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

In the Epiphany to the Magi, Jesus was accepted by foreigners and rejected by his own people. The same resistance occurs when Jesus returns to Nazareth. Likely, an over-familiarity with Jesus breeds a kind of contempt for him when the ministry begins. Jealousy, pride, and indignation rob the hometown people’s hearts from being able to listen. They refuse to rejoice at the Messiah coming from among them. Sense the freedom that Jesus has to “call it as it is.” You might reread the Old Testament stories alluded to by Jesus in 1 Kings 17:9 and 2 Kings 5.

Reflect upon yourself. Do you live according to others’ images of you, or of God’s? Conversely, is there someone in your life who finds it difficult to fulfill God’s plan because you lack faith in God’s vision for him or her?

Luke 4:21–30

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Examples: Jesus at home in my heart v. 23

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

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 Exodus 12:31-39.

The death of one’s first child—is there any pain greater for a parent? This plague brought Pharaoh to let God’s people go.

Rejoice in the reading, the paradigm of all freedom, the Exodus. Read about the importance of continuing its remembrance in the regulations given for the Passover. The use of unleavened bread—a tradition in Holy Communion—recalls that there was no time for the bread to rise. When the Lord says, “GO”, we must be ready.

God moved at night. Think of this as you drop off to sleep and end each day. “He who keeps you will not slumber” (Ps 121: 3). An observant male Jew ties leather cases on his head and left hand, which contain passages from the Torah. What can you do to never forget the obvious—that the blood of Jesus has set you free?

Exodus 12:29—13:16

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Bo (Come)
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 10:1—13:16

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Going where You’d have me go 12:41

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 Luke 5:17-26.

The scholarly word for a story in the Gospels is pericope. The word literally means a “cutting around.” Just as we take a newspaper article and clip it out, so do the evangelists stand before the immense possibilities of stories about Jesus and make their selections under the inspiration of the Spirit.

Today there are five of these pericopes—three miracle stories and two debates. I suggest that you take one for each of the quarter parts of the day and evening. Take a spiritual “coffee break” and launch out into the depths of the Spirit. Catch the openness of Peter, the joy of the leper, the inventiveness of the paralyzed man who went down the roof for Jesus. Are you as desperate as he is for your healing?

Ask the Holy Spirit to make your spiritual skin new so that you can receive the power of Jesus without breaking apart at the seams!

Luke 5

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Dropping my nets in the deep v. 4

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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.