Saturday, May 30, 2015

Amos, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Amos you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.


Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.
  • If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
  • Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
  • Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Amos tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Amos, Day 5 Readings

Destruction and a Glimmer of Hope 

Today's reading is the conclusion of the prophecy of Amos.  It foretells the almost complete destruction of Israel.  The inhabitants will not be able to hide from God's wrath.  However, this will not be the end of the story.  After the time of devastation, God promises a day when the people will be restored to independence in this holy land and allowed to flourish.

Read Amos 9:1-15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety


If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Amos 9 today.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Amos, Day 4 Readings

Special Judgment on Holy Places and Summer Fruit in Winter 

Today's first reading is an oracle of destruction that promises complete devastation.  There are particularly harsh words against the holy places of Israel -- altars, pillars, sanctuaries -- that will be completely destroyed by God.

This specific prophecy was repeated to the king of Israel, Jeroboam, and the king's adviser tried to force Amos to stop saying such things and return to his home in the southern kingdom of Judah.  Amos' response was rather surprising -- he claimed not to be a prophet.  Instead, he was a simple shepherd given this prophecy for Israel, which he felt compelled to do.

Read Amos 7:1-17  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Today's second reading repeats the prophecy of destruction against Israel.  Amos has a vision of summer fruit, which God says is Israel.  However, it quickly becomes clear that the summer season has ended, which means that the fruit will spoil.  The misbehavior -- the greed, the breaking of the Sabbath, the scamming of the poor, the worship of false gods -- will be harshly punished.  Worse, the people of Israel will be completely destroyed -- not even a small remnant of them will be preserved.

Read Amos 8:1-14  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Amos 7-8 today.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Amos, Day 3 Readings

God's Judgment Will Be Harsh and No One Will Escape 

Today's first reading offers a stern warning to Israel about the consequences they will soon face.  The kingdom will be captured, and entire armies will be destroyed.  In fact, it seems like the population will almost completely disappear by death or exile.  No one will be untouched by God's punishment.  And those who hope for "the day of the Lord" don't quite know what they wish for -- it will bring judgment for the faithless, rather than salvation.

Read Amos 5:1-27  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Today's second reading gives a specific prophecy against the rich and powerful who believe that their wealth and influence will protect them.  (After all, such people usually find ways to survive -- and even keep doing what they were doing -- unlike regular people.  This doesn't just happen in modern times; it has always happened.)  While they pretend disinterest in what is happening, God warns that they will suffer.  Indeed, it sounds like most of the wealthy and powerful will be killed by the invading army, which God deems a just punishment for their behavior and their worship of false gods.

Read Amos 6:1-14  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety


If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Amos 5-6 today.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Amos, Day 2 Readings

Israel is Guiltier and Has Rejected God's Repeated Attempts at Correction 

Today's first reading is the explicit condemnation of the northern kingdom of Israel for their unfaithful behavior.  God had given them great opportunities by choosing them and directly teaching them.  However, they have shunned this teaching and done things their own way.  Due to this, they will receive greater punishment from God.  In fact, foreign armies will come upon them and defeat Israel.

Read Amos 3:1-15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Today's second reading offers a list of the ways that God has tried to correct Israel.  As with a misbehaving child, God has tried various withholding punishments -- sort of "grounding" Israel.  God would keep rain from some cities for a few months to raise concerns and get attention.  God would allow insects to invade crops and cities for a time.  God even allowed some outlying communities to be captured.  In each way, God hoped that the people of Israel would reconsider the way they were living and return to God's teaching.  However, they did not.

Read Amos 4:1-13  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety


If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Amos 3-4 today.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Amos, Day 1 Readings

God's Patience is Exhausted  

Today's reading is the beginning of Amos, who has warnings of God's upcoming judgment.  The book begins with prophecies of punishment for several nations, culminating in a long warning for the northern kingdom of Israel.  Some of these nations are guilty for the ways that they have treated foreign nations, which they have captured and subjugated.  Some are guilty of the ways they have treated their own citizens.

The last nations prophesied against are Judah and Israel, with the harshest words for Israel.  Both have rejected God's teaching; however, the wrongdoings in Israel seem to be far worse than those of Judah, touching on issues of sexual morality, greed, and authority.  In some ways, it seems that Judah and Israel will receive harsher punishment from God because they had received God's teaching directly (and should have known better).

