Contemplative Bible Reading

Hebrews 5:14 (New Living Translation) 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Some of us can recognize the difference between right and wrong. Let’s consider this. Those folks are (1) mature, (2) have been trained, and (3) have skill. […]

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Ezekiel 18:32 (New Living Translation) 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! God is speaking to the people through the prophet Ezekiel. The people have a choice of life or death. God doesn’t want his created and cherished people to die. God doesn’t want me to die […]

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Exodus 3:7 (New Living Translation) 7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. This is part of the (hi)story of God bringing the people out of […]

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John 3:1-2 (New Living Translation) 1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us…” Let’s take these sentences apart: Nicodemus is an educated Jewish […]

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Exodus 3:1 (New Living Translation) One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro… These words begin the (hi)story of God bringing the people out of slavery in Egypt and into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It all started “one day.” It was just another day for Moses—once a prince […]

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John 2:1-2 (New Living Translation) 1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. One week ago I attended a wedding. One of my nieces married. It was fun. There was much […]

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1 Timothy 4:7 (New Living Translation) 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Paul is providing advice to a younger evangelist named Timothy. A few sentences earlier, Paul mentions how there will be people teaching things that are not from God but are […]

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Ezekiel 18:31 (New Living Translation) 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? There is a sermon in every phrase in this sentence. Let’s consider the second phrase and a new heart. “The heart” are the words […]

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Hebrews 9:13-14 (New Living Translation) 13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For […]

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Genesis 6:5 (New Living Translation) 5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. What a world. Can you imagine such a place with such an extent of human wickedness? Everything thought or imagined was evil. We are […]

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