​Bible Study Companion Guide
Baptism of the Lord--January 11, 2026


Purpose of This Guide
This companion guide is designed to help individuals dwell prayerfully with the lectionary texts appointed for the Baptism of the Lord. Rather than rushing toward conclusions or explanations, the guide invites:
1.    Holy curiosity
2.    Attentive listening
3.    Embodied reflection
4.    Trust in God’s naming presence
Together, these practices draw us near to a defining moment in the life of Christ—one that shapes how we understand calling, belonging, and belovedness.
Opening Focus for the Day
The Baptism of the Lord brings the Church to the waters where Jesus is:
1. Named before he acts
2. Claimed before he teaches
3. Affirmed before his public life begins
This threshold moment in the liturgical calendar invites us to draw near enough to attend to the Word spoken over Christ and to trust that this Word also reaches us. Begin with silence. Place your feet on the ground and take three slow, attentive breaths. As you breathe, imagine yourself standing near the waters of this scene—listening, watching, waiting.


Hold this intention as you begin:
• I am not here to master the text, but to be addressed by it.
• I trust that God meets me not only in clarity, but in mystery.
Lectionary Texts for the Day
·      Isaiah 43:1–7
·      Psalm 29
·      Acts 8:14–17
·      Luke 3:15–17, 21–22
First REading Isaiah 43:1–7
“I have called you by name; you are mine.”
These words are spoken to a people shaped by displacement, exile, and fear. Before instruction, demand, or correction, God speaks belonging. Water and fire remain part of the journey, yet they are no longer ultimate threats.
Key movements in the text:
• God names before God commands.
• Water and fire are survivable, not avoided.
• Identity is declared without qualification.
Reflection:
1. What does it mean to be named rather than evaluated?
2. Where have you experienced water or fire that did not destroy you?
3. How does this text resist the idea that worth must be earned?
Practice:
• Speak one word that describes how you long to be named by God in this season.
Psalm: Psalm 29 – The Voice That Moves Over the Waters
This psalm does not describe a quiet God. The voice of the Holy moves, shakes, breaks, blesses, and stills—ending in peace.
Notice together:
• God’s voice is alive, not passive.
• Chaos is not God-forsaken.
• Glory is heard more than seen.
Reflection:
1. When have you heard God as disruption rather than comfort?
2. What waters are you standing near right now?
3. Where do trembling and blessing meet?
Second Reading Acts 8:14–17 – Belonging Before Completion
The Spirit arrives after baptism, belief, and welcome, disrupting any clean formula for faith.
Notice together:
• The Spirit is not controlled by ritual sequence.
• Community recognition matters.
• God honors process and time.
Reflection:
5.    1. Where have you seen God arrive later than expected?
6.    2. How does this text challenge spiritual gatekeeping?
7.    3. What does it mean to trust God’s timing?
Text IV: Luke 3:15–17, 21–22 – Jesus Is Named Before He Acts
Jesus is baptized among the people. As he prays, the Spirit descends and a voice speaks affirmation.
Notice together:
·      • Jesus is affirmed before ministry begins.
·      • The Spirit descends during prayer.
·      • Belonging is declared, not negotiated.
Reflection:
1. Why might Jesus need to hear he is beloved?
2. What does it mean that this word is overheard, not argued?
3. How would life change if belovedness were settled?
Pause:
• Sit with the phrase: “You are my beloved.”
Drawing the Texts Together
Across all four readings, a shared pattern emerges:
• God names before instructing.
• God claims before correcting.
• God meets people in water, not after escape from it.
Reflection:
What might it mean for your life and for the church to be places where naming comes before measuring?
Practices for the Week Ahead
1. Naming Practice: Speak a name of truth over yourself each morning.
2. Water Remembrance: Pause when encountering water and remember God’s presence.
3. Listening Posture: Listen without correction or response in one conversation this week.
Closing Prayer
Creator God, you speak over waters we fear and name us before we know how to respond. Teach us to live from the blessing, not toward it. Teach us to trust your voice, even when it unsettles us. May we leave this time grounded, claimed, and held. Amen.

 
Bible Study Companion Guide
Second Sunday After Christmas (Year A)
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
 
Texts:
Psalm 147:12–20
Jeremiah 31:7–14
Ephesians 1:3–14
John 1:1–18
 
Theme: Dwelling in the Word: From Praise to Mystery
 
How to Use This Companion Guide
 
• This study follows the liturgical movement of worship.
• We begin with the Psalm, allowing praise to shape perception.
• Each text deepens the invitation rather than resolving meaning.
• Silence, reflection, and holy patience are essential practices.
 
I. Psalm 147:12–20
Praise as the First Way of Knowing
 
Why We Begin with the Psalm
Praise places us in right relationship before interpretation and assumes God is already at work.
 
