Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church: Recent Episodes
The sermons from Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, if you'd like to help financially support the work and ministry of this congregation please visit: https://www.sermonaudio.com/secure/paydonate.asp?sourceid=oldgoshreformed
Luke 10:25-37 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
The Lord Speaks to Elijah 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 15 And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death,
The Lord Sends Rain 41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again," seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Elijah Flees Jezebel 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 And he looked, and behold, there was....
The Prophets of Baal Defeated 20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it." 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblatio...
1 Kings 18:1–19 (ESV) Elijah Confronts Ahab 18 After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly, 4 and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals." 6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself. 7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?" 8 And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.' " 9 And he said, "How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, 'He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here." ' 12 And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared....
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Part Three of a three part Sunday School series diving into extraordinary women from the Bible.
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." 41 Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. Jesus Again Foretells His Death But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus[a] said to his disciples, 44 "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Who Is the Greatest? 46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great." Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us 49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us....
This is the first of a two part Sunday School off of the History of Old Goshenhoppen starting with this churches German roots and beginnings in Heidelberg.
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[a] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One;[b] listen to him!" 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
And Joshua the son of Nun sent[a] two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them." 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men[b] lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.[c] 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth.....
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is[a] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[b] "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." 28 Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children...
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
Part one of three in a series of the women from the bible. This first Sunday School focuses in on the lives of Eve and Sarah.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,[d] both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence[e] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds...
Luke 9:18–22 (ESV) 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19 And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen." 20 Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
Luke 9: 10-17 - 10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place." 13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
This talk to the Upper Salford Historical Society follows the spiritual and historical journey of the Palatinate settlers who founded Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church. At the heart of it all is their deep, simple faith in the Heidelberg Catechism—especially that wonderful line: "I am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ."These pioneers left everything behind. They survived terrifying sea voyages, buried loved ones along the way, and faced harsh persecution, yet they never stopped trusting God's sovereign grace. The message also speaks honestly about the church's early struggles—divisions, leaders without proper ordination, and the tensions of a new world.
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Signs of the End of the Age 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" 5 And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 "But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved...
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[a] 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for[b] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." The Ascension 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a] 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him. 10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.
Luke 9:1–10 9 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him. 10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said[a] to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." The River of Life 22 Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
John 18:1-23 - When Darkness Falls Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus 18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he."[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus[b] said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas 12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[d] arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.....
The Passover with the Disciples 12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" 20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." Institution of the Lord's Supper 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink..
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." 41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of....
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[a] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." 28 Now you,[b] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[a] 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me."[c] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[d] 31 But if we judged ourselves truly,
The sermon presents a vivid vision of heaven from Revelation 7:9–17, emphasizing the diversity, joy, and eternal security of the redeemed multitude who stand before God's throne, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches of victory. Central to the message is the truth that salvation comes solely through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death purifies believers and grants them access to God's presence, overcoming the barriers of sin and separation. The passage describes heaven as a place of perpetual worship, divine protection, and intimate fellowship, where God Himself shelters His people, satisfying every need—ending hunger, thirst, suffering, and sorrow, and replacing tears with eternal joy. The imagery of Christ as both the sacrificial Lamb and the faithful Shepherd underscores His dual role in redemption and care, while the vision of the redeemed from every nation affirms the universal scope of God's grace and the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham and the exiles. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to fix their hope on this eternal reality, where the presence of God is the source of all comfort, purpose, and fulfillment.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
The sermon explores the profound truth that believers are called to become partakers of the divine nature through faith in Christ, a concept rooted in 2 Peter 1:3–4 and illuminated by Scripture, church history, and Reformed theology. Far from implying a pantheistic merging with God's essence, this participation refers to a real, ontological union with God through Christ's incarnation, where believers are transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of God in holiness, righteousness, and eternal life. The sermon emphasizes that this mystical union—distinct from mere legal justification—is not achieved through mystical experiences or Eastern Orthodox practices, but through the means of grace: the Word and sacraments, especially baptism and the Lord's Supper, which signify and effect spiritual communion with Christ. It underscores that genuine faith produces visible fruit—virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness, and love—evidencing a life transformed by union with Christ and confirming one's calling, while warning that a faith devoid of such fruit is not authentic. Ultimately, the message calls believers to pursue this union not for emotional highs, but for the purpose of becoming increasingly like Christ in character and conduct, reflecting God's glory in a world marked by corruption.
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?" 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here." 4 And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women." 5 And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?" 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. 8 Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." 9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The central message of the sermon is a call to active partnership with God in the ministry of reconciliation, rooted in the urgency of the present moment—the 'day of salvation'—when grace must be received not in vain but embraced through faithful, diligent work. Drawing from 2 Corinthians, the preacher emphasizes that believers are ambassadors of Christ, co-workers with Him, not passive recipients of grace, but participants in God's redemptive work, empowered by His strength yet called to exert effort. The contrast between worldly judgment—marked by suffering, poverty, and slander—and divine affirmation—highlighted by life, joy, richness, and honor—reveals the eternal perspective that defines true ministry. Paul's endurance, self-sacrifice, and unwavering integrity, though misunderstood by opponents, testify to a life shaped by the Spirit and aligned with God's purposes. Ultimately, the sermon urges believers to reject complacency, to daily lay hold of divine resources, and to live with the conviction that their present choices determine eternal outcomes, trusting that God's power is made perfect in weakness.
This sermon centers on the redemptive significance of blood as the means of communion with a Holy God, tracing its theological thread from the Passover in Exodus 12 through the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus 25 and the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. It emphasizes that true worship is inherently communal, rooted in the gathered congregation, and anchored in the sacrificial blood of the unblemished Lamb—pointing forward to Christ's atoning death. The sermon unpacks how Christ, though appearing as a mortal vessel subject to judgment, was sinless and thus able to offer His blood as a perfect sacrifice, both cleansing the holy place and bearing the sins of humanity, foreshadowed by the two goats in Leviticus 16. Through this, believers are assured that their sins are not only forgiven but destroyed, and they now dwell in God's presence, anticipating the ultimate tabernacling of heaven and earth. The message is both pastoral and convicting, calling the church to rest in the finished work of Christ and to celebrate communion as a foretaste of eternal shalom.
The central message of this passage is the hope and comfort found in the resurrection and return of Christ, which assures believers that those who have died in faith will not be excluded from God's final redemption. Paul addresses the Thessalonians' grief over deceased believers by affirming that, through Christ's death and resurrection, God will bring the departed with Him when He returns, ensuring their bodily resurrection before the living are transformed. This event, marked by a divine descent, a trumpet call, and a sudden transformation, unites all believers—both dead and alive—in glorified bodies to meet the Lord in the air, fulfilling the promise of eternal communion with Him. The passage calls for ongoing encouragement, joyful anticipation, and faithful living in light of this blessed hope, while emphasizing that the resurrection is not a spiritual abstraction but a bodily, historical reality that will culminate in the final restoration of all things.
12 "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. 14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. 17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.[a] Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Genesis 14:14-24 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. Abram Blessed by Melchizedek 17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor[a] of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand[b] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share."
This sermon explores the foundational nature of communion with God, as established in Genesis 2, portraying God not merely as creator but as a loving gardener preparing a sacred space for humanity. It emphasizes the intimate, covenantal relationship between God and Adam and Eve, rooted in obedience, trust, and divine provision, enjoying a pre-fall paradise of unbroken fellowship. The fall, depicted as a rupture in this communion, arises not from ignorance but from deliberate rebellion—Adam's conscious choice to disobey despite knowing God's command, while Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning. Yet even in judgment, God's grace is evident: He pursues the guilty, provides a covering of skins (foreshadowing sacrifice), and announces the first gospel promise—the Proto-Evangelion—where the seed of the woman will crush the serpent's head. This moment reveals God's enduring commitment to restore communion through the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood secures eternal fellowship and hope amid spiritual darkness.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed...
