St. James Presbyterian Church Bible Study Companion Guide
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
June 28, 2026
Scripture Focus: Psalm 13:1–6 · Genesis 22:1–14 · Romans 6:12–23 · Matthew 10:40–42
WHY THESE TEXTS FOR THIS SUNDAY
This week’s readings bring us into lament, testing, obedience, freedom, and welcome.
We begin with Psalm 13, a prayer from someone who feels forgotten and is honest enough to ask God, “How long?” The psalm gives us language for waiting, grief, trust, and praise.
In Genesis 22, Abraham is tested in a difficult and troubling story. He is asked to offer Isaac, the child of promise, yet God provides a ram and the place is remembered as “The Lord will provide.”
In Romans 6, Paul speaks to the church about freedom from sin and life offered to God. Grace does not call us into careless living. Grace calls us into a new way of life.
In Matthew 10, Jesus teaches that even small acts of welcome matter. Receiving the messenger, welcoming the righteous, and offering a cup of cold water are all held in the sight of God.
Together, these texts ask us to bring our honest cries to God, trust God’s provision, offer ourselves to life, and practice welcome in ways that honor Christ.
 
OPENING THOUGHTS FOR THE TEXTS
Psalm 13:1–6
The psalm begins with the repeated question, “How long?” This is not polite or distant prayer. It is prayer from the depth of distress. Yet the psalm moves toward trust: “I trusted in your steadfast love.” The pain is real, and so is the turning toward God.
Genesis 22:1–14
This is one of the most difficult stories in scripture. Abraham is tested with Isaac, the child through whom God’s promise was to continue. At the decisive moment, God stops Abraham, and a ram is provided. Abraham names the place as a witness to God’s provision.
Romans 6:12–23
Paul continues teaching about life after baptism. The church is not to let sin rule over the body. Instead, believers are invited to present themselves to God as people brought from death to life. The movement is from slavery to sin toward freedom in God.
Matthew 10:40–42
Jesus reminds the disciples that welcome is holy. To receive those sent by Christ is to receive Christ. Even a cup of cold water given to one of the little ones matters. Discipleship is not only found in dramatic acts; it is also found in faithful care.
 
FOR REFLECTION
• What phrase from Psalm 13 feels closest to your prayer this week?
• What makes Genesis 22 difficult to hear, and what do you notice about God’s provision?
• Where do you need to trust that God sees what you cannot yet see?
• What might it mean to offer yourself to God “as one brought from death to life”?
• What small act of welcome might become holy this week?
 
A PRACTICE FOR THE WEEK
Each day, pray one line from the readings:
“How long, O Lord?”
“I trusted in your steadfast love.”
“The Lord will provide.”
“Present yourselves to God.”
“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water…”
Then ask:
Where do I need to be honest with God?
Where do I need to trust God’s provision?
Where am I being called into life?
Who needs welcome, kindness, or refreshment from me?
 
CLOSING PRAYER
Providing God, hear us when we cry, hold us when we wait, and meet us in places we do not yet understand. Teach us to trust your steadfast love, to offer ourselves to life, and to welcome others with the care of Christ. Amen.
 

​St. James Presbyterian Church Bible Study Companion Guide
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
Scripture Focus: Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17 · Genesis 21:8–21 ·
Romans 6:1b–11 · Matthew 10:24–39
WHY THESE TEXTS FOR THIS SUNDAY
This week’s readings bring us into prayer, wilderness, new life, and courage.
We begin with Psalm 86, a prayer from someone who needs God to listen, help, teach, and strengthen. The psalm gives us words for honest prayer.
In Genesis 21, Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness. The story is painful, yet God hears the child’s cry and opens Hagar’s eyes to water.
In Romans 6, Paul reminds the church that baptism joins us to Christ’s death and resurrection. We are called to walk in newness of life.
In Matthew 10, Jesus tells the disciples not to be afraid. Following him may be costly, yet God knows and holds them.
Together, these texts ask us to trust that God hears, God provides, God raises, and God gives courage.
OPENING THOUGHTS FOR THE TEXTS
Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17
The psalm begins with need: “Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me.” This is prayer without pretending. The psalmist trusts God’s mercy, goodness, and steadfast love.
Genesis 21:8–21
Hagar and Ishmael are pushed into the wilderness with little to survive on. When the water is gone, Hagar cannot bear to watch her child die. Yet God hears the voice of the boy, speaks to Hagar, and opens her eyes to a well.
Romans 6:1b–11
Paul teaches that baptism is not only about forgiveness. It is about new life. In Christ, the old powers do not have the final word. We are invited to live as people who are alive to God.
Matthew 10:24–39
Jesus prepares the disciples for resistance. He tells them not to be afraid and reminds them that God knows even the sparrows. Faithfulness may disturb false peace, yet disciples are called to speak truth with courage.
FOR REFLECTION
• What phrase from Psalm 86 feels most like your prayer this week?
• What do you notice about God hearing Ishmael in the wilderness?
• Where might God be opening your eyes to a well you had not seen?
• What might it mean to “walk in newness of life” this week?
• Where is Jesus asking you not to be afraid?
A PRACTICE FOR THE WEEK
Each day, pray one line from Psalm 86 before you begin the day:
“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me.”
“Be gracious to me, O Lord.”
“Teach me your way, O Lord.”
“Give your strength to your servant.”
Then ask:
Where do I need God to hear me?
Where do I need my eyes opened?
Where am I being invited into new life?
Where do I need courage?
CLOSING PRAYER
Merciful God, incline your ear and hear us. Meet us in our need, open our eyes to the wells of life, and teach us your way. Help us walk in newness of life, and give us courage to follow Christ without fear. Amen.

