Jeremiah 50: 17-20

17Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

18Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.

19 But I will bring Israel back to his own pasture and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

20 In those days, at that time, declares the LORD, search will be made for Israel's guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare.

(New International Version)

John 10: 22-30

It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me;
but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

(Revised Standard Version)

Psalm 143

A Prayer for Deliverance

1
A psalm of David.

LORD, hear my prayer; in your faithfulness listen to my pleading; answer me in your justice.

2
Do not enter into judgment with your servant; before you no living being can be just.

3
The enemy has pursued me; they have crushed my life to the ground. They have left me in darkness like those long dead.

4
My spirit is faint within me; my heart is dismayed.

5
I remember the days of old; I ponder all your deeds; the works of your hands I recall.

6
I stretch out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

7
Hasten to answer me, LORD; for my spirit fails me. Do not hide your face from me, lest I become like those descending to the pit.

8
At dawn let me hear of your kindness, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for to you I entrust my life.

9
Rescue me, LORD, from my foes, for in you I hope.

10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level.

11
For your name's sake, LORD, give me life; in your justice lead me out of distress.

12
In your kindness put an end to my foes; destroy all who attack me, for I am your servant.


(New American Bible)

Revelation 5:1-10

1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

(New International Version)

Acts 11: 19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists Greeks also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; or he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with were guests of the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers brothers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Luke 5: 1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’

Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 1and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

(New Revised Standard Version)

The following is one poet's comment on this passage:

THE DEEP

BIRTH AND CONCEPTION ARE MESSY THINGS
THEY PUT YOU IN AN AWKWARD POSITION

SUITABLE BEGINNINGS FOR A PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES ARE OFTEN MARKED
BY THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

SO MUCH OF LIFE IS MESSY
WE GET DIRTY FROM WORK OR PLAY

WE LOSE CONTROL OF OUR BODIES
AS WE GET OLD

WE HAD NO CONTROL
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

WE WEEP AT HIGH EMOTION
OR IN SADNESS

EVEN EATING LEAVES A NAPKIN DIRTY

IT'S WHERE WE ARE
AND WHO WE ARE

SO JESUS
THE SYNAGOGUE
CLOSED TO HIM
SAT IN A BOAT
AND TOLD HOMEY STORIES
THE TEACHER
SAT IN A BOAT
REDOLENT
OF CATCHES PAST

OF SWEAT FROM WORKMAN NOW

THEY'D LABORED ALL NIGHTAND CAUGHT NOTHING

THEN HE SAID
PUSH OUT INTO THE DEEP

PUSH OUT
AND GO WHERE YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE

MASTER
WE HAVE LABORED ALL NIGHT
AND CAUGHT NOTHING
BUT AT YOUR WORD
WE WILL DO IT

SO THEY WENT TO THE DEEP
WHERE DEMONS DWELL
LETTING GO
LETTING GOD

AND CAUGHT FISH
THAT MADE THEM FORGET THEY WERE TIRED

AND CAUGHT FISH
BEYOND THEIR EXPERIENCE

AND CAUGHT MEN UP IN A DREAM
THAT FISH WOULD ALWAYS BE PLENTIFUL
AND THE DEEP WOULD HAVE NO DEMONS
THEY COULDN'T FACE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Acts 26: 1, 12-29

Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:

‘With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, when at midday along the road, your Excellency, O king I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the HebrewAramaic language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.” I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen methe things that you have seen and to those in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

‘After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: that the Messiah the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.’

While he was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’ But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.’ Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.’

(New Revised Standard Version)

Acts 12: 1-19

1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration. 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.

18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

(New Living Translation)

Four Readings for Sunday, April 22, 2007

Acts 9:1-20

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’

Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,

and did not let my foes rejoice over me.

Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me.

O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,

restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment;

his favour is for a lifetime.

Weeping may linger for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,

'I shall never be moved.’

By your favour, O Lord,

you had established me as a strong mountain;

you hid your face;

I was dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I cried,

and to the Lord I made supplication:

‘What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the Pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!

O Lord, be my helper!’

You have turned my mourning into dancing;

you have taken off my sackcloth

and clothed me with joy,

so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.

O Lord my God,

I will give thanks to you for ever.

Revelation 5: 11-14

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughteredto receive power and wealth and wisdom and mightand honour and glory and blessing!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honour and glory and mightfor ever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.

John 21: 1-19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

(All readings are New Revised Standard Version)

Psalm 144

1: Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

2: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

3: LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

4: Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

5: Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6: Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

7: Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8: Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9: I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

10: It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11: Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12: That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

13: That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

14: That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15: Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

(King James Version)

Bible Study on the Gospel for April 22, 2007

April 22, 2007 – John 21:1-19

Prayers of Discipleship: To Love Jesus
Focus Question: Jesus asks you, “Do you love me?”

Word of Life Verse

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” John 21:15 (NRSV)

Read John 21:1-19 (You can read this in your Bible or you can do that on line by clicking here: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=44105867)

After Jesus rose from the dead, life for those disciples would never be the same. His appearances and conversations following his resurrection answered some questions but opened the door to many others. The disciples were walking on uncharted territory, living in a post-Easter world. Sometimes when life is turned upside down, people resort to doing what they know. In the case of Simon Peter, that meant fishing. Some of the other disciples joined him, but on that night no one caught anything.

Does it seem strange to you for Peter to go fishing? Why or why not?
When the fishermen caught nothing, what story about Jesus did you recall?