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." (Colossians 1:15–23, ESV)
Genesis 11:1–9 (ESV) The Tower of Babel 11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. 3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro. 5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. 6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,[a] and it has dust of gold. 7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. 8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. 10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. 11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. 12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. 14 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' 15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. 16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. 17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
January 24th - Sunday School - Philipians 4: This Sunday School centers on Paul's exhortation in Philippians 4 to replace anxiety with prayerful communion with God, emphasizing that true peace comes not from eliminating life's troubles but from trusting in God's presence and provision. It highlights how anxiety originates in the mind and is countered not by mere willpower but by redirecting our thoughts and burdens to God through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, thereby aligning our hearts with divine truth. Drawing from Jesus' teaching, David's psalms, and biblical examples like Daniel and the three Hebrews, the message affirms that God's peace—supernatural and surpassing understanding—guards believers' hearts and minds when they rest in faith and relationship with Him. The sermon underscores that this peace is not merely emotional calm but a deep, relational reality rooted in reconciliation with God through Christ, made possible only through genuine communion with the Father who knows, cares, and is faithful. Ultimately, it calls the believer to shift focus from self-reliance to God-reliance, where worship, trust, and gratitude become the foundation of enduring peace.
Revelation 13:5–18 (ESV) 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The Second Beast 11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes a
"Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints." (Revelation 12:17–13:10, ESV)
Revelation 12:7–17 Satan Thrown Down to Earth [7] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, [8] but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. [11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. [12] Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" [13] And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. [14] But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. [15] The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. [16] But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. [17] Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to
Revelation 12:4–11 "His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."
Isaiah 9:6–7 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."
Revelation 12:1-6 "And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days."
Galatians 5:16-25 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Revelation 11:1-8; 15-19: "Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for --"
Revelation 1:1-8 "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 22:6-20 "And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place." "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and --"
Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."
Luke 8:40-56: "Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jarius, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!" But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling do before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well." And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying--"
Luke 8:26-39: "Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.The man from whom the demons had gone--"
John 19:1-6a; 16-19; 28-30: "Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." After this, Jesus, knowing all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thrust." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on the hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Luke 8:26-39: "Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then he demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake an drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with a great fear. So he got into the boat and returned--"
Luke 8:22-25 "One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"
Luke 8:16-21: ""No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.""
Psalm 12: "TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO THE SHEMINITH. A PSALM OF DAVID. Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?" "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs." The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man."
Matthew 5:11–16 (KJV) 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 8:1-15 "Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on --"
Luke 7:36-50 "One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves--"
Luke 10:25-37 "And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise.""
Luke 2:1-20 "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it--"
Luke 7:18-35 "The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?' " In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, " 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) (Unfinished)
Luke 7:11-23 "Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.""
Matthew 28:16-20 "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.""
Before worship Pastor Kevin considers a week marked by both answered prayer and unsettling violence, exploring the interconnectedness of societal sin and its tragic consequences. Drawing from Romans 1, the message condemns the dehumanization of political opponents and the dangerous rhetoric that fuels extremism, exemplified by the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the broader cultural climate of division. Warning against relying on secular narratives and encouraging a return to biblical morality, emphasizing the importance of unashamedly declaring the gospel and trusting in God's power to bring life to a dying nation, while lamenting the loss of innocent lives and the persistent cycle of tragedy.
Luke 7:1-10 "After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this to him, for he loves out nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue." And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well."
Luke 6:43-49 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well-built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
Matthew 6:5-15 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed kingdom come, your will be done. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others for their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not give up your trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Habakkuk 1:12 -- 2:1 "Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? you make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. he brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offering to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? I will take my stand at my watchlist and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint."
Matthew 5:3-16 "'Blessed is the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set up on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Luke 6:37-42 "'Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.' He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.'"
Micah 5:1-6 "Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod as they strike Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor shall give birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, and treads in our places, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border."
Luke 6:32-36 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church: A Historical Reflection on Faith and Perseverance Watch a detailed exploration of the ~300 year history of Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church. This video presents a comprehensive account of this Pennsylvania congregation, established by German Reformed settlers in the Perkiomen Valley. Delve into its theological foundations rooted in the Reformation and the Heidelberg Catechism. Understand the church's unique history as a union church with the Lutherans, its resilience through the Revolutionary War, and the evolving faith community. Reflect on how this enduring congregation maintains its commitments to biblical teachings and historical traditions over centuries. This narrative provides a contemplative look at a steadfast community of faith. Version: August 13th
Joel 2:28-32 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens on the earth, blood and fire, and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the heat and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and Jerusalem there shall be be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors be those whom the LORD calls."
Luke 6:29-31 "To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them."
Luke 6:27-28 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."
Hosea 11-12:1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led the with cords of kindness, with bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all. How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God, and is faithful to the Holy One. (desc. ends at chapter 11:12)
Firm Foundation supports Old Goshenhoppen in fulfilling the Great Commission by offering a free, comprehensive homeschooling education ministry, continuing a legacy of teaching and discipleship tied to early German settlers in America. The ministry boldly integrates faith in Christ with rigorous academics for all grade levels, from preschool through high school, in a culture often hesitant to proclaim the salvation of the Lord. We welcome support through student enrollment and financial contributions to sustain our program, which remains free for all students.
John 14:1-6 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:1-6 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Revelation 21:4 "he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away."
Isaiah 53 "Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of the dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned -- every one -- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to a slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered the he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief, when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."
Isaiah 40:25-31 "To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see; who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, o Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow faint or weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Hebrews 9:27 "And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgement."
Luke 6:20a & 25b-26 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry". -Luke 6: 20a & 25a
Luke 6:20a & 24: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation."
Luke 6:20a, 22-23 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Luke 6:20a & 21b "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."
Luke 6:20a –21a (ESV) 20a And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: 21a "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
Luke 6:20 (ESV) 20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:1–19 (ESV) 1On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" 3And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." 6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. 12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who wa
then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." John 20:1-2, 11-16 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
The oracle of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and Damascus is its resting place. For the LORD has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel, and on Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold
Luke 6:1–11 (ESV) 1 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" 3 And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5 And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." 33 And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." 34 And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36 He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.' "
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
"On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:1–11, ESV)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the al
But passing through their midst, he went away. And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ' "Physician, heal yourself." What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.' " And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha,
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.' " And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, " 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.' " And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, " 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and " 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.' " And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' " And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalal
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
This lesson on Genesis 1:1-28, v31-2:3 is taught by Old Goshenhoppen Elder Jesse Light.
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
Luke 2:1–21 (ESV)The Birth of Jesus Christ2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has
Luke 2:1–11 (ESV)The Birth of Jesus Christ2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Matthew 1:18 - 25The Birth of Jesus Christ18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Exodus 34-27-35-27 And the Lord said to Moses, -Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.- 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.-a---The Shining Face of Moses--29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.-b- 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.--34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Joshua 1-1-9 -After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 -Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success-a- wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you-- Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.-
Exodus 33-7-34-10 7 -Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord-a- would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. 12 Moses said to the Lord, -See, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.- 14 And he said, -My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.- 15 And he said to him, -If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people-- Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth---
Isaiah 55-1-3-1-Come, everyone who thirsts,- come to the waters--and he who has no money,- come, buy and eat--Come, buy wine and milk- without money and without price.-2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,- and your labor for that which does not satisfy---Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,- and delight yourselves in rich food.-3 Incline your ear, and come to me-- hear, that your soul may live--and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,- my steadfast, sure love for David.
