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October 27, 2023

Wandering and Wondering

Sophia Agtarap   |   Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

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Lectionary Week
October 23–29, 2023
Scripture Overview

The end of Deuteronomy completes the story of the life of Moses. Although he led the people out of Egypt, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he lost his temper in the desert. The difficult task of leading the people back to the land will fall to Joshua. The psalmist calls out to God for mercy because the people have been suffering as a result of their disobedience. Paul defends himself against the charge that he has been preaching out of a desire for fame or money; the approval he seeks comes only from God. Jesus has yet another confrontation with religious leaders attempting to trick him. He avoids their schemes and emphasizes that love of God and love of neighbor summarize the entire law.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-12. When has a leadership transition in your faith community been difficult for you? When has it been sacred?Read Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17. How do you make God your dwelling place?Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. How can you strive to love those whom you have never met? How can you meet new people with love as siblings?Read Matthew 22:34-46. How do you wrestle with the Bible? When have your questions strengthened your faith or revealed something new?

Respond by posting a prayer.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1 As you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, our visit with you wasn’t a waste of time. 2 On the contrary, we had the courage through God to speak God’s good news in spite of a lot of opposition, although we had already suffered and were publicly insulted in Philippi, as you know. 3 Our appeal isn’t based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception. 4 Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that’s exactly how we speak. We aren’t trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts. 5 As you know, we never used flattery, and God is our witness that we didn’t have greedy motives. 6 We didn’t ask for special treatment from people—not from you or from others 7 although we could have thrown our weight around as Christ’s apostles. Instead, we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children. 8 We were glad to share not only God’s good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

“They will know we are Christians by our love.” I think about this line often and wonder what folks would think if they only had one interaction with me. Would they feel a sense of belonging? Would the interaction recognize their gifts and give them a sense of kinship? Would...

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Nurturing God who calls us to embody “the gospel of God but also our own selves,” test our hearts so that the love we experience from you will be poured out to our neighbors. Amen.


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