Readings for October 2 2011

Grace and Peace to All,

First, the funeral for Paul Engel, who was a member of the Grey Eagle UMC, will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 28. Visitation will be on Tuesday, September 27, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Grey Eagle UMC and also one hour before the service on Wednesday. Please keep Pam and all their family in your prayers.

This coming Sunday is World Communion Sunday. Please invite a family member, friend, or enemy who is not involved with our church or any church to come with you. Churches that grow have members that invite others to share in their loving community of believers.

Our readings this week are:

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 – The people and Moses have reached the base of Mt. Sinai and Moses has gone up. Chapters 20-31 are all the laws that God gave Moses at that time. The end of 31 implies that ALL those laws were written on the two tablet stones. As for our readings this week you should probably read all the verses from 1 to 20. These are the Ten Commandments. 1 to 4 concern our love and worship of God and 5 to 10 concerns our love and respect of others. Pay special attention to #10. If you violate 10, that could easily lead you to violate 9, 8, 7, and 6. #5 comes with a blessing.

Psalm 19 – What is the theme of verses 1-6? What is the theme of verses 7-12? Does verse 13 seem out of place? Where have you heard verse 14?

Isaiah 5:1-7 – This “song” is more like a “parable”. Who is speaking? Who or what is the vineyard? Who is the planter of that vineyard? What did the vineyard produce? What will become of the vineyard? What was the ending explanation?

Psalm 80:7-15 – This psalm reflects the song of Isaiah 5. Who is speaking here?

Philippians 3:4b-14 – What has Paul given up to be an apostle? What is he striving for? In verse 8, the word translated as “rubbish” in my Bible is more like that word that describes farm animal waste. Where does Paul’s righteousness come from in verse 9? The answer is, in Greek, pisti Christi, or, in English, faith Christ. Most translations insert “in” in between for “faith in Christ.” But you could also put “of” there for “faith of Christ”. Does this make a difference for you? What is the goal that Paul strains for?

Matthew 21:33-46 – Another parable of the vineyard. Two Sunday’s ago we had the vineyard owner who hired many to work and some grumbled about the equal pay. This past Sunday was the parable of the father who asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. Without trying to assign parts to the various characters, who builds the vineyard and what is included? What does he do with the vineyard once it is completed? What happens to the servants? To the son? What is Jesus’ question and what is the answer by the priests? How might you imagine this parable applying to today’s life and Christianity?

Have a great week reading the Word of God!