Ex 25-10-26-1-10 -They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits-a- and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark- they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.--17 -You shall make a mercy seat-b- of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold- of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another- toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
Exodus 24-12-25-9 12 The Lord said to Moses, -Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.- 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, -Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.--15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Luke 2-1-7 -ESV--1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. -2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. -3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. -4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, -5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. -6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. -7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.--John 1-29 -ESV--29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, -Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world-
Exodus 23-20-24-11 20 -Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice- do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.--22 -But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.--23 -When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he-a- will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. 26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land- I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornets-b- before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
Exodus 23-20-24-1120 20 -Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice- do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.--22 -But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.--23 -When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he-a- will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. 26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land- I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornets-b- before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
Psalm 34I will bless the LORD pat all times--his praise shall continually be in my mouth.-2 My soul qmakes its boast in the LORD--let the humble hear and rbe glad.-3 Oh, smagnify the LORD with me,-and let us exalt his name together--4 I tsought the LORD, and he answered me-and delivered me from all my fears.-5 Those who look to him are uradiant,-and their faces shall never be ashamed.-6 vThis poor man cried, and the LORD heard him-and wsaved him out of all his troubles.-7 xThe angel of the LORD yencamps-around those who fear him, and delivers them.-8 Oh, ztaste and see that athe LORD is good--bBlessed is the man who takes refuge in him--9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,-for those who fear him have no lack--10 cThe young lions suffer want and hunger--but those who dseek the LORD lack no good thing.-11 eCome, O children, listen to me--fI will teach you the fear of the LORD.-12 gWhat man is there who desires life-and loves many days, that he may hsee good---13 iKeep your tongue from evil-and your lips from jspeaking deceit.-14 kTurn away from evil and do good--seek peace and lpursue it.-15 mThe eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous-nand his ears toward their cry.-16 oThe face of the LORD is against those who do evil,-to pcut off the memory of them from the earth.-17 nWhen the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears-and delivers them out of all their troubles.-18 The LORD is near to qthe brokenhearted-and saves rthe crushed in spirit.-19 sMany are the afflictions of the righteous,-tbut the LORD delivers him out of them all.-20 He keeps all his bones--unot one of them is broken.-21 vAffliction will slay the wicked,-and those who hate the righteous will
Hebrews 9-22-28 -23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Luke 1-1-4, 46-56-Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.--And Mary said,---My soul magnifies the Lord,-47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,-48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.- For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed--49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,- and holy is his name.-50 And his mercy is for those who fear him- from generation to generation.-51 He has shown strength with his arm-- he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts--52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones- and exalted those of humble estate--53 he has filled the hungry with good things,- and the rich he has sent away empty.-54 He has helped his servant Israel,- in remembrance of his mercy,-55 as he spoke to our fathers,- to Abraham and to his offspring forever.--56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
John 18-37-37 Then Pilate said to him, -So you are a king--- Jesus answered, -You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world-to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.-
Colossians 1-15-20-15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by-f- him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Exodus 20-1-2,14-15--And God spoke all these words, saying,--2 -I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.--14 -You shall not commit adultery.--15 -You shall not steal.
Exodus 20-18-26-18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid-d- and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, -You speak to us, and we will listen- but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.- 20 Moses said to the people, -Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.- 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.--22 And the Lord said to Moses, -Thus you shall say to the people of Israel- 'You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.
Exodus 20-1-2, 16-17--And God spoke all these words, saying,--2 -I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery--16 -You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.--17 -You shall not covet your neighbor's house- you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.-
Exodus 20-1-2, 12-13-And God spoke all these words, saying, --I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery-... Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. -You shall not murder.
Exodus 20-1-11-And God spoke all these words, saying,--2 -I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.--3 -You shall have no other gods before-a- me.--4 -You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands-b- of those who love me and keep my commandments.--7 -You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.--8 -Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20-1-6-And God spoke all these words, saying,--2 -I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.--3 -You shall have no other gods before-a- me.--4 -You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands-b- of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 19-On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, -Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel- 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine- 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.---7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, -All that the Lord has spoken we will do.- And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, -Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.---When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, -Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or...
Exodus 18-1-19-3-Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom -for he said, -I have been a sojourner-a- in a foreign land--, 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer-b- -for he said, -The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh--. 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, -I,-c- your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,- 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.--10 Jethro said, -Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.--d- 12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God- and Aaron...
Exodus 17-1 - 18-12-All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, -Give us water to drink.- And Moses said to them, -Why do you quarrel with me-- Why do you test the Lord--- 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, -Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst--- 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, -What shall I do with this people-- They are almost ready to stone me.- 5 And the Lord said to Moses, -Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.- And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah-a- and Meribah,-b- because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, -Is the Lord among us or not-----Israel Defeats Amalek--8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, -Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.- 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his..
Exodus 16-1-36- They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, -Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.---4 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.- 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, -At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us--- 8 And Moses said, -When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him-what are we-- Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.---9 Then Moses said to Aaron, -Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, 'Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.'- 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the...
Exodus 15-17-27-You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,- the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,- the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.-18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.--19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them---Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously--the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.--Bitter Water Made Sweet-22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter- therefore it was named Marah.-e- 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, -What shall we drink--- 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log,-f- and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.-There the Lord-g- made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, -If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.--27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs springs of water and seventy palm...
Exodus 14-30-15-21-30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.--The Song of Moses--15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,---I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously-- the horse and his rider-d- he has thrown into the sea.-2 The Lord is my strength and my song,- and he has become my salvation--this is my God, and I will praise him,- my father's God, and I will exalt him.-3 The Lord is a man of war-- the Lord is his name.-4 -Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea,- and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.-5 The floods covered them-- they went down into the depths like a stone.-6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,- your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.-7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries-- you send out your fury- it consumes them like stubble.-8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up-- the floods stood up in a heap-- the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.-9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake,- I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.- I will draw my sword- my hand shall destroy them.'-10 You blew with your wind- the sea covered them-- they sank like lead in the mighty waters.-11 -Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods--...
Exodus 14-15-31-15 The Lord said to Moses, -Why do you cry to me-- Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.---19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night-a- without one coming near the other all night.--21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging-b- their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, -Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.---26 Then the Lord said to Moses...
Exodus 13-21-14-20-21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.--Crossing the Red Sea--14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 -Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon- you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, 'They are wandering in the land- the wilderness has shut them in.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.- And they did so.--5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, -What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us--- 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.--10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people o
Exodus 13-The Lord said to Moses, 2 -Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.---The Feast of Unleavened Bread--3 Then Moses said to the people, -Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days- no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. 8 You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.' 9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.--11 -When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you...
Exodus 12-21-51-21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, -Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service--' 27 you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'- And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.--28 Then the people of Israel went and did so- as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.--The Tenth Plague- Death of the Firstborn--29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron...
Exodus 12-1-28- The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 -This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons- according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.-a---7 -Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire- with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning- anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it- with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast- and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments- I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses...
Exodus 9-13-10-20-13 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, -Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself,-a- and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 18 Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.-'- 20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.--22 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.- 23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail...
Exodus 8-16-9-35-16 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'- 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, -This is the finger of God.- But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.--The Fourth Plague- Flies--20 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, -Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.-e- 23 Thus I will put a division-f- between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.-'- 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.--25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, -Go...
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, -Behold, the dwelling place-a- of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,-b- and God himself will be with them as their God.-c- 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.---5 And he who was seated on the throne said, -Behold, I am making all things new.- Also he said, -Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.- 6 And he said to me, -It is done- I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.---The New Jerusalem--9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, -Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.- 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel...
6 Moses and Aaron did so- they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.--8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 -When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'- 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.--The First Plague- Water Turned to Blood--14 Then the Lord said to Moses, -Pharaoh's heart is hardened- he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, -Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.- But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the Lord, -By this you shall know that I am the Lord- behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.-'- 19 And the Lord sai
6 But the Lord said to Moses, -Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh- for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.---2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, -I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,-a- but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.'- 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.--10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 -Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.- 12 But Moses said to the Lord, -Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips--- 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about...
24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses'-c- feet with it and said, -Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me-- 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, -A bridegroom of blood,- because of the circumcision.--27 The Lord said to Aaron, -Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.- So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed- and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.--Making Bricks Without Straw--5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, -Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'- 2 But Pharaoh said, -Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go-- I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.- 3 Then they said, -The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.- 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, -Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work-- Get back to your burdens.- 5 And Pharaoh...
Exodus 4-18-24-18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, -Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.- And Jethro said to Moses, -Go in peace.- 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, -Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.- 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.-21 And the Lord said to Moses, -When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, -Let my son go that he may serve me.- If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'--24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses'-c- feet with it and said, -Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me-- 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, -A bridegroom of blood,- because of the circumcision.
Exodus 4-1-17-Then Moses answered, -But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'- 2 The Lord said to him, -What is that in your hand--- He said, -A staff.- 3 And he said, -Throw it on the ground.- So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, -Put out your hand and catch it by the tail--so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand- 5 -that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.- 6 Again, the Lord said to him, -Put your hand inside your cloak.--a- And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous-b- like snow. 7 Then God said, -Put your hand back inside your cloak.- So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 -If they will not believe you,- God said, -or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.---10 But Moses said to the Lord, -Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.- 11 Then the Lord said to him, -Who has made man's mouth-- Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind-- Is it not I, the Lord-- 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what...
