Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

Jesus presents three powerful teachings in six verses. In the first half, he admonishes us to confront with love a brother who is doing wrong against us. In verse 18, the Lord repeats what he said to Peter about the connection between heaven and earth in binding demons and loosening them from people. The last two verses celebrate the power of “two against one,” the one in question being Satan who comes against God’s people in sickness, disease, and strife. Praying in agreement with another brings the power of the witness of two against the one source of evil. While speaking about two, Jesus adds the third teaching, in verse 20, Where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them. also rendered as “gathered in my name.”

How does your life measure itself against these standards of the Lord?

Matthew 18:15–20

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Seeking to be reconciled v. 15ff

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.

As this last book of Moses begins to draw to a close, sense in your heart the tender longing of God for us to respond in love and fidelity to the covenant God is offering. These are powerful closing chapters, read in their entirety every year in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath.

Have your highlighter ready for 29:19. What consequences for not being faithful to the covenant!

One of my favorite passages in the whole Bible is 30:11–20. May you read it as though you are truly listening to this from the Lord as you and I, along with all God’s people assembled, “Choose life.”

It is the time of the beginning of the school year. Read this passage with your family as you rededicate yourselves to God’s ways. The Holy Spirit is the master-teacher of your soul.

Deuteronomy. 29:9—30:20

This passage occurs in all three years in the Jewish Sabbath readings.
Nitsabim (Stand)

This year the next portion is also read, Vayelech (And He Went)
Deuteronomy 31:1–30

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Lord, my God, You are my life. v. 20

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 Nick read the Firestarter.

This is a challenging chapter on the supreme values of the Kingdom. Three aspects are uplifted: fidelity in marriage, living as children, and the danger of riches. Only when one is living in the Kingdom, with the Lord as center of all choices and ways of life, does Jesus’ teaching on these three subjects make sense.

The world does not see things this way. Marriage is by convenience, “children are to be seen and not heard,” and riches of money and fame are treasured as absolutes.

What happens to you as you listen to these words of Jesus? Take an inventory of the “things” that you treasure the most. How do they fit with Jesus’values in this chapter? If there is sin, repent now for the Lord forgives you. Remember: only God can give fidelity to marriage and indifference to riches. When you respond to graces that make the impossible possible, you will be ready for the Kingdom riches in the last two verses.

Matthew 19

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: The first last, and the last first v. 30

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Matthew 8 to 18.

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.