Exodus on Holidays

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The Three Annual Festivals in Israel

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 16:11, 14, Exodus 12:24–27 , 2 Chronicles 30:21–23, Acts 2:1–4, 42–47, Luke 15:22–24 , Psalm 100:1–2

There were three annual festivals in Israel—Passover along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles. You can read about them in Leviticus 23 and...

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The Meaning of Rituals

Author

JR Woodward

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 12:14, Exodus 13:8-9, Joshua 4:6-7, Acts 2:42, Joel 2:15-16

Rituals are procedures or routines that are fused with meaning. Ritual actions include various rites of passage (birth, marriage, death) or calendrical rites (religious holy days, national holidays), ...

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Various Types of Invitations that Keep us from the Kingdom Banquet

Author

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 18:13-24 , Nehemiah 6:1-4, Ruth 1:16-17 , Matthew 6:24, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 127:1-2, Luke 14:16-23

Jesus’ parable [of the banquet in Luke 14:16-23] makes it clear that there are business and career invitations . Some people had real estate that demanded attention, and others had invested in ox...

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The Darkness of Epiphany: Herod’s Murdering of the Innocents

Author

Fleming Rutledge

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 1:15-22, Jeremiah 31:15, Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:1-18 , Revelation 12:1-6, Psalm 10:17-18

Presentations of the Matthean narrative that have had such an illustrious life in art and imagination are not complete without the disturbing involvement of Herod and the political killings that resul...

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Author

O.P. Kretzmann

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:6-7, Philippians 2:6-8, Isaiah 53:2-3, Micah 5:2, Exodus 2:1-10, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Revelation 21:3-4

One of our troubles, is that we have romanticized and sentimentalized the stable and the manger…We see them through the warm glow of our comfortable homes, our candles and our well-fed bodies....Perha...

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Defining Epiphany: A Manifestation

Author

Fleming Rutledge

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 42:1-9 , Exodus 4:1-17, 1 Kings 18:20-39 , Matthew 3:13-17, John 2:1-11, Psalm 72:18-19

Epiphaneia in New Testament Greek means manifestation. An effective method of teaching the content of the faith, not often enough used, is to instruct congregations in the texts of the seasonal hym...

liturgy

Blessings and Peace from Lord

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 118:26, Isaiah 25:6-9, Exodus 12:, Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 28:18-20

Pastor: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, heavenly Father, that You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son’s body and blood. Send us now, we pray, to invite...

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Author

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Keywords

Scripture

Leviticus 23:, Exodus 15:1-21, Nehemiah 8:9-12, Luke 15:22-24, John 2:1-11, Psalm 100:1-2

People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To b...

blog

Blowing Through Stop Signs: Why Keeping the Sabbath Is So Important

Author

Dan Baumgartner

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 20:null, Deuteronomy 5:null

Ignoring God's Stop Sign Have you ever been driving and inadvertently blown right through a stop sign? It happened to me recently. Anne and I were down in San Francisco meeting some friends, I w...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 2:23-3:6

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24, 1 Peter 5:13, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 2:1-22, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 34:21, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Luke 11:37-54, Mark 2:1-17, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:1-2, Genesis 3:null, John 19:30

Context Authorship of Mark Mark’s account of the story of Jesus is commonly held to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early church tradition identifies the author as Mark (or John Mark)...

lectionary

First Sunday after Christmas

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-40, Leviticus 12:null, Exodus 13:1-16, Luke 2:47, Luke 2:51

Preaching Commentary Unexpected Circumstances Strange days, unexpected times: a belief-defying announcement of a pregnancy, a wearying journey to be taxed, an uncomfortable birthing bed in a hewn...

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A Sabbath Box

Author

Wayne Muller

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 20:8-10, Luke 10:41-42

Make a Sabbath box. When you set aside time for Sabbath—whether it is an hour, a morning, or a day—put in the box those things you do not want to use…. You can also use the Sabbath box to hold all the...

liturgy

Let Me Live Grace-fully

Author

Ted Loder

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:23, 29–30, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11, Mark 6:31, Matthew 11:28–29, Philippians 4:6–7, Psalm 23:1–3

Thank you, Lord, for this season of sun and slow motion, of games and porch sitting, of picnics and light green fireflies on heavy purple evenings; and praise for slight breezes. It’s good, God...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Exodus 12:1-14

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 31:9-16

Ancient lens What's the historical context? Original Passover If you frequent any web sites that have thread or message board formats, you occasionally run into the acronym “OP,” meaning “ori...