Exodus 3-10-22-Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.- 11 But Moses said to God, -Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt--- 12 He said, -But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you- when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.---13 Then Moses said to God, -If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name--' what shall I say to them--- 14 God said to Moses, -I am who I am.--a- And he said, -Say this to the people of Israel- 'I am has sent me to you.'- 15 God also said to Moses, -Say this to the people of Israel- 'The Lord,-b- the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, -I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.-' 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us- and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrific...
God Hears Israel's Groaning-23 oDuring those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel pgroaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. qTheir cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And rGod heard their groaning, and God sremembered his covenant with tAbraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God usaw the people of Israel-and God vknew.-The Burning Bush-3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the wmountain of God. 2 xAnd ythe angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, -I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.- 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, zGod called to him aout of the bush, -Moses, Moses-- And he said, -Here I am.- 5 Then he said, -Do not come near- btake your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.- 6 And he said, c-I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.- And Moses hid his face, for dhe was afraid to look at God.-7 Then the LORD said, e-I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their ftaskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and gI have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and hto bring them up out of that land to a igood and broad land, a land jflowing with milk and honey, to the place of kthe Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9
Exodus 2-23-3-14-During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel-and God knew. 3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, -I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.- 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, -Moses, Moses-- And he said, -Here I am.- 5 Then he said, -Do not come near- take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.- 6 And he said, -I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.- And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, -I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel ha
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel-and God knew. Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, -I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.- When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, -Moses, Moses-- And he said, -Here I am.- Then he said, -Do not come near- take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.- And he said, -I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.- And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, -I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppr
Exodus 2-11-22-11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.-a- 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, -Why do you strike your companion--- 14 He answered, -Who made you a prince and a judge over us-- Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian--- Then Moses was afraid, and thought, -Surely the thing is known.- 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.--16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, -How is it that you have come home so soon today--- 19 They said, -An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.- 20 He said to his daughters, -Then where is he-- Why have you left the man-- Call him, that he may eat bread.- 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, -I have been a sojourner-b- in a foreign land.-
Exodus 2-23-3-14-23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel-and God knew.-3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 xAnd the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, -I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.- 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, -Moses, Moses-- And he said, -Here I am.- 5 Then he said, -Do not come near- take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.- 6 And he said, -I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.- And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.-7 Then the Lord said, -I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites...
Exodus 1-22 - 2-10-22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people- -Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.---The Birth of Moses--2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket-a- for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.--5 Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. -This is one of the Hebrew babies,- she said.--7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, -Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you-----8 -Yes, go,- she answered. So the girl went and got the baby's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, -Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.- So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses,-b- saying, -I drew him out of the water.-
Exodus 1-6-22-6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful- they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.--8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 -Look,- he said to his people, -the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.---11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread- so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields- in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.--15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 -When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him- but if it is a girl, let her live.- 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do- they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, -Why have you done this-- Why have you let the boys live-----19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, -Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women- they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.-
Luke 2-29-32--Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word- for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.-
That You May Know--13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.--16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God-a- will give him life-to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death- I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.--18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.--19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.--20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true- and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Luke 2-13-14-English Standard Version-13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,--14 -Glory to God in the highest,- and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased---a-
Zechariah's Prophecy--67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,--68 -Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,- for he has visited and redeemed his people-69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us- in the house of his servant David,-70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,-71 that we should be saved from our enemies- and from the hand of all who hate us--72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers- and to remember his holy covenant,-73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us-74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,-might serve him without fear,-75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.-76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High-- for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,-77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people- in the forgiveness of their sins,-78 because of the tender mercy of our God,- whereby the sunrise shall visit us-a- from on high-79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,- to guide our feet into the way of peace.-
Mary's Song of Praise- The Magnificat--46 And Mary said,---My soul magnifies the Lord,-47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,-48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.- For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed--49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,- and holy is his name.-50 And his mercy is for those who fear him- from generation to generation.-51 He has shown strength with his arm-- he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts--52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones- and exalted those of humble estate--53 he has filled the hungry with good things,- and the rich he has sent away empty.-54 He has helped his servant Israel,- in remembrance of his mercy,-55 as he spoke to our fathers,- to Abraham and to his offspring forever.--56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Lamentations 3-25-26-English Standard Version-- 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,-to the soul who seeks him.- 26 It is good that one should wait quietly-for the salvation of the Lord.
Habakkuk 3-16-19-16 I hear, and my body trembles-- my lips quiver at the sound--rottenness enters into my bones-- my legs tremble beneath me.-Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble- to come upon people who invade us.-Habakkuk Rejoices in the Lord--17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,- nor fruit be on the vines,-the produce of the olive fail- and the fields yield no food,-the flock be cut off from the fold- and there be no herd in the stalls,-18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord-- I will take joy in the God of my salvation.-19 God, the Lord, is my strength-- he makes my feet like the deer's-- he makes me tread on my high places.-To the choirmaster- with stringed instruments.
Habakkuk's Prayer--3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.--2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,- and your work, O Lord, do I fear.-In the midst of the years revive it-- in the midst of the years make it known-- in wrath remember mercy.-3 God came from Teman,- and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah-His splendor covered the heavens,- and the earth was full of his praise.-4 His brightness was like the light-- rays flashed from his hand-- and there he veiled his power.-5 Before him went pestilence,- and plague followed at his heels.-a--6 He stood and measured the earth-- he looked and shook the nations--then the eternal mountains were scattered-- the everlasting hills sank low.- His were the everlasting ways.-7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction-- the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.-8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord--- Was your anger against the rivers,- or your indignation against the sea,-when you rode on your horses,- on your chariot of salvation---9 You stripped the sheath from your bow,- calling for many arrows.-b- Selah- You split the earth with rivers.-10 The mountains saw you and writhed-- the raging waters swept on--the deep gave forth its voice-- it lifted its hands on high.-11 The sun and moon stood still in their place- at the light of your arrows as they sped,- at the flash of your glittering spear.-12 You marched through the earth in fury-- you threshed the nations in anger.-13 You went out for the salvation of your people,- for the salvation of your anointed.-You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,- laying him bare from thigh to
-Behold, his soul is puffed up- it is not upright within him,- but the righteous shall live by his faith.-a--5 -Moreover, wine-b- is a traitor,- an arrogant man who is never at rest.-c--His greed is as wide as Sheol-- like death he has never enough.-He gathers for himself all nations- and collects as his own all peoples.--Woe to the Chaldeans--6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,---Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own-- for how long---- and loads himself with pledges---7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise,- and those awake who will make you tremble--- Then you will be spoil for them.-8 Because you have plundered many nations,- all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,-for the blood of man and violence to the earth,- to cities and all who dwell in them.-9 -Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,- to set his nest on high,- to be safe from the reach of harm--10 You have devised shame for your house- by cutting off many peoples-- you have forfeited your life.-11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,- and the beam from the woodwork respond.-12 -Woe to him who builds a town with blood- and founds a city on iniquity--13 Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts- that peoples labor merely for fire,- and nations weary themselves for nothing---14 For the earth will be filled- with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord- as the waters cover the sea.-15 -Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink-- you pour out your wrath and make them drunk,- in order to gaze at their nakedness--16 You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.
