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
 

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

Bible Study Companion Guide
“Family, Faith, and the Work of Belonging”
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Family and Friends Sunday — October 12, 2025
 
Family and Friends Sunday is more than a celebration of kinship—it’s a sacred affirmation that God calls us into intentional community, wherever life places us. Each of today’s scriptures reminds us that belonging is not always easy, but always holy. Whether we are exiled like Israel, tested like Paul, or healed like the Samaritan leper, God’s Spirit forms us into a people who live, love, and labor together for the good of all.
 
1. Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7 — Building in Exile
“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Jeremiah writes to Israelites living in Babylonian exile. They long to go home, but God instructs them to plant roots where they are—to build houses, plant gardens, raise families, and seek the good of the city around them.
This passage redefines ‘family and friends’ not by proximity or shared history but by shared purpose. Even in displacement, God commands us to build, bless, and belong. It’s a call to faithful presence—to become builders of community in Harlem, in our families, in every place where we find ourselves ‘sent.’
 
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean to “seek the welfare of the city” in our time and place?
How do we honor our past while building where we are now?
Who around us might be longing for belonging—and how might we invite them in?
 
2. Psalm 66:1–12 — Praise through Trials
“You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs… yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.”
Psalm 66 is a communal song of thanksgiving. It acknowledges suffering—nets, fire, and water—but celebrates deliverance and renewal.
Family and friendship are tested through trial. The psalmist does not deny hardship; instead, they transform it into praise that remembers deliverance. The “spacious place” God leads us to may not be physical—it may be the peace of knowing that we survived together.
 
Discussion Questions:
How has God brought you “through the fire and water” this year?
What are the burdens your family or community has carried—and how have they shaped you?
What does your “spacious place” look like today?
 

 
3. 2 Timothy 2:8–15 — Endurance, Faith, and Trust
“The word of God is not chained… If we endure, we will also reign with him.”
Paul writes from prison, urging Timothy to stay faithful in teaching, endurance, and integrity. It is a letter of legacy—of faith passed through generations.
Paul speaks to Timothy like family—a mentor to a beloved child in faith. In our own faith families, we inherit not only stories but also the work of endurance. True kinship in Christ means standing firm together when the world tests our hope. We are not bound by fear, because “the word of God is not chained.”
 
Discussion Questions:
Who has passed faith on to you, and how are you passing it on?
What does endurance look like in your spiritual or family life?
How do we keep the gospel unchained in a world full of distractions and division?
 
4. Luke 17:11–19 — Gratitude and Restoration
“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.”
Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one—a Samaritan outsider—returns to give thanks. Gratitude becomes the doorway to wholeness.
Healing is both physical and relational. The Samaritan’s gratitude restores more than his body—it reconnects him to God and community. Gratitude is the glue of belonging; it transforms a crowd into a family. On this Family and Friends Sunday, we remember that every act of love, every return to gratitude, heals the body of Christ.
 
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think only one leper returned?
How does gratitude heal relationships in your life?
What would it mean for us, as a church family, to live as that “one who returned”?
 
Closing Reflection: Living the Work of Belonging
God’s message across these texts is clear:
- Plant roots where you are.
- Praise through the trials.
- Endure in the faith you’ve inherited.
- Return in gratitude, and live healed.

Family and Friends Sunday celebrates not only who we are but what we build together—a community of grace, perseverance, and praise in Harlem and beyond.
 
Prayer:
Holy God, root us in Your love. Bind us together across generations, friendships, and faith journeys. Teach us to seek the good of the city, to praise You through the fire, to endure in the Spirit, and to return with grateful hearts. In Christ’s name, Amen.


Daily Devotional Companion
Living the Work of Belonging — Week of October 12, 2025
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC — Family and Friends Week
 
 
This week, we live into the scriptures of Family and Friends Sunday through daily practices that root us in belonging, gratitude, and faith. Use this guide for prayer, journaling, or sharing with others.
Monday — Root Where You Are
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4–7
Theme: Faithful Presence
Practice:
Take a walk through your neighborhood. Pray for your neighbors, schools, and local businesses. Write down one way you can 'seek the welfare of the city' this week—through kindness, volunteering, or advocacy.
Prayer Question:
Where is God asking me to plant deeper roots of care and presence right where I am?
 
Tuesday — Remember the Journey
Scripture: Psalm 66:1–12
Theme: Praise Through Trials
Practice:
Light a candle or play a song of gratitude. Reflect on moments when God brought you 'through the fire and water.' Name three challenges that shaped you and three blessings that surprised you.
Prayer Question:
What 'spacious place' is God leading me toward after struggle?

 
Wednesday — Honor Your Faith Lineage
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8–15
Theme: Endurance and Legacy
Practice:
Reach out to someone who helped shape your faith—or light a candle in their memory. Journal about their lessons and how you might pass them on.
Prayer Question:
What sacred stories am I carrying forward for the next generation?
Thursday — Practice Gratitude
Scripture: Luke 17:11–19
Theme: Healing Through Gratitude
Practice:
Keep a 'Gratitude Hour.' For one hour, pause every 15 minutes to name something for which you are thankful. Whisper a prayer: 'Thank you, Lord, for the wholeness You give.'
Prayer Question:
What healing is waiting for me in the act of gratitude?
 
Friday — Reconnect and Reconcile
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:7 & Luke 17:19
Theme: Belonging and Restoration
Practice:
Reach out to someone with whom you’ve lost touch or need to make peace. Offer presence and grace without expectation.
Prayer Question:
How might reconciliation open a new chapter of belonging in my life?
 
 
 
Saturday — Praise and Rest
Scripture: Psalm 66:1
Theme: Joyful Communion
Practice:
Take time for Sabbath rest. Share a meal with family or friends. Before eating, invite everyone to share one word of thanks or hope.
Prayer Question:
How can I let joy—not worry—be my act of worship today?
 
Sunday — Gather and Give Thanks
Scripture: Luke 17:15–16; Psalm 66:8–9
Theme: Family in the Spirit
Practice:
As you worship, bring one word from your week’s reflection before God. Let your worship be both thanksgiving and offering—of your story, your endurance, and your gratitude.
Prayer Question:
How is God weaving our individual stories into one family of faith?
 
Closing Benediction
God of roots and rivers, of homes and healing,
make our lives prayers of gratitude.
In our families, friendships, and communities,
let us live as builders of Your peace,
seekers of the city’s good,
and witnesses of Your unchained Word.
Amen.