Key Images
Gates strengthened, children blessed, broken hearts healed, God’s word sent swiftly.
 
Reflection Questions
Where have you noticed quiet forms of repair?
How does praise shape the way we listen?
 
 
II. Jeremiah 31:7–14
Joy That Comes After Rupture
 
Context
Spoken to a people shaped by exile and loss.
 
Theological Emphasis
God gathers the wounded and promises joy after devastation.
 
Reflection Questions
What losses remain beneath celebration?
Where do you long for consolation rather than explanation?
 
III. Ephesians 1:3–14
Chosen for Purpose, Not Privilege
 
Core Claim
We are chosen in Christ for participation in God’s work.
 
Key Themes
Blessing precedes achievement. Purpose precedes understanding.
 
Reflection Questions
What changes when life is already claimed by grace?
 
IV. John 1:1–18
The Word Who Dwells
 
What This Is
A cosmic announcement of God’s nearness.
 
Key Images
Word, Light, Life, Flesh, Glory, Dwelling.
 
Reflection Questions
Where might the Word be taking flesh in ordinary places?
 
Drawing the Threads Together
Praise opens perception. God gathers the wounded. Purpose claims us. Mystery dwells among us.
Christmas ends not with clarity, but with presence.
 
*Note on How to Receive the Gospel of John
As we come to the close of this study, it is important to remember that the opening of John’s Gospel speaks in a different register than most biblical texts. John is not trying to give us more information about Jesus, nor is he trying to settle our questions. He speaks in a way that invites us closer to God rather than explaining God from a distance. His language is meant to be lived with, prayed with, and trusted before it is fully understood. John does not rush us toward clarity. He assumes that some truths are too large to be grasped all at once and that knowing God often begins with being addressed by God. His words are meant to awaken recognition rather than provide instruction, helping us notice what has been present all along. In John’s telling, the mystery of God is not hidden away for a select few. It is offered openly, generously, and intimately. The Word comes near. The light shines in the darkness. God chooses to dwell, to make a home among us. This is not secret knowledge; it is relational knowing—the kind that grows through presence, trust, and attention. John invites us to rest inside the mystery rather than solve it. Faith often begins with wonder.
 

Bible Study Companion Guide
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)
December 21, 2025
St. James Presbyterian Church,
, NYC
“Dawning with Power: Light and Blackness in Harmony”Advent Focus: Accepting to give birth to love is not easy—but it is worthwhile, and it is the only saving grace we have.Guiding Question for the WeekWhat does it cost to make room for love before the world is ready for it?
Opening Orientation
The Fourth Sunday of Advent draws us close to the mystery of incarnation—but not yet to celebration. This is a week of waiting under pressure.
The texts before us insist that God’s saving work does not arrive through clarity, control, or comfort—but through:
·       bodies that carry risk,
·       communities that pray from pain,
·       promises spoken in uncertainty,
·       and love that must be received before it is understood.
This study invites participants to consider how love is conceived, carried, and protected in the midst of darkness—and why this costly process remains humanity’s deepest hope.
Isaiah 7:10–16
Promise Conceived in the Middle of Fear
Textual Focus
Isaiah addresses a moment of political instability and anxiety. King Ahaz is threatened by surrounding powers. God responds not with strategy or force, but with a sign: a child—Emmanuel, “God with us.”
Key Theological Insight
God’s promise is born before conditions improve.
·       The sign is intimate, embodied, and vulnerable.
·       Hope arrives not as certainty, but as life still forming.
·       God chooses presence over prediction.
For communities shaped by struggle, this is a familiar truth: life is often carried in hostile conditions, and faith requires trust without assurance.
Discussion Questions
1.     Why might God choose a child—not power or protection—as a sign?
2.     What does it mean to trust God’s presence when circumstances remain unresolved?
3.     Where have you experienced hope that arrived before clarity?
 
Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
A Cry for Orientation, Not Erasure
Textual Focus
Psalm 80 is a communal lament. The repeated plea—“Let your face shine”—is spoken from within suffering, not beyond it.
Key Theological Insight
The psalm does not ask God to destroy darkness, but to guide people through it.
In African American spiritual wisdom, darkness has often been:
·      shelter rather than threat,
·      preparation rather than punishment,
·      a place where God whispers rather than shouts.
Light, here, is not blinding—it is sufficient.
Discussion Questions
1.     What kind of light do people need when they are weary or disoriented?
2.     How does this psalm resist the idea that darkness equals evil?
3.     In what ways has your community learned to survive—and even grow—without full illumination?
Romans 1:1–7
The Gospel Rooted in Flesh and History
Textual Focus
Paul opens Romans by grounding the gospel in lineage, body, and time. Jesus is not abstracted from human reality but fully embedded within it.
Key Theological Insight
God’s saving power is revealed through commitment to embodied life.
·      The gospel honors flesh.
·      Salvation unfolds in history.
·      God does not avoid vulnerability.
This challenges any spirituality that treats bodies, suffering, or social conditions as secondary or disposable.
Discussion Questions
1.     Why is it important that the gospel begins with flesh and history?
2.     How does embodiment deepen our understanding of salvation?
3.     What does this mean for communities whose bodies and histories have been devalued?
Matthew 1:18–25
Love Announced in the Dark
Textual Focus
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth unfolds quietly and at night. Revelation comes through dreams, not public spectacle.
Key Theological Insight
God entrusts the mystery of incarnation to hidden spaces:
·      dreams,
·      wombs,
·      silence,
·      waiting.
Love does not arrive loudly. It arrives asking for room.
This text invites reflection not on certainty, but on receptivity—the willingness to make space for God’s work before it is fully visible.
Discussion Questions
1.     Why might God choose dreams and night as the setting for revelation?
2.     What does this say about how God communicates with humanity?
3.     How do we learn to trust what is still forming?
Thematic Integration: Light and Blackness in Harmony
Taken together, these texts proclaim a mature Advent faith:
God’s promise is conceived in fear.
·      Prayer rises from within pain.
·      Salvation is rooted in flesh.
·      Revelation comes in darkness.
 
Core Affirmation
Light does not conquer darkness—it collaborates with it.
Darkness makes room for light;
Light honors what darkness held.
The womb is dark.
The dream is dark.
The night is dark.
And yes—this is where love is born.
 
Closing Reflection Practice
You are invited to reflect silently or in journaling:
·       What love am I being asked to carry before it is affirmed?
·       Where might God be working quietly in my life or community?
·       What does it mean to trust the dark places that hold becoming?
Closing Question for the Week
What would it look like to honor the slow, costly work of love as holy?
*Rev. Dr. McQueen’s Marginal NoteMatthew 1 also includes Joseph’s quiet decision to act mercifully even when the law permitted harm. His choice can be read as an example of righteousness that exceeds legality—a form of holy moral courage. While not the focus of this study, it offers an important ethical echo alongside the incarnation story. Keep this in mind as you hear of civil disobedience discourse.
Prepared by Rev. Derrick McQueen, Ph. D. ©December 15, 2025
Pastor, St. James Presbyterian Church

Bible Study Companion Guide Advent 2 for 12 07 2025 
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Theme: Peace That Grows Where We Least Expect It
(with the 2025 Advent arc: “In the Dark We Wait, In the Light We Rise”)
 
Introduction: Advent as Holy Anticipation
Advent continues in the deep places, where God’s promises take root before they are visible. This week’s scriptures teach us that:
• Peace is practiced, not passive.
• Hope grows in what looks like a stump.
• Wakefulness is a spiritual discipline.
• God often arrives through ordinary people and unnoticed moments.
We keep watch not to escape the darkness, but to discover what God is already growing within it.
 
1. Isaiah 11:1–10 — A Shoot from the Stump
Summary & Key Themes
Isaiah promises that new life will rise from what looks cut down. A tender shoot grows from a dead stump, and peace reshapes the world—predator and prey together, justice guiding leadership, healing reordering what once harmed.
 
Subtle Thematic Connection
In Advent, darkness is not the death of hope. It is the soil where hope germinates. God often begins renewal where we see only loss.
 
Questions for Reflection
• Where in your life does something feel like a stump?
• What small “shoots” of hope can you name today?
• What would peace look like if it were rooted in justice, not comfort?
 
Daily Practice
Spend one minute noticing something small but alive—new growth, breath, memory, desire. Let it remind you that God’s work begins quietly.
 
2. Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19 — Peace That Works for Justice
Summary & Key Themes
The psalm prays for leaders who protect the poor, deliver the vulnerable, and let peace “flourish” like rainfall.
 
Subtle Thematic Connection
Peace is not passive; it is practiced—in choices, policies, relationships. Advent asks us to embody the justice we pray for.
 
Questions for Reflection
• What does flourishing peace look like in your community
• How might you practice justice this week?
• Where is God inviting compassion in your daily life?
 
Daily Practice
Offer a simple prayer for one neighbor, block, or community need. Hold it before God without rushing.
 
3. Romans 15:4–13 — Hope That Welcomes
Summary & Key Themes
Paul describes a community sustained by Scripture, endurance, encouragement, and mutual welcome. Hope grows where people create space for one another.
 
Subtle Thematic Connection
God often arrives through ordinary welcome—the open-hearted act of making room.
 