2 I will take my stand at my watchpost- and station myself on the tower,-and look out to see what he will say to me,- and what I will answer concerning my complaint.-The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith--2 And the Lord answered me----Write the vision-- make it plain on tablets,- so he may run who reads it.-3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time-- it hastens to the end-it will not lie.-If it seems slow, wait for it-- it will surely come- it will not delay.-4 -Behold, his soul is puffed up- it is not upright within him,- but the righteous shall live by his faith.-a--5 -Moreover, wine-b- is a traitor,- an arrogant man who is never at rest.-c--His greed is as wide as Sheol-- like death he has never enough.-He gathers for himself all nations- and collects as his own all peoples.-
Habakkuk's Second Complaint--12 Are you not from everlasting,- O Lord my God, my Holy One--- We shall not die.-O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,- and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.-13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil- and cannot look at wrong,-why do you idly look at traitors- and remain silent when the wicked swallows up- the man more righteous than he---14 You make mankind like the fish of the sea,- like crawling things that have no ruler.-15 He-a- brings all of them up with a hook-- he drags them out with his net--he gathers them in his dragnet-- so he rejoices and is glad.-16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net- and makes offerings to his dragnet--for by them he lives in luxury,-b-- and his food is rich.-17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net- and mercilessly killing nations forever---2 I will take my stand at my watchpost- and station myself on the tower,-and look out to see what he will say to me,- and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.--Habakkuk's Complaint--2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,- and you will not hear---Or cry to you -Violence--- and you will not save---3 Why do you make me see iniquity,- and why do you idly look at wrong---Destruction and violence are before me-- strife and contention arise.-4 So the law is paralyzed,- and justice never goes forth.-For the wicked surround the righteous-- so justice goes forth perverted.-The Lord's Answer--5 -Look among the nations, and see-- wonder and be astounded.-For I am doing a work in your days- that you would not believe if told.-6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,- that bitter and hasty nation,-who march through the breadth of the earth,- to seize dwellings not their own.-7 They are dreaded and fearsome-- their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.-8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,- more fierce than the evening wolves-- their horsemen press proudly on.-Their horsemen come from afar-- they fly like an eagle swift to devour.-9 They all come for violence,- all their faces forward.- They gather captives like sand.-10 At kings they scoff,- and at rulers they laugh.-They laugh at every fortress,- for they pile up earth and take it.-11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on,- guilty men, whose own might is their god--
The Reign of the Lord's Anointed--2 Why do the nations rage-a-- and the peoples plot in vain---2 The kings of the earth set themselves,- and the rulers take counsel together,- against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,-3 -Let us burst their bonds apart- and cast away their cords from us.--4 He who sits in the heavens laughs-- the Lord holds them in derision.-5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,- and terrify them in his fury, saying,-6 -As for me, I have set my King- on Zion, my holy hill.--7 I will tell of the decree--The Lord said to me, -You are my Son-- today I have begotten you.-8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,- and the ends of the earth your possession.-9 You shall break-b- them with a rod of iron- and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.--10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise-- be warned, O rulers of the earth.-11 Serve the Lord with fear,- and rejoice with trembling.-12 Kiss the Son,- lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,- for his wrath is quickly kindled.-Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.-a- 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, -I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.- 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, -God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.- 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.--Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt--1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household- 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons- Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly- they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.--Pharaoh Oppresses Israel--8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
Genesis 49-28-50-14 Full Text -ESV----------------------------------------------------------------------------------https---www.biblegateway.com-passage---search-Genesis-2049-3A28-50-3A14-version-ESV
Then Jacob called his sons and said, -Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.--2 -Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,- listen to Israel your father.-3 -Reuben, you are my firstborn,- my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,- preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.-4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,- because you went up to your father's bed-- then you defiled it-he went up to my couch--5 -Simeon and Levi are brothers-- weapons of violence are their swords.-6 Let my soul come not into their council-- O my glory, be not joined to their company.-For in their anger they killed men,- and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.-7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,- and their wrath, for it is cruel--I will divide them in Jacob- and scatter them in Israel.-8 -Judah, your brothers shall praise you-- your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies-- your father's sons shall bow down before you.-9 Judah is a lion's cub-- from the prey, my son, you have gone up.-He stooped down- he crouched as a lion- and as a lioness- who dares rouse him---10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,- nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,-until tribute comes to him--a-- and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.-11 Binding his foal to the vine- and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,-he has washed his garments in wine- and his vesture in the blood of grapes.-12 His eyes are darker than wine,- and his teeth whiter than milk.-13 -Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea-- he shall become a haven for ships,- and his border shall be at Si
Then Jacob called his sons and said, -Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.--2 -Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,- listen to Israel your father.-3 -Reuben, you are my firstborn,- my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,- preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.-4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,- because you went up to your father's bed-- then you defiled it-he went up to my couch--5 -Simeon and Levi are brothers-- weapons of violence are their swords.-6 Let my soul come not into their council-- O my glory, be not joined to their company.-For in their anger they killed men,- and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.-7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,- and their wrath, for it is cruel--I will divide them in Jacob- and scatter them in Israel.-8 -Judah, your brothers shall praise you-- your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies-- your father's sons shall bow down before you.-9 Judah is a lion's cub-- from the prey, my son, you have gone up.-He stooped down- he crouched as a lion- and as a lioness- who dares rouse him---10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,- nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,-until tribute comes to him-- and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.-11 Binding his foal to the vine- and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,-he has washed his garments in wine- and his vesture in the blood of grapes.-12 His eyes are darker than wine,- and his teeth whiter than milk.-13 -Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea-- he shall become a haven for ships,- and his border shall be at Sidon
Passage- Mt 1-1,6,17, 2 Sam 7-1-16 -pg. 398- -Title- His plans and His promises-1. Our Plan -v1-3--2. God's Plan -v4-16-
27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, pin the land of Goshen. qAnd they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. rSo the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.--29 And swhen the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, -If now tI have found favor in your sight, uput your hand under my thigh and vpromise to deal kindly and truly with me. wDo not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and xbury me in their burying place.- He answered, -I will do as you have said.- 31 And he said, -Swear to me-- and he swore to him. Then yIsrael bowed himself upon the head of his bed.2--Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh-48 After this, Joseph was told, -Behold, your father is ill.- So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, -Your son Joseph has come to you.- Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, z-God Almighty1 appeared to me at aLuz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you bfor an everlasting possession.' 5 And now your ctwo sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, dare mine- Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow eRachel died
Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, -How many are the days of the years of your life--- 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, -The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.- 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.--13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, -Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes-- For our money is gone.- 16 And Joseph answered, -Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.- 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livesto
26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.--Jacob and Joseph Reunited--28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, -Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.- 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, -I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.' 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation--' 34 you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.---Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen--47 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, -My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.- 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers,
17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, -Say to your brothers, 'Do this- load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.' 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, 'Do this- take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for-a- your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'---21 The sons of Israel did so- and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels-b- of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows- ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, -Do not quarrel on the way.---25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, -Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.- And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, -It is enough- Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.---Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt-46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, -Make everyone go out from me.- So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, -I am Joseph- Is my father still alive--- But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.-So Joseph said to his brothers, -Come near to me, please.- And they came near. And he said, -I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me- do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.' And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor
Then he commanded the steward of his house, -Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.- And he did as Joseph told him.--3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, -Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good-- 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination-- You have done evil in doing this.'---6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, -Why does my lord speak such words as these-- Far be it from your servants to do such a thing- 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house-- 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord's servants.- 10 He said, -Let it be as you say- he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.- 11 Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.--14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, -What deed is this
14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.---15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.--16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, -Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.- 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, -It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.- 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, -Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.- 23 He replied, -Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.- Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph's com
25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.--26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, -My money has been put back- here it is in the mouth of my sack-- At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, -What is this that God has done to us-----29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 -The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, 'We are honest men- we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.' 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I shall know that you are honest men- leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.'---35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, -You have bereaved me of my children- Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has co
When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, -Why do you look at one another--- 2 And he said, -Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.- 3 So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.-6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. -Where do you come from--- he said. They said, -From the land of Canaan, to buy food.- 8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, -You are spies- you have come to see the nakedness of the land.- 10 They said to him, -No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.--12 He said to them, -No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.- 13 And they said, -We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.- 14 But Joseph said to them, -It is as I said to you. You are spies. 15 By this you shall be tested- by the life of Pharaoh, you shal
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, -Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God--- 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, -Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.- 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, -See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.- 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, -Bow the knee-- Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, -I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.- 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.--46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.--50 Before the year of famine came
After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.-9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, -I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.--14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh sa
Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.-And one night they both dreamed-the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison-each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, -Why are your faces downcast today--- They said to him, -We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.- And Joseph said to them, -Do not interpretations belong to God-- Please tell them to me.--So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, -In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.- Then Joseph said to him, -This is its interpretation- the three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake- the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.-Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, -Lie with me.- But he refused and said to his master's wife, -Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God--- And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.-But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, -Lie with me.- But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as s
It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.-And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, -Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.- But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, -Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up--for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house.-In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And when Tamar was told, -Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,- she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, a
-I am seeking my brothers,- he said. -Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.- And the man said, -They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'- So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.-They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, -Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.- But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, -Let us not take his life.- And Reuben said to them, -Shed no blood- throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him--that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty- there was no water in it.-Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, -What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood-- Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.- And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.-When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph wa
-Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, -Hear this dream that I have dreamed- Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.- His brothers said to him, -Are you indeed to reign over us-- Or are you indeed to rule over us--- So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, -Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.- But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, -What is this dream that you have dreamed-- Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you--- And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.- -Genesis 37-1-11, ESV-
