Bishop Mike's Podcast

Read more on BishopMike.com (español) EPIPHANY 3B – January 24, 2021 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – After the incident with the big fish, God told Jonah again to go and call Ninevah to repentance. He did. They believed him. The king called a fast and told the people to turn from evil and violent ways. God changed his mind about destroying Nineveh. Psalm 62:5-12 – For God alone my soul waits in silence… Steadfast love belongs to the Lord, who repays all according to their work. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – The appointed time has grown short. Don’t get married, grieve, rejoice, shop or deal with the world. For the present form of this world is passing away. Mark 1:14-20 – Jesus preaches in Galilee and calls disciples: The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good news. Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to fish for people. Jesus calls James and John.

Read more on BishopMike.com (español) Epiphany 2B –January 17, 2021 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) – The Lord calls to Samuel, who thinks it is Eli. “Speak your servant is listening.” Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 – Lord you have searched me, and know me… Where can I go to flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. You knit me in my inner parts… 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. Your bodies are members of Christ… You were bought with a price, therefore glorify God with your body. John 1:43-51 – Jesus finds Philip and says to him, “Follow me.” Philip goes and tells Nathaniel. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” “Come and see.”

Read more on BishopMike.com (español) THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD – January 10, 2021 Genesis 1:1-5 – In the beginning God created, by the Word and the Spirit hovered… Psalm 29 – Ascribe to the Lord O heavenly beings… glory and strength. The voice of the Lord is over the waters. Acts 19:1-7 – Paul encounters disciples in Ephesus who were baptized with John’s baptism. They are baptized again in the name of Jesus. Paul lays hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:4-11 – John appears in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, and pointing to Jesus. Jesus is baptized, and a voice comes from heaven: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Read more on BishopMike.com Epiphany Sunday – January 3, 2021 Epiphany - January 6, 2021    Isaiah 60:1-6 – Arise! Shine! Your light has come… Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn… they shall bring gold and frankincense and bring the praise of the Lord.
   Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 - Give the king your justice, and righteousness to a king’s son. May all kings fall down before him, and nations give him service.
   Ephesians 3:1-12 – The mystery made known by revelation: That the Gentiles have now become fellow heirs.
   Matthew 2:1-12 – The magi consult with Herod, then visit the child Jesus with his mother Mary. They offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, returning to their country by another road.

Read more on BishopMike.com CHRISTMAS 1B – December 27, 2020 Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3 – I will rejoice in the Lord. My whole being shall exult in my God… The nations shall see your vindication and the kings your glory. Psalm 148 – Praise the Lord, heavens, heights, angels, moon, earth, sea monsters, deep, fruit trees, cedars… Galatians 4:4-7 – When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, under the law, so we might receive adoption. Luke 2:22-40 – Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. Simeon’s Song. A light to reveal you to the Gentiles. And the child grew in stature and wisdom.

Read more on BishopMike.com Advent 4B – December 20, 2020 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 – David’s house is built, and now he wants to move God from the tent (wilderness tabernacle) to a house (temple). Luke 1:47-55 – The Magnificat. Mary’s song. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… (ELW pp. 314-315, hymns 236, 251, 573, 723, 882, 723) OR Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 – I will establish David’s line forever. Romans 16:25-27 – God will give you strength through the gospel… to bring about the obedience of faith. Luke 1:26-38 – The Annunciation: Gabriel appears to Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the House of David. “Hail Mary! Be not afraid… You will bear a son and name him Jesus. Nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responds, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Read more on BishopMike.com Advent 3B - December 13, 2020 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 – The spirit of the Lord God is upon me… he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn… to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. Psalm 126 – When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter… The Lord has done great things for us… Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. ORLuke 1:46-55 – The Magnificat. Mary’s song. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… (ELW pp. 314-315, hymns 236, 251, 573, 723, 882, 723) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 – Respect those who work among you in the G

Read more on BishopMike.com Advent 2B – December 6, 2020 Isaiah 40:1-11 – Comfort, comfort ye my people… A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted. Thou who tellest good tidings to Zion… He shall feed his flock…
  Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
- Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.  Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 2 Peter 3:8-15a
- With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, The day of the Lord will come like a thief… The elements will be dissolved like fire… Therefore wait in peace with patience. Mark 1:1-8 – Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord! John appeared in the wilderness. Many were baptized by him, confessing their sins.

Read more on BishopMike.com November 29, 2020 is Advent 1B Isaiah 64:1-9 – O that you would tear open the heavens and come down… Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 – Stir up your power O Lord and come to save us. 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 – God will strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 13:24-37 – But about that day… no one knows, neither the angels… nor the Son…

Read more on BishopMike.com November 22, 2020 is Christ the King/Reign of Christ A Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 – I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between fat sheep and lean sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. Psalm 100 – Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ORPsalm 95:1-7a – O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Ephesians 1:15-23 – God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, … And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Matthew 25:31-46 – The parable of the Sheep and the Goats Prayer of

Listen to more on BishopMike.com November 15, 2020 is Pentecost 24A/Proper 28A/Ordinary 34A Judges 4:1-7 – Read the whole chapter to get the context. Israel did evil, so God turned them over to Canaan who had 900 chariots with iron-rimmed wheels. They cried out to the Lord. Deborah the prophetess, who sat under her date palm tree settling disputes, summoned Barak, telling him to gather 10,000 troops, for God would deliver General Sisera and his chariots over to them. ORZephaniah 1:7, 12-18  – Silent before the Lord, for the day of judgment is almost here. I will punish those entrenched in sin. It won’t be pretty. Neither silver nor gold will deliver them from the Lord’s angry judgment. Their blood will be poured out like dirt. Psalm 123 – Four verses: my eyes look up to you enthroned in heaven, like a servant to a master. Show us favor. We have had our fill of humiliation. ORPsalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12 – Lord you have been our protector through all generations. You make us return to the dust. To you a thousand y

