Category: Life in Christ

Wednesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 29 April 2020 – John 6:35-40, Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7 ~ see, believe, and live forever

Wednesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 29 April 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace to thankfully receive his inestimable benefits, and to daily follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.”

A Reading from the Gospels: John John 6:35-40 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 8:1-8 (NLT)

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.
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Psalm 66 (You Are Great) – The Lovely

Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people!

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
Sing about the glory of his name!
Tell the world how glorious he is.

Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs.”

Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people!
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Closing: John 6:37

“Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.”

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 28 April 2020 – John 6:30-35, Acts 7:51-8:1, Psalm 31 ~ “I am the bread of life.”

Tuesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 28 April 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace to thankfully receive his inestimable benefits, and to daily follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.”

A Reading from the Gospels: John 6:30-35 (NLT)

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 7:51-8:1 (NLT)

The Stoning of Stephen

“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
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Psalm 31 (You Are My Strength) – My Soul Among Lions

1  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
Let me never be ashamed
In Your righteousness deliver
Hear as I beseech Your name

Be to me a rock of shelter
Where to run and safely hide
When the wicked’s nets entangle
Pull me out and be my guide

 

2  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
Why must life be spent in tears?
Bones are weak and body’s wasted
Through the groans of bitter years

I’m a joke to them who hate You
I’m the horror of my friends
Some have even schemed and whispered
How to bring about my end

But, You are my strength
I trust to You my very soul
You are my strength
My life is under Your control

Save me, O God
In Your mercy be near
Save me, O God
For it’s You that I fear

Save me, O God
Who will ever be true
I put my trust in You

3  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
For the sake of Your own name
Shine the light of favor on me
But the wicked put to shame

I hate all their filthy idols
And their tongues parading lies
Let them make their beds in sorrow
As for me, though, hear my cries

You are my strength
I trust to You my very soul
You are my strength
My life is under Your control

Save me, O God
In Your mercy be near
Save me, O God
For it’s You that I fear

Save me, O God
Who will ever be true
I put my trust in You
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Closing: Matthew 4:4

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 27 April 2020 – John 6:22, Acts 6:8-15, Psalm 119 ~ What does God want from me?

Monday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 27 April 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace to thankfully receive his inestimable benefits, and to daily follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

A Reading from the Gospels: John 6:22-29 (NLT)

Jesus, the Bread of Life

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 6:8-15 (NLT)

Stephen Is Arrested

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.

The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.
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(The Word Is Alive) – Casting Crowns

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Responsorial Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 –

+ Blessed are they who follow the word of the Lord!

Even princes sit and speak against me,
but I will meditate on your decrees.
Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice.

+ Blessed are they who follow the word of the Lord!

I told you my plans, and you answered.
Now teach me your decrees.
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.

+ Blessed are they who follow the word of the Lord!

Keep me from lying to myself;
give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
I have chosen to be faithful;
I have determined to live by your regulations.

+ Blessed are they who follow the word of the Lord!
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Closing: Matthew 4:4

‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Third Sunday of Easter, 26 April 2020 – Luke 24:13-35, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Through Christ you have come to trust in God.

The Third Sunday of Easter, 26 April 2020 

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O God of mystery, out of death you delivered Christ Jesus,
and he walked in hidden glory with his disciples.

Stir up our faith, that our hearts may burn within us at the sound of his word
and our eyes be opened to recognize him in the breaking of the bread.

Grant this through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead,
who lives and reigns with you now and always
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Walk With Me” – Kim Walker – Jesus Culture (Passion 2013)

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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:13-35 (NLT)

The Walk to Emmaus

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
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Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) Shane & Shane

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Prayers of Intercession:

O Lord our God, you show us the path of life: support us by your presence and help us every step of the way, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

  • You alone, O God, are our inheritance, every good thing we have comes from you….
  • Keep safe all who come to you for refuge, O God, that we may find our rest in you….
  • Comfort us during our anxious nights, O God, with your presence close beside us….
  • Cover our homes and families during this pandemic, O God, with the blood of Jesus….
  • Provide sustenance, O God, for all those who have lost their jobs and livelihoods….
  • Turn our hearts from sadness, O God, to joy-filled faith and hope through our risen Lord….

O Lord our God, you show us the path of life: support us by your presence and help us every step of the way, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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A Reading from the Epistles: 1 Peter 1:17-21 (NLT)

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
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rust In You – Lauren Daigle

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Closing: 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday of The 2nd Week of Easter, 25 April 2020 – Mark 16:15-20, 1 Peter 5:5-14, Psalm 89 ~ we preach that Christ was crucified

Saturday of The 2nd Week of Easter, 25 April 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty and everlasting God, Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s death and resurrection may practice in their lives what they profess in their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Evil and death no longer have
any power over the Risen Christ.

A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 16:15-20 (NLT)

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

A Reading from the Epistles: 1 Peter 5:5-14 (NLT)

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.

Peter’s Final Greetings

I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet each other with a kiss of love.

Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.
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(The Word Of God – Psalm 89) – New Life (1972). Recorded at the Hall of the Divine Child, Monroe, Michigan.

Responsorial Psalm 89:2-4, 6-8, 15-17 –

+ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
I have sworn this oath to him:
‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”

+ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord?
What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord?
The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.

He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.

+ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.
You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.

+ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
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Closing: 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.