Bishop Mike's Podcast

Read more on BishopMike.com  Jesus comes to us in our prisons. (Satterlee.) What is imprisoning you? Isaiah 35:1-10
 The wilderness and the dry and shall be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom… Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong; do not be afraid!” Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped… And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. Psalm 146:5-10 Happy are those who hope in the LORD, who sets the prisoners free, who opens the eyes of the blind, who watches over strangers, who upholds the orphan and the widow, who brings the wicked to ruin. OR Luke 1:47-55 -- The Magnificat, Mary’s Song
 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, who has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, who has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly, who has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty… James 5:7-10 B

Read more on BishopMike.com.   Isaiah 11:1-10 - A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19  - Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.  Romans 15:4-13  - May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:1-12  - John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2‘Repen

Read more on BishopMike.com.   These summary themes come from Dr. Craig Satterlee, former professor at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, currently serving as bishop of the NW Lower Michigan Synod.   Isaiah 2:1-5 – A hopeful vision of the end times…  In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! Psalm 122 – I wa

Read more at BishopMike.com.   Jeremiah 23:1-6 – Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord… The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Luke 1:68-79 – The Song of Zechariah: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David.ORPsalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, we will not fear. Colossians 1:11-20 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. He is the head of the body, the church. In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through

Read more on BishopMike.com.   Isaiah 65:17-25 – The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. ORMalachi 4:1-2 – The day is coming when the arrogant and evil-doers will be stumble. But for those who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Isaiah 12 – The First Song of Isaiah. Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. ORPsalm 98 – Sing to the Lord a new song! Let the seas roar, and the floods clap their hands! Let the hills sing together for joy! 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 – Keep away from believers who are idle. Imitate us, for we were not idle when we were with you. We worked day and night to not be a burden. Do not grow weary in doing good. Luke 21:5-19 – The destruction of the Temple foretold. Nation will rise against nation. They will arrest you and persecute you. You will be hated by all because of m

Read more at BishopMike.com.   Haggai 1:15b-2:9 – Haggai prophesies the future glory of the Temple. Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? Take courage people of God. The latter splendor of this house will be greater than the former. ORJob 19:23-27a – I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God. Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 – One generation shall praise your works to another and declare your mighty acts. ORPsalm 98 – Sing to the Lord a new song! Let the seas roar, and the floods clap their hands! Let the hills sing together for joy! ORPsalm 17:1-9– Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17– Do not be alarmed or shaken by word, or by a letter, as though from us, that the day of the Lord has already come. Let no one deceive you. Luke 20:27-38 – The Sadducees, w

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 – The holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.’ Psalm 149 - Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.  Ephesians 1:11-23 – 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. Luke 6:20-31 – Blessed are you poor, hungry, weeping. Surely your reward will be great in heaven. Woe to you rich, full, laughing.

Read more on BishopMike.com.   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.   Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 – Thus says the Lord to the exiles in Babylon: Build houses; plant gardens; take wives; have children. But seek the welfare of the city to which I have sent you. OR 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c - Namaan, a Syrian, goes to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. Psalm 66:1-12 – Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth, for he has tested us, refined us like silver.ORPsalm 111 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 2 Timothy 2:8-15 – I endure everything for the elect, that they may attain salvation. If we have died with him, we will also live with him. Do your best to show yourself an approved worker. Luke 17:11-19 – Healing of the ten lepers.   October is Clergy Appreciation Month

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Central African Republic Companion Synod Sunday Jeremiah 31:27-34 – The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.ORGenesis 32:22-31 – Jacob wrestles with the angel at Peniel. Psalm 119:97-104 – Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.ORPsalm 121 – I lift my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 – Jesus will judge the living and the dead. Proclaim the message. Be persistent. Luke 18:1-8 – Parable of the Judge and the Widow (pray and don’t lose heart)

Read more at bishopmike.com. Lamentations 1:1-6 - Post-exilic. How lonely sits the empty city, once full of people! She who once was great among the nations is now a vassal. Her greatness is gone.ORLamentations 3:19-26 - The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! My hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.OR Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 - How long, O Lord, will I cry to you for help and you will not listen? How long will we cry, “Violence?” and you will not save? Psalm 137 - By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our harps.ORPsalm 37:1-9 - Don’t worry too much about the wicked. In due time they will fade like grass. Trust in the Lord and do good. 2 Timothy 1:1-14 - To Timothy, my beloved child: I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now,