Read Amos 1:1-2:16  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Amos 1-2 today.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Amos, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 30 - Amos 

Amos, like Joel, is a prophet who offers a description of "the day of the Lord."  Unlike Joel, whose vision of this day focuses on the restoration of God's chosen people, Amos warns that "the day of the Lord" will be a time of devastating punishment from God.

This punishment will be widespread around the world -- Amos begins with specific warnings for several nations.  However, it will be most severe for Israel and Judah.  These are God's chosen people, whom God has nurtured, protected, and guided for generations, but they have turned their backs on God (even though they should have known better).

No one can escape this judgment, which will cause widespread suffering and destruction.  However, like other prophets, Amos does foresee a time after "the day of the Lord" when God will restore the chosen people to the Promised Land, where they will enjoy the fruits of God's goodness and favor again.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Joel, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Joel you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.


Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.
  • If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
  • Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
  • Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Joel tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Joel, Day 5 Readings

Punishment, but a New Day for God's People  

Today's reading is the conclusion of Joel's description of "the day of the Lord."  It continues the promise of judgment for the unfaithful -- famously Joel reverses Isaiah's teaching about "beating swords into plowshares" meaning that the rich and powerful (but unfaithful) nations must prepare themselves for God's wrath.

However, God's presence is restored in Jerusalem, which provides hope and protection for God's people.  In fact, despite the present circumstances, God promises the faithful that they will not be permanently defeated.  Instead, they shall live peacefully in God's restored kingdom.

Read Joel 3:9-21  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Joel 3:9-21 today.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Sermon - "Lookin' for Love in All the Wrong Places" (Hosea)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached about Hosea, the prophet who compared the idolatry and distraction of Israel to the infidelity of a wife.  Drawing on his own personal experience of a wife who cheated on him, Hosea presented God's emotional reaction to the rejection of God by God's people.

This is unusual in the prophets.  Usually they focus on issues of punishment and justice (from God's perspective).  Here, though, we get the emotional response of God -- who is deeply wounded by the rejection of people whom God intensely loves.

It presents the punishment of the northern kingdom of Israel (and the eventual punishment of Judah) as a form of divorce.  This is a broken relationship, as God has lost trust in the chosen people.

The question for us today is painfully straightforward -- are we sometimes guilty of taking God for granted, or even "cheating" on God -- making other things in our lives more important than they should be?

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and closing benediction.

Joel, Day 4 Readings

A Day of Protection and Punishment  

Today's reading is a vision of the two ways of experiencing God's judgment on "the day of the Lord."  First, those who have truly been faithful will be gathered in the holy city of Jerusalem and be protected.  Second, those who have not been faithful -- and especially those who have caused pain and suffering for the faithful -- will be gathered together and punished and experience the same pain and suffering that they had inflicted on God's people.

Christians have often interpreted these verses in light of the expected return of Jesus.  The faithful will be rewarded; the sinful will be punished.  Eventually, the new Jerusalem is seen as heaven (as it is described in Revelation); the valley of Jehoshaphat is seen as a euphemism for hell.

Read Joel 2:30-3:8  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Joel 2:30-3:8 today.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Joel, Day 3 Readings

There's Still Time for Forgiveness  

Today's reading offers an invitation for God's people to see the error of their ways and repent.  If the people truly turn away from their wrongdoing and place their full faith in God, they will be forgiven, protected, and provided for.  In fact, if the people truly repent, God will pay back all that the people have lost as a result of the current invasion and suffering.

Read Joel 2:12-29  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Joel 2:12-29 today.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Joel, Day 2 Readings

God's "Invasion" is Coming  

Today's reading describes the first part of "the day of the Lord," when God will lead an army to wipe out all opposition.  In some ways, it will be like the recent invasion (described in chapter 1), but worse.  There is no place to hide -- and no way to stop -- the hand of God, which will sweep across everything.  Worse, it will be accompanied by earthquakes and the stars and moon will darken.

Read Joel 2:1-11  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Joel 2:1-11 today.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Joel, Day 1 Readings

Devastation is a Call to Repent  

Today's reading is the beginning of Joel, a prophet who offers hope in God's long-range vision.  Like the other prophets, though, Joel must explain the current suffering of God's people.

He begins by pointing out the destruction of the land in the wake of an invasion.  In particular, there is famine and hunger.  For Joel, the best response to this is simple -- repent and pray.  Confess past wrongdoing and pray that God bring about "the day of the Lord," when all will be set right.

Read Joel 1:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety


If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Joel 1:1-20 today.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Joel, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 29 - Joel 

Joel was a prophet who offered a vivid picture of "the day of the Lord."  This is the point in time when God will set right everything on earth.  Those who have wrongly suffered will be rewarded.  Those who have wrongly caused suffering will be punished.