Questions for Reflection
• Who has welcomed you in a way that revealed grace?
• Where might God be calling you to extend welcome?
• What strengthens your hope right now?
 
Daily Practice
Extend one act of welcome, greeting someone new, checking on a neighbor, sending a note of encouragement.
 
4. Matthew 3:1–12 — Wake Up and Prepare the Way
Summary & Key Themes
John the Baptist calls people to awaken and turn toward God. His voice in the wilderness prepares hearts for Christ’s arrival.
 
Subtle Thematic Connection
Wakefulness honors both darkness and dawn. We prepare not by prediction, but by openness to transformation.
 
Questions for Reflection
• What needs turning or releasing in you to make space for Christ?
• How do you stay spiritually awake?
• What “fruit of repentance” might look like in your relationships or community?
 
Daily Practice
At day’s end, ask: Where was I awake to God today? Where was I asleep?
 
Closing Prayer for the Week
Creator of new shoots and quiet beginnings, teach us to look for Your life in unlikely places. Open our eyes to peace that grows slowly, justice that takes practice, and hope that rises from the dark. Guide us into the light you are preparing. Amen.

​Please visit our YouTube page for Bible Study Session.

Bible Study Companion Guide
First Sunday of Advent — November 30, 2025 (Year A)
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
 
Theme: Hope That Holds On When the Night Feels Long
(with the 2025 Advent arc: “In the Dark We Wait, In the Light We Rise”)
 
Introduction: Advent as Holy Waiting, Holy Becoming
Advent begins in the dark.
It always has. The Church starts its year not with daylight joy but with night-watchfulness—because the first movements of God have always stirred in the shadows. Creation begins in darkness. Jesus grows in the hidden dark of Mary’s womb. Liberation is whispered, preserved, and practiced in the night—hush arbors, watch services, songs of freedom carried under cover of shadow.
This year at St. James, we honor that truth without making it the sole focus of our study. We simply remember:
Darkness is not the enemy of God.
Darkness is where God begins.
And from that deep, rich, protective place, light rises.
Advent invites us to live in that holy balance—awake, hopeful, and unafraid of the dark or the dawn. Our scriptures this week teach us to prepare, to stay alert, and to walk toward the promise even when the way is dim.
We wait in the dark.
We rise in the light.
And God is present in both.
 
Lectionary Texts — Year A
Isaiah 2:1–5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11–14
Matthew 24:36–44
 
1. Isaiah 2:1–5 — Walking Toward the Mountain of Hope
Summary & Key Themes
Isaiah paints a vision of peace—the world reshaped toward justice, wisdom, and communal healing. Nations stream toward God’s mountain, choosing the long walk toward light.
Subtle Thematic Connection
Isaiah calls us to begin walking even when the mountain is still shadowed. Hope is what guides our feet before the sun breaks the horizon.
Questions for Reflection
How do you keep walking when the way ahead feels dim?
What weapons—inner or communal—need to be reshaped in your life?
Where do you sense God inviting you to move toward peace?
Daily Practice
Light a small candle or sit in stillness. Let the dimness hold you as you name one hope you are walking toward.
 
2. Psalm 122 — A Communal Song of Peace and Belonging
Summary & Key Themes
A psalm of ascent—pilgrims praying for peace, justice, and communal wellbeing. Their hope rises as they move together.
Subtle Thematic Connection
The psalm imagines a community grounded in wholeness—where both the quiet depths and the bright streets of the city belong to God. Peace requires the full palette of human experience.
Questions for Reflection
How does belonging shape your hope?
What forms of peace—internal or external—are you praying for in your community?
How has God met you in moments of quiet or shadow?
Daily Practice
Offer a simple prayer for the peace of Harlem—naming blocks, neighbors, and needs.
 
3. Romans 13:11–14 — Wake Up: The Day Is Near
Summary & Key Themes
Paul urges believers to wake from spiritual sleep because God’s new day is near. Hope is a morning discipline—a choosing of light with each act of love.
Subtle Thematic Connection
Paul’s imagery of night and day is not moral or racial. It is about readiness: the shift from unawareness to intention, from drifting to choosing. Both night and dawn hold God’s presence—one prepares, the other reveals.
Questions for Reflection
What spiritual “sleep” do you feel called to awaken from?
Where do you sense the Creator inviting greater intention?
What does it mean for you to “put on the armor of light” without rejecting the gifts of shadow or rest?
Daily Practice
As you wake in the morning, pause before moving. Name one thing you want to stay spiritually awake to today.
 
