The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, November 6, 2022

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers

Sunday, November 6, 2022 — 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Haggai 1:15b—2:9; Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98;

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38

[Ordinary 32, Proper 27]

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Hold on to Faith

Opening Prayer

Come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to Him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.

For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

He holds in His hands the depths of the earth

and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to Him, for He made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship & bow down.

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

for He is our God.

We are the people He watches over,

the flock under His care.

The Collect (Book of Common Prayers)

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

O God, we long to rest in you, to trust in your goodness, in your care for us, in your abundant life. But we don’t know how to rest and we have forgotten how to trust: We seek material goods that we don’t really need. We befriend people not always out of love. We ask questions of you like the Sadducees did of Jesus—questions that try only to prove our point, not to grow in understanding of your desires for us.

Slow us down, Holy One. Attend to us, Holy One, and show us that you are our salvation and our resting place.

Assurance of Pardon

God is God of the living. The Holy One will make a place for you that is full of life and love, forgiveness and humility, kindness and justice. Your belonging to God is your salvation. You may rest in that truth.

First Reading

Haggai 1:15b—2:9

(The promise to restore Judah)

The Future Glory of the Temple
2:1 In the second year of King Darius, 1 in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? 4 Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21
(Great is the Lord)

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.

They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Heavenly Father, Your glory and splendor is above our comprehension and ability to praise and honor rightly. Fill us with Your gracious presence. Give us a true sense of Your lovingkindness. With all our hearts, we seek to express our loyalty and thanksgiving to You. By Your indwelling Holy Spirit, enable us to worship You sincerely and pray as we ought to pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

 

Second Reading

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

(The coming of Christ Jesus)

The Man of Lawlessness
2:1 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?
[...]
Chosen for Salvation
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

The Gospel

Luke 20:27-38

(Jesus speaks of the resurrection)

The Question about the Resurrection
20:27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of love and mercy,

You call us to be your people,

You gift us with Your abundant grace.

Make us a holy people,

radiating the fullness of your love.

Form us into a community of people who care,

expressing Your compassion.

Remind us day after day of our baptismal call

to serve with joy and courage.

Teach us how to grow in wisdom and grace

and joy in Your presence.

Through Jesus and Your Spirit,

we make this prayer. Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, November 6, 2022
Haggai 1:15b—2:9; Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38

“Is There Life After Death?” The Gospel Message for Sunday, November 6, 2022

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 20th chapter of Luke, beginning with the 27th verse.

20:27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”

—Luke 20:27-38 (NRSV)

All mighty God, we thank you for your Word and the way that you in it revealed to us who you are and what you’ve done for us in Christ. Now, as we open that Word, we pray that your Spirit may be present, that all thoughts of worry or distraction may be removed and that the Spirit will allow us to hear your voice. And so, oh God, fill us with your Spirit through the reading and proclamation of your Word this day. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Is There Life After Death?”

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen

Apple or Android? Toyota or Honda? Hardwood or laminate? What kind of hard choices have you had to make recently? If you’re in the market for a car, you’ll do your research because you don’t want to pay good money for a vehicle that will break down in a couple of years. But with so many choices out there, how can you be certain that you’ll pick the right one? You can never be sure that the car, computer, or condo you buy will live up to the vendor’s claims, but there’s not much you can do about it. Like everyone else, you’ll have to plunk down your money and hope for the best.

Thankfully that’s not how we have to handle mankind’s biggest question: “Is there life after death?” In our sermon text today, Jesus assures us that there is life after death because we can trust God’s power and we can trust God’s pronouncements.

Did it surprise you to learn from our Gospel lesson (Luke 20:27-38) that there were people in Jesus’ day who did not believe in life after death? You would expect such skepticism from the rationale Greeks but not from the Jews–especially not from those who were members of a group called the Sadducees. The Sadducees were a religious/political group made up mostly of priests! You would think that they, more than anyone else, would believe in life after death, but such was not the case. By Jesus’ day, many priests thought of themselves as intellectuals. They were too smart to believe all the stuff one might read in the Bible. It was this group that came to Jesus on the Tuesday of Holy Week with a question. Well, it wasn’t really a question but more of a challenge. They wanted to make Jesus look foolish, and so they brought up this implausible situation where one woman married seven brothers–not all at the same time, of course. After one husband died, she would marry his next oldest brother, and so on. Why would any girl think of doing something like this? Because in Old Testament times, God had commanded that if a man died without a son, his unmarried brother was to marry the widow and, in this way, ensure that Jewish family lines would not die out.