Jesus appeared to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) where he first called Simon Peter to be his disciple. In a parallel story, Jesus advised the fisherman about where to cast their nets. Consequently, they caught many fish. (Luke 5:1-11) This time, Peter did not realize the fishing advisor was Jesus himself. It took the beloved disciple of Jesus to figure it out. Peter was naked, so he put on clothes and jumped into the sea. Meanwhile, the other disciples got into the boat.

How do you explain the behavior of Peter?
How might Peter have been feeling as he encountered Jesus? (Remember Peter denied knowing Jesus.)

Jesus proceeded to share a breakfast of fish and bread with his hard-working disciples. This was only the third time for Jesus to appear to the disciples, but nobody asked who he was. His identity was clear.

Imagine that breakfast conversation. If you had been at that meal, what would you have asked Jesus?
How might that conversation been similar or different than previous breakfast conversations with Jesus?

After breakfast, Jesus gave Simon Peter a pop quiz of three questions. The questions are brief and direct. After all, Simon Peter had been fishing all night. No doubt he was tired and perhaps frustrated from a night of catching no fish. In reality, Jesus didn’t ask three different questions, but asked the same question three times. Jesus wanted to know, “Do you love me?” It is the type of question deserving a yes or no answer.

Why ask the same question of Simon Peter three times?
What connection is there between this series of questions and Simon Peter denying Jesus three times?

Peter affirmed his love for Jesus after each question. Jesus responded to Peter by giving him the following tasks, “feed my lambs”, “tend my sheep”, and “feed my sheep.”(John 21:15-17). Jesus also foretold the type of martyr’s death of Peter. It is not an easy call to follow Jesus.
What does it mean to feed and tend to lambs and sheep?

If you and Jesus had this exchange, what would you be thinking or feeling?

Word Among Us

Eric had studied hard for his final examination of the year. He felt pressure because he had to pass this test. His future life and dreams were at stake. Slowly, he opened the booklet and discovered the same question on each of the three pages of the exam.

What would you think if you had a test with the same question asked three times?
What would you tend to remember about that experience?

Simon Peter denied Jesus three times just as Jesus had predicted. After the pain of the crucifixion and the joy of the resurrection, Jesus gives Simon Peter three opportunities to affirm his love. There are ministry and mission opportunities ahead for the disciples. Jesus has forgiven Simon Peter and wants him to move on with the tasks of feeding and tending to sheep. Simon Peter’s three-time affirmation of love offsets his three-time denial of Jesus.

How might the memory of Simon Peter’s denial have hindered him in his serving Christ?
Does Simon Peter need to let go of guilt associated with his denial of Jesus? Why or why not?
What makes it difficult to forgive ourselves?

There is a level of intensity with this exchange between Jesus and Peter. Rightly so. Jesus is asking Simon Peter directly to confess his love and his loyalty. The first question is broadest, “Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) Imagine to what “these” refers. Is Jesus pointing to the fish, the fishing boats, the disciples, or something else? Jesus knows Simon Peter well. He knows what would draw Simon Peter’s loyalty and love.

If Jesus would stand beside you and ask the same question, what would “these” mean?
What takes your time, energy, and your attention from Jesus?

In the play and movie, My Fair Lady,” Liza Dolittle sings to the man courting her to not speak or sing of his love, but to show it. Words come easy, but is this suitor willing to back up those words with actions? She is tired of words, words, and words.

How are we expected to show our love toward Jesus?
When it comes to love, which comes first – our words or actions?
How can we be consistent with our words and actions of love toward Jesus?

This passage of love followed by the request to feed and tend to the flock is often read when a pastor is ordained and/or installed at a congregation. A pastor is asked to follow in the footsteps of Simon Peter and tenderly care for a flock.

What are your expectations for a pastor to feed and tend to a congregation?
What happens if a congregation does not want to be fed or tended to?
How might a congregation take on some of the responsibilities to feed and tend to others?
What do you want to remember from this story?

Prayer

Jesus, we hear your question about loving you. We hear it thee times. Please, hear our answer. Yes. Yes. Yes. We love you, now and forever. Amen

Revelation 1: 9-18

I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God's Word, the witness of Jesus. It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: "Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea." I turned and saw the voice.

I saw a gold menorah

with seven branches,

And in the center, the Son of Man,

in a robe and gold breastplate,

hair a blizzard of white,

Eyes pouring fire-blaze,

both feet furnace-fired bronze,

His voice a cataract,

right hand holding the Seven Stars,

His mouth a sharp-biting sword,

his face a perigee sun.

I saw this and fainted dead at his feet. His right hand pulled me upright, his voice reassured me:


"Don't fear: I am First, I am Last, I'm Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates. Now write down everything you see: things that are, things about to be. The Seven Stars you saw in my right hand and the seven-branched gold menorah—do you want to know what's behind them? The Seven Stars are the Angels of the seven churches; the menorah's seven branches are the seven churches."

(The Message)

Esther 8: 1-17

(New Living Translation)

On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had told the king how they were related. The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.

Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him.

Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?”

Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service.

The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies. The day chosen for this event throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7 of the next year.

A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and proclaimed to all peoples, so that the Jews would be ready to take revenge on their enemies on the appointed day. So urged on by the king’s command, the messengers rode out swiftly on fast horses bred for the king’s service. The same decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa.

Then Mordecai left the king’s presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree. The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere. In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

Luke 12: 4-23

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

(New International Version)

1 Samuel 17: 31-51

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul; and he sent for him. David said to Saul, ‘Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.’ David said, ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.’ So Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you!’

Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. David strapped Saul’s sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.’ So David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.’ But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.’

When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.