Readings for Sunday, October 9 and 16, 2011

Grace and Peace from Christ,

Since I will be on vacation from this Friday, October 7, through Wednesday, October 12, I am giving you the Biblical texts for two Sundays.

For Sunday, October 9:

Exodus 32:1-14 – What do the people of Israel do when Moses is delayed on Mt. Sinai? What does Aaron build (2 things) and what does he declare? What does the Lord tell Moses? How does Moses respond? Based on what Moses said, why do you think God changed his mind?

Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 – What do verses 1-5 declare? Verse 6? Verses 19-23 recounts the sin of Israel at Mt. Horeb (another name of Mt. Sinai).

Isaiah 25:1-9 – The image of a feast is related to the wedding banquet in Matthew. What has God done in for the poor and needy in verses 4 and 5? What will God make upon the mountain (vs. 6)? What will God destroy while on the mountain (vs. 7-8)? What will be said on that day about God (vs. 9)?

Psalm 23 – Some think that two small psalms were brought together in Psalm 23: the psalm of the shepherd (vs. 1-4) and the psalm of the banquet (vs. 5-6). Which part of this psalm relates to Isaiah and Matthew this week?

Philippians 4:1-9 – Whenever you see the word “therefore” look to the preceding verses for what was said that led up to it. In this case read 3:17-21. What does Paul want the people to do? Who are Euodia and Syntyche and what did they do with Paul? What are the people to do in verses 4-9 (I counted at least 5 things but you could count more)?

Matthew 22:1-14 – Who is Jesus speaking to (see 21:23)? What does the man, the king, prepare for his son? Who does he invite? What are the excuses for not coming? What happens to the second group of messengers? What is the king’s response? Who then gets invited? At the party, why is one man chastised? What becomes of him? What is the message of the parable for you? Can you think of a second way of understanding this parable? A third?

For Sunday, October 16:

Exodus 33:12-23 – What does Moses ask God to do for the people of Israel? What is God’s response? What does Moses ask God to do for himself? What will God show Moses?

Psalm 99 – Who is the Lord? What has the Lord done for his people? What should the people do?

Isaiah 45:1-7 – Who is God speaking to through the prophet Isaiah (vs. 1)? Why (vs. 4)? How do you understand verse 5-6?

Psalm 96:1-13 – This is the entire psalm. What are we to do in verses 1-3? Why (vs. 4-6)? What are we to ascribe to the Lord (vs. 7-8)? Beside people, what are the other things that should rejoice (vs. 11-12)? Why (vs. 13)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 – What does Paul and his companions always do? How did the gospel come to the people of Thessalonica? What did the people become (vs. 6)? What do other people say about the Thessalonians? Why?

Matthew 22:15-22 – In the past three readings we had three parables given by Jesus in response to the question of authority. Next comes three questions designed to trap Jesus although we read only the first this week and the third next week. What is the first question? What do the Pharisees and Herodians say to and about Jesus leading up to the question? Why is this question a trap? What is Jesus’ response and question to them? The second question is found in verses 23-33 and is posed by the Sadducees.

Have a great two weeks reading the Word of God.