Concord Church, Statesville NC

The imagery of woman being created from man’s rib has caused a lot of problems throughout history, as has the label, “helper”. But, in the scripture itself, there isn’t any hierarchy implied. Instead, the story emphasizes how the two of them become one unit.
- I wonder how Adam felt when we was the only human being in the garden?
- If Adam needed a helper to make it through life, than so do you. How do you seek help?

It’s a pretty simple concept – God made human beings in the image of God and asked them to make more human beings to spread around the image of God. And yet, we make it more and more complicated. Does that make God looks physically like a human person? If so, which one? Or is it a metaphor saying in personality we are like God? What about all this dominion of the creation language? One thing is true, humans are made in God’s image. All of them.
- I wonder why God handed creation over to humans to care for and rule it? What do you wonder?
- If humans, all humans, are made in God’s image, how should that shape how we relate to other people?

This is a slightly different version of the creation story than may be familiar to us. There are no days or separations of activities. It simply tell us God created the world, first springs, then plants, then humanity. Here, humanity isn’t given “dominion” but asked to tend the earth. The relationship here seems more nurturing and caring, both between God and people, and between people and earth.
- If Jesus were the one portrayed as speaking these words to you, how might it change your understanding of the passage?
- What would you like to ask God about this passage?

July 24, 2022 at Concord Presbyterian. Scripture Reading is 1 Peter 3:13-22
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Music and lyrics used by permission from
CCLI License # CSPL086812
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It’s unusual for the Bible to tell us right out what the symbols are supposed to mean – Jesus only does it one time with his parables – but John goes to lengths here to explain why the lamb is put together with all these extra bits. Except, in this case, the explanation doesn’t seem to help us understand it any better! The prayer helps us more. The Spirit goes out to the end of the world, helping us to live lives worthy of God.
- I wonder what the song sounded like and the incense smelled like? What do you wonder?
- Do you think it’s important to understand the mechanics of each part of the Bible? Or is is the experience or image enough?

July 10, 2022 at Concord Presbyterian. Scripture Reading is 1 Peter 1:3-23
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Music and lyrics used by permission from
CCLI License # CSPL086812
One License # A-735433

Rueben, Joseph's brother, compounded his troubles by trying to cover up his complicity in the selling of his brother and lying to his father. Today's (almost) daily devotion looks at the ways we try to avoid the truth and how it hurts us in the end.
music used with permission from bensounds.com

Rueben, Joseph's brother, did just enough to feel like he did *something* but not enough to actually change the situation. Today's (almost) daily devotion talks about the ways we avoid the hard change.
Songs used with Permission from bensounds.com

Joseph was kind of an arrogant jerk. But his brother's jealousy and anger wasn't the right response. In today's (almost) daily devotion, we hear the stories of brothers who couldn't get along.
Songs used with permission from bensounds.com

June 26, 2022 at Concord Presbyterian. Exodus 20: 12-16
concordpreschurch.com
Music and lyrics used by permission from
CCLI License # CSPL086812
One License # A-735433