Category: BIble study notes

Reading through the Bible in a year

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I’m encouraging my church to join in reading through the Scriptures together in 2013 – here is part of what I have suggested as an aide.

“Just a couple of tips – if you miss a day, do not worry, or try to catch up, this will just turn it into a chore! Start again with the reading set for the day. And if something grabs your attention, then stop, turn to God in prayer or praise or lament or in whatever way seems appropriate.

This scheme will take you through the whole Bible in a year and twice through some parts. It is adapted from a scheme supplied by the Christian Medical Fellowship and includes a reading from the Old and New Testament everyday as well as a reading from the Psalms, the prayer book of God’s people down through the ages.

Yes there are parts of the Scriptures which may seem arid (having OT and NT readings will help in this regard), but not all of life is through well watered places 🙂 )
Perhaps you might like to keep a small journal of those things that seem Significant to you as a memorial of the way you have made your was as a Pilgrim through the Scriptures this year?”

As someone said to me recently – it is surely better to memorize one chapter of scripture than to read it all through and never take any in.  “What profiteth it a man . . .”

Hope that helps!

Through the Bible in a Year – January 1

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Genesis 1-2; John 1; Psalm 1-2

Our opening readings are about ‘Beginnings’, so very appropriate for today, and So very appropriate they are. For they set the foundation for everything that is to come, and indeed encourage us to open our eyes to all that Is.

John opens his gospel deliberately to announce the New Creation that is in Christ, or perhaps better, that Christ is the fulfillment of the ancient Genesis text. ‘All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being’ [NRSV]
A reminder for us that New Life in Christ is All encompassing.

These things are literally ‘too wonderful for us’. There are only two ways we can respond truthfully to this Glory. Initially we Must give up on trying to ‘get our head round these words – then either despair, or turn to God in trust. We can either flee from that which comes to us, or choose rather to stay put – to sink our roots into the bank of the streams of life giving water, these Deep Origins which are all at once past, present and future. Meditate on this Word. Allow it to come to birth in us . . . and so develop a hunger for more.

Psalm 1 sets our heart straight, that we might receive life. It is the necessary precursor to all Scriptural reading. We Pray – then we Read – then we Meditate on our reading, and then it brings forth the fruit of praise

Bible Study notes for All Saints Sunday, 2012 – Year B

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Bible Study Notes for Sunday November 4th

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

Psalm 24

Revelation 21:1-6

John 11:32-44

The first reading comes from what we in the Western tradition call ‘The Apocrypha’. The church in the West does not have the high regard for these writings that the Orthodox church has, perhaps to our loss? Certainly these scriptures contain wonderful treasure and reading them throws light on some of the more elusive passages in the New Testament.

For the benefit of those whose Bibles do not contain these writings, here is the Wisdom of Solomon text for Sunday

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and no torment will ever touch them.

2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,

and their departure was thought to be a disaster,

3 and their going from us to be their destruction;

but they are at peace.

4 For though in the sight of others they were punished,

their hope is full of immortality.

5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,

because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

6 like gold in the furnace he tried them,

and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.

7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,

and will run like sparks through the stubble.

8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples,

and the Lord will reign over them for ever.

9 Those who trust in him will understand truth,

and the faithful will abide with him in love,

because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,

and he watches over his elect.

The texts this week are for the feast of All Saints. A day in the churches calendar which has a double apprehension – we consider those who have gone before and now dwell in the presence of God, gazing upon his face (Psalm 24:6), and in that light also consider that we who by virtue of our baptism have been brought form death to life are also ‘called to be saints’ (Romans 1:7)

That feature of gazing upon the face of God, finds a parallel in our lives as we engage in the Spiritual Discipline of Contemplation. We tend to understand contemplation from our side – that we are the ones as it were gazing upon God with the eye of our heart (Matthew 5:8), but the deepest form of contemplation in practice comes about with the understanding that we dwell under the loving gaze of God. [This is one special reason why ikons are so important]

Take time this week to contemplate the word. Read the passages set – Meditate on the word [think about what you hear, what catches your attention, what God is saying to you] – pray in response to what you are shown – Rest in the loving Gaze of God. [This is the fourfold pattern of meditative reading we know as Lectio Divina: Lectio; Meditatio; Oratio; Contemplatio]

All the readings are immeasurably rich and deep, and here we are reminded (as we should be All the time), that we do not study the Scriptures as we would study any other book – we do not ‘murder to dissect’ in the memorable phrase of William Wordsworth (a constant tendency in our technological culture, and all too often in church)[1]. Rather we study as one should enjoy a fine meal with company – savouring, receiving, paying attention to what we are being given in so many different dimensions.

