Isaiah on Holy Fire

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Refining Metals in Fire

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 12:49, Malachi 3:2, Zechariah 13:9, Isaiah 48:10, Proverbs 17:3, Psalm 66:10-12, 1 Peter 1:7

Refiner’s fires are used on precious metals, not for mundane elements. The refiner must hold the metal in the hottest part of the fire in order to burn off all the impurities, thus retrieving a pure...

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The Holy Wild

Author

Eugene H. Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 6:, Hebrews 12:29

A few years ago a grizzly attacked a hiker not far from our home and mauled him badly. The hiker had heard of the wonder and beauty of the mountains of Montana and drove across the country from North ...

liturgy

When the day of Pentecost came

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Joel 2:28-29 , Exodus 9:16-19 , Ezekiel 37:9-10, Acts 2:1-4, John 14:16-17, Psalm 104:30, Isaiah 6:11, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:18, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Romans 5:5

Pastor: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ...

liturgy

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives

Author

Hildegard von Bingen

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:7, Romans 8:10-11, John 16:13, Isaiah 11:2, Galatians 5:22-23

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures, spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures, glow of charity, lights of clarity, taste of sweetness to sinners, be with us and hear us. Composer of all ...

liturgy

We Will Rise From the Ruins

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 58:11-12, Isaiah 58:1-14

We will rise From the destruction From the ruins From the sin and isolation We will rise Building strong foundations Bridging the breach Making a way, a highway to our God We will rise in our ce...

liturgy

Living God, Holy Inferno

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 4:4, Exodus 3:1-15, Malachi 3:2-3, Acts 2:1-21, Exodus 13:21, John 1:4-5

Living God Holy Inferno Who revealed yourself as Burning Bush Pillar of Flame Dancing Tongues of Fire Illumine your children, so we may know your will Refine your children, till our souls burn to do...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Matthew 3:1-12

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 40:3-5, Malachi 3:1-4, 2 Kings 1:8, 2 Kings 22:8-13

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Dry Spell It had been a dry period for “Team Israel,” 400 plus seasons without a shout out from God. Since the prophet Malachi and hi...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Advent

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 3:1-12, 2 Kings 1:8, Malachi 3:1-4, 2 Kings 22:8-13, Isaiah 40:3-5

AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Dry Spell It had been a dry period for “Team Israel,” 400 plus seasons without a shout out from God. Since the proph...

liturgy

Holy Spirit's Promise and Presence

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:1-4, Isaiah 44:3 , John 14:15-17, John 4:26, Acts 2:38-39

*Note this liturgy calls to a man and woman reader as well as the leader. Pastor: God promised: "I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Sp...

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A Consuming Fire

Author

John Starke

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 24:17, Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29, Isaiah 6:5

“Holy, holy, holy.” What are they saying? Have you ever wondered that? What does that mean? Many people have tried to understand what God’s holiness means. Some describe it as his perfect morality. Go...

liturgy

Holy Spirit, Fill Our Hearts

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:1-4, Isaiah 44:3 , John 14:15-17, John 4:26, Acts 2:38-39

Pastor: God promised: "I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants." Isaiah 4...

liturgy

You give us prophets, holy God, to cry

Keywords

Scripture

Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8, Jeremiah 1:7-8, Ezekiel 2:4-5, Isaiah 6:8, Zechariah 7:9-10, Matthew 23:34

You give us prophets, holy God, to cry out for justice and mercy. Open our ears to hear them, and to follow the truth they speak, lest we support injustice to secure our own well-being. Give prophets ...

lectionary

Good Friday

Author

Eunice McGarrahan

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 1:4, Isaiah 53:11-12, Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 53:null, Romans 7:24

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Israel’s State of Mind The Book of Isaiah is a remarkable accounting of the history of the relationship people o...

liturgy

God promised: "I will pour water on the thirsty land

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 44:3, John 14:15-17, John 14:26, Acts 2:38-39

Pastor: God promised: "I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants." Jesus promi...

lectionary

Transfiguration Sunday

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 9:2-9, Exodus 24:16-18, Daniel 7:9, 13-14, Revelation 1:14-15, Mark 1:11, Isaiah 53:null, Psalm 2:6-8, 2 Peter 1:17-18

Preaching Commentary Context The Gospel of Mark presents two clear phases of Jesus’ ministry. The first phase (chapters 1-8) takes place in Galilee. It is characterized by words and deeds of power ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Mark 9:2-9

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 9:2-9, Exodus 24:16-18, Daniel 7:9, 13-14, Revelation 1:14-15, Mark 1:11, Isaiah 53:null, Psalm 2:6-8, 2 Peter 1:17-18

Context The Gospel of Mark presents two clear phases of Jesus’ ministry. The first phase (chapters 1-8) takes place in Galilee. It is characterized by words and deeds of power and authority. The seco...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Easter

