Bible Bites

Moses is mad. God is mad. Moses changes God's mind, and then his face glows. God takes a time out.

Israel breaks their marriage vows almost immediately. Why? And what can we learn about waiting for God?

The remaining instructions for the tabernacle involve the priestly garments, the priests' installation and a few other random bits. It all concludes with a Sabbath commandment.

We explore the Outer Court, then ask how the tabernacle functioned for Israel throughout their history. What happens to the tabernacle in the New Testament? And why does it still matter today?

The Tabernacle is the climax of the Exodus story. We explore the first two spaces - the Holy of Holies and the Holy place. What are these spaces, and why do they still matter today?

We finish the book of the Covenant. Given that many of these laws seem so archaic, how do we embody the spirit of these laws in our modern churches?

We enter the book of the Covenant. What are these legal codes? Plus, how the people respond to God, why priests have to wear underwear, and a confrontation of slavery in the Scriptures.

What does it mean to covet? How is coveting tied to dissatisfaction, and why is this the capstone command? Plus: how humility and poverty are antidotes to this sin.

In a world of alternative facts, how do Christians bear faithful and true witness? We explore the implications of the 9th commandment for personal holiness, communal life and participation in our global reality.

The sexual ethics of ancient Israel were much different from today. What does it mean to follow the seventh commandment faithfully today?

What does it mean not to kill? And how does Jesus' command in the Sermon on the Mount intensify this sixth commandment?

How do we honor our parents at different stages of life? How do we honor less-than-perfect parents? And how does Jesus' redefinition of family affect this commandment?

What is the Sabbath day? And how can we keep Sabbath today?

Misusing God's name means much more than saying, "Oh my God!" Why is God so concerned with God's reputation? And what does following this commandment look like today?

The Second Commandment isn't about not worshiping other gods. It's about not reducing Yahweh to a physical place or space. PLUS: an extended conversation on how this manifests in the Church.

What does it mean to have other gods? And why is this the first commandment? Idolatry is an insidious sin. We explore it to kick off our investigation of the 10 Commandments!

Before we explore each of the 10 Commandments, we take a look at the big picture. What is the Decalogue? How does it function in Exodus, in the Torah and in the contemporary Church?

The people are afraid. God warns them they'll die. Moses goes up the mountain.

God initiates a covenant. The people accept.

Moses is overworked, so his father-in-law gives him some sage advice. What implications does his advice have for how we do ministry? And what implications does the identity of the sage have for how we do ministry?