Scripture Nugget 9:19:2015

“Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel; for the LORD has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or loyalty, and no knowledge of God in the land. Swearing, lying, and murder, and stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and all who live in it anguish; ….are perishing.” (Hosea 4:1-3a)

“The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; they changed their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.” (Hosea 4:7-8)

“Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; and on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:1-3)

Scripture Nugget 9.18.2015

“My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face to the ground. But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees. He said to me, ‘Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.’ So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. He said to me, ‘Do not fear…..Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened.” Daniel, 10:8b-12a, 19)

Scripture Nugget 9.17.2015

“Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying,

‘Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame, as at this day falls on us…….’” Daniel 9:3-7a

Scripture Nugget 9.16.2015

“-this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king: You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will. As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that Heaven is sovereign. Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.” Daniel 4:24-27

Scripture Nugget 9.15.2015

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.’” Daniel 3:16-18

Scripture Nugget 9.13.2105

“Then he brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And there, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east; the sound was like the sound of mighty waters; and the earth shone with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and the vision that I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:1-5

Wesleyan Core Term

Christian Conferencing

To confer with Christian sisters and brothers can be a means of grace. Together we can study the Scriptures, discuss how best to apply them to our lives, and then hold one another accountable for living faithfully. In this way God can work through the body of Christ. For individuals, this happens best in small groups as we process the decisions we face daily. Such conferring offers some of the best opportunities for growth in faith and action. On a broader level, congregations and whole denominations use Christian conferencing to discern God’s will and make decisions about their lives together. Beginning in 1744, John Wesley gathered preachers together annually for a conference about what to teach, how to teach, and what to do (how to regulate doctrine, discipline, and practice). As a means of grace, such conferences should always be open to the role of the Holy Spirit in shaping our thoughts, actions, and decisions. -Wesley Study Bible (pg 1425)

Scripture Nugget 9.11.2015

9.11.2015 (Ezekiel 37-39) “Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore, prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves. O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.’” Holy Spirit

Ezekiel witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem (24:1-2), saw Judah’s leaders go into Babylonian exile, and watched Judah lose its land and temple. Despite these traumas, Ezekiel preaches that the Holy Spirit will renew the desolate land so it will “become like the garden of Eden” (36:35). In his vision, dry bones come to life because of the “breath” (or spirit) of God (37:10). God promised the exiles, “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live” (37:14). God’s Spirit breathed upon Ezekiel and enabled him to promise a new Judah, a return from exile, a cleansed people, and a new heart. The Spirit moved God’s people from trauma to renewal amid and after the exile. John Wesley used this image of the Spirit of God breathing new life to talk about how God enlivens Christians, both initially in the Spirit’s witness that makes us new and through “spiritual respiration” that sustains our relationship with God. Wesley Study Bible pg 1035