If you are meeting in a group – share some of what you are given from our readings

Here are some brief questions to ponder

  1. From the Wisdom of Solomon – briefly read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 : the reading uses similar imagery (we remember from our recent readings in Hebrews that Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered[2]) –
    1. Suffering is part and parcel of life. How might we use that which comes to us as a means of Grace?
    2. What promises does the scripture hold for those who learn from such discipline? (vs 7-9)
    3. How important has Spiritual growth and formation been in our own lives? Do we pay it sufficient attention in the church?
    4. Think once more about Bartimaeus last week – do we also ‘Want to See?’ – do we want to see Jesus? What is the place of such discipline in learning to See?
    5. Through the ages the church has taught the significance of ascetic practices. By and large these have fallen out of favour in a culture where ‘we have all we need’. Fasting has traditionally been seen as a necessary discipline for spiritual growth. In the light of our reading and our thoughts thus far, what role might it have to play in sharpening our appetite for God?
  2. From the Revelation of St John
    1. The gift of the life of heaven is to the thirsty – see John 7:37-8. Discuss
    2. How does this make sense of Jesus’ words ‘Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you’?
  3. From the gospel
    1. First re read and sit in silence before what has happened
    2. We live in an age which refuses to pay any attention to the Fact of death. Jesus is not interested in ‘keeping us from dying’ vs 37 – Discuss
    3. Why is Jesus not interested in keeping us from dying?

[1] Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;

 Our meddling intellect

 Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:–

 We murder to dissect.  From ‘The Tables Turned’, by William Wordsworth. (I was first apprehended of this phrase in a lecture by Eugene Peterson)

[2] Hebrews 5:8

Bible Study Notes Sunday October 21st – 2012

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Bible Study notes for Sunday 21st October, 2012

Job 38:1-7, 34-41

Hebrews 5:1-10

Mark 10:35-45

  1. The Reading from Job is the beginning of God’s ‘answer’ to Job’s complaint
    1. How does its general tenor strike you? What is the thrust of the ‘answer’?
    2. We recall that when Job’s friends first came to him, they sat silently for seven days and seven nights. ‘In the light of God’s response to Job, this was the wisest thing they did’ – Discuss
    3. God’s rebuke of Job is not exactly Pastoral (!!), yet actually God has done precisely what Job asked of him – appeared and responded to him. ‘Be careful what you ask for!’ might well seem to be the ‘Truth’ we learn in this passage and in this week’s gospel. ‘We are too sure of ourselves in our dealings with God’ – Discuss
    4. When we ask something of God, are we ready to hear his answer?
    5. The Scriptures do not have much time for those who are ‘wise in their own eyes’ (Isaiah 5:21, Proverbs 3:7, 26:12 – indeed this is at the heart of much of Jesus’ rebuke of his opponents).
      1. God’s answer to Job is that he lacks true understanding. Are we too ready to rush to answers – are we wise in our own eyes?
      2. We live in an age when seemingly we know everything, except that which is most important. Like the young ruler from last week we need to leave our understanding behind if we are to find Life. Discuss

iii. The church is going through a time when everything we once held dear is being taken away. What does God’s response to Job, who lost Everything, have to say to us?

  1. Our reading from Hebrews carries on one of the central themes of the letter – -Christ the Great High Priest. It is worth re-reading 4:15-16 as background before considering the passage
    1. Read through the passage – in what ways is Jesus like a high priest in the order of Aaron? In what way/s different?
    2. Reading 4:15 – we recognise that Jesus was like us in every way, but without sin. In this light, what do you think 5:8-9 mean?
    3. Read Philippians 2:1-8 – does this throw any light on this?
    4. One theme of the NEw Testament is that our bodies can get in the way of following Jesus. If you try to get out of bed early in the morning to pray you will know Exactly what I am talking about 🙂
      1. We do not take this bodily aspect of our faith with due seriousness – Discuss
      2. The suffering referred to in Hebrews 5:9 is the necessary suffering of a body being trained in faith (1 Corinthians 9:27). Fasting is an ancient discipline – a means of training the body which requires a degree of suffering. Is there a sense in which suffering must be embraced if we are to grow in faith and holiness?

iii. Does this make any sense with regard to ‘learning obedience through suffering’?

iv. The writer to the Hebrews doesn’t pull any punches re his audience (5:11-end) what do we make of his words? How far do we go to try and understand the Scriptures?

  1. High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. We met this phrase earlier in the year in our lectionary. Do we remember anything about Melchizedek and what this means? (Read Genesis 14:18-21) [1]
  2. Finally to the Gospel
    1. James and John’s request to Jesus is just like our approach to prayer – Discuss!
    2. In the light of the Job passage, why might this be thought a somewhat foolish way to pray?
    3. There is a difference in this regard from our day to day prayers and prayers ‘in extremis’ – Discuss
    4. Be careful for what you ask! Discuss how James and John’s request and Jesus’ answer to their prayer exemplify this
    5. Reflect again on God’s answer to Job. The gospel reading reminds us that in following Christ we are caught up in something we do not fully understand. The Spirit of the age of modernity with its emphasis on control and right techniques has made Christian faith, following this Strange God profoundly counter cultural – Discuss
    6. Read Jesus’ word to his disciples vs 42-end. Jesus does not do away with heirarchy – he turns it upside down. Discuss

[1] The writer to the Hebrews is setting up a second contrast with the Priesthood of Aaron. This Priesthood is one of bread and wine! He is a

Bible study notes for Sunday 30th September, 2012

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Bible Study notes for Sunday September 30th, 2012

Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22

James 5:13-20

Mark 9:38-50

Take time to read through the three portions of Scripture. Share with one another first impressions. What strikes you from one or other of the texts? What puzzles you? How do they make you feel?

