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.
v. 1 How did early
Christians know the day of Pentecost had arrived when they had not yet been filled
with the Holy Spirit? Who are “they” and what does it mean (existentially and
theologically) that “they were all together
in one place”?
v. 2 Why were they sitting in
a house?
v. 3 What is a divided
tongue?
v. 4 Do you think some of
them spoke in other languages better than others?
v. 5 What is the difference
between a devout Jew and a Jew?
v. 6 When was the last time
you were bewildered?
v. 7 When was the last time
worship where you usually attend left you or anyone else amazed and astonished?
v. 10 What is the
difference between a Jew and a proselyte?
v. 11 What are God’s deeds of
power?
v. 12When was the last time
your sermon or Bible study amazed and perplexed anyone? I would settle for people
simply asking “What does this mean?”.
v. 13 What is the
difference between new wine and old wine? Can not both intoxicate?
v. 14 Why Peter?
vs. 17-21 Do you think Peter really said this, or are some
words being putin to his mouth at a later time?
v. 17 If God poured out the
Spirit on all flesh, sons as well as daughters, (both male and female slaves
inverse 18), then why does Peter address only “men” in verse 14?
v. 24 What works?
v. 26 All the ships are in
NYC this week for Fleet Week and OpSail 2012.
Is this Hobbes’ Leviathan?
v. 29 What does it mean for
God to hide the divine face?
v. 30 Does this verse alone
justify pairing this Psalm with the Acts passage and to read on Pentecost
Sunday?
v. 32 Earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions! Is it bad science, and bad theology, to associate natural
geologic phenomena with God?
v. 22 Who is “we”? Read this verse in light of Psalm 104:32.
Does this verse legitimize Christians speaking of “mother earth”?
v. 23 What does it mean to
groan inwardly?
v. 24-25 Is Paul making the
distinction between hope and truth? Faith and fact?
v. 26 Why do we not know
how to pray as we ought? Can prayer be
taught? Is there any comparison between “sighs
too deep for words” and glossolalia?
v. 27 Does this verse
suggest that the Spirit resides in individuals in the heart (rather than the mind)?
v. 26 Is the Fourth Gospel
the only New Testament writing to refer to the Spirit as the Advocate. How do you reconcile this verse with the
filioque clause of the Nicene Creed?
v. 7 Why can the Advocate
not come to believers until after Jesus leaves them?
v. 11 Who is “the ruler of this
world”?
v. 12 What else do you
think Jesus wanted to say that he did not say?
v. 13 Where does the Spirit
of Truth hear what he (or she?) speaks?
ADDENDUM
In addition to serving as
the half time 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.
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