It is unclear exactly when the prophet Joel was alive.  Because Joel is so focused on the future "day of the Lord," the present circumstances are presented in general terms.  Arguments can be made for Joel living anytime from the decline of the northern kingdom of Israel until after the return from exile in Babylon.

What is clear is that God is again offering a chance for people to reclaim their heritage and become fully faithful in God.  Despite present hardships, God hopes that people will repent their past misdeeds and worship God completely.  Eventually, there will be no more chances -- the turning point of history is "the day of the Lord."  Then, all unforgiven wrongdoing will be punished, and the faithful will be rewarded.  God's kingdom will be re-established, and God will dwell in Jerusalem.  As such, Jerusalem will be the jewel of earth.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Hosea, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Hosea you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.


Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.
  • If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
  • Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
  • Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Hosea tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Hosea, Day 5 Readings

Israel Has No Defense and Yet There Is Hope 

Today's first reading is God's blunt promise to Israel for the repeated rejection of God's love.  Because they have placed so much hope in their own financial and military power, God will now show them true power.  They have relied on God's protection (even if they did not fully realize it); now they will find that no one can stop God when God wants Israel to be defeated.

Read Hosea 13:1-16  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is the final promise of God.  Although the people will be defeated, God still expects a day when the chosen people will be reconciled with God.  They will fully confess their past wrongdoing and God will forgive them.  Unlike an idol of wood or stone, which has no power to do anything, God has power -- not only power to conquer and destroy, but power to forgive and restore.  God looks forward to this day when the chosen people will accept God's love.

Read Hosea 14:1-9  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 13-14 today.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Hosea, Day 4 Readings

Rejecting God's Love 

Today's first reading offers one part of God's approach to Israel.  God still loves Israel, despite their rejections of that love time and again.  From the beginning, God has tried to provide for this chosen people, though they often have been unaware of this.  And God still hopes for the day when the people will return and fully accept God's love.

Read Hosea 11:1-11  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is the other part of God's approach to Israel.  God must punish the people for their repeated rejection of God, which may date even to the exodus from Egypt.  Time and again, the people have turned away from God, relying on false gods and their own wealth and power to feel safe and prosperous.  These actions have unavoidable consequences -- the worst of which is military defeat, which will take all their wealth and power away from them.

Read Hosea 11:12-12:14  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 10-12 today.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Hosea, Day 3 Readings

Consequences 

Today's first reading is presents a list of Israel's double-dealing.  While they say they know God and worship God, their behavior says otherwise.  Rather than trust in God alone, they have tried to preserve and protect themselves by raising up kings and creating alliances with foreign countries.  As the situation becomes desperate, they offer sacrifices trying to gain God's favor, but God will not accept them, finding them half-hearted half-measures.

Read Hosea 8:1-14  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading offers a more forceful rejection of Israel's behavior.  Again, it makes references to the altars and pillars (sacred stones) that the people have built -- these represent worship of false gods, rather than God.  Beyond this, it says that Israel's reliance on other gods and other countries for preservation must be proven wrong by God.  So the people must be completely defeated by a foreign army -- this is the necessary consequence of these sins.

Read Hosea 10:1-15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 7-9 today.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Sermon - "The Worst Is Yet to Come" (Daniel)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached about Daniel, the prophet famous for his night spent in the lion's den because he dared pray to God (instead of the Babylonian king).  There also is the famous story of three other Jewish men -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- who refused to worship a golden statue and were tossed into a fiery furnace.

In both cases, God protected these faithful men who faced certain death because they refused to act against their faith in God.  This was a reminder that God protected the faithful even in extreme circumstances, such as the ones they might face in Babylon.

However, the deeper story of Daniel is much more troubling.  The Jews believe that defeat and exile in Babylon is the low point of history, but Daniel warns that there are worse times to come.  The Babylonians themselves will be defeated by an empire that will then be defeated... and eventually, there will be chaos.  In such times, life will be dangerous and very difficult for those who remain faithful to God.  Many may even be killed.

For the first time in the Bible, God promises a second life for the faithful who die in these dangerous times.  The reward for their faith will be life in a time when the chaotic rule of despotic empires will be replaced by God's peaceable kingdom.

This promise was well-known by the time of Jesus, who expanded this promise of new life in the Kingdom of God.  The faithful would be rewarded with such a life, but Jesus encouraged his disciples to begin to experience the new life of the Kingdom of God while living this life on earth.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and closing benediction.

