In this Christmas week, here is another installment of Pretend Bible Study, where we prayerfully read the Scriptures one chapter at a time.

Call to Worship:

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NET

Let us confess our sins to Almighty God:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

(BCP)

This is what the Word of God says:

“If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9 NET

Now let us ask the Lord to help us in the reading of a chapter of His Word:

Ever-speaking God,

Who spoke the world into being,

Who sustains it by Your all-powerful word,

Who breathed out the Scripture we approach today:

In coming to Your Word,

We come to You Yourself.

Open our eyes to behold You,

Our ears to hear the Good Shepherd ‘s voice,

Our hearts to love You,

And our wills to follow You

All the days of our lives,

In the name of Jesus the living Word.

Amen.

Let us listen together to this portion from God’s Word:

Luke 1, English Standard Version

[1] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

[5] In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

[8] Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. [11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, [17] and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

[18] And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. [20] And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

[34] And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

[35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. [36] And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For nothing will be impossible with God.” [38] And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

[46] And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

[48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

[50] And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

[51] He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

[52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

[54] He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

[55] as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

[56] And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” [61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. [64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

[67] And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

[68] “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has visited and redeemed his people

[69] and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David,

[70] as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

[71] that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

[72] to show the mercy promised to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant,

[73] the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

[74] that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him without fear,

[75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

[77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people

in the forgiveness of their sins,

[78] because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

[79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

[80] And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Continuing in our prayers for the day:

“Give me, O Lord,

a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;

give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out;

give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know thee, diligence to seek thee, wisdom to find thee,

and a faithfulness that may finally embrace thee.“

Thomas Aquinas

O you who are full of compassion, I commit and commend myself unto you, in whom I am, and live, and know. Be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of your wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God. Amen.

Augustine

Most merciful Father,

who draws near to the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds:

Who but You can heal a broken heart?

Comfort Your bruised and battered children;

Minister to their wounds

with the intimate companionship of Emmanuel,

God with us,

so that they might discover treasures

in the darkness of their heartache

which they could not have seen

in the sunshine of happier days.

Light of light, our Rescuer and Healer,

in You we ask this.

Amen.

Intercession

My Lord and my God,

This morning I offer you my thoughts, feelings, words, and actions;

My trials and my joys;

My desires and my disappointments;

My anxieties and my gratitude;

My loved ones,

My enemies,

And myself,

For Your glory and every good, loving design You have for us.

Please take anything the enemy intends for our harm,

Anything meant for evil toward us,

And transform it by weaving it together for glorious good not only to us but to many.

We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let us also pray specifically for government leaders:

O Most High God,

King of kings and Lord of lords,

Who rules the kingdom of humanity and gives it to whom You will:

All Your works are right and Your ways just;

The hearts of the greatest in power and wealth are like streams of water You turn where You wish;

In Your great mercy and steadfast love,

Guide and direct our governing authorities

So that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives,

Godly and dignified in every way;

Draw our leaders always nearer to Yourself,

That they might do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before You,

Until Your kingdom comes in fullness, on earth as it is in heaven,

In the mighty name of Jesus.

Amen.

Please join me in praying after the pattern the Lord Jesus taught His disciples, saying:

“Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors;

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:9-13 RSV

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

(Final phrase present in some manuscripts but not all; in the marginal note for RSV.)

In conclusion:

“‘The Lord bless you and protect you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’”

Numbers 6:24-26 NET

For Those Who Wish to Go Deeper in Today’s Passage:

The next step is to read or listen to the passage prayerfully, with an attentive, listening heart, at least 3 times. Reading from multiple translations may be helpful. Do read at least once in your heart language, if that is not English. Let it steep in your soul like tea leaves or ground coffee, until it begins to flavor your heart and mind.

Next, still in an attitude of prayer, bring the 5 W’s and H into your observation. Ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions from the text. If the answer isn’t in the text, you might make a note of the question for later in the process. Read it like a note from your first childhood crush. Slow down and really notice as many details as you can. See if you can record 25 observations. If that seems easy, try 25 more. Keep going until you get stuck. Then try again tomorrow. I still notice new details after 38+ years of daily Bible reading.

Here are a few specific suggested questions to help you begin:

· Who are the people in this historical account? List them. Also list the people referred to but not depicted.

· What does the text say about each person listed in the first answer?

· What does this chapter say about the triune God? What names are used for Him?

· What does this chapter say about humankind?

· What happened in this chapter? List the events in your own words.

· Where did these events occur?

· When did these events occur? Consider both the big-picture question of when in history they occurred and any small whens like “the next morning,” “in the evening,” “several days later,” and so forth.

· Are there any “why” statements? Look for marker words like “because,” “therefore,” “so that,” and “in order to.” Write down what you observe.

· If there are any “how” details in the chapter, write those down too. Some clue words include “by” and “with.” Adverbs, which give information about the action words (verbs) in a sentence, often end in “-ly” and may answer how questions.

· Look for repeated words and phrases. Mark each occurrence of them, using a different color or mark unique to each word or phrase. List everything the chapter says about each one. For example, mark every time you see “joy,” “rejoice,” “joyful,” “rejoicing,” and any other forms of “joy” you see. Then record what each mention tells you about joy.

Remember to stay in conversation with God throughout. Ask Him questions and look in the Bible for answers. Don’t forget that this is His Word, and study is one way we hear His voice. Linger in reflection and meditation on what you read and the details you observe. Thank God for His promises and what He reveals about Himself.

This concludes another installment of pretend Bible study, where we prayerfully read the Scriptures one chapter at a time, but it need not end your time alone with God. Blessed studying to you all. Until next time, courage, dear hearts.

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