4. Matthew 24:36–44 — Staying Awake with Hope-Filled Eyes
Summary & Key Themes
Jesus teaches that we do not know the hour of God’s breakthrough—so disciples must stay awake, alert, and grounded, ready to notice divine movement.
Subtle Thematic Connection
Jesus’ call to wakefulness honors the sacredness of night: it is in the dark that we practice attention. Hope trains our eyes to see God’s activity before daylight reveals it.
Questions for Reflection
What does “staying awake” mean in your spiritual life?
Where have you sensed God moving quietly, subtly, or unexpectedly?
How do you practice hope when certainty is not available?
Daily Practice
Each night, reflect:
Where did I feel stirred toward hope today—even in small or shadowed moments?
 
Closing Prayer for the Week
Creator of shadow and dawn,
teach us to wait without fear,
to watch with courage,
and to hope with our whole selves.
Meet us in the darkness.
Lift us in the light.
And guide our feet toward the promise of peace.
Amen.

Bible Study Companion Guide“Faith Growing, Love Increasing”
Week of November 16, 2025 — St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen, Pastor
 
Opening ReflectionThis week’s scriptures celebrate how faith and love grow through perseverance and shared ministry. The early church in Thessalonica faced persecution, yet Paul’s words ring with gratitude: “Your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” Stewardship, then, is not merely about sustaining the church but deepening the bonds that sustain one another. It is an act of endurance, gratitude, and shared witness—a testimony that even in challenging times, love multiplies.
Centering QuestionWhere have you seen your faith grow through hardship, and how has love increased because of your generosity or someone else’s?
2 Thessalonians 1:1–4, 11–12 — “Faith That Grows in Community”Paul opens his letter with thanksgiving for a congregation that continues to thrive despite opposition. Their endurance becomes a sign of God’s righteousness—faith and love strengthening each other in the soil of perseverance.
·       Key Verse:
“We must always give thanks to God for you… because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (v. 3)
·       Reflection:
Growth in faith is not always visible in numbers or success. It is measured in patience, forgiveness, and commitment. How might your generosity—time, presence, or resources—help someone else’s faith to grow?
Psalm 100 — “Make a Joyful Noise”This psalm invites the community into collective thanksgiving. Gratitude and service are intertwined—entering God’s presence with singing becomes an act of stewardship, reminding us that we belong to one another as we belong to God.
·       Key Verse:
“Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” (v. 2)
·       Reflection:
Worship and giving are not separate acts; both are songs of gratitude. What does it mean to give with gladness in a season when needs feel heavy?
Luke 21:5–19 — “By Your Endurance You Will Gain Your Souls”Jesus speaks of upheavals and trials, but he reframes fear into faith. The temple may fall, but God’s presence endures. Discipleship is not about avoiding hardship but standing firm in love.
·       Key Verse:
“By your endurance you will gain your souls.” (v. 19)
·       Reflection:
Endurance is more than survival—it is the spiritual strength to keep loving, building, and hoping. How might endurance be an act of stewardship for you or for our church community?
Community ReflectionIn a time when many grow weary, the Thessalonian church and the words of Jesus remind us that faith and love grow not in ease, but in shared struggle. Our giving—of resources, time, encouragement—becomes the soil where hope takes root. As St. James continues its restoration, may this week remind us that generosity is not depletion but growth, not loss but increase.

When faith grows, love increases. When love increases, the community becomes the living temple of God.
Practice• Give Thanks: Write or share a note of gratitude with someone who has strengthened your faith.
• Grow Faith: Choose one ministry or person to support with prayer or tangible help this week.
• Endure Together: Reflect with others on how your congregation has endured and flourished through challenges.
• Increase Love: Do one act of kindness for someone beyond your immediate circle—make love visible.
Closing PrayerGracious God,
You have planted faith in our hearts and watered it with your steadfast love. Help us to endure with joy, to give with gratitude, and to grow together in grace. May your faith keep expanding and our love keep increasing, until our whole community becomes a song of praise to your name.
Amen.
​
This Lectionary Study does not include a Psalm which led me to study how the two Isaiah Passages may speak to one another, as well as the other texts.  I am including and extra bit of commentary to speak to this directly. ~Rev. Derrick

​Bible Study Discussion Guide – Year C: From Exile to New Creation
1. Isaiah 12 and Isaiah 65 as Literary Bookends
Isaiah 12 functions as a liturgical doxology concluding 'First Isaiah' (chapters 1–12), celebrating deliverance from divine anger and anticipating restoration. Isaiah 65:17–25, from 'Third Isaiah' (post-exilic period), envisions a new creation—a theological reimagining of Zion after the return from exile. Together, they frame the entire Isaianic corpus: from repentance and trust to radical renewal.
Prompt: How might your community hold both deliverance remembered and deliverance still hoped for?
 
