{"id":913333,"date":"2024-09-05T11:31:47","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T15:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/?post_type=bible_study&#038;p=313333"},"modified":"2026-06-23T19:45:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T23:45:38","slug":"bible-study-pentecost-17-b-september-15-2024","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-pentecost-17-b-september-15-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Proper 19 (B) \u2013 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/proper-19b\/\">RCL: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-8; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pr19-2024-Bible-Study-Graphic-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-313334\" style=\"width:512px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-isaiah-50-4-9a\"><strong>Isaiah 50:4-9a<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this reading, one of his \u201cservant songs,\u201d Isaiah adopts the voice of God\u2019s suffering servant, the Messiah. He is to be a teacher, dedicated to relieving his people with a new lesson. He will be obedient, even through suffering and injustice. And he is resolute, leading and saving his people from perdition.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early in the school year, Isaiah reminds us what it is to teach. Teaching is a noble profession, of course, but also a noble undertaking that those of us outside the classroom can do. Just as our Lord is obedient to his Father, we can be, too. Just as he sustains the weary, wherever he finds them, we can, too. Just as he commits himself to teaching God\u2019s truth to a world rarely receptive to it \u2013 we can, too.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who taught you about Jesus?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where in this song do you hear foreshadowing of Jesus\u2019 ministry on earth?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psalm-116-1-8\"><strong>Psalm 116:1-8<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This psalm is so reassuring. Just like the psalmist, we have this compassionate guardian who watches over us, even as the grave reaches out to ensnare us. While we must accept that we will be brought low in life \u2013 probably as often as anyone! \u2013 God has given us himself and each other to help us back on our feet. Thanks be to God that we can rest secure in this knowledge!<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It can be hard to hear these praises and still see death and destruction around the world \u2013 and even closer to home. What do you think God would have you or your congregation do to confront death in all its forms?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-james-3-1-12\"><strong>James 3:1-12<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James\u2019 imagery in this piece is stunning and comes alive to us. His lesson rests on our tongues \u2013 signifying our ability to communicate with others based on our thoughts and feelings. And those thoughts and feelings, as we all know, can take a number of forms. They can be kind and generous; they can be cold and rational; they can be brave and noble; they can be cruel and biting. We are blessed with the power to use our language to build great empires, to tame the wilderness, and to raise up the downtrodden \u2013 but we are cursed with the power, used too often, to break spirits, to mock and denigrate, and to destroy the very world.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does James come off as too harsh in this reading?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where have you seen carefulness with words build something great?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mark-8-27-38\"><strong>Mark 8:27-38<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our readings once again show the power of language and teaching. Peter \u2013 who bumbles along like the rest of the disciples \u2013 gets things right; there is one answer above all for who Jesus Christ is: The Messiah. This Jesus, whose words are eternal life, whose teachings point us to the good life, whose way is narrow but open to <em>all<\/em>, this Jesus whose love encompasses those we despise \u2013 he is the Messiah. One of the greatest things we can undertake in this life is to confess this truth: he is not merely a good guy, a great teacher, a prophet, a desert philosopher, a victim of political and religious oppression \u2013 he <em>is<\/em> those things, of course \u2013 he is Lord of all.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you remember when you were first convinced that Jesus Christ is Lord?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-1bae6571-3372-472a-a882-ac11c68f4ae1\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pentecost-17-Proper-19-Bible-Study.docx\">Word \u2013 Pentecost 17 (B) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pentecost-17-Proper-19-Bible-Study.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-1bae6571-3372-472a-a882-ac11c68f4ae1\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ae7deee8-cc66-4622-bf35-cdc797ccba6e\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pentecost-17-Proper-19-Bible-Study.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Pentecost 17 (B) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Pentecost-17-Proper-19-Bible-Study.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ae7deee8-cc66-4622-bf35-cdc797ccba6e\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCL: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-8; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38 Isaiah 50:4-9a In this reading, one of his \u201cservant songs,\u201d Isaiah adopts the voice of God\u2019s suffering servant, the Messiah. He is to be a teacher, dedicated to relieving his people with a new lesson. He will be obedient, even through suffering and injustice. And he&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"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":[23,52,33,1953],"tags":[346],"class_list":["post-913333","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-proper-19b"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":1953,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":346,"label":"Proper 19B"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/913333","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\/913333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":952040,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/913333\/revisions\/952040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=913333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=913333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=913333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}