{"id":881801,"date":"2023-02-05T16:35:24","date_gmt":"2023-02-05T21:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/?post_type=bible_study&#038;p=281801"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:17:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:17:43","slug":"bible-study-lent-2-a-march-5-2023","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-lent-2-a-march-5-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Lent 2 (A) \u2013 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/lent-2a\/\"><strong>[RCL]<\/strong> <strong>Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/L2-2023-Bible-Study-Graphic-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-281807\" style=\"width:512px;height:268px\" width=\"512\" height=\"268\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Genesis 12:1-4a<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our first reading begins abruptly with a command spoken by the Lord to Abram: \u201cGo.\u201d Given our usual experience with contemporary narratives, we might expect such an important command to be preceded by a richly textured biographical and psychological context, detailing the rich personalities of Abram, Sarai, and this command-giving Lord. However, Genesis 11 provides few details other than genealogy, and Abram\u2019s response is reported without fanfare: \u201cSo Abram went.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This passage and its lack of detail express the strangeness of God\u2019s action in electing \u2014 choosing \u2014 particular human beings for God\u2019s purposes. Though divine election might seem to us like a kind of arbitrary blessing on God\u2019s class pet at the expense of everyone else, here we see that God\u2019s choosing of particular persons is always meant to have universal significance beyond the individual. Yes, Abram will be blessed by God\u2019s choice, but this blessing will always be intended for others \u2014 \u201cin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d In the Divine plan, care for the particular and the universal seem not to be opposed, but even joined!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why do you think the story of Abram\u2019s calling was written with such sparse detail?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can you think of a current political conflict where local and collective interests are often seen as competitive? How might the story of Abram being blessed to be a blessing change how we normally see things?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Psalm 121<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though our other reading from the Old Testament might have been a bit lacking in subjective experience, here \u2014 as in so much of the psalter \u2014 there is no lack of emotion or individuality. Perhaps we might pair these texts together \u2013 I can certainly imagine Abram and Sarai praying similar words as they set out on their journey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The psalmist begins by gesturing to the hills on the horizon in hope for some kind of assistance \u2014 will help come from these? The psalmist answers their own question: it is the one who made these hills and all heaven and earth \u2014 even the Lord \u2014 who provides help to their cries. God is beyond the created hills, but not beyond caring for the created hills and those who dwell in and beneath them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the radical otherness of divine knowledge and power can often be experienced as a kind of fear-inducing tyranny that destroys human agency and privacy, here, the psalmist then goes on to relay their experience of God\u2019s constant presence as deeply comforting. God\u2019s watch protects both the individual psalmist and all Israel together \u2014 again as in our previous lesson, God\u2019s care for the individual and collective is united here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Psalm 121 is listed as one of the options for the psalm in the Episcopal burial office. How might this context affect how you understand this psalm?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Romans 4:1-5, 13-17<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In our epistle, we return with Saint Paul to the story of Abraham (don\u2019t worry \u2014 he\u2019s the same Abram as before, only now with a divinely-added syllable as reported in Genesis 17). It\u2019s difficult to hear these words without the polemics of the Reformation ringing in our ears, but it\u2019s worth attempting to hear this teaching from our brother Paul with fresh ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s look at verse 4: \u201cNow to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.\u201d&nbsp; This pairing of gift and wage is an antithesis that is less common than the New Testament\u2019s favorite duo \u2014 faith and works \u2014 but here Saint Paul seems to be drawing a comparison. If Abraham had been justified by his works rather than by faith, it would be as if he were a kind, diligent, wage-earning employee. Saint Paul\u2019s insistence that the justification of a human occurs only by faith, then, preserves a vision of God as a lavish gift-giver, rather than a penny-pinching boss. I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019ve had enough bosses in this life to not want another one for eternity \u2014 and I find the former image to keep much closer to what I read in Scripture of the God of Israel, who lovingly chooses in freedom to be <em>for<\/em> humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In light of this passage, what do you think Saint Paul might say to someone who feels like they haven\u2019t done enough to deserve God\u2019s love?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>John 3:1-17<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a gospel like John\u2019s where Jesus is constantly speaking in such rich symbolism about eating bodies and drinking blood, Nicodemus\u2019 confusion about hearing about some kind of birth from above might resonate with us readers of this text.&nbsp; I\u2019d go even further \u2013 it seems to me that Nicodemus\u2019 \u201cHow can these things be?\u201d is a question that John intentionally wants to provoke in his readers, and I think we have a good deal to learn from our friend Nicodemus here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those of us on the other side of the developed sacramental system of the Church, we might think Jesus\u2019 teachings here are quite straightforward. \u201cNo one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above\u201d \u2013 we might be tempted to respond, \u201cSilly Nicodemus, that\u2019s Holy Baptism!\u201d Yet, I think Nicodemus\u2019 confusion is instructive here \u2013 do we really understand the wonders of our baptismal rebirth without responding with frank astonishment? For all our rote familiarity with the rituals of the church, we might remember Nicodemus\u2019 awe at the next baptism we witness or Lord\u2019s Supper we celebrate \u2013 \u201cHow can this be?\u201d is certainly an appropriate reaction to these mysteries by which we catch a glimpse of the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What in the gospels or in your own life has made you ask God, \u201cHow can this be?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite it being one of the best-known verses in the Bible, it might be strange to see John 3:16 in its full context here. Does reading it with this surrounding narrative change how you think about it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-bf79d472-9530-4da4-befc-2a414c0fa14d\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bible-Study-Lent-2-English.docx\">Word \u2013 Lent 2 (A) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bible-Study-Lent-2-English.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-bf79d472-9530-4da4-befc-2a414c0fa14d\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-0cc6bd9c-5a75-4b2f-b906-8f0c6130c22c\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bible-Study-Lent-2-English.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Lent 2 (A) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bible-Study-Lent-2-English.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-0cc6bd9c-5a75-4b2f-b906-8f0c6130c22c\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[RCL] Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 Genesis 12:1-4a Our first reading begins abruptly with a command spoken by the Lord to Abram: \u201cGo.\u201d Given our usual experience with contemporary narratives, we might expect such an important command to be preceded by a richly textured biographical and psychological context, detailing the rich&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201221,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,51,52,3],"tags":[151],"class_list":["post-881801","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-lent","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-lent-2a"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":51,"label":"Lent"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":151,"label":"Lent 2A"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/881801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bible_study"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/881801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951925,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/881801\/revisions\/951925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=881801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=881801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=881801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}