Genesis 35- 16-29 -ESV--16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance6 from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, -Do not fear, for vyou have another son.- 18 And as her soul was departing -for she was dying-, she called his name Ben-oni-7 wbut his father called him Benjamin.8 19 So xRachel died, and she was buried on the way to yEphrath -that is, Bethlehem-, 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is zthe pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.-22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and alay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it.-Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah- bReuben -Jacob's firstborn-, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel- Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant- Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant- Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.-27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at cMamre, or dKiriath-arba -that is, Hebron-, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died eand was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And fhis sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
God said to Jacob, -Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.- 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, -Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.- 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.--5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 And Jacob came to Luz -that is, Bethel-, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.--9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, -Your name is Jacob- no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.- So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, -I am God Almighty- be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.- 13 Then God went up from him in th
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.-Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.-Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works- if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burd
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.--A Good Servant of Christ Jesus--6 If you put these things before the brothers,-a- you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness- 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,-b- because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.--11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,-c- so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on
The Steadfast Love of the Lord--33 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous-- Praise befits the upright.-2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre-- make melody to him with the harp of ten strings--3 Sing to him a new song-- play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.-4 For the word of the Lord is upright,- and all his work is done in faithfulness.-5 He loves righteousness and justice-- the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.-6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,- and by the breath of his mouth all their host.-7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap-- he puts the deeps in storehouses.-8 Let all the earth fear the Lord-- let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him--9 For he spoke, and it came to be-- he commanded, and it stood firm.-10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing-- he frustrates the plans of the peoples.-11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,- the plans of his heart to all generations.-12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,- the people whom he has chosen as his heritage--13 The Lord looks down from heaven-- he sees all the children of man--14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out- on all the inhabitants of the earth,-15 he who fashions the hearts of them all- and observes all their deeds.-16 The king is not saved by his great army-- a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.-17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,- and by its great might it cannot rescue.-18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,- on those who hope in his steadfast love,-19 that he may deliver their soul from death- and keep them a
The saying is trustworthy- If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church- He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.-Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first- then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.-I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness--He was manifested in the flesh,-vindicated by the Spirit,-seen by an
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,--2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith---Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.--Warning Against False Teachers--3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship-a- from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.--8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,-b- liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound-c- doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.--Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners--12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the
Proverbs 31-10-30 -ESV-- 10- An excellent wife who can find- - She is far more precious than jewels. - 11-The heart of her husband trusts in her, - and he will have no lack of gain. - 12-She does him good, and not harm, - all the days of her life. - 13-She seeks wool and flax, - and works with willing hands. - 14-She is like the ships of the merchant- - she brings her food from afar. - 15-She rises while it is yet night - and provides food for her household - and portions for her maidens. - 16-She considers a field and buys it- - with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. - 17-She dresses herself with strength - and makes her arms strong. - 18-She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. - Her lamp does not go out at night. - 19-She puts her hands to the distaff, - and her hands hold the spindle. - 20-She opens her hand to the poor - and reaches out her hands to the needy. - 21-She is not afraid of snow for her household, - for all her household are clothed in scarlet. - 22-She makes bed coverings for herself- - her clothing is fine linen and purple. - 23-Her husband is known in the gates - when he sits among the elders of the land. - 24-She makes linen garments and sells them- - she delivers sashes to the merchant. - 25-Strength and dignity are her clothing, - and she laughs at the time to come. - 26-She opens her mouth with wisdom, - and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. - 27-She looks well to the ways of her household - and does not eat the bread of idleness. - 28-H
Titus 3-1-15 -ESV-- 3-Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2-to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3-For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4-But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5-he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6-whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7-so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8-The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9-But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10-As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11-knowing that such a person is warped and sinful- he is self-condemned. -12-When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13-Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way- see that they lack nothing. 14-And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything- they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things- exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Boaz Marries Ruth--4 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer-a- he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, -Come over here, my friend, and sit down.- So he went over and sat down.--2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, -Sit here,- and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, -Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you-b- will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.----I will redeem it,- he said.--5 Then Boaz said, -On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the-c- dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.---6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, -Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.---7 -Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.---8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, -Buy it yourself.- And he removed his sandal.--9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, -Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the d
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor--3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, -My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you- 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were- See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.- 5 And she replied, -All that you say I will do.---6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet- 9 He said, -Who are you-- And she answered, -I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings-a- over your servant, for you are a redeemer.- 10 And he said, -May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good- let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem
Ruth Meets Boaz--2 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, -Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.- And she said to her, -Go, my daughter.- 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, -The Lord be with you-- And they answered, -The Lord bless you.- 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, -Whose young woman is this-- 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, -She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.' So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.--a---8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, -Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you- And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.- 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, -Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner-- 11 But Boaz answered her, -All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left yo
-In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives- the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, -Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband-- Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, -No, we will return with you to your people.- But Naomi said, -Turn back, my daughters- why will you go with me- Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands- Turn back, my daughters- go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you there
--And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write- 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. --'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'- -Revelation 3-7-13, ESV-
--And to the angel of the church in Sardis write- 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. --'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'- -Revelation 3-1-6, ESV-
--And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write- 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. --'I know your tribulation and your poverty -but you are rich- and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'- -Revelation 2-8-11, ESV-
-Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. -To the angel of the church in Ephesus write- 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. --'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen- repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have- you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'- -Revelation 1-19-2-7, ESV-
-The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, -Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.- -Revelation 1-14-20, ESV-
Revelation 1-9-16 -ESV--9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. -10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet -11saying, -Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.- -12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, -13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. -14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, -15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. -16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
-I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet- -Revelation 1-9-10, ESV-
Revelation 1-1-8 -ESV--1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, -2who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. -3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. -4John to the seven churches that are in Asia- Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, -5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood -6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. -8-I am the Alpha and the Omega,- says the Lord God, -who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.-
-Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one- and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.-
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one- and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 5-20-33 -ESV--20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, -21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. -22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. -23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. -24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. -25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, -26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, -27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. -28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. -29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, -30because we are members of his body. -31-Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.- -32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. -33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5-15-21 -ESV--15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, -16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. -17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. -18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, -19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, -20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, -21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5-5-17 -ESV--5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous -that is, an idolater-, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. -6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. -7Therefore do not become partners with them- -8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light -9-for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true-, -10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. -11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. -12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. -13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, -14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, -Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.- -15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, -16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. -17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Philemon 1-14 -ESV--Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker -and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house- -Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. -I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, -because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, -and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. -For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. -Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, -yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you-I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus- -I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. --Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.- -I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. -I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, -but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
Ephesians 4-29-32-By Grace, He Seeks That We Speak--Ephesians 4-29-32 -ESV--29-Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30-And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31-Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32-Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4-28 -ESV--Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Ephesians 4-25-32 -ESV--Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. -Be angry and do not sin- do not let the sun go down on your anger, -and give no opportunity to the devil. -Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. -Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. -And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. -Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. -Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4-17-24 -ESV--Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. -They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. -They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. -But that is not the way you learned Christ-- -assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, -to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, -and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, -and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Psalm 90 -ESV--A PRAYER OF MOSES, THE MAN OF GOD. -Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. -Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. -You return man to dust and say, -Return, O children of man-- -For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. -You sweep them away as with a flood- they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning- -in the morning it flourishes and is renewed- in the evening it fades and withers. -For we are brought to an end by your anger- by your wrath we are dismayed. -You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. -For all our days pass away under your wrath- we bring our years to an end like a sigh. -The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty- yet their span is but toil and trouble- they are soon gone, and we fly away. -Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you- -So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. -Return, O LORD- How long- Have pity on your servants- -Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. -Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. -Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. -Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us- yes, establish the work of our hands-
Genesis 32-22-32 -ESV--The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. -He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. -And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. -When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. -Then he said, -Let me go, for the day has broken.- But Jacob said, -I will not let you go unless you bless me.- -And he said to him, -What is your name-- And he said, -Jacob.- -Then he said, -Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.- -Then Jacob asked him, -Please tell me your name.- But he said, -Why is it that you ask my name-- And there he blessed him. -So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, -For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.- -The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. -Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
Acts 2-1-21 -ESV--When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. -And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. -And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. -And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. -Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. -And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. -And they were amazed and astonished, saying, -Are not all these who are speaking Galileans- -And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language- -Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, -Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, -both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians-we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.- -And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, -What does this mean-- -But others mocking said, -They are filled with new wine.- -But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them- -Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. -For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. -But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel- ---'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and you
