The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, November 13, 2022

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers

Sunday, November 13, 2022 — 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Psalm 98; Isaiah 12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

[Ordinary 33, Proper 28]

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Opening Statement

A new heaven and a new earth . . .wars and persecutions. . . they don’t seem to go together. What were the lectionary folks thinking? These seemingly contradictory passages speak of endings and beginnings—the vision of what can and will be—times of trial, times of peace. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It is the contradiction we live in every day. We are caught between despair and hope; caught between people who tell us to be realistic and our vision of a better life. We are caught between those who believe the world is going to hell, and those who see a different life—a better life, a life that can come to be, will come to be, if we only believe the promises of God and live into them.

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)

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession (Isaiah 65, Luke 21)

O God, we are more like the vision in Luke than the vision of Isaiah. We see wars, hatred, and violence everywhere, yet despair of ever stopping them. We see oppression and injustice and persecution, but fail to raise our voices in prophetic protest. We have become a pessimistic people. Help us believe—really believe—in Isaiah’s vision of the peaceable kingdom, in your promise of a new heaven and new earth. Let your cry be our cry: “They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.” Amen.

Words of Assurance (Isaiah 12)

God is our strength and our salvation. God’s anger is turned away, and in its place we find comfort, steadfast love, and forgiveness. With this hope, we can draw water from the wells of salvation with joy and thanksgiving.

First Reading

Isaiah 65:17-25

(A new heaven and new earth)

The Glorious New Creation
17 For I am about to create new heavens
     and a new earth;
   the former things shall not be remembered
     or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
     in what I am creating;
   for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
     and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
     and delight in my people;
   no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
     or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
     an infant that lives but a few days,
     or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
   for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a
         youth,
     and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered
         accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
     they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
     they shall not plant and another eat;
   for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
     and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain,
     or bear children for calamity;
   for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
     and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer,
     while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
    the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
     but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
   They shall not hurt or destroy
     on all my holy mountain,
   says the Lord.

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

Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

The Lord has made known his victory. He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with trumpets and the sound of the horn. Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

O Father, Your holiness, love, and majesty fill the earth. All creatures praise You as God and King. We gather with thankful hearts, and join them in singing joyous songs of love for You. We long to express our love for You, but too often mere human words fail us. Forgive us for those times when we have had the opportunity to express our faith in You, but have remained silent. Forgive us for disappointing You by acting on some of our poor decisions. Lead us in the way that we should go when we pray as Jesus taught: “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 3:6-13

(Do what is right)

Warning against Idleness
3:6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

The Gospel

Luke 21:5-19

(Suffering for Jesus’ sake)

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold
21:5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

Signs and Persecutions
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

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 13, 2022
Psalm 98; Isaiah 12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

“Are You Ready?” The Gospel Message for Sunday, November 13, 2022

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 21st chapter of Luke, beginning with the 5th verse.

21:5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

—Luke 21:5-19 (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.

“Are You Ready?”

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

Our Gospel Lesson this morning deals with a subject that can frighten many, make many try to predict its coming, and can catch many off guard. The subject is the second coming of Christ. Even Christ says in Mark 13:32-33, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.”

Be on guard, be alert! That is the warning cry!

But many don’t care about meeting Christ, as seen in the following story:

“The devil was planning to destroy the world. He called in his chief assistants. Anger stepped in and said that he would set brother against brother. Lust said that he would replace love and turn people into beasts. Greed advocated his passion for turning loose all the covetous cravings of the soul. Gluttony, Envy, and Jealousy each had their audience with the devil as they presented their plans for destroying the world.

 

 The devil was not satisfied. Finally, the last one came in and said, “I shall talk to people about what God wants them to be. I shall encourage them to follow the plans and purposes of God.” The devil was shocked at such talk. But the little devil went on, “However, I shall tell them there is no hurry. Wait until tomorrow. Don’t start until things are more favorable.”

 

 The devil laughed and said, “You are the one who shall go to earth and destroy it. You shall be called Procrastination.”

—Ted Williams’s story… Good day at the plate, walk on water!

We chuckle, laugh, and smile at our procrastination, but the stories have elements of truth.

