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Weekly Commentaries

Matthew 11:2-11

Immanuel, Not Emperor This advent story of John the Baptist encourages the church to make space for the tension of reality – that in the midst of very real pain, isolation and injustice, Jesus is Lord; however, the Lordship of Jesus defies one’s expectations, whether they are placed in the first-century or today. The status quo has identified empire as a distant, powerful, and systemic domination of the vulnerable but Jesus opts for Lordship, which is characterized by His inc

Brooklin Taylor

3 min read

Isaiah 35:1-10

Our Old Testament lection this week finds itself in a seemingly odd place. The chapter before it (Isaiah 34) speaks of death, despair, and overall chaos. In this week’s lection, though, chapter 35 abruptly shouts out, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the g

Brent Neely

1 day ago4 min read

James 5:7-10

The book of James is a book all about wisdom. James is chalked full of the deeply practical wisdom that moves the community of the faithful along the path of Jesus through exhortation, inspiration, and warning. To read James as a community of faith in the season of Advent has the opportunity to inspire life practices that demonstrate the active waiting that comes as we watch and wait for the coming of the Lord. Undoubtedly, this text from James is the Epistle lesson for this

Bruce Puckett

3 min read

Luke 1:46b-55

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that repeated in my lifetime. It’s based on Thumper’s forgotten rule; “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This is something we want all our kids to learn, because we all realize how you say something carries as much meaning as what you are trying to say. While the rhetoric used in much of the presidential campaign removed Thumper’s rule to some distan

Mark Holcomb

5 min read

The Face
of
Christ

"The Face of Christ" is Rev. Dr. Brent Neely's second book. In this text, Neely invites you to explore the depts of Christian Iconagraphy.

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Rhythm

A weekly discipleship experience for students

The Second Week of December

The promises of the great reversal are being fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is here.

Nathan Jenkins

29 minutes ago8 min read

Vocatio

A weekly discipleship experience for adults.

Isaiah 11:1-10

Lesson Focus There is coming a king who will be unlike any other king we have known, who will establish a kingdom that is unlike any other kingdom we have known: a kingdom of peace. Lesson Outcomes Through this lesson, students should: Understand that from what is seemingly dead, God will begin again Understand that Jesus is a different kind of king than we have ever seen before. Understand that God’s kingdom is different than any other kingdom we have seen before. Be encoura

Jason Buckwalter

Dec 17 min read

Discipleship

DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES

APA PODCAST

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Rev. Alicia McClintic

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Rev. Jason Hill

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Liturgics

APA LITURGICS

Liturgics seeks to resource clergy with ancient, modern, and creative worship elements that will help to connect our churches more to each other and to the church historic.

Third Sunday of Advent

Call to Worship: Psalm 146:4-9 One: Arise, O Church, and look to the east! ☩ Many: The night is nearly over; the day is almost here! One: Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! whose hope is in the Lord their God; Many: Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; who keeps his promise for ever; One: Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger. Many: The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes o

Brent Neely

4 min read

APA SONG SELECTION

Weekly Song Selections for you and your worship planning!

THIS WEEK'S SELECTION

Proper 20

You Are Worthy Something Happens Our Father Nothing But the Blood Come, Christians, Join to Sing Blessed Be Your Name How Good and...

Marvin Jones

1 min read

Music

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Your Wesleyan

LECTIONARY RESOURCE

Weekly Commentaries

Matthew 11:2-11

Isaiah 35:1-10

James 5:7-10

Luke 1:46b-55

The Face
of
Christ

Rhythm

The Second Week of December

Vocatio

Isaiah 11:1-10

DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES

APA PODCAST

That'll Preach

Rev. Alicia McClintic

Rev. Megan Pardue

Sacred and Small

Rev. Jason Hill

Rev. Jason Buckwalter

APA LITURGICS

Third Sunday of Advent

APA SONG SELECTION

THIS WEEK'S SELECTION

Proper 20

SUPPORT APA

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JOIN PATREON

BUY on BOOKSHOP

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A Plain Account

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The Second Week of December

Luke 1:46b-55

Third Sunday of Advent

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