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Weekly Commentaries

John 17:1-11

The passage cited in the Lectionary, John 17:1-11, is just the beginning of what’s often called Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer”; it goes on all the way through the end of the chapter. It can seem a little repetitive at times, and Jesus circles back on himself a few times to reiterate or strengthen certain points. I encourage you to read through it several times, maybe even diagram the sentences if you’re the kind of person who’s into that sort of thing. Jesus starts with a re

Matt Tuszynski

5 min read

Acts 1:6-14

The story of the disciples is a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs. Most of them are called from relative obscurity into following the prophesied Messiah (Up!). In the midst of it, many of them mess up terribly (Down!). Still, they are used of God to partner in Jesus’ ministry and they witness Jesus’ ministry firsthand (Up!). Then, as their beloved Messiah and friend is coming to his last week on earth, the disciples show different measures of disloyalty, either outright de

Chris Baker

a few seconds ago3 min read

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

The Problem with the Problem of Suffering The question is often asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” The author of First Peter seems to turn this question on its head, asking instead, “Why wouldn’t bad things happen to good people?” Peter upends this philosophical conundrum because of the cross-shattered lens through which he looks at the world. Like seeing through a fractured pair of eye-glasses, Peter cannot help but look at the world through the lens of the cr

Ryan L. Hansen

7 min read

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

I have something of a love/hate relationship with David, but generally speaking the Psalms resonate deeply, even when I wish they wouldn’t. I write about them frequently, so when the opportunity arose, I was excited to write a commentary for a Psalm. However, research indicates that, “Both as to text and meaning, this psalm [68] is the most difficult of all psalms to understand and interpret.” [1] Note to self: Perhaps it makes sense to do the research before agreeing to w

L. Michaels

3 min read

Commentary

Luke 24:44-53

Why Jesus Had to Go: A Sermon for the Celebration of the Ascension This week is the celebration of the Ascension, which is bound to make more than a few of us a little nervous. Most of us can easily discuss the significance of the life of Jesus, his teaching, his death, and his resurrection, but his ascension? Not so much. I can never remember if it’s Istanbul or Constantinople, but whichever it is, it’s part of the ancient Byzantine Empire. The Greeks called it Anatolia—the

Tim Suttle

7 min read

Acts 1:1-11

The church in which I currently serve tells the stories of scripture through grand, beautiful stained glass windows. These silent story tellers share stories of creation, fall, and redemption. They convey the stories of Jesus and the forming of the church. One of the windows tells the story of the ascension by depicting Jesus’ feet poking through the clouds as “he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of [the apostles’] sight” (Acts 1:9). While feet dangling from a cloud—as

Bruce Puckett

1 day ago4 min read

Ephesians 1:15-23

It could be seen as ironic that this scripture, one toward the beginning of a book of the Bible is placed on the Church’s liturgical calendar on the last Sunday of the year, Christ the King Sunday. Yet, it affirms that, to truly begin to talk about what we do as a Church, we must address first whose we are and who we are because of that truth. Christ the King Sunday comes on the same week that we in the American context celebrate Thanksgiving. This scripture points out that i

Austin Troyer

4 min read

Psalm 47

Worship is a political act. Claims of kingship are political claims. Perhaps it is the impending national election here in the United States that has me reading Psalm 47 in a political framework, but I do not know how it can be read in any other way. Certainly the psalmist was not thinking of America in 2016 when it was written; even so, the claims made in these verses would have had profound political implications for the culture in which it was produced. In fact, the cl

Jon Gildner

4 min read

Ascension of Our Lord

Rhythm

A weekly discipleship experience for students

The Fourth Week of December

Because of Jesus’s suffering on earth, we are not alone in our suffering.

Addison Gildner

Dec 22, 20257 min read

Vocatio

A weekly discipleship experience for adults.

Acts 1:6-14

Leader Guide Participant Handout Lesson Focus: If we want to participate in the work that Jesus is doing in our world, bringing about the Kingdom of God, then we must pray and wait for God’s Spirit to empower us and send us out. Catching up on the story: Jesus has died, and has risen from the dead. In Luke he has appeared to the disciples, explaining and teaching more things to them. Jesus has ordered them to say in Jerusalem so that they might wait for the gift that the Fath

Jason Buckwalter

11 hours ago7 min read

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Rev. Jason Hill

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Liturgics seeks to resource clergy with ancient, modern, and creative worship elements that will help to connect our churches more to each other and to the church historic.

Ascension / Seventh Sunday of Easter

Call to Worship: Psalm 93 One: Alleluia! Christ is Risen!+ Many: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! One: The Lord is King; he has put on splendid apparel; the Lord has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. Many: He has made the whole world so sure that it cannot be moved; One: Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; you are from everlasting. Many: The waters have lifted up, O Lord, the waters have lifted up their voice; the waters have lift

Brent Neely

5 min read

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Your Wesleyan

LECTIONARY RESOURCE

Weekly Commentaries

John 17:1-11

Acts 1:6-14

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

Luke 24:44-53

Acts 1:1-11

Ephesians 1:15-23

Psalm 47

Ascension of Our Lord

Rhythm

The Fourth Week of December

Vocatio

Acts 1:6-14

DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES

Sacred and Small

Rev. Jason Hill

Rev. Jason Buckwalter

APA LITURGICS

Ascension / Seventh Sunday of Easter

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Acts 1:6-14

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

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