Jesus saw that kind of attitude in his day. As He and the disciples were in the temple, the disciples couldn’t help themselves from being in awe of the temple’s splendor; the accomplishments of those who built it were thought to be powerful enough to save them.

The temple was, to many Jews, the Messiah, and in Jesus’ eyes, it was a false messiah, so he says in verse 6, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

Then Jesus warns them of other false messiahs, advises them to be prepared, to be ready for the coming of the real Messiah, and assures them he will always be with them.

Those same warnings apply to us, also.

In the next moments, I would like to look closely at each warning as it applies to our lives.

First, false messiahs. One false messiah we have already seen in the story of Ted Williams is a false sense of pride in one’s own accomplishments.

Our technologies, our wonder drugs, our star wars defense systems, and our own egos can be false messiahs. Jesus warns the disciples about them in verse 8 as he says, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.”

But we do, don’t we? We are a people who are easily led astray by the latest fads, the comforts of our abundance, the power of our business community, and the false sense that somehow through the Lotto or reality shows, we can become rich, and then life will be secure. False messiah, yes!

The following warning takes place in verse 9 when Jesus speaks of God’s time coming as He says, “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”

Jesus is saying that God’s time is beginning but not in an expected way, maybe through a way of suffering and upheaval. God is in control. God is breaking in, perhaps not the way we expect it.

Or maybe God might be saying, “Look my people I have tried it your way, now it is my turn.”

I read somewhere that being a Christian is like being in a holding pattern in an airplane above a busy airport. You circle and circle. You know, eventually, you will land, but when you don’t know. You wait and wait. Then all at once, the announcement comes to fasten seat belts, and you land.

As Christians, we are in a holding pattern for meeting Christ. When? We don’t know. Are you ready? Only you and God know that. But have you thought about it seriously, or do you take your relationship with Christ in a causal way, a take-it-for-granted way? No seriousness thought of how your faith life is growing and maturing with the help of the Holy Spirit. Are you in a constant state of preparedness?

And the final warning, no, not a warning but assurance! Assurance Christ gives the disciples is found in verses l8-l9 as He says, “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance, you will gain your souls.”

Jesus assures the disciples and us that while we are in this holding pattern, He will be with us, giving us the courage, strength, and confidence to remain faithful to Him despite all the hardship or suffering.

Maybe the following story will sum up the kind of relationship we have with Christ in the holding pattern:

A father and his boy of 8 and girl of 10, all good swimmers, went for a swim on a summer day off the New Jersey seashore. When some distance from shore, they became separated, and the father realized that they were being carried out to sea by the tide. He called to the girl, “Mary, your brother and I are going to shore for help. If you get tired, turn on your back. You can float all day on your back. I’ll come back for you.”

Before long, many boats were on the ocean searching for the little girl. Four hours later, they found her far from shore. She was calmly swimming on her back and was not frightened at all. She simply stated, “Daddy said he would come for me and that I could float all day, so I swam and floated because I knew he would come.”

What God says is true, also! He will keep you, as Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In our holding pattern, in our state of preparedness, Christ is there walking with us, easing our burdens, giving us the courage and the Spirit to be His witnesses in this world. Because of His presence with us through the means of grace, the Word and sacraments, through the church, and His body, we can remain faithful and at ease, with the sure confidence if Christ came today, this minute, we would be prepared, we would be ready.

Are You Ready?

Lord Jesus Christ, we wish to be ready for You when You come on the last day to take us to Heaven for the everlasting wedding feast.

Lord, you said that no one knows the day or the hour when that will be. Therefore, be with us always so that You may guide our actions, thoughts, utterances, and wishes, that they may be good and according to Your Holy Will.

Guide us, guard us, protect us, and govern us so that on the last day, we will still be in communion with You, and we will join the choir of the Angels and Saints in Heaven to forever sing of Your praise and glory.

Give us the courage, strength, and grace to build a world of justice and peace, ready for the coming of that kingdom where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Seeking God?

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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. Tim Zingale.
Helping people understand the end times. What Christ’s return really means!