The Sadducees brought up this scenario because they wanted to know who the woman would be married to in the afterlife. They didn’t believe in an afterlife and thought this situation would show how foolish it would be for anyone to confess life after death. Matthew, who also records this incident, reports Jesus’ response like this: “You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

The reason the Sadducees didn’t believe in life after death is that they did not trust God’s power. They didn’t see how God could bring back to life a heart that no longer beat. They scoffed when they heard that God could put back together again a body drowned at sea. “How would he ever collect the decayed bones lost to the ocean tides and put skin back on them again? No. When you’re dead, you’re dead,” they reasoned.

The timing of the Sadducees’ challenge puzzles me. Had none of them been there when just days earlier, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? If not, they certainly had heard about the miracle because this is what the Palm Sunday crowds were cheering when Jesus entered Jerusalem just two days before. But like most skeptics, the Sadducees had made up their minds about what they wanted to believe, and no amount of proof was going to change their stubborn stance.

Have we taken up such a posture? We may have no problem believing that God can and will raise the dead, but do we struggle to believe how the water of baptism can really offer the forgiveness of sins–and to infants even? Or how Jesus’ body and blood can really be present in the bread and wine of Holy Communion? But why should we struggle with God’s ability to do these things? The same Jesus who turned water into wine can use the water of baptism to convey the forgiveness of sins and give us the Holy Spirit. The same Jesus who once multiple five loaves of bread to feed over 5,000 people can certainly “multiply” his body and blood so that everyone who comes to Holy Communion, even now 2,000 years later, still receives this proof of forgiveness. Trust God’s power, not what your brain says is or is not possible. God can do more than we can ever imagine, says the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:20).

Because we can trust God’s power, we can also trust his pronouncements. This was something else the Sadducees refused to do, as Jesus pointed out. “And regarding your speculation on whether the dead are raised or not, don’t you read your Bibles? The grammar is clear: God says [to you], ‘I am—not was—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.’ The living God defines himself not as the God of dead men, but of the living” (Matthew 22:31, 32 – Message translation).

The Gospel of Luke explains that Jesus was referring to the burning bush incident when God spoke to Moses. Isn’t it interesting how Jesus takes this divine pronouncement, which at the time had nothing to do with the topic of life after death, and from it shows how God teaches that there is life after death? When God said, “I am the God of Abraham,” he wanted Moses, as well as everyone else who would ever read the text, to know that although Abraham’s body had been dead and buried for 600 years, his soul continued to live.

What Jesus teaches us with this meticulous inspection of God’s pronouncement is that every bit of God’s Word is important. If we are careless in our study of the Word, we will miss key doctrines. And like the Sadducees, we may find ourselves refusing to believe the truth and will eternally suffer for it.

So what can we learn about life after death when we look closely at Jesus’ response to the Sadducees? We first learn that not everyone will enjoy an eternal life of happiness. Jesus said that there are those who “…are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead …” (Luke 20:35a). What makes one worthy of eternal life? Jesus doesn’t tell us here in this text, and so we’ll have to go to other parts of the Bible to find the answer. In the book of Revelation, Jesus said to the church in Sardis, “… you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy … I will not blot your name out of the book of life …” (Revelation 3:4, 5b). There were people in Sardis whom Jesus considered worthy to be dressed in white and live with him in eternal glory. Why? Because they had managed to keep from sinning? No. From other parts of the Bible, we know that no one, except for Jesus himself, is without sin. So how was it that some in Sardis were worthy of being dressed in white and enjoying eternal life? Listen to another passage from Revelation. Describing the saints in heaven, an angel said to the Apostle John: “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14b). What makes one worthy of life after death? Only the faith that because we have been washed in the blood of Jesus, we are forgiven and cleansed and ready to live with him.

But is it really worth clinging to Jesus so that we may experience this life after death? What will that life be like? Jesus gives us some clues in our text. He said, “… those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:35-36).

OK. I like the part that we will no longer be able to die and, in that way, be like the angels. And I like the fact that God will consider us his children. In other words, we won’t be tourists in the paradise that God will create after Judgment Day. That place will be our forever home. But what’s this about no marriage? Is Jesus saying that the woman that I am married to now and consider my best friend won’t be my soul mate in the afterlife? And what about our children with whom we have already shared so many experiences? If there is no marriage, there will be no family units–no moms or dads, no cousins or aunts, and uncles.