2. Historical-Critical Context: From Exile to Reconstruction
Isaiah 40–66 arises during the Babylonian exile and early Persian period. Returnees faced ruin, trauma, and disappointment. Rebuilding the temple under Cyrus and Darius marked the beginning of prophetic hope, but Isaiah 65 broadens this vision to cosmic transformation. This invites reflection on rebuilding both sanctuary and imagination for holiness in communities today.
Prompt: In what ways can rebuilding physical space also renew spiritual and communal identity?
 
3. Theological Motifs: Covenant Re-Creation, Not Replacement
God’s promise in these texts is not a new contract but a renewed relationship—grace continuing through brokenness. The 'new creation' does not erase history but redeems it, much like Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Ezekiel 36–37. It invites discussion about collective memory, repentance, and sacred repair.
Prompt: How does your faith community embody covenant renewal rather than mere restoration?
 
4. Literary and Poetic Imagery
Isaiah 12’s imagery of water, joy, and song evokes temple worship and rituals like the Festival of Booths. Isaiah 65’s 'new heavens and new earth' mirrors Genesis 1 but inverts its direction: creation arises from salvation. God’s creative work continues after destruction, transforming chaos into joy.
Prompt: What symbols or rituals today capture the sense of 'new creation' in our worship?
 
5. Socio-Ethical Implications
Isaiah 65:20–23 emphasizes long life, just labor, and equitable flourishing. This is not merely eschatological but grounded in justice. The prophet’s vision imagines a society where exploitation ends and human dignity is restored. This speaks directly to economic, racial, and ecological justice in contemporary communities.
Prompt: What 'former things' must be left behind for God’s justice to flourish among us?
 
6. Christological and Liturgical Link (Luke 21:5–19)
The Gospel reading mirrors Isaiah’s tension between destruction and hope. Jesus’ prophecy of the Temple’s fall reaffirms divine presence beyond buildings. As the Temple falls, the Body of Christ rises—transforming sacred space into living community.
Prompt: How does this text deepen our understanding of stewardship as both faith and transformation?
7. Community Application: Singing Between Ruin and Renewal
Participants can identify where they are in the prophetic arc—exile, rebuilding, or new creation. Isaiah teaches that hope is a discipline: faith builds even before the walls are finished. For Harlem’s faith communities and beyond, this offers a mirror for resilience and creative renewal.
Prompt: Where do you see signs of God’s new creation breaking into your community’s story?

​Bible Study Companion Guide“Giving for What Endures”
Week of November 9, 2025 – St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen, Pastor

Opening Reflection: This week’s scriptures draw our eyes from what fades to what lasts. The prophet Haggai calls a weary people to rebuild not for splendor but for promise. The psalmist reminds us that God’s faithfulness stretches across generations. Paul urges believers not to be unsettled by rumors or fear, and Jesus, in conversation with the Sadducees, points to a life beyond decay or possession. In each passage, God redirects our energy toward what endures—faith, love, and the presence that fills even the ruins with glory.

Centering QuestionWhere might God be inviting you to invest your time, gifts, or hope—not in what impresses today, but in what gives life tomorrow?
Haggai 1:15b – 2:9 — “Rebuilding in Glory”After years of disappointment, the people return to a half-built temple. God speaks through Haggai: “Take courage… for I am with you.” The promise is not of gold or grandeur but of divine presence that will fill the new house with greater glory than before.
Key Verse: “The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.” (v. 9)
Our faith is not nostalgia but renewal. What might we rebuild—not as a copy of the past, but as a dwelling for God’s living presence in our own time?

Psalms 145:1–5, 17–21 and 98:1–9 — “Songs That Last”The psalmist proclaims praise that endures: one generation telling another of God’s mighty acts. Creation itself joins the chorus—rivers clapping, hills singing, hearts made glad.
Key Verse: “One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” (145:4)
Praise is our most enduring architecture. When buildings crumble, the song remains. How can we ensure that our witness—our worship and justice—resounds through the generations?

2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17 — “Stand Firm in the Truth”Paul comforts a shaken community, warning them not to be swayed by fear or false reports about the end. He grounds them in gratitude: they are beloved and chosen for holiness through the Spirit.
Key Verse: “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught.” (v. 15)
When the world trembles with misinformation and despair, faith becomes a steadying act. Where do you need to hold fast—not out of rigidity, but to preserve the truth that gives life?

Luke 20:27–38 — “God of the Living”Jesus faces those who deny resurrection and reminds them that God is the God “not of the dead, but of the living.” The promise of life eternal reshapes how we value this one: relationships, generosity, and love are not lost but transformed.
Key Verse: “Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” (v. 38)
Faith in resurrection is faith in continuity—life that cannot be hoarded, only shared. How might our giving, loving, and serving today reflect that everlasting life already stirring among us?

