Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Hosea 12:1-6.

What do you do that is vain and unfulfilling? Are there activities in your life that do not satisfy you, leaving the depth areas of your spirit without nourishment? Vanity is a form of idolatry. God will not remove its consequences. We often need pain to seek and find the Lord.

Ephraim was the last son of Joseph, the “youngest” tribe of Israel. The name stands for the whole of the Chosen People who have gone astray. By referring to the youngest son, Hosea wants us to feel the tenderness that God has for all the people. For God’s people and for you personally, the Lord does not want us to feed on the futility of the wind (v.1).

Hosea 12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: My heart, an altar for You v. 11

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In this season we read Hosea; in the 9th week, we read Lamentations 3.

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.

Flesh and blood together mean life; their separation brings death. When Jesus speaks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, he refers to his death. In sharing the fruits of this death, disciples receive what happened for Jesus—resurrection.

To receive the body and blood of Jesus in Communion is to share in the innermost reality of who Jesus is. Who Jesus is, is in relation to the Father. The bond that Jesus has with the Father is the union that Jesus offers with those who partake of Communion.

John 6:51–58

“Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Eat this bread, live forever. v. 51

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 5:6-21.

The Ten Commandments are not impassioned principles of law from an impersonal ruler of the universe. The Commandments set the basic boundaries and terms of the covenant relation that the Lord is offering to us. If you want to have a life with God, then here is what not to do so that this can occur.

The People of God knew what would happen if God spoke directly to them; they would die. Hence, Moses was a mediator for them. We have a Mediator in Jesus who is both God and man. He makes the connection through the Holy Spirit from the heart of God to yours. Receive the Ten Commandments warmly and reflect on them deeply.

Deuteronomy 5—6

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Vaethanan (I Implored) 
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. 3:23—7:11

Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Wanting what you want for me 5:21

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 next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these 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.