January 7, 2010

Texts:
Proverbs 3 and 4
1 Timothy 4

Timothy
This passage was interesting to me when considering the issue of gay marriage. What do you think?
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ²through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. ³They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

A Good Minister of Jesus Christ

6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales."

January 6, 2010

Texts:
Proverbs 1 and 2
Psalm 89

January 5, 2010

Texts:
Job 41 and 42
1 Timothy 3

Timothy--
This chapter is evidence of a later writing for this letter. When Paul was writing his letters, the story of Christianity was still new--people were meeting in homes. But this chapter about bishops and deacons shows that the church has now become an institution--whether or not they have a sanctuary and a fellowship hall, they have officers of the church.

January 4, 2010

Texts:
Job 39 and 40
1 Timothy 2

Timothy
Is this my least favorite chapter in scripture? Possibly. But thankfully, for me, I can read this chapter from the pulpit, unlike the generations of women before me who were blocked from the pulpit because of these verses. Regardless of what I think of the chapter, however, it is still God's word to me, somehow. And through this voice telling women to be quiet and to stop braiding their hair, I catch a glimpse of the women from that community of faith long ago who must have been proclaiming the gospel with braided hair and expensive clothes. Why else would the author tell women to be silent? So maybe that is God's word to me here. Women have been responding to the Good News from the beginning. I'm just one of many in a long line.

January 3, 2010

Texts:
Job 37 and 38
1 Timothy 1

January 2, 2010

Texts:
Job 35-36
Psalm 88

January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!
Texts:
Job 33-34
2 Thessalonians 3