By the Well

Dr Angela Sawyer joins us to explore the tender and powerful image of God in Isaiah 40, as well as the cosmic and personal hope the end of exile represents to Israel. We talk about suffering and the yearning for freedom and fulfilment in Israel’s foundational story, and how it informs and shapes ours (communally). In a few short phrases Mark 1 outlines the subversive character of Mark’s writing, and of Jesus’ message of ‘good news’. We note that everybody came to hear John talk about repentance: what is the peculiar task of preaching about repentance in the 21st century? We highlight some key Advent questions: for whom are we waiting and why?

We refer to Ched Myers’, Binding the Strong Man and Rick Morton’s One Hundred of Dirt.

The lectionary readings at the beginning of Advent invite us to ponder the inbreaking of God. What might it mean to live as watchful Christians, to raise our eyes above the fray and look for the presence of God in our world? We acknowledge that the cry for divine justice in Isaiah 64 is a cry of both lament and hope. It comes  from a colonised people and continues to echo in our current world. Mark 13 takes us into apocalyptic territory, inviting us to consider the coming of Jesus in power and glory with themes that look forward to the cross. 

We refer to Robert Alter’s Translation of the Hebrew Bible , Ched Myers’ Binding the Strong Man, and an education initiative (including Advent bibles studies) from St Mark the Evangelist: Illuminating Faith

The lectionary readings at the beginning of Advent invite us to ponder the inbreaking of God. What might it mean to live as watchful Christians, to raise our eyes above the fray and look for the presence of God in our world? We acknowledge that the cry for divine justice in Isaiah 64 is a cry of both lament and hope. It comes  from a colonised people and continues to echo in our current world. Mark 13 takes us into apocalyptic territory, inviting us to consider the coming of Jesus in power and glory with themes that look forward to the cross. 

We refer to Robert Alter’s Translation of the Hebrew Bible , Ched Myers’ Binding the Strong Man, and an education initiative (including Advent bibles studies) from St Mark the Evangelist: Illuminating Faith

On the last week of the lectionary year, Fran and Robyn delve into the way the reign of God is described in these readings. Ezekiel 34:11-24 imagines God as a shepherd who protects the sheep, unlike the priests Ezekiel condemns as having failed as leaders. Matthew presents the Son of Man as a judge who will separate humanity as a shepherd divides the sheep from goats on the basis of ethical or righteous behaviour. Both texts convey God as a “king” concerned for justice. The Psalm speaks of the joy of entering God’s presence - balancing the image of judgement in Matthew.

We mention this book by Meghan Henning:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Educating-Early-Christians-Through-Rhetoric/dp/3161529634

On the last week of the lectionary year, Fran and Robyn delve into the way the reign of God is described in these readings. Ezekiel 34:11-24 imagines God as a shepherd who protects the sheep, unlike the priests Ezekiel condemns as having failed as leaders. Matthew presents the Son of Man as a judge who will separate humanity as a shepherd divides the sheep from goats on the basis of ethical or righteous behaviour. Both texts convey God as a “king” concerned for justice. The Psalm speaks of the joy of entering God’s presence – balancing the image of judgement in Matthew.

We mention this book by Meghan Henning:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Educating-Early-Christians-Through-Rhetoric/dp/3161529634

This week is the only chance in the RCL to preach on the book of Judges, specifically on a section about Deborah, the only female of the 6 judges named. We are joined by Monica Melanchthon, who talks about the importance of preaching from Judges, both in spite of its difficult, violent themes, and because of them: much of the conflict in the world echoes the dynamics in the book. The persistent grace of God in recalling the Israelites despite their turning away is the repeated theological theme.  Monica redresses some traditional opinions of Deborah, which  have underplayed her intelligence and her influence. 

Psalm 123 is a psalm of Ascent, and Monica points to the potent image of ‘eyes’  which appears throughout, and which signify relationship with the divine. 

Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of the talents, and we talk about common misreadings that reduce the story to the moral plane. Are the talents gifts of the Holy Spirit given so the church may live in the ‘in between’ times? Is the parable about the risk and commitment at the heart of the faith?

This week is the only chance in the RCL to preach on the book of Judges, specifically on a section about Deborah, the only female of the 6 judges named. We are joined by Monica Melanchthon, who talks about the importance of preaching from Judges, both in spite of its difficult, violent themes, and because of them: much of the conflict in the world echoes the dynamics in the book. The persistent grace of God in recalling the Israelites despite their turning away is the repeated theological theme.  Monica redresses some traditional opinions of Deborah, which  have underplayed her intelligence and her influence. 

Psalm 123 is a psalm of Ascent, and Monica points to the potent image of ‘eyes’  which appears throughout, and which signify relationship with the divine. 

Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of the talents, and we talk about common misreadings that reduce the story to the moral plane. Are the talents gifts of the Holy Spirit given so the church may live in the ‘in between’ times? Is the parable about the risk and commitment at the heart of the faith?

This week preachers are invited to think about taking the opportunity to talk about resurrection and what happens at “the end” through the parable of the ten wedding attendants in Matthew (25:1-13), which is a way to talk about entrance into the future kingdom of heaven, or Paul’s assurance to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:13-18) that even the dead will be included in the resurrection. We combat some of the bad rapture theology often associated with this passage too.

Joshua 24 invites reflection on  how communities remember, recommit to God, and ritualise those commitments. The invitation to choose God in response to being chosen is a reminder of the radical grace of YHWH in these texts, yet the setting invites critique and naming of the problem of colonisation. 

We refer to this commentary by Craig Keener.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Gospel-Matthew-C-Keener/dp/0802864988

and to the Brazos Theological Commentary on Thessalonians 1 & 2 by Douglas Farrow

1 & 2 Thessalonians (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible)

This week preachers are invited to think about taking the opportunity to talk about resurrection and what happens at “the end” through the parable of the ten wedding attendants in Matthew (25:1-13), which is a way to talk about entrance into the future kingdom of heaven, or Paul’s assurance to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:13-18) that even the dead will be included in the resurrection. We combat some of the bad rapture theology often associated with this passage too.

Joshua 24 invites reflection on  how communities remember, recommit to God, and ritualise those commitments. The invitation to choose God in response to being chosen is a reminder of the radical grace of YHWH in these texts, yet the setting invites critique and naming of the problem of colonisation. 

We refer to this commentary by Craig Keener.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Gospel-Matthew-C-Keener/dp/0802864988

and to the Brazos Theological Commentary on Thessalonians 1 & 2 by Douglas Farrow

1 & 2 Thessalonians (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible)

Rev. Dr. Sunny Chen joins us for a conversation about the Greek words for love, resurrection promises, preaching for All Saints (All Souls) day, and Christian leadership. 

The All Saints readings discussed are: 1 John 3:1-3, Revelation 7:19-17, and Matt 5:1-12. Those following the regular Sunday passages can hear a discussion of the Matthew 23 passage in the second part of the episode. 

Hyperlink:  For those wanting to explore the Matthew 5 reading for All Saints day, please check out episode A111 with Sally Douglas. 

https://bythewell.com.au/a111-epiphany-4-matthew-51-12-the-beatitudes-with-sally-douglas/