Children’s Bible

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Embrace of Saving History

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Jesus launches his public ministry as he emerges from the waters of the Jordan. Biblical themes about water are touched upon and blended in this account. Recall the Spirit hovering over the chaotic waters in Genesis, Noah, the ark, the dove, the crossing of the Jordan in Joshua 3, and the Exodus readings these Saturdays. All are gathered into one event that unites heaven and earth, the divine and the human. Jesus embraces all of God’s saving history to himself. The saving energy of God is fused into one laser beam of Christ’s light as we celebrate this second Epiphany of Jesus—his baptism.

It is a moment in history with cosmic dimensions. Immerse all your senses in the scene. Renew your baptism. Rise with Jesus and be free.

Matthew 3:13–17

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: “This my Son: the Beloved” v. 17

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

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The One Drawn from Water

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 2:1-10.

The Book of Exodus is called Shemoth In Hebrew, meaning “The Names,” due to the Twelve Tribes, which link the history of the book of Genesis with the beginning of Exodus. Continuity was broken; there arose a king of Egypt who did not know Joseph.

The mounting slavery of the Hebrews is bitter. God raises up a new leader for new circumstances—Moses. He is saved at birth from an evil king, as was Jesus.

Moses’s name means “The One drawn from water.” He would be the one to lead God’s people through water, prefiguring the One who came from the water of Mary’s womb, the waters of the Jordan, and who let flow the saving water and blood from his open side. Spend time praising God for the wondrous intervention God makes in history.

I welcome your response to these daily Firestarters and Bible readings 
by placing a like or comment beneath the posts. Thank you!

Exodus 1—2

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Shemoth (Names)
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.
Exodus 1:1—6:1

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: When I’m down, You lift me up 1:12

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

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Abuse of the Innocent

Massacre of the Innocent by Leon Cogniet

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Matthew 2:13-23.

The readings for this week mingle marvelously with each other in Epiphany themes. Today, return to the Magi story, this time linking it with the tragedy in the reaction of Herod. Evil resists God outlandishly, always harming the innocent. Consider the children who are victims of abuse, murder, and genocide.

As we begin reading Exodus as the Sabbath readings about this time, Matthew sees Jesus as a New Moses who will lead us out of the bondage in the “Egypts” of our lives. God’s eternal plan is that we be free from all “Pharaohs” or “Herods” who scramble to protect their power by destroying ours.

Matthew 2

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Opening my gifts for You v. 11

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

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.