Contemplative Bible Reading

Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Translation) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This is priest language. It is used to describe how priests would enter the temple to come near to God. They were special […]

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2 Peter 1:1b (New Living Translation) I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. This is a letter to those who share the same precious faith that the writer has. What […]

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Luke 15:31 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) Son, he said to him, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. This statement comes at the end of the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father is talking to the older brother. I have always stumbled through this parable. There is something or other […]

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Mark 2:27-28 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is rest. It is God’s gift to man—rest for the weary. Jesus came to take away the sins […]

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2 Timothy 2:22 (New Living Translation) …pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. I consider these tips or recommendations as opposed to commands. And I consider these to be pretty darn good tips. do what is right be faithful to Jesus Christ […]

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2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. God has given us a spirit of, let’s see: power love self-discipline Seems like an odd list. None of these things is not like the other or something like that. Perhaps […]

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Hebrews 1:1-2a (New Living Translation) Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son… In these two simple sentences, the writer notes how human history changed direction. For a few thousand years, God […]

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Romans 6:18 (New Living Translation) Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Followers of Christ are now slaves to righteous living. Uh, er, what? Freedom in Christ makes me a slave to something? Some explanation please? An attempt: as a “slave” to righteous living, righteous […]

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Luke 24:25 (English Standard Version) And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! What does it mean to be “slow of heart?” How can you make your heart go faster? How do you make yourself believe faster? No, I don’t have answers. Sometimes […]

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Luke 24:19 (New Living Translation) “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. This is a great, two-word opening to a sermon. What things? […]

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