Hosea, Day 2 Readings

Sins upon Sins and a Call to Repent 

Today's first reading is a lengthy accusation of the cost of Israel's faithlessness and idolatry.  The sin of turning away from God has led to other sins: lying, killing, stealing, and other actions that are tearing God's people apart.  Worse, when they try to turn to God, they do so in completely wrong ways (beyond simple idolatry, there is the implication that so-called religious acts are excuses for excessive drinking, sexual orgies, and human sacrifice).

Read Hosea 4:1-19  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading offers words of repentance, followed by an assessment that the people are incapable of actually repenting.  Despite expressing a desire to be forgiven by God an in a faithful relationship with God, they seem unable to live faithfully.  In this chapter, an emotional theme from later in the book begins to take shape -- God still loves these people, even though they have consistently "done him wrong."  And God is torn between a desire to forgive and a need to have them be faithful in the relationship.

Read Hosea 6:1-10  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 4-6 today.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Hosea, Day 1 Readings

An Unhappy Marriage and the Seeds of Reconciliation 

Today's first reading is the graphic introduction to Hosea, the hard-edged prophet who understood Israel's faithlessness through his own unhappy marriage.  In harsh language, we immediately learn that Hosea's wife is unfaithful and his children are troublesome.  This, in a small way, is the same problem God has with the people -- they have betrayed God.  The implication is that God feels like a husband whose wife cheats on him and like a father whose children are horrible.

Read Hosea 1:1-11  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading applies the personal situation of Hosea to God's relationships with the Jewish people.  By worshiping false gods, the people have cheated on God and been unfaithful.  In some ways, God wants nothing to do with the people because the faithlessness and infidelity is so painful.  However, God points toward the ways in which the relationship can be reconciled, through a change of spirit and a restoration of true faith in God.  Then, God again will fully embrace the Jewish people as the chosen people.

Read Hosea 2:1-23  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 1-3 today.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Hosea, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 28 - Hosea 

Hosea was a prophet who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel before its defeat and capture (which happened decades before Babylon defeated the southern kingdom of Judah).  Drawing from personal experience of having married a woman who cheated on him, Hosea offers the words of a loving God whose love has been repeatedly rejected.

The northern kingdom of Israel, soon after it established its independence from Judah, was evidently quite tolerant of the worship of several gods.  While there were holy places to worship God (notably at Shechem), people began building altars and pillars to worship other gods, the most famous of which was Baal.  Hosea likens this behavior to a woman who cheats on her husband.  God responds as a man would to a cheating woman -- distrusting, separating from, and seeking a just settlement (though justice her takes the form of punishment, rather than a financial agreement).

Ironically, Israel has begun to sense that there may be trouble ahead, as foreign armies threaten to invade.  So they have tried to curry favor with the gods by worshiping more, including by praying and sacrificing more to the true God.  However, this behavior only seems to further prove the problem that Israel cannot and will not trust in God alone.  So they cannot stop the coming defeat.  However, God still loves this people, and promises a day when the loving relationship will be reconciled.

Note: One of the challenges of reading the prophets is understanding the use of the term "Israel."  Sometimes it refers to the northern kingdom of Israel; sometimes it refers to all of the descendants of Jacob (Israel).  This double-usage occurs throughout the prophets.  In Hosea, "Israel" usually refers to the northern kingdom, but sometimes it seems to refer to all those of Jewish heritage in both the northern and southern kingdoms.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Daniel, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Daniel you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.


Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.
  • If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
  • Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
  • Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Daniel tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Daniel, Day 5 Readings

A Vision of Four Awful Beasts and the End of the Jewish Exile in Babylon 

Today's reading is the final vision of Daniel.  It promises a horrible period of tribulation at the hands of increasingly violent governments.  There will be periods of war as great powers emerge and conquer other great powers.  Amid this turmoil, some small groups will sometimes rise to local power before being squelched by the more powerful empires.

At the end of this clash of empires (which fairly accurately describes three or four centuries of history in the ancient near-East), the hand of God will return and take charge.  The faithful will be protected against the anguish of the surrounding chaos and restored.  In fact, some will come back to life and be judged: those of God's chosen people who were wise and faithful will be rewarded, while those who were foolish and unfaithful will be punished.  This prophecy at the end of Daniel is the first explicit promise in the Bible of life beyond this earthly life.

