The Bible in Time...

Family of Abraham nccg.org via Pinterest 2024 Read the Bible in a Year January 6, 2024 Readings for Today: Genesis 15:1 - 17:27 Day 6 - Common Lineage Prayer: Creator God, We pray for our families no matter their situations, friends, neighbors, and those who are alone. For faith communities here and abroad, this nation and the world. For all who work and live for justice, freedom, and peace. For the just and proper use of your creation. For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression. For all of these and all the more you see that we need. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, from closing worship of the Episcopal Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, Portland, OR, December 2023 Background & Reflections: Contacts or covenants have become a means by which two parties come together and make a series of agreements to bind themselves to make something happen. In Genesis 15, God uses the standard format of a contract of the day so Abe understands th...

Sarah and Abraham Israel My Glory 2024 Read the Bible in a Year January 5, 2024 Readings for Today: Genesis 12:1 - 14:24 Day 5 - Promises Prayer: Creator God, Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which will have the potential to turn a life around. Make us bearers of this kindness all our days. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen By Leo Buscaglia as posted on Facebook’s Clergy Coaching Network posting. Background & Reflections: We find ourselves at the beginning of one of the greatest stories ever told … God coming to Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah to build a great blessing and the gift of land. God starts by asking Abram to go to a new place and promises blessing. God promises (Gen 12:1-3) that God will make him a great nation, make Abram’s name great, and this action will bless every family on earth. The second promise is that God will give Abram's descendants Canaan. The...

Read  Genesis 11:1-26, 1 Chronicles 1:24-27, Genesis 11:27-14:24 Background | With the life of Abram and Sarai, the Chronological Bible gives two dates - a traditional chronology and one that is more recently rendered by scholarship. All dates are approximate (good guesses). Dates of Reading | prior to and including | 2166 BC | 2000 BC Reading | Tower of Babel answers the question of why there are so many languages and people scattered around the planet - the writer points to the  arrogance  of humanity to make a name for themselves; linage for Shem to Abram (long lifed people); Abram married Sarai and Sarai was barren (at this time); God calls Abram to go to a new land; Abram and Sarai  escape  a famine and got to Eygpt and a bizarre story of Abram protecting himself and  retribution for sin; Abram and Lot separate; Abram the Hebrew get a report of an upcoming attack on Lot and he saves Lot; Abram tithes and is blessed by the priest/king ...