Acts 22:15

You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 3rd & 4th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Students of philosophy recognize the idea of intersubjectivity, the notion that truth is established by shared experience. The appearance of Jesus was shared in a decisive public manner, and the way the witnesses handed down the story preserved the collaborative nature of their testimony.

Luke 1:1-2

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 3rd & 4th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

For the New Testament writers, knowing that Jesus appeared mattered, largely because critics of the Christian message doubted the stories about Jesus, especially when they claimed Jesus rose from the dead.

John 18:20

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 3rd & 4th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The gospel is tangible: touchable, and in touch with human beings. Too often persons outside the church might think that Christians deal only with intangibles because they talk about spiritual things, as if the spiritual was out of touch with everyday life. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Romans 13:11

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers

From Background Notes [BN] for April 26th & 27th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Easter is, then, a call to wake up or be lost. Wake up to the generous offer of redemption from Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:6

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 26th & 27th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

By saying that Jesus “appeared,” as he does four times in 15:5-8, Paul wants to make sure that his audience hears about a bodily resurrection, and not just another way of talking about “life after death.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;  this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 26th & 27th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

There’s a progression here that moves from 1) believing the Gospel, 2) becoming included in Christ’s church, 3) sealed by the Spirit, 4) promised a future when we are fully redeemed.

1 Corinthians 15:20

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 26th & 27th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In this week’s readings, Christ is called “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” One of the benefits of Jesus’ resurrection has been his ascension to God’s right hand and the gift of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand

From Background Notes [BN] for April 26th & 27th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Much of what we do in the church by way of teaching and preaching is reminding. When this happens, old truths come alive with new meanings; old habits yield to better ones; true belief emerges from the debris of cluttered lives...

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

Romans 13:8 NRSV

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:6-7 NRSV

For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 NRSV

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures

2 Kings 5:11

But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!

From Background Notes [BN] for April 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Later he came to his senses and agreed to follow the prophet's instructions, with the result that he became clean from his leprosy. Was Peter any different from Naaman, resisting the word of the Lord?

 

John 12:5-7

“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”  (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)  Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What is important to notice is the connection Jesus draws between the anointing of his "feet" and his coming death and burial.

John 13:3-5

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,  got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

...many scholars see the actions of Jesus as prefiguring in a larger sense, what he was about to do on the cross.

John 12:26

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

And so it is that in our final study in this (4G) series, we focus our attention on Jesus the Servant whose final actions include a deed of startling service for them. In an unexpected twist, Jesus turns the social protocols on their heads by revealing the glory of God in an act of inestimable service for his followers...

John 15:8

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Of special interest is the progressive nature of fruit-bearing in our text:

Bear Fruit → Bear More Fruit →Bear Much Fruit

John 4:35-36

Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together

From Background Notes [BN] for April 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What the disciples saw when they "lifted up" their eyes, was a large number of Samaritans, unlikely candidates for the kingdom of God, at least in the Jewish mind. These are the harvest, Jesus tells them, the "fruit for eternal life."

Isaiah 5:1-2

Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.

From Background Notes [BN] for April 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

These passages emphasize the efforts of Israel's God, Yahweh, to plant, cultivate, prune, and otherwise nurture his vineyard, Israel. The purpose of God in all of this is that Israel might become a "fruitful vine."