The Morning Prayer for Sunday, November 13, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Sunday, November 13, 2022

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

— Daniel 2:44 (NIV)

Lord our God, we thank you that you work in us and in our lives and that you show us your compassion, no matter what cross we have to bear. We want to rejoice in you and wait patiently until your purpose is fulfilled and your kingdom arises on earth. Protect each one of us. May our hearts find strength and never-failing joy in Jesus Christ the Savior, always hoping and believing, always looking to you. For you are the almighty God, who will come in Jesus Christ to establish his kingdom among the peoples and at last reveal his truth in its fullness. Then the knowledge of your will shall spread to all peoples, so that good and evil may come before you and be judged according to your mercy and faithful love. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, November 13, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Sunday, November 13, 2022

1 Peter 2:15-16

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

Ancient Roman society criticized Christians as atheists because they rejected Roman religion and the worship of ancestral pagan gods. In a culture in which religion and the state were so enmeshed (especially given that in Rome its emperors were revered and even deified), the general populace viewed Christians as enemies of the state. Without capitulating to such societal pressures, Peter nevertheless urges the believers to be model members of society insofar as possible. They should submit to the authority of the emperor and his subordinate provincial governors, who, when fulfilling their rightful role, will punish evildoers and reward those who do what is good (Ro 13:1–7). Such godly behavior will serve to shut down the ignorant criticisms leveled against Christianity. A Christian’s submission to governing authorities is not servile or groveling, however, since Christians are not slaves to the government. Rather, they are free; therefore, they can speak and act with the dignity and confidence that free members of society bear. But Christians may not abuse their liberty (with respect to the government) to justify evil behavior. After all, even if their master is not the government, Christians do nevertheless have a master—God.

Read all of First Peter Chapter 2

Listen to First Peter Chapter 2

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

Travel the World from Home — Jerusalem: Before And After Babylonian Conquest

 

The Holy Land:

Connecting the Land with Its Stories
Jerusalem: Before And After Babylonian Conquest
Season 1 — Episode 3

In episode 3, Dr. Jack Beck illustrates the history of what happened to Jerusalem before and after the Babylonian conquest. Travel from the ruins of sixth-century Jerusalem homes to an authentic biblical harp shop to discover how the stories of the land continue to echo their songs of hope to the world today.

 

 

Season 1 — Episode 3 | Jerusalem: Before And After Babylonian Conquest

That The World May Know | Volume 1 | Episode 1 | Standing at the Crossroads

 

 

That The World May Know
Standing at the Crossroads
Volume 1 | Episode1

 

The ancient land of Israel is a testimony, an evidence if you will, of the greatness of what God did in that country, a testimony to the truth of the words that we find in the pages of the Bible.

In 2014, I started working on a biblical degree program through a small Bible college in Spring Lake, Michigan. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Divinity, I earned a Master’s degree in Theology at a Christian seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While working on my Master’s, I became a volunteer Teaching Assistant with the Bible college in their Biblical Interpretations I and II courses under Professor Ray Vander Laan.

Ray received his Master’s of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1976 and has been actively involved in studying and teaching Jewish culture using the methods of Jewish education. He has continued graduate studies in Jewish Studies in the United States, Israel, Turkey, and Egypt. Ray is an ordained minister with the Christian Reformed Church. In his teachings, Ray put together a 16-volume video series where he takes his students to the World of the Bible, where it all happened. Filmed in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece, these powerful videos explore what it meant to follow Jesus in the first century—and what it means to follow him today. Each of the 16 volumes provides visually stunning video sessions illuminating Jesus’ teachings and helps participants understand the context in which he lived and preached.

In Volume 1 | Promised Land, travel to Israel and radically change your understanding of the Scriptures. Wet your feet in the Jordan River and impact the culture with life-giving water. Show your trust in the Lord’s provision by offering up first fruits at Jericho. And cleanse the land by confronting evil and using the tools of society to redeem your world for God. In this first volume of the That the World May Know series, historian and teacher Ray Vander Laan will show you how God guided his people to a specific place—the Promised Land—to impact the world both in ancient times and today. Experience the Bible in historical context!

In Episode 1, God called the ancient culture of Gezer to impact the rest of the world for His glory and purpose, so He calls upon us to do the same today.

Episode 1 | Volume 1 | Standing at the Crossroads