Author

Paul Koptak

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 1:17-23, Isaiah 40:6-8

(Scripture quotations below are from ESV unless noted otherwise.) Liturgical Context On this Third Sunday of Easter, the Revised Common Lectionary texts harmonize with the epistle’s praise of Jesus...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 6:1-8

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29:10, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:25, Matthew 28:19, Exodus 3:, Exodus 13:21-22, Revelation 14:, Exodus 24:7, Revelation 14:, Numbers 19:22, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 11:7, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 11:1-8, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 12:1

Context Prophecy: Not Just Future-Telling When confronted with the question of the purpose of the prophetic books in the Old Testament, it is commonly supposed that their primary purpose is future t...

lectionary

Trinity Sunday

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29:10, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:25, Matthew 28:19, Exodus 3:, Exodus 13:21-22, Revelation 14:, Exodus 24:7, Revelation 14:, Numbers 19:22, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 11:7, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 11:1-8, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 12:1

Context Prophecy: Not Just Future-Telling When confronted with the question of the purpose of the prophetic books in the Old Testament, it is commonly supposed that their primary purpose is future t...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:19, Revelation 11:15, Luke 1:46-48, John 8:41, Luke 1:29, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Advent 2023: Make Some Noise! AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Couldn’t See That Coming Powerful parents with a family pedigree derived from Judah and the David...

lectionary

First Sunday of Advent

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 64:1-9, Exodus 19:18, Exodus 20:1-2, Isaiah 63:7-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 64:1-2, Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 63:15, Isaiah 63:7, Luke 2:25, Luke 2:36-38

Advent 2020: Tear Down the Heavens Tear Down the Heavens Updated & expanded for 2023 AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Longing created by exile For the...

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 10:null, Exodus 34:6

Preaching Commentary The Touch of Jesus The highlighted texts from Matthew 9 include Jesus’ call of Matthew, the tax collector, as well as two accounts of healings (the woman with the discharge of ...

blog

A Violent Man Gentled by Grace: Abba Moses the Black

Author

Bill Gaultiere

Scripture

Mark 14:36, Colossians 3:12, Matthew 6:1, Philippians 2:6-11, Romans 1:1, Isaiah 53:7, Mark 14:61, 1 Timothy 1:15, Ephesians 2:8, Luke 18:10-14, Matthew 5:23-24, Mark 7:8, Matthew 7:1-6, Matthew 16:52

Gentled by grace. That’s the incredible and inspiring story of Abba Moses the Black. He was a violent thief who became a humble and kind monk and one of the great Desert Fathers who served the Lord ...

lectionary

Third Sunday in Lent

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 13:1-9, Luke 12:51, Job 4:7-9, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Kings 4:25, Hosea 9:10, Isaiah 34:4, Jeremiah 5:17, Joel 1:7, Matthew 3:10, James 1:22

Preaching Commentary Straight Talk from Jesus Jesus Christ did not mince words. He seems to have always spoken the unvarnished truth, but, I think, with a smile on his face and compassion in his a...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Advent

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Zephaniah 3:14-20, 2 Kings 22:, Isaiah 7:null

Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Zephaniah’s Context...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide Isaiah 64:1-9

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 64:1-9, Exodus 19:18, Exodus 20:1-2, Isaiah 63:7-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 64:1-2, Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 63:15, Isaiah 63:7, Luke 2:25, Luke 2:36-38

Ancient lens What's the historical context? Longing created by exile For the Israelites, who escaped enslavement and exile in Egypt, the experience at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19 was formative. It...

blog

Hard Holy Days and the Wondrous Mystery

Author

Leslie Leyland Fields

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Luke 2:1-7, John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14

Christmas is Over It’s Christmas morning, not yet light. I am ten years old, creeping down the stairs, and I am full of hope. My siblings and I were told there will be no Christmas. Our mother told u...

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When Fire Makes Things Grow

Author

Ryan Bundrick

Scripture

1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews 12:11-13, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Zechariah 13:7-9, Daniel 3:, Isaiah 48:10

Trivia time! What natural disaster is the most destructive to a forest? Chances are that the first thing that comes to mind is a forest fire. After all, fire is pure destruction to plants. What possib...

liturgy

Easter Hymn, Adapted

Author

Hippolytus

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 25:7–8, Jonah 1:17; 2:10, Matthew 28:5–6, 1 Corinthians 5:7–8, Revelation 21:3–4, Psalm 118:17, 22–24

This is the paschal feast, the Lord’s passing from death to life: so cries the Spirit. …You have protected us, Jesus, from endless disaster. You spread your hands like a mother and, mothe...

lectionary

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:5

preaching commentary Scripture’s proclivity for a new creation Some people have an aversion to describing a future day when the troubles of this world will have passed into oblivion, the kitchen-ta...

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Exodus

1 Kings

Psalm

Isaiah

Joel

Malachi

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Luke

John

Acts

Romans

2 Corinthians

Ephesians

Philippians

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

Revelation