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

[This Firestarter is from the original version.]

A gentile woman’s strong faith and the healing of a deaf mute are today’s examples of so many miracles. Despite the command of Jesus, the man who could now hear and talk could not be kept silent. The purpose of the silence is to downplay the “wonder-worker” name given to Jesus. People might be drawn only for the miracle and not for the relationship with the One who performed it.

Invite Jesus to come and touch your ears and your tongue. May what you hear lead you to the Word of the Lord; may what you say lead others to the same. The Letter of James, chapter 3 teaches about the wiles of the tongue. Today be aware of your tongue, and especially of the grace of God to heal it.

Mark 7:24–37

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Where there’s pain, hugs in my heart v. 32

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark.

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 Deuteronomy 18:15-22.

Turn on your television, and you will likely find a commercial for a psychic hotline. It is stated that the calls are “For entertainment only,” disclaiming deception.

Chapter 18 from verse 9 explicitly prohibits these customs, calling them an “abomination to the Lord.” The Lord does not speak to entertain you, but to give you life, with proper guidelines to be sure that you will grow.

In chapter 18 from 15–22, there is a remarkable prediction from Moses about a prophet like him that the Lord will raise up. Jesus fulfills this prophecy. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you God’s will for your life as you read in faith and trust.

Deuteronomy 18:6—19:13
This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Shof’tim (Judges)
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.
Deuteronomy 16:18—21:9

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:; May Your words be in my mouth. 18:18

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 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”
from the version for young people and the reading.

[From the version for young people]

Imagine being the child that Jesus picks up for a special blessing, and then you linger along with those following Jesus, because you just love being with him.  Get up right next to Jesus as you listen to a conversation Jesus has with a rich man.  Here he comes, anxiously asking Jesus questions about salvation.  Follow the conversation slowly and see how it moves along.  The man wanted to do something really special with his life.  Hear Jesus’s wonderful suggestion to him…and how sad the man was because he clung so much to his riches that he didn’t want to let go of them to follow Jesus.
Picture this scene and get in touch with the man’s sadness as he walked away from Jesus.  What sort of feelings stir within you?  Maybe Jesus is turning to you and wondering of you’ll walk away too.  But really, there is no greater richness than having God’s love for you in Jesus…and you have it! 

Openness of a Child (From the original version with Mark 10:1–22)

 The sacredness of marriage is uplifted, its rupture denounced as sin. If this applies to you, repent of wherever there was sinfulness in your divorce. In the Lord’s forgiveness, you will find the grace to follow God’s will, most likely living with the blessing with the one to whom you are now married.

Become as a child. Do not be afraid of intimacy with the Lord, however great is the sinfulness in your life. God receives you and loves you. The Lord wants you to be wonderfully happy. Feel the sadness of the rich young man who walks away from joy, due to his attachment to wealth, instead of to the Lord. Be very alert as the Word of the Lord comes to bring you life.

 Mark 10:13-22

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Kingdom entered as a child v. 15

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 7 to 13.

For all the Firestarters in the original version 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.