Weekly Practice 1/12/26

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

Matthew 5:17-20 GNT

“Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things. So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.”

Here are some different translations to try out as well: 

New King James Version 

New Testament for Everyone (translated by N.T. Wright)

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Practice

Rethinking our relationship with the Bible: Part 2

This week, watch or listen to the next episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Scripture 02: When the Bible seems weird to you. Then, reflect on the following questions:

• How do you respond when the Bible is strange, confusing, or even offensive to you? Do you dig in and study it out? Set it aside and try not to think about it? Are you unsure of what to do?

• According to the Bible Project, "The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus." Is this a new concept for you? How might this approach change the way you read and relate to Scripture?

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All the Wright moves

Here’s a link to the book our guest speaker, Glenn Schroder, mentioned yesterday. Tom Wright is a New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and Anglican bishop. He’s translated the New Testament (see link above) and written numerous books and Bible commentaries. He also has a great podcast. It's especially nice if dense, Biblical academia is not your cup of tea. And speaking of tea, Tom has a lovely, British accent!

Weekly Practice 1/5/26

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

John 15:1-8 NRSV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

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Practice

Rethinking our relationship with the Bible

This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Scripture 01: Rethinking our relationship with the Bible. Then, reflect on the following questions:

• How do you read the Bible? As an instruction manual? As a source of inspiration? In some other way?

• How does the concept of the Bible being “human and divine literature” sit with you? Is this a new idea? Is it challenging? Uncomfortable? Encouraging?

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Try some other translations

As you reread (yes, try to read it more than once) and meditate on John 15:1-8, check out some other Bible translations. The one above is the New Revised Standard Version. Your own Bible is likely something different. Reading different translations gets us out of overfamiliarity with the Scriptures, can give us new insight into a passage, and reminds us to approach the Bible with humility and curiosity. Here are a few recommendations:

New American Standard Bible

English Standard Version

New Living Translation

New International Reader’s Version

The Message

Weekly Practice 12/30/25

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

Psalm 131 NASB

Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant;

Nor do I involve myself in great matters,

Or in things too difficult for me.

I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul;

Like a weaned child resting against his mother,

My soul within me is like a weaned child.

Israel, wait for the Lord

From this time on and forever.

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Practice

Silence & Solitude

Another Christmas, come and gone. Some of us may still be buzzing from the noise and busyness of last week. Some of us may be exhausted. Others may be eager and ready for the new year to begin. Now is a great time to press pause and recenter on what God is doing in us. 

This week, carve out some time (shoot for an hour) to be alone. Go for a walk, to a coffeeshop, the library, your closet. Somewhere quiet and alone. And in this silence and solitude, prayerfully consider the following:

• How is my soul? If you can’t tell, or your mind won’t settle, ask God to calm you and to place his finger on anything he wants you to pay attention to.

• If you need to, talk with God about what comes to your mind. Or, just remain silent and attentive to his presence.

• When you’re done, write down whatever seems important. 

• Over the next week, keep coming back to what God has shown you. Keep talking about it with him. Or, keep finding moments to be alone and hold it before him in silent attentiveness.

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Worship for the New Year

If you’re like me, you may want something fresh to listen to as we enter 2026. This Josh Garrels album of familiar worship tunes done new is pretty sweet.

Weekly Practice 12/22/25

After doing this week’s practice, try to share your experience with a friend.

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Scripture

Luke 2:36-38 NLT

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

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Practice

Christmas week is upon us. For all the warmth and delight it brings, it may also be filled with travel, preparations, obligations, last minute shopping, awkward family interactions, sleeping on uncomfortable guest beds, or boxing up the decorations (unless you’re one of those weirdos who leaves your tree up until February). It’s going to be busy for a lot of us, with probably too much already crammed in. 

This week, instead of a new practice, consider going back to one you may have missed or want to revisit. A poem a day can be a lot to keep up with. Maybe you haven’t tried visio divina yet. 

And there’s no hurry. In liturgical church calendars, the Christmas season begins on Christmas day and runs into the new year. Though “the big dance” will come and go by this Friday, we don’t have to rush on. It may be good for us to linger a while longer, like Anna in the Temple. She stuck around, and she saw the Messiah. It might even be a little easier to hear or see what God has for us as the season winds and quiets down.

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One last Christmas banger

Tony Anderson is one of my faves, and this piece is 14+ minutes of atmospheric bliss.