Read more on BishopMike.com November 8, 2020 is Pentecost 23A/Proper 27A/Ordinary 33A Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 - Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem, telling them to put away the gods they worshipped beyond the Euphrates, in Iraq/Mesopotamia, where Abraham came from. Choose this day whom you shall serve... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. The people agree. (So Joshua sets it up as a law and erects a standing stone.) OR Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 - Wisdom is radiant and unfading... One who rises early to find her will have no difficulty. OR Amos 5:18-24- Woe to those who wish for the day of the Lord. It will be dark and disastrous. I despise your festivals, religious assemblies, burnt and grain offerings, and songs. Take away your songs and instead let just roll down like mighty waters and righteousness like a forever-flowing stream. ELW 717, 710 Psalm 78:1-7 - God set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants, so that the next generation, chi

Read More on BishopMike.com November 1, 2020 is All Saints A ALL SAINTS RITE Revelation 7:9-17 – John’s apocalyptic vision of white-robed martyrs standing before the throne and the Lamb, along with the angels, the elders and the four creatures. They hunger no more, nor thirst (Isaiah 49:10). The sun does not strike them nor heat (Psalm 121:6). God wipes away every tear (Isaiah 25:8). ELW 422, 423, Psalm 34:1-10, 22 – I will bless the Lord at all times… I sought the Lord and he answered me… Taste and see that the Lord is good. ELW 493 1 John 3:1-3 – See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God… Matthew 5:1-12 – The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. ELW 728 We also had the Beatitudes Epiphany 4A. The Beatitudes “placemat” can be found here: 01-24-11 Beatitudes Study Placemat

Read more on BishopMike.com October 25, 2020 – REFORMATION SUNDAY Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah: law on their hearts. Psalm 46 – The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:4) Romans 3:19-28 – No one will be justified by the law. Now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed. John 8:31-36 – You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Read more on BishopMike.com October 18, 2020 is Pentecost 20A, Proper 24A/Ordinary 30A  Exodus 33:12-23 - Moses asks to see God’s glory. God says, “You cannot see my face,” but allows Moses to see his backside. ORIsaiah 45:1-7 - God promises Cyrus, his anointed (messiah) that he will use him to subdue the nations and strip kings of their robes, even though Cyrus does not know God. Psalm 99 - The Lord is king. He sits enthroned upon the cherubim. Moses, Aaron and Samuel are his priests. ORPsalm 96:1-9, (10-13) - Sing to the Lord a new song. The gods of the peoples are but idols. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - The Thessalonians turned from their idols to worship the living God, and to wait for his Son, Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. Matthew 22:15-22 – The question about paying taxes. Prayer of the Day Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Sav

Read more on BishopMike.com October 11, 2020 is Pentecost 19A/Proper 23A/Ordinary 26A  Exodus 32:1-14 – The Hebrew people create a golden calf to worship while Moses is receiving the law and commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. Moses convinces God not to destroy them in response to their disobedience. OR Isaiah 25:1-9 – On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast…and he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples…he will swallow up death forever. This is the Lord for whom we have waited. Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 – Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior. OR Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Philippians 4:1-9 – Rejoice in the

Read more on BishopMike.com October 4, 2020 is Pentecost 18A/Proper 22A/Ordinary 28A Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 – The Ten Commandments ORIsaiah 5:1-7 – My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. Psalm 19 – The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul… Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. OR Psalm 80:7-15 – Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. Philippians 3:4b-14 – Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. Matthew 21:33-46 – The parable of the Wicked Tenants Prayer of the DayBeloved God, from you

Read more on BishopMike.com September 27, 2020 is Pentecost 17A/Proper 21A/Ordinary 27A  Exodus 17:1-7 – The people quarrel with Moses: Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” Moses strikes the rock for water. OR Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 – You will no longer say, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” Cast away all your transgressions, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Turn, then, and live. Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 – God divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night long with a fiery light. He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers. ORPsalm 25:1-9 – Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Philippian

Read more on BishopMike.com September 20, 2020 is Pentecost 16A/Proper 20A/Ordinary 26A Exodus 16:2-15 – The Israelites complain against Moses. They receive manna and quail. OR Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 – Nineveh repents and YHWH changes his mind. Jonah gets angry. Psalm 105:106, 37-45 – A song celebrating delivery from Egypt and quails in the wilderness. OR Psalm 145:1-8 – God’s providence. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. Philippians 1:21-30 – For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Matthew 20:1-16 – Grace: Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. Prayer of the Day Almighty and eternal God, you show perpetual loving kindness to us your servants. Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia. Open our | he

Read more on BishopMike.com September 13, 2020 is Pentecost 15A/Proper 19A/Ordinary 25A Exodus 14:19-31 – CROSSING OVER: The Israelites are delivered from the Egyptians, through the Red Sea. ORGenesis 50:15-21 – Joseph forgives his brothers. “Even though you intended it for evil, God intended it for good…” Psalm 114 – When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. ORExodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 – Moses’ song of victory: “I will sing unto The Lord for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea…” ORPsalm 103:(1-7), 8-13 – The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. Romans 14:1-12 – Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions… Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another?… Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise yo