Bible Study Wednesday at 6:30

Hi everyone, This Sunday we continue with our "vineyard" parables, which we may unfortunately misunderstand as being Anti-Semitic. Unfortunately, we are the ones that are now the tenants, and it is through the mercy of Christ Jesus that we are made his own. This Sunday is also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, marking the end of the "Season of Creation". To learn a bit more on St Francis, check out this video. TO JOIN ONLINE Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88689075784?pwd=K3lRMnVmL2Z6MGFoQ3AzRjJsRFplZz09 Meeting ID: 886 8907 5784 Passcode: church Pastor Tim "God has led you to the desert, and spoken to your Heart." Mount of Olives Lutheran Church 3546 E. Thomas Rd Phoenix, AZ 85018 602-956-1620 office Mount of Olives ​​Pastor Tim Perlick ​​480-729-0115 Bible Study for October 4, 2026 Opening Prayer: Creator of all, we thank you for the opportunity to gather in study. Open our minds and hearts. By the power of the Holy Spirit, unite us in faith, hope, and love. Help us to be faithful to the gospel and to walk humbly with you. Grant us your peace as we grow in wisdom and understanding. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Matthew 21:33-46 Think about our discipleship and witness; do we see evidence of the fruits of God’s rule in our life? The parable of the vineyard, which appears also in Mark and Luke, highlights the necessity of “producing fruit” to serve the realm of God. Such fruit is the result of complete obedience to God as lived out in our community of faith at Mount of Olives. The image of a vineyard ties in with our first reading of Isaiah 5:1-7, a vineyard destroyed because it would only produce wild grapes. Matthew’s account again threatens the religious leaders that do not produce good fruits…and this time, the Pharisees realize that Jesus is speaking directly to them in the parable. Philippians 3:4b-14 What does it mean for you to be "in Christ? To know Christ, to be in Christ…this is what Paul is seeking. Righteousness is not living blamelessly under the law. Paul is seeking a righteousness that is not his own doing, but one that “comes through faith in Christ Jesus.” He strains toward the goal of participation in the “power of the resurrection.” He is able to continue pressing forward because Christ made him His own. Some scholars suggest that this translation understates the urgency and forcefulness of the original Greek. Christ, in Paul’s understanding, “overtakes” or “seizes” the believer in an outpouring of grace. Closing Prayer: Holy God, you love justice and hate oppression; you call us to righteousness and not to exploitation. Give us generous and loving hearts, and eyes to see the splendor of your reign, that we may live in truth and honor, and praise you for the transformation of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.