Instead of causing concern, this truth should get us even more excited for life after death as God has designed it. Your spouse may now be your best and closest friend, but in heaven, you will have such a relationship with everyone without the heartache that now infects even the best marriage. Imagine that. No more walking into a room and finding someone that you really don’t enjoy being around because you don’t see eye to eye on matters. I’m not saying that we’ll all be the same–that we’ll all like anchovy pizza or the color blue. We’ll no doubt continue to have different personalities, but personalities purged of sin so that we will be able to show perfect love to one another and will genuinely enjoy being around each other. Think of the billions of believers you’ll get to meet! Not just people from the Bible but people who grew up in different cultures and at different times. In heaven, you won’t meet a single person that you don’t enjoy being around–and that includes the believers that are now not your bosom buddies!

There is, of course, much more we would like to know about life after death. Like, what will we do? What will we eat? Will we even need food? How old will we look? Scoffers point to questions like these and say that it’s foolish to believe in life after death. But it’s not because we can trust God’s power and his pronouncements. Jesus gives us every reason to do this because he himself came back from the dead guaranteeing life after death for all who believe in him. May God keep us close to this Jesus.

Almighty God, with whom abide the spirits of those who depart hence in the love of Christ, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; I give you hearty thanks for the good examples of all your servants, who, having finished their course in faith, now rest from their labors. And I pray to you that I, with all those who are departed in the true faith of your holy Name, may have my own perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in your eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)® Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sermon contributed by Rev. Daniel Habben.
How Can I Be Certain of Life after Death?

The Morning Prayer for Sunday, November 6, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Sunday, November 6, 2022

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

— Isaiah 25:7–8 (NIV)

Lord our God, your kingdom is coming. Your help reaches us. However much we must suffer, we look to you, for you have given us your promise. You have promised that all shall go well with us. You have promised that while still on earth your people may have strength to trust in you and wait for you in patience and joy. So lay your hands upon us, O Lord our God, and let your redeeming strength be revealed in us. You know all our needs. You see into each heart and know how to help, as you have promised. Bless us and help us, and may your name be honored among us. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, November 6, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Sunday, November 6, 2022

Ephesians 1:9-10

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

We have no idea all that God wants to do in and through us. In our limited understanding, we have yet to imagine what is possible for us—the intimacy with the Lord, power, freedom, spiritual blessings, and peace that belong to us when we become His children (Eph. 1). But God—who is perfect in His knowledge and wisdom—does. And His Holy Spirit, who indwells us from the moment of our salvation, reveals the depths of His purpose and plan to us through His Word when we seek Him.

Read all of Ephesians Chapter 1

Listen to Ephesians Chapter 1

Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Travel the World from Home — Modern Day Jerusalem: The Temple Mount & Old City Markets

 

The Holy Land:

Connecting the Land with Its Stories
Modern Day Jerusalem: The Temple Mount & Old City Markets
Season 1 — Episode 2

In episode 2, Dr. Jack Beck takes in views of the Temple Mount, then moves through the Old City Markets, where he meets three friends of different faiths — Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. At the Western Wall, get up close to the heartbeat of Jerusalem and reflect on how this city represents different things to different people.

Season 1 — Episode 2 | Modern Day Jerusalem: The Temple Mount & Old City Markets

 

Hope from Gehenna

Listen! I am going to bring a disaster on this place. Jeremiah 19:3

In 1979, archaeologist Gabriel Barkay unearthed two small silver scrolls. It took years to delicately unroll the metal scrolls, and each was found to contain a Hebrew etching of the blessing from Numbers 6:24–26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Scholars date the scrolls to the seventh century bc. They’re the oldest known bits of Scripture in the world.

Equally interesting is where they were found. Barkay was digging in a cave in the Valley of Hinnom, the very place where the prophet Jeremiah told the people of Judah that God would slaughter them for sacrificing their children (Jeremiah 19:4–6). This valley was the site of such wickedness that Jesus used the word “Gehenna” (a Greek form of the Hebrew name for the “Valley of Hinnom”) as a picture of hell (Matthew 23:33).

On this spot, about the time Jeremiah was announcing God’s judgment on his nation, someone was etching His future blessing onto silver scrolls. It wouldn’t happen in their lifetime, but one day—on the other side of the Babylonian invasion—God would turn His face toward His people and give them peace.

The lesson for us is clear. Even if we deserve what we have coming, we can cling to God’s promise. His heart always yearns for His people.

What discipline from God have you deserved? How might you accept His discipline and cling to His promise of salvation?  

Father, I confess my sin and the judgment I deserve and cling to Your promise to forgive and restore.