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 – As the Babylonians are about to break through the walls in 588 B.C. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah why he’s prophesying the exile. Jeremiah responds by saying he’s so certain that God will restore the fortunes of Zion that he’s even bought a plot of land. Jeremiah the speculator.ORAmos 6:1a, 4-7 - Amos warns those who lie on ivory beds, lounge on couches, who sing idle songs, anoint themselves with the finest oils and drink plenty of wine (the rich), that they will be the first to be carried into exile. Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 – This is the “Eagle’s Wings” psalm: You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord and abide in the presence of the Almighty, he will deliver you from the hand of the fowler, under his wings you will find refuge. You will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day, though thousands fall around you… ORPsalm 146 - Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 - My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?ORAmos 8:4-7 - Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, 6buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat…” Psalm 79:1-9 – The nations have laid ruin to Jerusalem and given our bodies to the birds. How long, O Lord, will you kindle your anger against us?ORPsalm 113 - Praise the name of the Lord, from the rising of the sun to its setting. He raises the poor from the dust and the needy from the ashes.  1 Timothy 2:1-7 - I wish everyone to raise up their hands without anger or argument. Pray

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 – My people are stupid children with no understanding, who know how to do evil, but not good. The whole land shall be a desolation. ORExodus 32:7-14 – Moses pleads with God to turn back his wrath against the people. Psalm 14 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” You confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.ORPsalm 51:1-10 – I was a sinner from my mother’s womb. Create in me a clean heart, O God… 1 Timothy 1:12-17 – Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of which I am the foremost. Luke 15:1-10 – Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin.

Read more on bishopmike.com.   Jeremiah 18:1-11 – The potter’s house: “Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, what the potter has done?”ORDeuteronomy 30:15-20 – I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live… Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 – O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You formed me in my inward parts. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ORPsalm 1 – Happy are those who walk not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the seats of scoffers… They are like tress planted by streams of water, that yield fruit in due season… Philemon 1-21 – Nearly the entire letter to Philemon, I would read the last three verses as well. Paul’s ominous, “Prepare a guest room for me” indicates: I’m coming to check up on you to see if you followed through with my request. This letter proves that when Paul says there is no longer slave or free (Gal 5:28-29), he means it. He doesn’t mean we’ll pretend when we’re in church, that these very real social distinc

Read more at BishopMike.com. Revised Common Lectionary readings for Sunday, September 1, 2019. Jeremiah 2:4-13 – God states the case against the descendants of Jacob.ORSirach 10:12-18 – The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord.ORProverbs 25:6-7 – Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.  Psalm 81:1, 10-16 – I brought you out of the land of Egypt, but you did not obey me. So I gave you over to your stubborn desires. ORPsalm 112 – Blessed is the one who obeys the Lord. His house contains riches. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 – Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Luke 14:1, 7-14 – Jesus heals on the Sabbath and lectures on the law. Jesus teaches

Read more on Bishop Mike's Blog. Jeremiah 1:4-10 – Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you. Do not say, “I am too young.” I will give you the words you are to speak for me. ORIsaiah 58:9b-14 — God’s chosen fast: Remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. Psalm 71:1-6 – In you O Lord, I have taken shelter. Let me never be confounded. I have trusted you since you pulled me from my mother’s womb. ORPsalm 103:1-8 – Praise the Lord who forgives your sins, heals your diseases and delivers you from the Pit. Hebrews 12:18-29 – Jesus, mediator of a new covenant. The blood of Jesus replacing that of Abel. Luke 13:10-17 – Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath.

Read more on Bishop Mike's blog. Isaiah 5:1-7 – I will sing to my lover about his vineyard: It produced wild grapes. Therefore I will make it a wasteland.ORJeremiah 23:23-29 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 – Shepherd of Israel: You planted a vineyard, then tore down its walls. Support us again, and we will not turn from you.ORPsalm 82 – Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy…. Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for the nations belong to you! Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 – By faith the people passed through the Red Sea… By faith the walls of Jericho fell. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient… Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer a

Read more on Bishop Mike's blog.   Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 – Yahweh condemns Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins: injustice and oppression to the orphan and widow.
 OR Genesis 15:1-6 – The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 – The Lord calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people. OR Psalm 33:12-22 – Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God. By faith Abraham obeyed. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old. Luke 12:32-40 – Have no fear. Sell your possessions. Give alms. Be prepared like the householder and thief. For where your treasure is, t