Lectionary Ruminations for Sunday, September 18, 2011, the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Posted each Thursday, Lectionary Ruminations focuses on the Scripture Readings, taken from the New Revised Standard Version, for the following Sunday per the Revised Common Lectionary. Comments and questions are intended to encourage reflection for readers preparing to teach, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged. All lectionary links are to the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible via the PC(USA) Devotions and Readings website, but if you prefer another translation, feel free to use that instead. (Other references may be linked to the NRSV via the oremus Bible Browser.) Lectionary Ruminations is also cross-posted on my personal blog, Summit to Shore.
Exodus 16:2-15
v. 2 Why do many Pastor’s sometimes feel like Moses and Aaron? How do we complain and what do we complain about?

v. 3 What is a “fleshpot”?

v. 4 How is God sending bread to a hungry people a test? What exactly and specifically are God’s instructions?

v. 5 Why is twice as much gathered on the sixth day?

v. 6 What is so special about the evening?

v. 7 How will the people see the glory of the Lord in the morning? What is “the glory of the Lord”? What are Moses and Aaron?

v. 10 If the people were already in the wilderness, how could they look “toward” the wilderness? What and where is our wilderness?

v. 11 How shall eating meat and bread convince people that the Lord is their God?

v. 13 Have you ever eaten a quail? I have. They are delicious, but not very satisfying if you are particularly hungry.

v. 14 What is this fine flakey substance called?

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
v. 1 What is the LORD’s name? How can one call on the LORD’s name when one is not permitted to pronounce the name of the LORD?

v. 1-2 What are the LORD’s deeds and works?

v. 6 Why are offspring always the offspring of only men?

v. 38 Egypt was glad?

Philippians 1:21-30
v. 21 How can dying be gain?

vs 21-26 Is Paul really struggling, or is this just rhetoric?

v. 27 What is a life worthy of the gospel.

V.30 What is Paul’s struggle?

Matthew 20:1-16
v. 1 A kingdom parable.

v.8 The last shall be first and the first last – this is the only way this parable works.

v.9-10 How would The Tea Part handle these verses and this parable?

How does this parable preach with high unemployment in a fragile economy?

ADDENDUM
In addition to serving as the half time Designated Pastor of North Church Queens and writing Lectionary Ruminations, I also tutor part time. If you or someone you know needs a tutor, or if you would like to be a tutor, check out my WyzAnt page and follow the appropriate links.