This week we discuss the dialogue between Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria. In contrast to Nicodemus, this woman continues to engage with Jesus and her faith gradually awakens as Jesus leads her in the dialogue. As a result she “bore witness” to the people of her town and they responded with faith in Jesus as the “Savior of the world.” We discuss the ways in which the Reformers tried to read this narrative within their framework of what was appropriate for women. Finally, we discuss the issue of the freedom of women to serve in the church.

This week we take an in-depth look at John 3:1-21, examining the text in light of the themes in John's Gospel, the way in which the Reformers interpreted them, and how we can read this passage in light of a theology of grace today.

This week we talk about Matthew’s version of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. We see that Matthew uses this passage to make some pretty remarkable claims about Jesus; particularly that because Jesus truly “fulfilled all righteousness,” after his death and resurrection “all authority in heaven and on earth” was given to him by God. We also take a look at how Calvin tried to move away from the complete dualism surrounding the notion of a “devil” in the Medieval era, but is still influenced by it. Finally, we discuss how to deal with this passage today without giving too much credit to a “devil,” which only creates fear.

This week we deal with Matthew’s version of the transfiguration of Jesus, in which Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s purposes, the confirmation of Jesus’ identity as “Son of God,” and the assurance that Jesus is the one who mediates the presence of God. We also discuss the themes in the Reformers, including an emphasis on the person on Christ and the authority of God. Finally, we discuss ways to help people find confirmation of their faith today.

This week we discuss the specifics of the “greater righteousness” that Jesus outlines in the “Sermon on the Mount,” including Jesus’ interpretation of the command against killing, against adultery, and against false oaths. In each case, Jesus addresses the intention of the command, summed up in the “golden rule”: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets" (Mt 7:12). We take a deeper dive into the issue of marriage, adultery, and divorce with the Reformers. Finally, we discuss applications of the “greater righteousness” today.

This week we take a look at a second “introduction” to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls his disciples to demonstrate the new quality of their lives in the kingdom of God, a quality of life that we are going to find fulfills the “law and the prophets” through love for God and love for others that even includes enemies. We discuss several themes from the Reformers, especially their emphasis on the Ten Commandments as the summary of the Law. Finally, we talk about ways to connect these themes with our lives today.

This week we discuss the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, which not only play a significant role introducing the Sermon on the Mount, but also they serve to fill out the meaning of the “blessings” of God’s kingdom. We also discuss the Reformers’ interpretation of the passage, especially Calvin’s perspective that the “blessedness” of the kingdom combines with the kingdom’s ethical demands. We come back to recognize that the message of grace in the kingdom is combined with the ethical demands that will be developed in the Sermon on the Mount, but the focus is on grace.

This week we discuss Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, focusing on the kingdom of Heaven and the mission to the Gentiles. We also discuss the Reformers’ views on this passage, particularly on the need for training for ministry. We conclude by talking about how this relates to “calling” in the 21st Century church.

This week we discuss the various titles used for Jesus in John's Gospel in light of Jesus' self-references and in light of the setting for the Fourth Gospel. We also discuss the influence of Erasmus on our reading of John's Gospel, and how we can reclaim some of these titles for Jesus today.

This week we talk about Matthew’s account of the visit of the “wise men.” In it, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of David because he was born in Bethlehem, as the Scripture indicated. Matthew also portrays the “wise men” as the first of the gentiles who will come to acknowledge Jesus, pointing toward the mission to the gentiles. The Reformers had varied opinions about this text, but especially Calvin focused on Matthew’s emphases. We conclude by discussing how to preach this text despite the historical and scientific challenges.