1. The Old Testament lesson is from the Book of Esther. A beautiful story of a courageous woman and how she is instrumental in the salvation of her people[1].

The story finds God’s people in tremendous peril through the treachery of Haman, someone who hates them. In response to their deliverance they celebrated with a great festival and it became an annual remembrance [The feast of Purim]. Each week we give thanks for a Great redemption in the Eucharist. Read the portion of Chapter 9 set. What are the elements of the Celebration? How much do we have a similar sense of celebration at the Eucharist?

2.  Turning to the Epistle to James – Read verses 13-14 again.

a.  People in three different conditions are mentioned: the suffering; the cheerful; and the sick. What links their responses to their different conditions?

b.  When we are sick, how do we respond? What are the prescribed elements of the response here (there are three)? How does this contrast with our response?

a.  In professionalising ministry to the sick, the medical profession, have we ruptured a good practise of faith, that we first turn to the Lord in the person of the elders of the church?

b.  What is the significance of calling for the elders (as opposed to ‘hoping they will somehow find out’; or not calling them at all)

c.  In what sense is calling for the elders actually the exercise of faith?

c.  Read vs 15, 16.

a.  Verse 15 – what strikes you when you read this verse? Do we see or understand sickness as in some sense connected to sin?

b.  Verse 16 suggests there might be some connection – perhaps not at the level of committing sins makes you ill, but more that as I have several times suggested, sin fractures the fabric of the world – sin ruptures things and often in ways we cannot see. Combining confession with prayer for healing understands the individual in a much richer context – that our lives and actions are all caught up together – Discuss

c.  This is further suggested in the command ‘confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another’. The repetition of ‘one another’ suggests a deeper social fabric is in play. When we think of faith and life – do we primarily inderstand them as individual [my faith]? If so are we impoverished, missing out on something which God would show us and so deepen our understanding of faith and Reality?

d.  We are told of the power of prayer in vs 17-18, but its context is very much communal. Most of the teaching on prayer in the Scriptures is that of communal prayer. Again, do we elevate our personal prayers over the prayers of the whole church?

e.  Speak to one another of your experiences of praying together. What have you found in such times?

f.    Vs 19-20 speak of a mutual accountability for our lives – of ‘watching over one another in love’ (see Matthew 18:15-18) What do we understand by ‘mutual accountability’ in terms of our faith. How significant does James think it? (vs 20) What might we do to grow in such accountability?

3.  Finally the gospel – the texts as you might have noticed in some respect are getting more challenging 🙂

a.  Note that these most ‘challenging’ words once more come from the lips of Jesus. Reading Verses 42-48 – do they throw any further light on the significance of mutual accountability?

b.  John says they tried to stop someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name. HOw does Jesus response to John lead into verse 42 and ‘putting stumbling blocks’ before little ones

c.  Who are ‘these little ones who believe in me?’ Q. How might we damage ‘simple faith’ in another?[2]

d.  Jesus seems to see faith as something that we enter into – not an understanding as such but a way of confronting reality – casting out demons in his name / giving a believer a glass of water because they bear the name of Jesus. Put another way, faith here is shown to be entering into a life of association with Jesus. In what ways might we also further enter into association with him? How might we encourage others to do so?

e.  Jesus then shows the terrible consequences for those who try in any sense to prevent this – and indeed the seriousness of ‘stumbling’. What is our response to this teaching?How well do our lives reflect the seriousness of matters of faith expressed in these verses?

f.    V49 is one of the most difficult in Scripture to understand ‘For everyone will be salted with fire’ The best suggestion is perhaps that it is a direct translation of a Hebrew figure of speech which had the meaning of things being destroyed by fire, which would of course follow on from the previous verse about hell, that all that ends up there is ‘salted’ (destroyed) by fire. [3]Jesus then changes the metaphor to one about having Salt in ourselves. What does this mean?? (cf Matthew 5:13)

[1] Interestingly it is the only book in Scripture in which God is not mentioned

[2] Romans Chapter 14 may be of some interest here – especially in the way it is declared wrong to cast doubt upon the action of another – if another is caused to doubt the rightness of a particular action (in this case eating food sacrificed to idols, and they eat with doubt in their mind, that is seen as sinful, not eating ‘believing – ‘All that does not come from faith is sin.’ This example is a good one which shows that believing is a stance of life towards things, as much if not more than a set of beliefs held. This is what lies behind the expression ‘putting stumbling blocks’ before little ones if we take the Mark passage as a whole

[3] [Hebrew does not have nearly as many words as Greek and far far less than English – so a word not only encompasses a spectrum of meaning but may indeed have two meanings. The word for salt is the same as a word for destroy in Hebrew]