Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?

Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?

In this edition of Ask the Church, we begin with the central conviction that in Scripture we encounter the living God—and that this should shape the urgency and priority of Bible reading. We offer a practical suggestion of beginning with the Gospels and letting the rest of Scripture “radiate out” from Christ, the key who helps everything else come into focus. We also encourage the daily practice of praying the Psalms, which teach us God’s own words for praise, lament, and trust, and in turn deepens and enriches our common life of prayer.

Third Sunday of Easter

Isaiah 43:1-12 Psalm 116:11-16 Acts 2:14a, 36-47 Luke 24:13-35

How Do I Explain Christian Suffering to Non-Christians?

How Do I Explain Christian Suffering to Non-Christians?

How should Christians explain suffering to non-Christians? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore a way of speaking about suffering that is honest, compassionate, and grounded in the heart of the Christian story. The Cross shows that God is not distant from human pain, and the Resurrection gives real hope that suffering will not have the last word.

Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Psalm 111 Ephesians 4:25-32 John 20:19-29

Easter Sunday

Acts 13:34-43 Psalm 118:14-17, 22-24 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-10

Good Friday

Genesis 22:1-18 Psalm 69:1-22 John 18:1-19:37

How to Read Scripture Like the Ancient Church, Part 4

In our concluding session in this series, we turn to Palm Sunday and explore the biblical meaning of the palm branches in the triumphal entry. Tracing the image through the Old Testament reveals a rich tapestry of themes: Gentile inclusion, fruitfulness, temple imagery, and the widening reach of God’s covenant promises. The lesson shows how reading Scripture across the whole canon deepens our understanding of Christ’s kingship and the Church’s calling in the world. It is a fitting conclusion to a series devoted to reading Scripture in the tradition of the early Church.

What Is Hell?

What Is Hell?

What is hell, and how should Christians think about it faithfully? In this edition of Ask the Church, we begin with the scriptural teaching that judgment after death is real, and that the decisive issue is our response to Jesus Christ. We also explain why hell is not best understood as an “alien punishment,” but rather as the fruit of rejecting the only source of life and goodness—God Himself. Finally, we briefly discuss two questions that Christians have debated for centuries: whether hell is eternal and whether repentance after death is possible.

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 John 11:18-44

What Is the Daily Office in Anglicanism?

What Is the Daily Office in Anglicanism?

What is the Daily Office in Anglicanism, and how do we pray it? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explain Morning and Evening Prayer and the basic structure of the Daily Office—confession, psalms, Scripture readings, the Apostles’ Creed, and prayers. We also offer practical help for beginners, particularly when the Daily Office feels awkward or “stilted” at first when prayed alone. The Daily Office is a way of joining the Church’s shared prayers and letting Scripture and prayer shape daily life together.

Fourth Sunday in Lent

I Samuel 16:1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:1-14 John 9:1-13, 28-41

How to Read Scripture Like the Ancient Church, Part 3

In this third lesson, we apply the Early Church’s fourfold approach to the Book of Job. Beginning with its place in Israel’s wisdom literature, our lesson explores how the story addresses suffering, justice, and the freedom to question God in faith. Reading Job in light of Christ reveals deeper patterns of faithful suffering, mediation, and vindication. The session concludes by considering how these themes shape Christian hope and perseverance.

Why Is Communion Every Week?

Why Is Communion Every Week?

Why do some churches celebrate Communion every week while others do it much less frequently? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore how our church’s understanding of the Eucharist shapes how often it is celebrated. The discussion centers on the idea of the “means of grace”—the ways God has promised to give His grace through the proclamation of Scripture and the celebration of the sacraments. Understanding the Lord’s Supper in this way helps explain why many churches (including ours!) celebrate it more regularly.

Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 95 John 4:5-42

What Is Apostolic Succession, and Why Does It Matter?

What Is Apostolic Succession, and Why Does It Matter?

What is apostolic succession, and why does it matter? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore how the Early Church understood the passing on of apostolic authority and why succession is about preserving the faith, not institutional prestige. Apostolic succession connects the Church today to the Apostles by safeguarding both doctrine and sacramental life. It is ultimately about faithfulness to Christ and the gospel entrusted to His Church.

How to Read Scripture Like the Ancient Church, Part 2

How to Read Scripture Like the Ancient Church, Part 2

In this second lesson, we begin practicing the Early Church’s fourfold approach to reading Scripture. Using Proverbs 31 as an example, we explore how the passage functions within the Hebrew Scriptures before considering its Christological, moral, and eschatological dimensions. Reading the text in this way reveals a depth that is often missed when the passage is treated as a simple set of instructions. The session seeks to model how Scripture, read within the life of the Church, continually leads us back to Christ.

Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12:1-9 Psalm 33:12-22 John 3:1-16

What Does It Mean to Mortify Sin?

What Does It Mean to Mortify Sin?

What does it mean to “mortify” sin? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore the biblical command to “put to death” the deeds of the flesh and explain how mortification differs from mere suppression. Drawing on Romans 8 and Colossians 3, we look at how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to actively fight sin as part of sanctification. Far from leading to despair, mortifying sin leads to freedom and new life in Christ.

First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17, 25 Psalm 51 Matthew 4:1-11

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Psalm 103 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Living as the body of Christ for the sake of others.

steven@incarnationrichmond.org

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Mailing Address: PO Box 29215, Henrico, VA 23242