January 13, 2019, Lectionary

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God has called me by my name; I am precious in God's sight. God has called me by God's name; I was created for God's glory. Isaiah 43:1-7

I think Psalm 29 is one of the most eloquent of all calls to worship, praise, and glorify the Lord. The short, parallel phrasing builds momentum throughout and makes me want to shout it.

I think there is much about the Holy Spirit that today's church hardly begins to know. Lord, grant us whatever it is that we need. Acts 8:14-17

For Jesus, baptism and prayer were somehow triggers to greater reception of the Holy Spirit and new evidence of his identity. Luke 3:15-22

Thoughts about Listening

When I was young and sent by my mother into the dark basement on an errand, I wasn't so afraid if my mother would keep on answering my calls from her work station upstairs, as if she was right with me. Isaiah 43:1-7

Is there a voice so lovely to you that it calls you to listen, a voice that stirs your heart with love and adoration? Then bite your tongue and listen! Psalm 19

If I had magic powers or a superpower, I wonder how soon I would forget to listen to the stories of those who didn't have such power. Acts 8:14-17

I  need quiet time each day, listening to myself and others, to know and be confident of my identity and calling in the world. Luke 3:15-22

Bible Reading Group Study Guide

1.    Tell about a time when you took on an audacious goal and were excited about it.

2.    Read or listen to Isaiah 43:1-7. List the things through which God promises to protect. Study and discuss the use of the words “called” and “name,” their repetitions, their similarities and differences, and what these might mean to you.

3.    Read or listen to Psalm 29. Read this psalm aloud together, letting the building joy of the psalm carry you along to a resounding crescendo. Enjoy.

4.    Read or listen to Acts 8:14-17. Check the context and then describe together what you think is going on in this short reading. What do you think are the feelings of the characters?

5.    Read or listen to Luke 3:15-22. Why do you think Luke saved the story of Jesus’ baptism until the very end, after many verses about the beginning to end of John ministry, and then gave Jesus’ baptism only two verses (compare Matthew 3:13-17)? According to Luke, what was Jesus doing when the Holy Spirit came? What did the voice from heaven say? What is the purpose of that voice and saying at this point in Luke’s story? At this point in Jesus’ ministry?

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1.    Hable sobre un momento en el que asumió un objetivo audaz y le entusiasmó.

2.    Leer o escuchar Isaías 43: 1-7. Haga una lista de las cosas a través de las cuales Dios promete proteger. Estudie y discuta el uso de las palabras "llamado" y "nombre", sus repeticiones, sus similitudes y diferencias, y lo que esto podría significar para usted.

3.    Leer o escuchar el Salmo 29. Lean juntos este salmo en voz alta, dejando que la alegría de la construcción del salmo lo vaya guiando gradualmente. Disfrutar.

4.    Leer o escuchar Hechos 8: 14-17. Verifique el contexto y luego describan juntos lo que piensan que está pasando en esta breve lectura. ¿Cuáles cree que son los sentimientos de los personajes?

5.    Leer o escuchar Lucas 3: 15-22. ¿Por qué cree que Lucas salvó la historia del bautismo de Jesús hasta el final, después de muchos versículos sobre el principio al fin del ministerio de Juan, y luego le dio al bautismo de Jesús solo dos versículos (compare Mateo 3: 13-17)? Según Lucas, ¿qué estaba haciendo Jesús cuando vino el Espíritu Santo? ¿Qué dijo la voz del cielo? ¿Cuál es el propósito de esa voz y dicho en este punto de la historia de Lucas? ¿En este punto en el ministerio de Jesús?