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Joy must be morally clean

Author

Christopher H. J. Wright

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 5:19–23 , 1 Peter 4:3–4 , Psalm 100:1–2, Deuteronomy 16:14, Numbers 25:31:16, Exodus 32:34

Joy must be morally clean. God warned Israel not to be tempted by the kind of debauched “joy” of the Canaanite festivals, which included sexual immorality, drunkenness, gluttony, and idolatry. They ha...

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Author

Ashley Hales

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 16:23, Exodus 20:8, Exodus 58:13, Leviticus 23:32

Sabbath begins in rest. The Jewish people practice Shabbat sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. It begins and ends in the dark, where rest (not hustle) is the first word.

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24, 1 Peter 5:13, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 2:1-22, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 34:21, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Luke 11:37-54, Mark 2:1-17, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:1-2, Genesis 3:null, John 19:30

Preaching Commentary Context Authorship of Mark Mark’s account of the story of Jesus is commonly held to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early church tradition identifies the author...

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The Power of Invitations

Author

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 3:10-12, Isaiah 55:1-3 , Luke 14:16-24, Matthew 11:28-30 , Psalm 23:5

Invitations are powerful. Like tides, they ebb and flow, shaping the contours of our existence. Some invitations we desperately want but never get—“Will you marry me?” or “Would you consider a promoti...

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Sabbath-Keeping and Legalism

Author

Walter Brueggemann

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Mark 2:27-28, Matthew 12:8, Luke 6:5

For the most part, contemporary Christians pay little attention to the Sabbath. We more or less know that the day came to reflect, in U.S. culture, the most stringent disciplinary faith of the Puritan...

lectionary

Maundy Thursday

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 11:1-11

AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Original Passover If you frequent any web sites that have thread or message board formats, you occasionally run into the acronym “...

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Author

Eugene Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 25:8, 1 Kings 8:10-13, Isaiah 7:14 , John 1:14, Luke 2:8-20, Psalm 139:7-10

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

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Two Golden Days

Author

Bob Burdette

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 43:18-19, Exodus 16:4-5, 19-21, Lamentations 3:22-23, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 118:24

There are two golden days in the week, upon which, and about which, I never worry—two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday; Yesterday, with its ...

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The Birthday Party

Author

Jason Baxter

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 34:14, 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, Malachi 1:6-10, Isaiah 1:11-17, Leviticus 10:

Imagine celebrating a birthday party for your child. You buy a cake, invite guests, and give her presents. Now imagine discussing the party with your spouse later that night. Your spouse asks you what...

liturgy

Almighty Father, Guide Our Steps

Author

W. Walsham How

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-3, Exodus 13:21-22, Ephesians 5:8-10, Psalm 27:1, John 8:12

O Almighty Father, giver of every good and perfect gift, who has made the light of your truth shine in our hearts: Make us to walk as children of light in all goodness and righteousness, that we may h...

liturgy

Proclaim His Salvation Every Day

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 105:1-2, Psalm 96:1-3, Psalm 105:5, Psalm 105:8, Exodus 14:15-31

Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen! People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Pastor: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; People: make known his deeds among the people...

liturgy

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Zechariah 9:9-10, Isaiah 53:4-5, Exodus 12:21-27, Matthew 21:1-11, John 12:12-16, Psalm 118:26

Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. People: Amen. Pastor: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the ...

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God’s Creation on the Seventh Day

Author

Abraham J. Heschel

Keywords

Sabbath

Scripture

Genesis 2:2, Exodus 20:11

The words: "On the seventh day God finished His work" (Genesis 2:2), seem to be a puzzle. Is it not said: "He rested on the seventh day"? "In six days the Lord made heaven and...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 2:22-40

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-40, Leviticus 12:null, Exodus 13:1-16, Luke 2:47, Luke 2:51

Unexpected Circumstances Strange days, unexpected times: a belief-defying announcement of a pregnancy, a wearying journey to be taxed, an uncomfortable birthing bed in a hewn out cleft in the rock ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Exodus 20:1-17

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 5:17-48, Matthew 6:25-34

Ancient lens What's the historical context? Covenant first These words spoken by God to the people of Israel were spelled out within the covenant-making process. God has promised to be with t...

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A Poor Man’s Ticker-tape Parade

Author

Mia Levetan

Keywords

Scripture

Zechariah 9:9, Exodus 12:1–28 , 2 Kings 9:13 , Matthew 21:1–11, John 12:12–16, Psalm 118:25–26

Frederick Buechner is a master of capturing the excitement of the moment of Palm Sunday. It’s a great reminder that the story itself is a great illustration! We call it Palm Sunday because maybe t...

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