Ephesians 4-7-16 -ESV--But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. -Therefore it says, -When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.- --In saying, -He ascended,- what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth- -He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.- -And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, -to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, -until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, -so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. -Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, -from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4-1-6 -ESV--I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, -with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, -eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. -There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- -one Lord, one faith, one baptism, -one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 3-14-21 -ESV--For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, -from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, -that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, -so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, -may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, -and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, -to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3-7-13 -ESV--7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. -8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, -9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, -10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. -11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, -12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. -13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 2-19-3-6 -ESV--19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, -20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, -21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. -22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. -1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles- -2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, -3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. -4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, -5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. -6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Ephesians 2-11-13 -ESV--11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called -the uncircumcision- by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2-6-10 -ESV--6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing- it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2-1-5-English Standard Version-By Grace Through Faith-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body-a- and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.-b- 4 But-c- God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-
Ephesians 1-19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might -Ephesians 1-20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, -Ephesians 1-21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. -Ephesians 1-22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, -Ephesians 1-23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1-15-23 -ESV--15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, -16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, -17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, -18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, -19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might -20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, -21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. -22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, -23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1-15-19 -ESV--15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, -16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, -17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, -18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, -19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Ephesians 1-15-16 -ESV--15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, -16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1-3-14 -ESV--3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1-1-6 -ESV--1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus- -2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. -3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, -4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love -5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, -6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Hebrews 2-5-18 -ESV--5For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. -6It has been testified somewhere, -What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him- -7You made him for a little while lower than the angels- you have crowned him with glory and honor, -8putting everything in subjection under his feet.- Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. -9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. -10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. -11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, -12saying, -I will tell of your name to my brothers- in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.- -13And again, -I will put my trust in him.- And again, -Behold, I and the children God has given me.- -14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, -15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. -16For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. -17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that
Judges 13-1-24-1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, -so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. -2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. -3 And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, -Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.- 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, -A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.' - -8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD and said, -O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.- 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, -Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.- 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said
Genesis 18-1-15-And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, -O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant.- So they said, -Do as you have said.- 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, -Quick- Three seahs of fine flour- Knead it, and make cakes.- 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. -9 They said to him, -Where is Sarah your wife-- And he said, -She is in the tent.- 10 The LORD said, -I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.- And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, -After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure-- 13 The LORD said to Abraham, -Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old-' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD- At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next
1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the riverbank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, -This is one of the Hebrews' children.- 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, -Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you-- 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, -Go.- So, the girl went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, -Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.- So, the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, -Because,- she said, -I drew him out of the water.-
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, -All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.-
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, -Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani-- that is, -My God, my God, why have you forsaken me-- And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, -This man is calling Elijah.- And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, -Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.- And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, -Truly this was the Son of God-- There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and w
Matthew 27-27-44 -ESV---Jesus Is Mocked-27-Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28-And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29-and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, -Hail, King of the Jews-- 30-And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31-And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. --The Crucifixion-32-As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33-And when they came to a place called Golgotha -which means Place of a Skull-, 34-they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35-And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36-Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37-And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, -This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.- 38-Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39-And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40-and saying, -You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself- If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.- 41-So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42--He saved others- he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel- let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43-He trusts in God- let God deliver
The Riotous Adoption Matthew 27-11-26-11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, -Are you the King of the Jews-- Jesus said, -You have said so.- 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, -Do you not hear how many things they testify against you-- 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, -Whom do you want me to release for you- Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ-- 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, -Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.- 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, -Which of the two do you want me to release for you-- And they said, -Barabbas.- 22 Pilate said to them, -Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ-- They all said, -Let him be crucified-- 23 And he said, -Why- What evil has he done-- But they shouted all the more, -Let him be crucified-- 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, -I am innocent of this man's blood- see to it yourselves.- 25 And all the people answered, -His blood be on us and on o
Matthew 26-57-68 -ESV--57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, -This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'-- 62 And the high priest stood up and said, -Have you no answer to make- What is it that these men testify against you-- 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, -I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.- 64 Jesus said to him, -You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.- 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, -He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need- You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment-- They answered, -He deserves death.- 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, -Prophesy to us, you Christ- Who is it that struck you--
Matthew 26-14-16 -ESV- 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, -What will you give me if I deliver him over to you-- And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.--Matthew 26-46-56 -ESV- 46 Rise, let us be going- see, my betrayer is at hand.- 47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, -The one I will kiss is the man- seize him.- 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, -Greetings, Rabbi-- And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, -Friend, do what you came to do.- Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, -Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels- 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so-- 55--At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, -Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me- Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.- Then all the disciples left him and fled.--Matthew 27-1-10 -ESV- 1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took
The Passover with the Disciples--17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, -Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover-- 18 He said, -Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'- 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.--20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.-a- 21 And as they were eating, he said, -Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.- 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, -Is it I, Lord-- 23 He answered, -He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed- It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.- 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, -Is it I, Rabbi-- He said to him, -You have said so.---Institution of the Lord's Supper--26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, -Take, eat- this is my body.- 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, -Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the-b- covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.---Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial--30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Plot to Kill Jesus--26 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 -You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.---3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, -Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.---Jesus Anointed at Bethany--6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,-a- 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, -Why this waste- 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.- 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, -Why do you trouble the woman- For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.-
Matthew 7-21-23 -ESV--21 -Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name-' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you- depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' -Matthew 25-31-26-2 -ESV--31 -When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink- 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you- 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you-' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 41 -Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was
Matthew 25-14-30 -ESV--14 -For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents- here, I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little- I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents- here, I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little- I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant- You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed- 27 Then you ought to have i
25 -Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps-a- and went to meet the bridegroom.-b- 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom- Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Sermon Text- Matthew 24-34-51 -ESV--34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 -But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field- one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill- one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 -Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time- 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will
Matthew 24-14-34-English Standard Version-14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.--The Abomination of Desolation--15 -So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place -let the reader understand-, 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days- 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ-' or 'There he is-' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.--The Coming of the Son of Man--29 -Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will n
Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. -O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it- How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing- See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'-- Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, -You see all these, do you not- Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.- As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, -Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age-- And Jesus answered them, -See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. -Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one wh
--But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites- For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites- For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. -Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools- For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred- And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men- For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred- So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. -Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites- For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law- justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel- -Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites- For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee- First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. -Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites-
Matthew 23-1-12 -ESV---Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees-23-Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2--The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3-so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4-They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5-They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6-and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7-and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8-But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9-And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10-Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11-The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12-Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 22-41-46 -ESV- -41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, -What do you think about the Christ- Whose son is he-- They said to him, -The son of David.- 43 He said to them, -How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44 - 'The Lord said to my Lord, -Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet- '- 45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son-- 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. --Psalm 110 -ESV- -A PSALM OF DAVID. 1 The LORD says to my Lord- -Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.- 2 The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies- 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments- from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, -You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.- 5 The Lord is at your right hand- he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses- he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way- therefore he will lift up his head.
