Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 4:2 (New Living Translation) He taught them by telling many stories… This is how Jesus taught. He told many stories. When I was a child (many years ago, or was it yesterday? Sometimes I confuse the two), people read me Bible Stories. My father read me Bible Stories. My teacher (it was a Christian […]

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John 4:48 (New Living Translation) Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” Jesus is about to perform another miracle of healing. Some people wouldn’t believe unless they saw something that convinced them (just like us today). What do we need to see to believe? Do you remember […]

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1 Peter 3:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. Women should not wear fill-in-the-blank-with-your-favorites. […]

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—The Declaration of Independence The “founding fathers” of the United States of America declared their independence from the King of England […]

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2 Peter 3:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the […]

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2 Peter 2:19 (New Living Translation) They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. This is but one verse and one description in a chapter full of them. The persons described herein “know better.” They are surrounded by those who live for […]

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John 6:59-61 (New Living Translation) 59 He (Jesus) said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? […]

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Matthew 5:21-22 (New Living Translation) 21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being […]

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John 1:31-34 (New Living Translation) 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the […]

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John 20:13 (New Living Translation) “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” This is on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene finds an empty tomb. Jesus is gone. She doesn’t assume that Jesus […]

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