Articles : Sunday School by Grimsrud
March 19, 2012 issue
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Victory in death
We jump ahead in the story with this lesson and the next so we can link our Sunday school lessons in John’s Gospel with the church year — Palm Sunday and Easter.
It takes some suspense from John’s story of Jesus to skip to its conclusion so soon. However, to realize right away the consequences of Jesus’ witness to the light amid the word’s darkness will help us take the elements of the story that lead to these consequences more seriously.
March 12, 2012 issue
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Eternal life, love
Although John 3:16 is one of the most familiar — and beautiful — verses in the Bible, the passage where we find it is actually quite complicated.
March 5, 2012 issue
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Let the party begin
In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry begins with the calling of his disciples (1:35-51). In this call, Jesus promises these followers great things: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (1:51) — that is, they will see heaven and Earth meet in Jesus’ saving works.
Feb. 27, 2012 issue
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Word made flesh
The beginnings of John’s Gospel are full of wondrous things. We are helped to get a sense of some of the wonders by our “preface” from Prov. 8:22-36.
Feb. 20, 2012 issue
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Wisdom and Word
We will focus on the Gospel of John this quarter, with a special emphasis on how this Gospel illumines our understanding of God’s work in creation.
Nov. 15, 2010 issue
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Counting on God
We conclude our lessons on Psalms with this vigorous statement of faith in the face of adversity. Maybe we all can imagine ourselves in conflict with those who reject the message of God’s ways of justice and peace.
Nov. 8, 2010 issue
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God, our refuge
Psalm 91 contains one of the Bible’s great affirmations of trust in God. Verse one gives us a powerful image that has echoed through the ages: you who live “in the shadow of the Almighty.” This “Almighty” is the psalmist’s “refuge and fortress” (91:2), one who “will deliver” (91:3) and whose “faithfulness is a shield and buckler” (91:4).
Nov. 1, 2010 issue
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God is our home
Psalm 90 contains an interesting and challenging progression of thought. It begins with a powerful affirmation of human at-homeness with God, then shows how humanity continually threatens that at-homeness.
Oct. 25, 2010 issue
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The God of life
From Genesis 1 to Isaiah 40-55 to Jonah, the Old Testament proclaims that God is the God of all creation, the maker of heaven and earth, the life giver, the compassionate ruler who brings healing justice to the nations.
Oct. 18, 2010 issue
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In God we trust
In what (or whom) do we truly trust? The Bible, from start to finish, places this question at the heart of its portrayal of the life of faith. One term that has often been used in relation to this question is “idolatry.” Do we trust in the creator, covenant-making, healing God of Israel — or in something else, some kind of idol?
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