St. James Presbyterian Church Bible Study Companion Guide
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
Scripture Focus: Psalm 33:1–12 · Genesis 12:1–9 · Romans 4:13–25 · Matthew 9:9–13, 18–26
 

WHY THESE TEXTS FOR THIS SUNDAY
As the Church continues its journey through Ordinary Time, this week's readings invite us to reflect on God's promises and the ways people respond to God's call. Across these passages, individuals and communities are asked to trust, move forward, and live faithfully even when the future remains uncertain.
In Genesis, Abram receives a call that will change the course of his life and the biblical story. Psalm 33 celebrates God's faithfulness and reminds God's people that ultimate security is found not in human strength but in divine steadfastness. In Romans, Paul reflects on Abraham's faith and trust in God's promises despite seemingly impossible circumstances. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus calls Matthew to discipleship, shares fellowship with those often pushed to the margins, and responds to people seeking healing, restoration, and hope.
Together, these readings invite us to consider how trust, promise, and faithful response shape the life of God's people.
 

A THREAD THROUGH THE TEXTS
Genesis 12 marks the beginning of God's covenant relationship with Abram. God calls Abram to leave behind familiar places, relationships, and securities and journey toward a future that has not yet been revealed. Abram receives promises of blessing, descendants, and land, yet he is given few details about how these promises will unfold. The story emphasizes both God's initiative and Abram's willingness to respond.
Psalm 33 celebrates God as Creator and sustainer of the world. The Psalm contrasts human plans and earthly power with God's enduring purposes. Nations rise and fall, leaders come and go, and human schemes often change, yet God's steadfast love remains. The Psalm encourages trust in God's faithfulness rather than confidence in military strength, political power, or human achievement.
In Romans 4, Paul revisits Abraham's story to explore the meaning of faith. Abraham becomes an example of trusting God's promises even when circumstances seem to contradict them. Paul emphasizes that God's covenant is rooted in grace and promise rather than human accomplishment. Abraham's story becomes a witness to hope that persists even when certainty is absent.
Matthew's Gospel presents several encounters that reveal the nature of Jesus' ministry. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to become a disciple and then shares a meal with those whom society often regarded as outsiders. When questioned about this behavior, Jesus responds that he has come not for the righteous but for those who need healing and restoration.
The passage then weaves together two stories of faith and hope. A leader approaches Jesus seeking help for his daughter, while a woman suffering from a long-term illness reaches toward Jesus in hope of healing. Both stories demonstrate persistence, vulnerability, and trust. In each case, Jesus responds with compassion and restores life and wholeness.
 

WHAT HOLDS THIS ALL TOGETHER
• God calls people into futures they cannot fully see.
• Trust is rooted in God's faithfulness rather than human certainty.
• God's grace reaches beyond expected boundaries and welcomes those often left at the margins.
• Faith is often expressed through response, movement, and hope amid uncertainty.
 

FOR REFLECTION
1.     What stands out to you about Abram's response to God's call in Genesis 12?
2.     How do these readings describe the relationship between trust and uncertainty?
3.     What do the people who approach Jesus in Matthew 9 have in common despite their different circumstances?
4.     Where do you see connections among these four readings, and how might they speak to our lives today?
 

A PRACTICE FOR THE WEEK
This week, spend a few moments each day reflecting on a promise from scripture that has sustained you, challenged you, or given you hope. Consider how that promise has shaped your faith journey over time. As you reflect, offer a simple prayer:
"Faithful God, help me trust your presence and promises, even when I cannot yet see where the path leads."
Notice where you encounter opportunities to respond with trust, courage, compassion, or hope in your daily life.
 

CLOSING PRAYER
Faithful and gracious God, you called Abram into an unknown future, sustained your people through generations, and revealed your compassion through Jesus Christ. Open our hearts to hear your call and strengthen our trust in your promises. Help us to live with courage when the path is uncertain, with compassion toward our neighbors, and with hope rooted in your steadfast love. Guide us by your wisdom and presence as we continue our journey of faith together. Amen.