Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 36:13-22.

One of God’s favorite actions is to defend his people against arrogant, bully enemies. Outlandish, blasphemous assertions come from the mouth of the representative of King Sennacherib of Assyria. In fact, they appear twice in the Bible, as Chapters 36 to 39 are almost identical to 2 Kings 18:17–20:19. The confidence, which godless Assyria has in their military power, prompts the representative to summarize his arrogance in the verse for today.

This verse was a challenge to the first listeners—and is one for you as you listen to the taunting question, and boldly live out its answer in your life. It might be similar to an unbeliever who might question your belief in the presence of Jesus by faith in Holy Communion. The answer to that question and to the one in the verse for the day is the same: “He said so: I believe him!”

Isaiah 36

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Isaiah 28 – 39.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Trusting in Your faithful love

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 Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel reading.

Jesus quotes from the first half of the Jewish Shema which pious Jews repeat twice daily (Deut. 6:4–5). After many questions on the part of the scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees, Jesus now takes the offensive. He presents a dilemma, forcing his listeners to face the question of how the Messiah would come to be. They are finally rendered speechless.

Life poses many questions about how, when or even whether God is intervening or not. There needs to come a moment when questions are silenced by the very presence of the Lord, perhaps by further questions, such as those posed to Job. God’s questions reduce Job to silence. They remind him about how incapable he is to dominate questions for which the Lord alone has answers.

Ponder these words of the song of Scott Wesley Brown: “When answers aren’t enough—there is Jesus.”

Matthew 22:34–46

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Surrendering to silence v. 46

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of 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.

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Genesis 15:1-6.

As though wrenching a prized object from a fire, Abram moves in to rescue his nephew, Lot, held captive. The tradition of tithing has its beginnings as Abram gives to Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils of war. The gift of Christ’s body and blood is anticipated in this King of Salem, King of “Peace,” as he brings out bread and wine to meet Abram. (In Chapter 17 v. 5 Abram is given the new name, Abraham.)

Chapter 15 is one of the great moments in Hebrew History. The Lord tells Abram that he will be the father of a people special to the Lord above all nations of the earth.

God acts when hopelessness sets in for Abram and Sarah, childless in their old age. The Lord acted then and is acting now in your life. May the light of God’s Spirit pass between what is separated and broken in your life and make it ablaze with the fire of God’s healing love.

Genesis 14—15

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Lech L’cha (Go Yourself).
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 12—17

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Lord my God, You are my shield. 15:1

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