Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible Commentaries

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

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Esther 4:1-17 — Christian? What if you were to released into the world...you might become great! :) Outline: Hathach’s Solo Significance; Mordecai’s Personal Progress; Esther’s Life Decisions; and Basic Lessons from Providence. A look back: 4:1a ties into The Edict given by Haman in 3:13. Basically a Hitlerian genocide against his people, the Jews. How significant? 15 million Jews, spread throughout the Persian kingdom, were now at risk. All because of Haman’s hostility & the
Esther 4:1-17 — Christian? What if you were to released into the world...you might become great! :) Outline: Hathach’s Solo Significance; Mordecai’s Personal Progress; Esther’s Life Decisions; and Basic Lessons from Providence. A look back: 4:1a ties into The Edict given by Haman in 3:13. Basically a Hitlerian genocide against his people, the Jews. How significant? 15 million Jews, spread throughout the Persian kingdom, were now at risk. All because of Haman’s hostility & the
Psalms 12:1-8 — our shame. We try to figure out what to believe today between...fake news, false advertisement, spurious websites...who do we believe? Psalm 12 is a corporate lament. A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. David wrote 46 out of 59 of the Psalm laments. Individual laments consisted of: Introductory cry to God. Lament. Confession of trust. Petition. Vow/expression of praise. National laments follow the same pattern, but they are usually shorter...like the one we have
Psalms 12:1-8 — our shame. We try to figure out what to believe today between...fake news, false advertisement, spurious websites...who do we believe? Psalm 12 is a corporate lament. A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. David wrote 46 out of 59 of the Psalm laments. Individual laments consisted of: Introductory cry to God. Lament. Confession of trust. Petition. Vow/expression of praise. National laments follow the same pattern, but they are usually shorter...like the one we have
Psalms 90:1-17 — show for the years we’ve spent in this world? Since Moses was the author of this psalm, it makes it the oldest of all the psalms. It seems to have been written in connection with Israel’s failure at Kadesh-barnea (Num.14) The people (except for Joshua and Caleb) refused to follow Moses and to trust God. Instead of entering the land by faith, they turned back in unbelief, & God judged them. He made the nation go on the longest funeral March, by wandering for
Jeremiah 52:1-34 — Intro: 41 Messages! Thanks for your patience & endurance. Speaking of my teaching not God’s word! My apologies last week went over trying to complete Babylon’s judgment. Q: What was your favorite verse, story, or thing you learned
Jonah 3:1-10 — wonder, was the great fish more relieved to be rid of Jonah as Jonah was to get out of the fish? Maybe it was mutual? [Title: Mission of Mercy] Jonah learned in the last chapter what Isaiah said, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Is.43:2 We don’t know where he was vomited up on shore, but we do know…the Lord was there. The will of God will never lead you, where the grace of God can’t keep you, & the power of God can’t use you. The Lord is
Jonah 3:1-10 — wonder, was the great fish more relieved to be rid of Jonah as Jonah was to get out of the fish? Maybe it was mutual? [Title: Mission of Mercy] Jonah learned in the last chapter what Isaiah said, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Is.43:2 We don’t know where he was vomited up on shore, but we do know…the Lord was there. The will of God will never lead you, where the grace of God can’t keep you, & the power of God can’t use you. The Lord is
Luke 19:28-44 — Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul, as in the Palm Sunday festival celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty, and is one of the 4 Species for the Feast of Booths. Why do you think that in the space of 1 short week Jesus could go from being the most popular person on the planet to public enemy #1? Jesus, Why the Donkey? Jesus, Why are you crying? A BORROWED DONKEY, USED
John 1:14-34 — back into the darkness (2) Stand in the light till your eyes adjust to the light! Many refuse to step into the light of Christ! See 3:19. Outline: Jesus, Revealing the Father! & Giving the Spirit! REVEALING THE FATHER! (14-18) (14) The Word became flesh & tabernacled among us - Jesus’ flesh, the new localization of God’s presence on earth; the replacement of the old tabernacle. Read Rev. 21:3 - “to pitch one’s tent” [Tabernacle