Community ReflectionTogether these readings turn our gaze from anxiety to endurance. The people of Haggai’s day rebuilt hope from rubble; the psalmist turned gratitude into song; Paul steadied a community on the edge; and Jesus lifted faith beyond mortality. To give for what endures is to trust that God is already at work transforming ruins into sanctuary and endings into beginnings.

Practice• Rebuild with Hope: Do one small act this week that repairs or restores—something physical, relational, or spiritual.
• Sing the Story: Share a hymn, psalm, or prayer that sustained a loved one; pass it to the next generation.
• Hold Fast: Write down one truth or value that anchors your faith. Keep it visible as a compass in times of uncertainty.
• Give Toward Life: Make or plan a gift—time, resources, forgiveness—that invests in someone else’s future joy.

​Closing Prayer: Living God, you are the glory that endures when all else fades. Teach us to build with faith, sing with gratitude, and give with courage. Fill the ruins of our hearts with your presence until every stone and song proclaims: you are God of the living, and your mercy stands forever. Amen.

Bible Study Companion Guide
“Faith That Sees Beyond the Moment: When God Meets Us Where We Are”
Week of November 2, 2025 – St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen, Pastor

Opening ReflectionThis week’s readings ask us to hold faith when sight fails. Habakkuk cries out over injustice; the psalmist clings to righteousness amid affliction; Paul blesses a church enduring persecution; and Zacchaeus climbs a tree, desperate to see what hope might look like. Each passage invites us to trust that God is already moving—even when the world feels unjust, uncertain, or incomplete. Faith, in these scriptures, is not passive waiting; it is an active, seeking posture that lifts us higher, like Zacchaeus, until grace finds us and calls us by name.
Centering QuestionWhere in your life—or in our community—do you need to look again, to see what God is already doing just beyond your line of sight?
Psalm 119 : 137 – 144 — “Your Righteousness Is Everlasting”The psalmist proclaims that God’s justice and law remain true, even as trouble surrounds them. Their faith is not rooted in comfort but in conviction: God’s word sustains life amid distress.
Key Verse: “Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.” (v. 142)
In times when injustice seems to win the day, this psalm reminds us that God’s righteousness is not a passing moral code—it is the heartbeat of creation. The psalmist teaches resilience: faith anchored not in changing outcomes but in the changeless character of God. What does it mean to root our peace not in circumstance but in divine consistency?
Habakkuk 1 : 1 – 4; 2 : 1 – 4 — “Write the Vision”Habakkuk laments the violence and injustice of his time, demanding to know where God’s justice has gone. God’s answer is patient yet profound: the vision will come—it awaits an appointed time—and the righteous shall live by faith.
Key Verse: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.” (2 : 2)
Faith is not denial—it’s endurance. Habakkuk’s honesty models a mature spirituality that brings our outrage before God rather than hiding it. The divine response teaches that hope sometimes walks slower than we wish, yet it is never absent. God’s promises may tarry, but they do not lie. How might we “write the vision” of justice and mercy for Harlem, trusting that it will find its time?
2 Thessalonians 1 : 1 – 4, 11 – 12 — “Faith Growing, Love Increasing”Paul praises the Thessalonian church for its endurance and mutual love amid hardship. He prays that God will make them worthy of their calling and that Christ’s glory will shine through their perseverance.
Key Verse: “We always give thanks to God for you… because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (v. 3)
Paul’s vision of community is dynamic: faith that grows, love that multiplies, endurance that strengthens. He names their perseverance not as survival but as testimony. What would it look like for St. James to be known not only for historic faithfulness but for continually growing love—a witness that shines brighter with every challenge?
Luke 19 : 1 – 10 — “Zacchaeus Climbs to See”Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, climbs a sycamore tree to glimpse Jesus passing by. To everyone’s shock, Jesus stops, calls his name, and declares that salvation has come to his house.
Key Verse: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (v. 10)
Zacchaeus’s story reveals a faith that acts before it understands. He doesn’t wait for worthiness; he climbs for sight. Jesus meets him halfway—turning curiosity into conversion and isolation into welcome. True faith transforms not just belief but behavior: Zacchaeus restores what he took and opens his home. Where do we need to climb above fear or shame to meet grace that already seeks us?
Community ReflectionAcross these readings, faith becomes movement—lament that speaks, eyes that lift, hearts that grow, and hands that reach. Habakkuk teaches us to name pain without losing trust. The psalmist shows us steadfastness in the face of trouble. Paul celebrates growth amid struggle. And Luke reminds us that God’s grace is always looking up the tree for us. Together, they call us to faith that sees beyond the moment—to a future already being written in God’s mercy.
Practice• Climb for Vision: This week, take one concrete step to “see higher.” Spend time in a place—spiritual or physical—that helps you gain new perspective. Pray for eyes that notice where God is already at work.
• Write the Vision: Journal or post one short statement of hope for our church or neighborhood. Keep it visible this week as a reminder that God’s promise still speaks.
• Grow Faith Through Action: Like Zacchaeus, express repentance or generosity in a tangible way—restore, give, or serve where God nudges you.
​• Anchor in Righteousness: Each morning, repeat Psalm 119 : 142 as a breath prayer: “Your righteousness is everlasting, and your law is true.” Let it steady you through the day’s chaos.
Closing PrayerSteadfast God, when the world seems unjust and hope runs thin, teach us to see as you see. Lift our eyes like Habakkuk on the watchtower, strengthen our hearts like the Thessalonians, and meet us as you met Zacchaeus—with mercy that calls us down to love again. Let our faith rise beyond what we can see until your justice fills the earth and your joy makes our homes your dwelling. Amen.

