Lectionary Ruminations: Scripture for Worship on March 15, 2009

Here are the passages for March 15th, 2009, the Third Sunday in Lent (Year B). All links are to the TNIV via BibleGateway.com, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead (either with your own Bible, or via the drop-down menu at BibleGateway.com).

Exodus 20:1-17

• Most Christians will readily recognize these as the Ten Commandments. Out of all the things God could require God's people to obey, why are these items singled out? Why not other laws?
  

Psalm 19:1-14

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

• A popular Christian song of the 1990's called Christ's death on the cross "such a strange way to save the world." Why should God use such an inscrutable means of salvation, that others would see it as foolishness? If God wishes to save all of humanity, why not use a method that would be more readily recognized?
  

John 2:13-22

• If Jesus got so upset at the things being sold at the Jewish temple, how might he react to some of the commerce that takes place around our churches, or otherwise attached to various Christian ministries? Are certain things appropriate, while others aren't? How are we to know?
• This is one of those passages that comes right out and says that an action taken by Jesus before his death and resurrection took on newly understood meaning after the resurrection. What Scripture is being referred to in verse 22, that the disciples now understood?