John 15:1-8 — metal screw that holds them together. In our relationship w/God, abiding in Jesus is the screw that holds everything together & makes us useful to Him. Jesus now uses a similar homespun illustration. Setting: Arise, let us go from here(14:31). The last supper being over they are still in the room preparing to leave, or they have just left & are on the way to Gethsemane. Maybe passing a vineyard when this subject came up. Josephus the Historian (Wars of The Jews 5.210) describing
John 15:1-8 — metal screw that holds them together. In our relationship w/God, abiding in Jesus is the screw that holds everything together & makes us useful to Him. Jesus now uses a similar homespun illustration. Setting: Arise, let us go from here(14:31). The last supper being over they are still in the room preparing to leave, or they have just left & are on the way to Gethsemane. Maybe passing a vineyard when this subject came up. Josephus the Historian (Wars of The Jews 5.210) describing
Acts 4:1-22 — Church has suffered persecution ever since. I hope before service you take a moment to pray for our persecuted brothers & sisters you see on the Power Point. THE CHURCH’S 1ST COLLISION! (1-22) GOING TO JAIL FOR DOING GOOD! (1-4) (1) Peter’s sermon on the temple mount was suddenly interrupted. It’s getting close to nightfall now (3:1 said 3pm). (1b) It was an official group: priests; the temple guard; & the Sadducees. The Sadducees had vested
Acts 4:1-22 — Church has suffered persecution ever since. I hope before service you take a moment to pray for our persecuted brothers & sisters you see on the Power Point. THE CHURCH’S 1ST COLLISION! (1-22) GOING TO JAIL FOR DOING GOOD! (1-4) (1) Peter’s sermon on the temple mount was suddenly interrupted. It’s getting close to nightfall now (3:1 said 3pm). (1b) It was an official group: priests; the temple guard; & the Sadducees. The Sadducees had vested
Romans 3:1-20 — the other! So, Paul heads off their most probable questions at the pass! THE SEWER! (1-8) ​​​​​​​I think one of the worst jobs might just be...Sewer Diving! In vs.1-8 Paul deals w/4 objections which were raised against the gospel. (Rhetorical questions) [1] JEWISH ADVANTAGE? (1,2) Being born Jewish didn’t give them a right standing before God; but being God’s Covenant People did indeed give them certain advantages! Much
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 — from punishment. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church, defines it, “an intermediate place between heaven & hell, where the unfinished business of earth is settled.” This doctrine is built from 2 Maccabees 12:39-45 where it says, “thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be free from this sin.” There are definitely some contextual problems, & even my Catholic bible says in its foot notes & I quote, “His belief(Judas) was
Philippians 4:1-7 — INTRO: It's 2 a.m., and you're wide awake; palms sweaty, heart racing. You're worried about your kids, or your aging parents, or your 401(k). Your health. Your sex life. Something has your mind spinning like a hamster cage. There is certainly a lot of anxiety going around. Anxiety disorder (which is what health experts call any anxiety that persists to the point that it interferes
Colossians 1:1-14 — and command. Now the right hand, also empty, was also outstretched invitingly. This seems to have been Paul’s purpose in this postcard to the church of Colosse. This was written during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome - Acts 28:30. [4 prison epistles] Where the book of Romans tells us how to enter into fellowship w/christ; Ephesians & Colossians tell us how to abide therein! (Griffith Thomas; Colossians; pg.7) 1st we come out of bondage, then we are brought into
James 1:1-11 — enticement to evil w/in the human heart. James is the ½ brother of Jesus; was a devout Jew; a leader in the Jerusalem Church; known as “Camel Knees” because of his prayer life. You can call him James the Challenger: as there are 54 Imperatives or commands in just 108 vs. - Wow! James gives plenty of practical advice on Christian living! (Christian Living for Dummies!) It’s the N.T.’s book of Proverbs. You’ll hear bits of the Sermon on the Mnt. And
1 Samuel 11:1-15 — INTRO: Troop 412 of the California Inland Empire Council was started by the Ghironzi family as a distinctly Christian Troop. The Troop number is significant as it represents the Troop 412 theme verse, which is 1Tim4:12, Let no one despise your youth, but be an
 
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