Author Archives: Neil

Matthew 4: 1-11 The Temptation in the Wilderness

Posted on May 23, 2019

Matthew 4: 1-11 Parallel Mark 1: 12-13, Luke 4: 1-13 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was … Continue reading →

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Perspectives from the Past-Reflections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Writings in 1932-33

Posted on May 10, 2019

One of the gifts of reading more deeply into the lives and experiences of people in the past is the perspectives they can give us into our own time. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor during the critical time leading … Continue reading →

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Matthew 3: 13-17 The Baptism and Revelation of Jesus

Posted on May 9, 2019

Matthew 3: 13-17 Parallel Mark 1: 9-11, Luke 3: 21-22 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, … Continue reading →

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Matthew 3: 1-12 The Herald of the Kingdom of Heaven

Posted on May 2, 2019

Matthew 3: 1-12 Parallel Mark 1: 2-8, Luke 3: 1-17 1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of … Continue reading →

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Matthew 2: 13-23 Hearing Hope in Tragedy

Posted on April 29, 2019

Matthew 2: 13-23 13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell … Continue reading →

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Matthew 2: 1-12 Magi, the Creation and Scriptures Point to Jesus

Posted on April 24, 2019

Matthew 2:1-12 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For … Continue reading →

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A Brief Introduction to Herod the Great

Posted on April 23, 2019

The World Around Judea in the Time Before Herod After the Maccabean Revolt in 167-160 BCE the Judean people had a time of independence and were ruled by Hasmonean kings who were descendants of the Maccabees who are credited with, … Continue reading →

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