Read Daniel 10:18-12:13  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Daniel 10-12 today.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Daniel, Day 4 Readings

A Vision of Four Awful Beasts and the End of the Jewish Exile in Babylon 

Today's first reading is a terrible vision for the future.  While the vision promises God's ultimate salvation for the faithful, it also warns of a terrible period to be endured until that time.  In this vision, the terrible kingdoms are represented by four beasts that destroy and devour until the last is ultimately subdued by God.  This is a warning to those in exile that life will get worse for people of faith -- much worse and much more chaotic -- before they finally get better.  At the end of this chaos, though, God will establish a new, peaceful kingdom.

Read Daniel 7:1-28  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading tells of a great prayer by Daniel, acknowledging the history of Jewish sins and asking God's mercy on the people in exile -- not because they deserve mercy, but because God is merciful.  At the end of this prayer, the prophet sees a vision, which foretells the end of the exile and the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.  However, the vision also tells of a time when the new Temple will be desecrated and the Jews will again be at the mercy of a godless government.  Like other prophecies in Daniel, this timeline has been used by many to argue for how close the endtimes are (in the phrases of Daniel, which "week" we are in).

Read Daniel 9:1-27  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Daniel 7-9 today.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Sermon - "To Those with Hearts of Stone" (Ezekiel)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached about Ezekiel, the prophet who is probably best known for his dramatic visions (such as the wheel within a wheel or the valley of dry bones).  These visions related to the defeat of Judah by the Babylonians and the subsequent exile of Jewish leaders.

Like other prophets, Ezekiel offered an explanation for why God allowed this defeat and exile.  However, he also gave several powerful visions of hope, promising that the exiled people would return to Jerusalem, the Temple would be rebuilt, and the kingdom restored -- like a valley of dry bones rising to life.

The core of this message involves two visions.  At one point, Ezekiel saw a wheel within a wheel over Jerusalem.  This wheel rose in the sky, escorting the presence of God from the "holy of holies" in the Temple (which allowed the Temple to be destroyed by the Babylonians).  But even this vision promised that those in exile would be protected by God and from them -- likely from their descendants -- God would reestablish Jerusalem.  At the end of Ezekiel is a long vision that parallels this one: the Temple is rebuilt and the presence of God returns.

One of the interesting things, though, is how the faithful remnant is described in Ezekiel.  These are God's chosen.  These are the people who are faithful.  These are the people who will claim the kingdom.  And these people have "hearts of stone" even now -- only later, after the kingdom is reestablished, will God grant them "hearts of flesh," allowing them to become the people they were born to be.  In some ways, our Christian faith teaches a similar understanding of faith -- our faith is true, but imperfect, and can only reach its full form in the Kingdom of God.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and closing benediction.

Daniel, Day 3 Readings

The Writing on the Wall and the Lions' Den 

Today's first reading provides a memorable event from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar's successor, Belshazzer.  With great pride, the new king hosts a feast and uses the vessels and utensils that had been removed from the Temple in Jerusalem by the attacking Babylonians.  Much like the person who drinks unworthily from the wrong cup at the end of the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the unfaithful Babylonians are almost immediately punished.  A dismembered hand wrote four words on the wall of the banquet hall, which Daniel was called upon to interpret.  Again, the Jewish adviser must tell the Babylonian king that the end of his reign is near.  (And again, the king responds by rewarding Daniel, instead of punishing him.)  That very night, in fact, the proud and unfaithful Belshazzer was killed.

Read Daniel 5:1-30  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading tells of the plot to have Daniel killed by casting him into the lions' den.  This story is frequently told to children, but it has adult themes.  The new Babylonian king is trying to consolidate power through the empire, and a group of advisers try to use his inexperience in order to topple Daniel from his influential role.  They convince the new king, Darius, to sign a decree that anyone who prays to a god other than the emperor shall be thrown into the lions' den.  Daniel continues to be faithful and he is arrested.  The king, who likes Daniel, is horrified that the adviser must be executed, but sees no way out of the law.  So Daniel is thrown into a lions' den with the king's own prayer that his god somehow save him.  As most know, Daniel is indeed preserved and the lions do not harm him.  Discovering this the next morning, the king is overjoyed and retaliates against the conspirators by ordering them into the lions' den.  And, amazingly, the Babylonian king recognizes the Jewish God.

