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

Sense the struggle between flesh and spirit. Flesh is power, dominance, control; spirit is surrender, love, service, and strength in weakness. Flesh is bound to law; the spirit is freed by love. Surpassing doctrines and systems, law and love is now a person. It is only by assimilation into that person of Christ that keeping the law has any validity and energy.

Jesus said at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me.” The “this” to which he is referring is Communion, the sacramental gesture of sharing in the death of Christ and a sign of our own willingness to die for one another.

This fulfills the new commandment to love one another as Jesus loved us.

What do you think became of those who once were disciples of Jesus, and then no longer?

John 6:56–69

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: “Eat this bread; live forever.” v. 58

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 9:4-12.

God’s people are on the verge of entering the land promised them by the Lord. Moses reminds them that this is not a reward for their good behavior, but rather is due to God’s goodness and the wickedness of the original inhabitants. The Lord is faithful to the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even when the people have disobeyed and rebelled.

Moses tells the story of the breaking of the tablets of the Ten Commandments to the first generation after it happened, and to us, countless generations afterward. The message is still the same: our ancestors were rebels; we must not be. We are no different from our ancestors, but for the grace of God.

Deuteronomy 9:4—10:11

 This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Ekeb (Reward)
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 7:12—11:25

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…
There go I, but grace of God. 9:4ff

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 Mark 9:14-29.

The question is not: “Does God wish to heal?” but rather, “Is discouragement, anger, or lack of faith getting in the way of the healing and salvation God wants for others and for me?” May any stoniness of heart in us become flesh alive with God’s desire for healing and wholeness for every person.

Seek settings of faith. The gathering of a small community of those who believe and intercede becomes the vehicle for the Lord’s saving acts to flow. Fasting means that the only input is the Word of the Lord, God’s grace, and the power of divine healing; the only output is prayer. Prayer and fasting prepare the heart to receive God’s grace coming as a laser with God’s healing response.

Mark 9:14–32

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: I believe; help unbelief. v. 24

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 4 to 9.

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.