GSMC Bible Study Podcast

Sarah discusses the second New Testament reading assigned for the week of April 23, the 2nd Sunday in Easter.  In 1 Peter 1:3-9 the author encourages his readers to remember that they have been made new in the promises of Christ's death and resurrection.  No matter what is happening in their lives, they have been given a new creation and God is always with them.<br /><br />Follow the G...

Sarah talks about Psalm 116, the Psalm assigned for the week of April 23, 2017, the second Sunday of Easter. Psalm 116 is a Psalm of trust, where the Psalmist expresses the intimate relationship we have with God and how that relationship becomes the foundation of our faith.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="n...

Sarah discusses the first of 2 assigned New Testament readings for the week of April 23rd, the second Sunday in the season of Easter.  Acts 2:14a, 22-32 relays part of Peter's sermon on Pentecost in which he tells of his experience of Jesus Christ's ministry, death, and resurrection.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.ht...

Sarah looks at Colossians 3:1-4, which encourages us to seek that which is above, and asks the question, "what does that mean?"  During the season of Easter we celebrate the resurrection and the new life promised to us through Christ.  We are reminded that we have died and been resurrected with Christ.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast...

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 is assigned for the week of Easter Sunday.  Sarah discusses how the Psalm invites us to celebrate God's steadfast love, acts of salvation throughout history, and the new life we celebrate each day.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener">http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html&...

Sarah discusses Acts 10: 34-43, the first of 2 lectionary-assigned New Testament text for the week of April 16th.  In these verses Paul tells the story of Jesus, from his baptism and the beginning of his public ministry to his death and resurrection.  The larger context of the verses surrounding the assigned text show the radical inclusivity of the resurrection story and God's promises.<br /&gt...

Celebrate Easter and Christ's resurrection with Sarah as she discusses Matthew 28:1-10.  In Matthew's gospel Mary Magdalene and Mary go to the tomb and discover it empty.  They are then charged by the angel to go and tell of the good news of Jesus' resurrection.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener">...

Sarah discusses 3 of the 14 readings that are assigned for the Easter Vigil.  First is Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13, which tells the story of Noah's Ark and God's promise to never again flood the earth.  Next is Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6, which talks of Woman Wisdom, and might seem like an odd choice for the Vigil.  Finally, she looks at Romans 6:3-11 which speaks of how when we are ba...

Sarah reads the assigned texts for Good Friday:<br />Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 22Hebrews 10:16-25John 18:1-19:42<br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener">http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html</a>

Sarah talks about the gospel text assigned for Maundy Thursday, John 13:1-17, 31b-35.  In this text Jesus washes the feet of his disciples as part of their Last Supper together before Jesus' betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.  He also tells them to love one another as they have first been loved by God, and have been loved by Jesus.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <...

Sarah looks at the New Testament text assigned for the week of April 9th.  In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Paul reminds the church at Corinth what the Lord's Supper is really about.  The Gospel text from John 13:21-32 is similar in that it takes place at Jesus' last supper with his disciples, where he instituted the Lord's Supper, but in these verses he is speaking of his upcoming death, specifically of...

Sarah discusses the Psalm assigned for the week of April 9.  Psalm 116 is a Psalm of thanksgiving, with the psalmist expressing joy over God hearing his prayers and cries for help.  She also looks at the lectionary-assigned gospel for Holy Tuesday, John 12:20-36, wherein Jesus speaks of his upcoming death and works to prepare his followers for life without him.<br /><br />Follow the GS...

On this Monday of Holy Week Sarah discusses the Old Testament text assigned for the week of April 9th.  Isaiah 50:4-9a is the 3rd of 4 of the so-called Suffering Servant songs.  She then moves to the gospel text assigned for Holy Monday, John 12:1-11.  In these verses Jesus dines with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  Mary annoints Jesus' feet, and the chief priest begin to worry about Jesus' influence...

Sarah discusses Matthew 21:1-11, the gospel text assigned for Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, and the gospel tells the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem where he was met with celebration and  cries of Hosanna.  Before the end of the week, though, those cries take a darker turn.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcp...

Sarah discusses John 11:1-45, the gospel text assigned for the last Sunday in Lent, which tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  The actual raising part of the narrative is only 2 verses, so why is the story 45 verses?  This story tells us a lot about who Jesus is in John's gospel, and it is a great text to lead us into Holy Week.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Stud...

Sarah begins the first of a 5 part Lenten series focusing on experience the season of Lent, and our faith, with our whole bodies. This episode is about ears, and uses texts from 1 Samuel 3:1-11, Psalm 40:1-6, and Matthew 13:10-16.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study" rel="noopener">http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-stud...

Sarah talks about the gospel reading assigned for the first Sunday in Lent: Matthew 4:1-11, which tells the story of Jesus going into the wilderness, fasting, and being tempted by the devil.  It reminds us of the many voices in our lives that try to lead us off of the path God has set for us.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible...

Sarah discusses the New Testament reading assigned for the first Sunday in Lent: Romans 5:12-19.  Paul makes a comparison between Adam and the sinful nature of humans, and Jesus, who came to bring us a new covenant with God.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener">http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study...

Sarah discusses Psalm 32, the 2nd lectionary text assigned for the second Sunday in Lent.  Psalm 32 gives instruction for prayers of confession, showing that confession is a weight lifted.<br /><br />Follow the GMSC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener">http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html</a>

Sarah talks about the Old Testament lectionary text assigned for the first Sunday in Lent:  Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-7, which tells the story of Adam, Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  This story has been interpreted in numerous ways over the years and Sarah explores some of those different ways of looking tat this text.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a...

Sarah reads the assigned Gospel text for Ash Wednesday: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.  Ash Wednesday marks the season of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter.  Many people choose to either take something on or give something up as a spiritual discipline during this season.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http://www.gsmcpodcast.com/bible-study.html" rel="noopener...

Sarah talks about the New Testament Lectionary readings assigned for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.  1 Corinthians 1:10-18 has Paul imploring the church of Corinth to look past their differences and remember that they have all been baptized into one family in the body of Christ.  Matthew 4:12-23 tells the story of Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him and become fishers of peo...

Sarah discusses the Old Testament Lectionary texts for the 3rd Sunday in Epiphany.  Isaiah 9:1-4 gives us an image of light in the darkness, of joy in times of despair.  Psalm 27:1. 4-9 also continues this theme of light, identifying God as not only our light and our salvation, but our stronghold in times of difficulty.<br /><br />Follow the GSMC Bible Study Podcast at <a href="http...

Sarah discusses the New Testament texts for Lectionary 23, the week of September 4, 2016.  Paul's letter to Philemon encourages Philemon to make a transformative choice based on his relationship with Christ.  The Gospel of Luke 14:25-33 is a difficult text wherein Jesus tells his would-be followers that they must hate their brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers in order to follow him.  Both te...

Sarah discusses the Old Testament texts for the week of September 4, 2016, Lectionary 23.  In Deuteronomy 30:15-25 Moses concludes his discourse of history and instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land. Psalm 1 gives instructions to make good choices and stay on the path leading to God rather than following those who do not have our best interests at heart, leading...