Read Daniel 6:1-28  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Daniel 5-6 today.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Daniel, Day 2 Readings

Giant Idols, a Fiery Furnace and Another Royal Dream 

Today's first reading is the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace.  The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, has commissioned a massive golden statue and instructed all of the leadership to worship the statue at its dedication, or be burned alive.  The three Jews (interestingly, Daniel is absent from this story) refuse to bow down at the appointed time, which infuriates the king.  The king orders the fire be made even hotter and the three bound men to be tossed in.  However, when they fall into the furnace, they are unharmed -- and the king himself believes that he sees a god in the flames with the men.  In fact, the king calls the men out, and finding them unharmed (their clothes were not even singed), he decrees that no one in the empire may speak against the God of these three Jews.

Read Daniel 3:1-30  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading tells an almost unbelievable story of the final days of King Nebuchadnezzar.  They begin with another fateful dream, this time about a tall tree in the center of everything, which the king asks Daniel to interpret.  The interpretation is troubling, though, because it suggests that the great king will become destitute and end his life living like an animal far from the royal palace.  A year later, the dream was fulfilled and the mighty king ends up living like an ox, eating grass and sleeping outside.  After some period of time, the king realizes the error of his ways and praises the true God.  In doing so, it proves that no one -- even the most tyrannical, oppressive emperor -- is beyond the power of God's transformation (an important reminder given the terrible future that the book of Daniel foretells).

Read Daniel 4:1-37  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Daniel 3-4 today.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Daniel, Day 1 Readings

Jews in the Babylonian Court and King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 

Today's first reading is the introduction to Daniel, which describes how certain exiled Jews came to have influence in the Babylonian court.  Four were chosen to serve the king and educated in the Babylonian style.  However, the four men (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) refused to violate Jewish law in order to be in the king's circle of advisers.  In the introduction, they refuse to disobey dietary laws.  They persuade the Babylonians to accept an experiment about whether a different diet will be a problem.  When it is discovered that they are in better physical condition than those who eat the normal diet, they are allowed to follow their food customs.  This, however, is not the only time it will be uncomfortable for them to obey Jewish law in Babylon.

Read Daniel 1:1-21  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading tells of how the Babylonian court prophets, including Daniel and his Jewish comrades, where instructed by the king to interpret a dream he had recently dreamed; however, the king refused to describe the dream and demanded that the prophets instead describe it to him before they interpreted it.  The entire company of prophets said that the request was impossible, and Nebuchadnezzar responded by threatening to kill all of the prophets if they could not do as he asked.  So Daniel, through prayer, intercedes, and God reveals the dream and its interpretation.  It involves a large statue with different sections made of different materials.  Daniel explains that this represents the different empires which will rule the earth until they all fall and are replaced by a kingdom of God's design.  One interesting aspect of the dream is that the interpretation suggests that Babylon is the best of the remaining kingdoms (until God's, of course) and that worse is yet to come.

Read Daniel 2:1-49  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Daniel 1-2 today.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Daniel, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 27 - Daniel 

Daniel was one of four Jewish exiles in Babylon who were invited to become royal advisers by the king.  Although it is not clear why they were chosen, they display certain remarkable qualities.  They are quite faithful and they are brave enough to practice their faith in the face of punishment by the Babylonians -- even death.  And Daniel himself has the ability to interpret dreams and signs, which leads him to directly advising several Babylonian kings.

The opening chapters feature the most famous Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, who captured Jerusalem, looted the Temple, and carried Jewish leaders into exile.  In these pages, he comes across as an egomaniac, demanding grandiose -- and sometimes impossible -- actions, usually under penalty of death.  Despite this, the four faithful Jewish advisers survive, and Daniel rises to a position of significant power and influence.

Famously, the four also survive certain-death experiences.  Three men -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- are tossed into a fiery furnace, but emerge unscathed.  Daniel was famously cast into a den of lions, but emerged the next morning untouched.  The later visions of Daniel prove that their experience will likely be faced by all of those who remain faithful to God.

The overriding theme of the stories and visions of Daniel is that things are going to get much worse before they get better.  There are prophecies of one kingdom conquering another kingdom, only to be conquered itself.  All of this war creates a chaotic situation, filled with uncertainty and danger for everyone, not merely those faithful to God.

The consistent promise in Daniel, though, is that God will ultimately defeat all of these foreign kingdoms and establish a peaceful kingdom in place of war and chaos for the faithful.  Indeed, in the final vision, there is a promise of a second life in that peaceful kingdom for the faithful who are persecuted and die during the turbulent times ahead.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Ezekiel, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Ezekiel you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.


Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.
  • If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
  • Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
  • Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Ezekiel tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.