2 Timothy 2-1-4 -ESV--1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, -2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. -3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. -4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
1 Peter 2-9-17 -ESV- 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people- once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.--11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.--13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
TO THE CHOIRMASTER- ACCORDING TO THE GITTITH. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts- My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD- my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise- Selah Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs- the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength- each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer- give ear, O God of Jacob- Selah Behold our shield, O God- look on the face of your anointed- For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield- the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you-
33 -Listen to another parable- There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.--34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.--35 -The tenants seized his servants- they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.--36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.--37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.--38 -But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.'--39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.--40 -Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants----41 -He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,- they replied, -and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.---42 Jesus said to them, -Have you never read in the Scriptures- - 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone - the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' ---43 -Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.--44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.---45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them.--46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.-19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, -May you never bear fruit again-- Immediately the tree withered.--20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. -How did the fig tree wither so quickly-- they asked.--21 Jesus replied, -I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.-22 If you believe, you will receive, whatever you ask for in prayer.---23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. -By what authority are you doing these things-- they asked. -And who gave you this authority----24 Jesus replied, -I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.-25 John's baptism--where did it come from- Was it from heaven, or from men----26 They discussed it among themselves and said, -If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him-' But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.---27 So they answered Jesus, -We don't know.- Then he said, -Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.-28 -What do you think- There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'--29 - 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.-30 -Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing
John 20-1-18 -ESV--1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, -They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.- 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed- 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, -Woman, why are you weeping-- She said to them, -They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.- 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, -Woman, why are you weeping- Whom are you seeking-- Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, -Sir, if you have carrie
-Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, -Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once.- This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, -Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'-- The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, -Hosanna to the Son of David- Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord- Hosanna in the highest-- And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, -Who is this-- And the crowds said, -This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.-- -Matthew 21-1-11, ESV-
-I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.- -Philippians 4-10-23, ESV-
-Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always- again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand- do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.- -Philippians 4-1-9, ESV-
-Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh- though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more- circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews- as to the law, a Pharisee- as to zeal, a persecutor of the church- as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- -Philippians 3-1-9, ESV-
-Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.- -Philippians 2-12-18, ESV-
Philippians 1-27-2-11 New International Version -NIV---27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.--2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.--5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus---6 Who, being in very nature God,- did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage--7 rather, he made himself nothing- by taking the very nature of a servant,- being made in human likeness.-8 And being found in appearance as a man,- he humbled himself- by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross--9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place- and gave him the name that is above every name,-10 th
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter- The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose- I do not know- I am torn between the two- I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far- but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boas
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons- Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer- that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
Matthew 20-17-34 -ESV---Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time-17-And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18--See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19-and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.- --A Mother's Request-20-Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21-And he said to her, -What do you want-- She said to him, -Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.- 22-Jesus answered, -You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink-- They said to him, -We are able.- 23-He said to them, -You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.- 24-And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25-But Jesus called them to him and said, -You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26-It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27-and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28-even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.- --Jesus Heals Two Blind Men-29-And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30-And behold, there were two blind men sitting by
Matthew 20-1-16 -NIV----The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard-20 -For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2-He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. -3--About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4-He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5-So they went. --He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6-About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing-' -7---'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. --He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' -8--When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' -9--The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10-So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11-When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12-'These who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' -13--But he answered one of them, 'I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius- 14-Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15-Don't I have the right to do what
Matthew 18-23-19-12 New International Version -NIV---23 -Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.--26 -At this the servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.--28 -But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me-' he demanded.--29 -His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.'--30 -But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.--32 -Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you-' 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.--35 -This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.---19 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crow
Matthew 18-10-22 -NIV----The Parable of the Wandering Sheep-18-12-14pp-Lk 15-4-7-10--See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. -11- -12--What do you think- If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off- 13-And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14-In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. ---Dealing With Sin in the Church-15--If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16-But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'- 17-If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church- and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. -18--Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. -19--Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20-For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.- ---The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant-21-Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, -Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me- Up to seven times-- -22-Jesus answered, -I tell you, not seven times, but se
Of Solomon. Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy- may he crush the oppressor. May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live- May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. May grain abound throughout the land- on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever- may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever-
Psalm 113 New International Version -NIV---Praise the Lord.-Praise the Lord, you his servants-- praise the name of the Lord.-Let the name of the Lord be praised,- both now and forevermore.-From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,- the name of the Lord is to be praised.-The Lord is exalted over all the nations,- his glory above the heavens.-Who is like the Lord our God,- the One who sits enthroned on high,-who stoops down to look- on the heavens and the earth--He raises the poor from the dust- and lifts the needy from the ash heap--he seats them with princes,- with the princes of his people.-He settles the childless woman in her home- as a happy mother of children.-Praise the Lord.
Matthew 17-23-18-10 -NIV--23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.- And the disciples were filled with grief. --24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, -Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax-- -25 -Yes, he does,- he replied. -When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. -What do you think, Simon-- he asked. -From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes-from their own children or from others-- -26 -From others,- Peter answered. --Then the children are exempt,- Jesus said to him. 27 -But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch- open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.- -----1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, -Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven-- -2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said- -Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ----6 -If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble- Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come- 8 If your hand or your foot
Matthew 16-28-17-23 -NIV--28 -Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.- -----1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. -4 Peter said to Jesus, -Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.- -5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, -This is my Son, whom I love- with him I am well pleased. Listen to him-- -6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. -Get up,- he said. -Don't be afraid.- 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. -9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, -Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.- -10 The disciples asked him, -Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first-- -11 Jesus replied, -To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.- 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. --14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 -Lord, hav
Matthew 16-13-27 -NIV------13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, -Who do people say the Son of Man is-- -14 They replied, -Some say John the Baptist- others say Elijah- and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.- -15 -But what about you-- he asked. -Who do you say I am-- -16 Simon Peter answered, -You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.- -17 Jesus replied, -Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven- whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.- 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. -----21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. -22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. -Never, Lord-- he said. -This shall never happen to you-- -23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, -Get behind me, Satan- You are a stumbling block to me- you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.- -24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, -Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for som
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. --2He replied, -When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.- Jesus then left them and went away. --5When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6-Be careful,- Jesus said to them. -Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.- --7They discussed this among themselves and said, -It is because we didn't bring any bread.- --8Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, -You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread- 9Do you still not understand- Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered- 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered- 11How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread- But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.- 12Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 15-21-39 -NIV---21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, -Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me- My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.- -23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, -Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.- -24 He answered, -I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.- -25 The woman came and knelt before him. -Lord, help me-- she said. -26 He replied, -It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.- -27 -Yes it is, Lord,- she said. -Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.- -28 Then Jesus said to her, -Woman, you have great faith- Your request is granted.- And her daughter was healed at that moment. -----29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet- and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. -32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, -I have compassion for these people- they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.- -33 His disciples answered, -Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd-- -34 -How many loaves do you have-- Jesus asked. --Seven,- they replied, -and a few small fish.- -35 He told the crowd to
John 14-1-6 -NIV---1 -Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God- believe also in me. 2 My Father's house has many rooms- if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you- 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.- ----5 Thomas said to him, -Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way-- -6 Jesus answered, -I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Matthew 15-1-20 -NIV---1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 -Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders- They don't wash their hands before they eat-- -3 Jesus replied, -And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition- 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.' 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is 'devoted to God,' 6 they are not to 'honor their father or mother' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites- Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you- -- 8 --'These people honor me with their lips, - but their hearts are far from me. - 9 They worship me in vain- - their teachings are merely human rules.'- --10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, -Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.- -12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, -Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this-- -13 He replied, -Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them- they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.- -15 Peter said, -Explain the parable to us.- -16 -Are you still so dull-- Jesus asked them. 17 -Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body- 18 But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
Matthew 14-22-36 -NIV--22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. -25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. -It's a ghost,- they said, and cried out in fear. -27 But Jesus immediately said to them- -Take courage- It is I. Don't be afraid.- -28 -Lord, if it's you,- Peter replied, -tell me to come to you on the water.- -29 -Come,- he said. -Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, -Lord, save me-- -31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. -You of little faith,- he said, -why did you doubt-- -32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, -Truly you are the Son of God.- -34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 14-6-21 -NIV--6 On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, -Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.- 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. -----13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. -15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, -This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.- -16 Jesus replied, -They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.- -17 -We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,- they answered. -18 -Bring them here to me,- he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and chi