This past week I have been reading The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight.  The book wrestles with the task of reading the Bible as God’s Story in which we listen to God and through which we understand our life today.

Lesson from March 1, 2009

Colossians 3:12-17

This passage continues the long section of exhortation that began in chapter 2, verse 6. There is a transition statement as Paul moves into this passage that is slightly different than the previous passages but continues the broad theme of calling on the Colossians to live up to their standing and status in Christ. Here he says, “As God’s chosen people, holy, and dearly loved ….” (v. 12). The other transition statements into previous units were at 2:6, 16, 20; and 3:1). Here Paul uses three words that his audience might have expected would be said about the Jewish people of his day, but he uses them in reference to Christians.

This week in the Men’s Bible study we are examining Mark 6 and we will look at the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Mark 6:32-45.  At the beginning of the year I attended our denomination’s MidWinter Conference in Chicago.  At the conference, Gary Haugen, President of the International Justice Mission, gave this humorous and powerful explanation of this awesome miracle. Enjoy!

 

In President Obama’s address to Congress this week, he told the story of a Miami banker who gave away $60 million dollars of his own money to employees.