Category: Daily Bible Reading Blog

A blog following the daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Acts 2:42-47

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”  Peter had preached a powerful sermon to his fellow Jews with the result that thousands converted to Christ.  But it did not end there.  These new Christ followers experienced new life in Jesus.  The description of this newness is clearly corporate and communal; not only personal and private.
 
            It is more than a growing trend today for many individuals to forsake meeting corporately together as a church.  They do not desire the politics and pettiness of church life.  I get it.  Church is often messy and sometimes a poor representation of Christ.  However, just as with love, if we cut ourselves off from relationships in order to avoid hurt and a broken heart, we, at the very same time, sever any chance at the joy and necessity of giving and receiving love.
 
            The early believers in Jesus devoted themselves to life together – a life with Jesus as his Body, the Church.  Worship at the Temple together, and gathering together in homes were the spiritual environment in which they thrived.  We would do well to emulate their example of reciprocal Christian living.
            Gracious God, thank you for sending your Son who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.  As I let others into my life, may our reciprocal relationships form us into your faithful followers through the organizing and energizing power of your Spirit.  Amen.

Mark 16:1-8

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
           “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  So asked the three women on Resurrection Sunday when they came to anoint Jesus’ dead body.  But they did not find a dead body.  He was not there – he was risen!
 
            I sometimes find myself asking the same kind of question that the women were asking each other.  Who will move this huge object (or objection!) to church revitalization?  How can I get to Jesus so that I can do something for him?  Who will take care of the immovable obstacles that stand in my way?  These are questions born more of a small faith and a limited understanding of God than of knowing his great power.
 
            The women were not expecting a risen Lord.  They did not anticipate that their question would end up being completely irrelevant.  Maybe as believers and lovers of Jesus we are asking the wrong kind of questions.  Perhaps we are not grasping what God’s power has already accomplished and/or what God already has up his sleeve.  It could just be that all we really need to realize is that God is going before us, clearing all impediments so that people can see and experience the risen Christ.  Methinks our expectations are far too low for a God who has the power and will to raise people from death. 
 
            The way has been opened to a new and vital relationship with the Lord Christ because the stone is rolled away and Jesus is alive.  We can now encounter and explore a fresh reality with Jesus as the Author and Pioneer of our faith.  We need only listen and follow him and leave the moving of big rocks to God.
            Mighty God, I not only recognize your power but trust in it for my entire life’s work and activity.  Help me to trust you so fully that I can be an eyewitness to your mighty works among your people.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

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            I had someone mention to me on Easter Sunday how much he enjoys Easter music and Easter cantatas.  He ended the conversation by saying it is too bad we only get to sing resurrection songs once a year.  Here is my proposal:  then don’t just sing them once a year.  In fact, we ought to be rejoicing in God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, in these next several weeks.
 
            All the hopes and expectations of Christians are realized in Christ’s resurrection.  The good news of Easter cannot be contained or limited to a single day (Easter Sunday).  This is why, according to the Christian Calendar, Easter is only the first of fifty days of celebration called “Eastertide” which leads up to the day of Pentecost.  Eastertide is a season designed especially for exploring the new life we have in Jesus and the joyful Christian life we can all experience.
 
            Spring is the time of year that can give shape to the rest of our seasons.  Christ’s resurrection gives us a reason to rejoice; to hope; to persevere; to serve gladly, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.  Easter is not over; it is just beginning.  Throwing parties for Jesus is in order.  Inviting friends and family into your home just to celebrate life in God will not only be fun, it will be biblical.  Maybe some people outside the church look at Christians as uptight and repressed because we are not throwing the best parties and celebrations. 
 
We have the highest reason possible to celebrate loudly with great passion and joy; to paint the town red; to whoop it up; to raise the roof; to splurge and be effusive with our worship; to hail King Jesus not just today but all through Eastertide because Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Thank you for giving me a reason to celebrate with joy my Lord’s resurrection.  May I be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit and give the best party in the neighborhood; through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

1 Peter 4:1-8

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            Today is Holy Saturday.  As we journey with Jesus, we contemplate his being put to death and lying in the grave.  If there is one thing that I continually emphasize as a pastor is that Christianity is not only a set of beliefs to hold onto, but a powerful way of life to lean into.  The Christian’s life ought to be deeply influenced by the crucifixion of Christ, more than just believing it is an historic event.  The cross means that we now have the ability and responsibility to put to death everything that is counter to God’s will.
 
            The Apostle Peter made this connection explicit in his epistle to a hurting and suffering church.  “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”  Peter moved effortlessly from Christ’s cross to our way of life.  And the height of that particular Christian way of living is through love: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
 
            The season of Lent and Holy Week will have accomplished its intended purpose if it results in the individual sinner putting to death his/her unloving and selfish passions and turning to the cross with its ultimate expression of love and godly commitment. 
 
            Bypassing the putting to death part of Christianity and anticipating the resurrection of Easter will only short-circuit the spiritual power that is available.  We cannot effectively live into the new life of Easter without first dying to ourselves and tapping into the power of the cross.  So, use this holy time before Sunday identifying the ways that are contrary to the Jesus life, and allow the proper time to lament of it so as to properly lean into the new way of unconditional love.
            Holy God, sometimes I care much more about the things of the flesh and of the world than I do the incredible spiritual realities that exist right in front of my face.  I grieve those things I have done, and the things I have left undone.  Yet, your mercy is eternal.  Allow the cross of Christ to infiltrate my soul so that I am ready to receive the new life of love you desire.  Amen.