​

​Bible Study Companion Guide
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
October 19, 2025
 
Setting the Table: A Word for Study and Spirit
This week’s readings gather around a single thread: the persistence of faith rooted in divine promise. Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant written not on tablets of stone, but on the human heart. The psalmist rejoices in God’s law as living wisdom. Paul urges steadfast teaching amid deception. And Jesus, through the parable of the persistent widow, calls us to pray without ceasing and never lose heart. Together they form a tapestry of faith that endures, wisdom that guides, and prayer that perseveres.
 
Psalm — Psalm 119:97–104
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Key Theme: Love for the Law as Love for God’s Wisdom
The psalmist delights in God’s instruction — not as restriction, but as a pathway to clarity, justice, and freedom. God’s Word is alive, forming character and conscience.
Reflection Questions:
1. Where do you experience God’s Word as “sweetness” in your life?
2. How might the practice of meditation on Scripture renew your faith?
3. What “false ways” or distractions do you feel God inviting you to turn from this week?
Devotional Practice: Read Psalm 119:97–104 slowly aloud each morning. Each day, choose one verse to carry with you as a breath prayer. Example: “Your word is a lamp to my feet.”
 
First Reading — Jeremiah 31:27–34
“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”
 
Key Theme: The New Covenant of Inner Transformation
Jeremiah proclaims hope in the aftermath of exile: God is planting again, not tearing down. The covenant moves from external observance to internal embodiment — from ritual to relationship.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does it mean for God’s law to be “written on the heart”?
2. How might this inner covenant reshape how we view justice, mercy, and community?
3. In what ways is St. James and your community being invited to live this covenant visibly today?
Spiritual Practice: Spend time in silent prayer, asking: “Lord, what part of Your covenant have You already written upon my heart?”
 
Second Reading — 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5
“Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable.”
Key Theme: Steadfast Teaching and Sacred Endurance
Paul exhorts Timothy to cling to what he has learned — to Scripture, to faith, and to the sacred trust of preaching truth even when it is inconvenient. This is a charge to courageous faithfulness amid shifting times.
Reflection Questions:
1. What teachings from your faith journey remain your anchor in uncertain times?
2. How can the Church “proclaim the message” faithfully amid modern skepticism?
3. When have you needed to “be persistent” in truth even when it cost you?
Pastoral Reflection: Faith is not passive agreement — it is active endurance. We teach, we witness, and we hold fast because the Word that formed us continues to transform us.
 
Gospel Reading — Luke 18:1–8
“And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Key Theme: The Power of Persistent Prayer
The widow’s story is not only about justice but about holy resilience. She refuses to surrender hope, even to an unjust judge. Jesus lifts her as a model of prayerful persistence that reflects the very heart of God.
Reflection Questions:
1. How does this parable challenge our understanding of prayer and justice?
2. What areas of your life require the persistence of the widow’s faith?
3. Where might God be calling our congregation to advocate like this widow — for justice that reflects heaven’s mercy?
Contemplative Practice: Hold one injustice or deep longing in your heart this week. Each day, name it aloud before God. Listen for how persistence transforms despair into deeper trust.
 
 
Weaving It Together: Living the Word
These four readings move us from God’s promise (Jeremiah) to our practice (Luke). They teach that: God is faithful to write newness within us, Scripture is our nourishment and guide, Ministry requires perseverance in truth, and Prayer is not just asking — it is staying. When our hearts are aligned with the heart of God, justice, wisdom, and prayer become one act of faith.
 
Closing Prayer
Holy One, write Your Word deep within us. Teach us to delight in Your wisdom, to persist in hope, to speak truth in love, and to pray until justice and mercy kiss. Shape our hearts as living tablets of Your covenant.
Amen.
 
Prepared for reflection and study at St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Rev. Derrick McQueen, Ph.D., Pastor