Bishop Mike's Podcast

Read more on BishopMike.com Merciful God, your Son was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself. Grant that we who have been born out of his wounded side may at all times find mercy in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 – The Song of the Suffering Servant. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… Psalm 22 – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Hebrews 10:16-25 – I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. New covenant. orHebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, let us hold fast to our confession.  John 18:1 - 19:42 – John’s passion: arrest, trail, crucifixion.

Read more on BishopMike.com Passion/Palm Sunday - April 5, 2020   Processional Psalm and Gospel Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Matthew 21:1-11   Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14 - 27:66  OR  Matthew 27:11-54

Read more on BishopMike.com Lent 5A – March 29, 2020 Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The Valley of the Dry Bones. I am going to bring you up from your graves, my people.  Psalm 130 – Out of the depths I cry to you.  Romans 8:6-11 - If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. John 11:1-45 – The Raising of Lazarus

Read more on BishopMike.com Lent 4A - March 22, 2020 1 Samuel 16:1-13 – Humans look on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. Ephesians 5:8-14 – Live as children of the light. Sleeper awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. John 9:1-41 – Healing of the Man Born Blind

Read more at BishopMike.com Lent 3A - March 15, 2020 Exodus 17:1-7 - Moses brings water out of a rock at Massah and Meribah. Psalm 95 - The Venite: O Come, let us sing to the Lord, let us shout for joy to the God of our salvation.  Romans 5:1-11 - Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ… We boast in our sufferings, for suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character… While we were weak, Christ died for the ungodly.  John 4:5-42 - The Woman at the Well. “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

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Read more on BishopMike.com Lent 2A - March 8, 2020 Genesis 12:1-4a – God calls Abram at 75 to leave his country and kindred. “I will bless you to be a blessing.”Psalm 121 – I lift my eyes to the hills. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. The Lord will be your shade. The sun will not strike you. The Lord will keep your going out and coming in forevermore.Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 – The promise rests not only on the adherents to the law, but to those who share the faith of Abraham. John 3:1-17  – Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the night. Born again. Lent at-a-glance The Gospel readings for Lent in Cycle A of the lectionary are the traditional texts that catechumenates studied in preparation for baptism. What if every new member class studied and reflected on these texts? Lent 1 (March 1, 2020): Matthew 4 (The Temptation in the Wilderness) Lent 2 (March 8, 2020): John 3 (Nicodemus) or Matthew 17 Lent 3 (March 15, 2020): John 4 (Woman at the Well) Lent 4: (March 22, 2020) John 9 (Healing of the Man Bo

Read more on BishopMike.com Lent 1A - March 1, 2020 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 - Adam and Eve eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. “On the day that you eat of it, you shall die.” Psalm 32 - Happy are those whose transgression is covered, whose sin is forgiven. Romans 5:12-19 - Death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus’ 40-day fast and the Temptation in the Wilderness

Read more on BishopMike.com Ash Wednesday ABC – February 26, 2020 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 – Blow the trumpet. Sound a fast. Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Tear your hearts, not your garments. OR Isaiah 58:1-12 – Fasting as you do will not make your voice heard on high. This is the fast I choose: loose the bonds of injustice, set the oppressed free, share your bread with the hungry, invite the homeless poor into your house. Psalm 51:1-17 – Indeed I am guilty, a sinner from my mother’s womb. Wash me thoroughly and I shall be clean. 2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 – Be reconciled to God. Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! We have endured many afflictions. Dying yet alive. Punished yet not killed. Sorrowful yet rejoicing. Poor yet rich! Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 – Don’t practice your piety before others ostentatiously, so that you can be seen. Direct your fasting to God. Your reward is in heaven.

Read more on BishopMike.com Epiphany 7A - February 23, 2020 For Transfiguration A, CLICK HERE Prayer of the Day – Holy God of compassion, you invite us into your way of forgiveness and peace. Lead us to love our enemies, and transform our words and deeds to be like his through whom we pray, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Psalm 119:33-40 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Matthew 5:38-48    

Read more on BishopMike.com Prayer of the Day – O God, strength of all who hope in you, because we are weak mortals we accomplish nothing good without you. Help us to see and understand the things we ought to do, and give us grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 OR Sirach 15:15-20Psalm 119:1-81 Corinthians 3:1-9Matthew 5:21-37 

Read more on BishopMike.com Epiphany 5A - February 9, 2020 Prayer of the Day – Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12)  Psalm 112:1-9, (10)  1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)  Matthew 5:13-20 

Read more on BishopMike.com Below you will find the links to the texts and some sermon thoughts for Sunday, February 2, 2020 - Epiphany 4A. You can also listen to these thoughts on the podcast.   Mike Bishop Michael Rinehart Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA   Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 5:1-12

Read more on BishopMike.com Epiphany 3A - January 26, 2020   Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 4-9 - 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23   Lent A at-a-glance   Ash Wednesday: Matthew 6 – Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Lent 1: Matthew 4: The Temptation in the Wilderness Lent 2: John 3 (Nicodemus) or Matthew 17 Lent 3: John 4 (Woman at the Well) Lent 4: John 9 (Healing of the Man Born Blind) Lent 5: John 11 (The Raising of Lazarus) Palm/Passion Sunday: Matthew 21 and 26 or 27

Read more on BishopMike.com Epiphany 2A - January 19, 2020 Isaiah 49:1-7
- And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him... "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Psalm 40:1-11
- I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God... 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
– Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth... I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind... so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ..

The Baptism of our Lord A  – January 12, 2020 Prayer of the Day – O God our Father, at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful to their calling to be our daughters and sons, and empower us all with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Isaiah 42:1-9 – Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Psalm 29 – The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. Acts 10:34-43 – You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing go

Read more on BishopMike.com We know who God is! (Satterlee.) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jeremiah 31:7-14 - God will gather all people ORSirach 24:1-12 - Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory in the midst of her people Psalm 147:12-20 - He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD! ORWisdom of Solomon 10:15-21She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters; 19 but she drowned their enemies, and cast them up from the depths of the sea. 20 Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly; they sang hymns

Read more on BishopMike.com Jesus brings us out of our exile. (Satterlee.) Christmas 1A – December 29, 2019   Isaiah 63:7-9 Psalm 148 Hebrews 2:10-18 Matthew 2:13-23

Read more on BishopMike.com The Nativity of Our Lord (Set I) – December 24/25 Be not afraid! (Satterlee.) Be filled with great joy. God indeed is with us, bringing God’s promised future. Turn from your fear. Like the shepherds, let’s go see. Isaiah 9:2-7  Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) – Be not afraid. Mary treasured these things in her heart. The Nativity of Our Lord (Set II) – December 24/25  Isaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 The Nativity of Our Lord (Set III) – December 24/25 Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) John 1:1-14    

Read more on BishopMike.com Jesus comes to us in visions, nudges and dreams. (Satterlee) Isaiah 7:10-16 A young woman is with child and shall bear a son named “God With Us.” Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Stir up your power and come to save us. Restore us, O God. Let your face shine, that we may be saved. Romans 1:1-7 Paul is set apart for the gospel of God, concerning Jesus, promised through the prophets, descended from David, and declared to be the Son of God by resurrection, according to the Spirit. Matthew 1:18-25 An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”