Feb. 4, 2023 Pastor Rich Knight Deuteronomy 6:1-9 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days […]
Cain smiting Abel with God’s Expulsion of Cain from the Garden of Eden is a painting by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734) January 14, 2024 M.L. King Weekend Context: The story of Cain and Abel is the second story in the Bible. Ch. 1 is a poetic celebration of God’s Creation of all that is. […]
Pastor Rich Knight October 15, 2023 Mark 5: 21-43 Introduction to Mark The 1st Gospel to be written in the form we have them today. Author: the traditional view is that Mark was a travelling companion of Peter and Paul, and that Mark’s Gospel records the teaching/sermon material of Peter. Peter calls him, […]
Sept. 24, 2023 Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC We’re studying the Gospels this Fall, in a series entitled, “One Good News, Four Distinct Views.” Today’s Gospel is the very first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel is the most Jewish of all the gospels. He’s writing for […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Sept. 10, 2023 We’re going to be studying the Gospels this month and next. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. We’ll talk about the unique perspective of each gospel. But I want to start this week […]
Pastor Rich Knight July 23, 2023 Exodus 16:1-21 Before I read the passage, I want to offer a suggestion for studying Old Testament stories. It’s this: Don’t worry about, did it happen or not? That’s not the point of the stories! They were not written down to inform, but rather to inspire and instruct. […]
Pastor Rich Knight July 16, 2023 Exodus 17:8-13 – the setting is that the Israelites are in the wilderness. It’s two months after their escape from Egypt. Perhaps in the year 1445 BC. Amalek is mentioned in this passage. He was the grandson of Esau. Remember the Jacob and Esau story, where Jacob stole […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church July 2, 2023 One thing to note: in the first verse we’re going to look at, Peter is quoting Exodus 19:6 – “You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Peter knew his Bible, which for him was the OT. I Peter 2:9-17 […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church, UCC Father’s Day, June 18, 2023 We’re going to look at 2 Old Testament stories today. Here’s something to remember about Old Testament stories: The Bible doesn’t tell us what should have happened. The Bible tells us what actually happened, and we’re supposed to figure it out […]
Pastor Rich Knight Central Congregational Church June 4, 2023 II Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV translation) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with […]