is an extraordinary sadness when this occurs. Our reading begins with the death of Rachel when Benjamin was born. There is a church between Jerusalem and Bethlehem that prides itself as being the place where Rachel is buried. As quietly as Isaac breathes his last, so are the final verses in the Bible that recount his death.

Chapter 36 gives the history of Esau and his people—only a list of names as though printed in black and white. Colors are kept for the stories of Jacob and his descendants, the Twelve Tribes of Israel, prototype of the Twelve Apostles and the New Israel, the Church. Esau’s disobedience wrenches him from significant history; there are only names of those whose descendants would be bitter enemies to Israel.

Genesis 35:16—36:43

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayishlah (And He Sent) 
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 32:3—36:43

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Grieving with those in their loss

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 the reading.

[From the original version]

 Enter the joyous story of the call to Mary to become the mother of Jesus, her visit to Elizabeth, and her song. Be with Mary in the morning, as her prayer is bathed in the light of The Annunciation. Travel with her during the hours of the morning, till you reach Elizabeth at midday, reading the account of The Visitation around noon. Stay with these holy women until evening, concluding with hearing Mary sing The Magnificat. For ages this has been the song for Evening Prayer in the Catholic and Anglican traditions. This first of three songs in Luke’s infancy narrative has a parallel in the song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1–10) who rejoices at the birth of Samuel.

This is the season of miracle birthings … including your miraculous rebirth in Jesus.

Luke 1:26–56

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: The child in me leaps for joy. v. 44

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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.