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The Wilderness

The Wilderness Exodus 3:1 Excerpt The wilderness was not a wide, flat area of nothing but sand, as the word “desert” ( 3:1 TEV) may imply. Rather it was a mostly dry and barren region through which Moses was leading the flock in search of seasonal pasturage. There would, however, be occasional patches of moisture and vegetation; but for the most part it was uncultivated. Nomads and their herds inhabited certain areas of the wilderness. In cultures where a wilderness is unknown, one may translate the term with a descriptive phrase; for example, “a dry, barren land,” “a rocky region,” “a place where people don’t settle,” “a place where no house is,” and so on. Translators may prefer to borrow a term from a national language and explain it in a footnote. Osborn, Noel D., and Howard A. Hatton. A Handbook on Exodus . New York: United Bible Societies, 1999. Print. UBS Handbook Series.

A Champion

A Champion Excerpt Literally, “a man of the two middles,” i. e. one who enters the space between the two armies in order to decide the contest by a single combat. Of Gath . In Josh. 11:21 this town is mentioned, together with Gaza and Ashdod, as still having among its inhabitants men of the race of Anak. Whose height was six cubits and a span. In our measure his height was eight feet five and one-third inches; for the cubit is sixteen inches, and the span (really the hand-breadth) is five and one-third inches. Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 Samuel . London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909. Print. The Pulpit Commentary.

Boxing

Boxing

Blood-guiltiness

Blood-guiltiness Excerpt “Blood-guiltiness” refers to Uriah’s blood on David’s hands, for it was David who ordered his death ( 2 Sam. 11:6 ff; see  Ezek. 3:18–20 ; 18:13 ; Acts 20:26 ). Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Worshipful. 1st ed. Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004. Print. “Be” Commentary Series.

“Joseph’s Well,” in Dothan, Palestine

“Joseph’s Well,” in Dothan, Palestine ‎ Gen. 37:12–36

The Symbol of Fire

The Symbol of Fire Exodus 3:2 Excerpt Fire was a symbol of God’s presence, seen later when He descended upon Mount Sinai ( Ex. 19:18 ). Hannah, John D. “ Exodus .” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 111. Print.

Solomon and the Smith

Solomon and the Smith ‎The Bible tells us that Solomon called also on his ally, Hiram of Tyre, for cunning workmen to aid in preparing the brasswork, the ornaments of gold and silver, and all the decorations for the temple. Chief of the workmen sent him was a smith of the same name as the king, Hiram or Huram. ‎Of this or another smith of Solomon’s time, there is a celebrated legend, told not in the Bible but in the Jewish Talmud. When the temple was finished, King Solomon held a feast within its court, inviting all the craftsmen who had labored on the mighty structure. At the king’s right hand was placed an empty chair, a seat of honor to be awarded to the worker who had contributed most to the beauty of the temple. When the throng came in procession to the throne they found the chair already occupied by an ironworker, a smith. The assembly cried out in anger, for the smith had not worked upon the temple walls at all; but Solomon checking them, bade the smith speak and

Connect the Testaments

September 21: Throwing Caution to the Flood Zephaniah 1:1–3:20; Acts 19:1–41; Job 27:1–23 Words are powerful. They can restore and heal; they can also be used as deadly weapons. When we interact with one another, we know to choose our words carefully to avoid being misinterpreted or inadvertently causing harm. But Yahweh speaks words of daunting ambiguity—proclamations that can easily be misunderstood or that are frightening beyond measure. Consider Zephaniah 1:2–3 : “ ‘I will surely destroy everything from the face of the earth’ —a declaration of Yahweh. ‘I will destroy humanity and beast; I will destroy the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked. And I will cut off humankind from the face of the earth’ —a declaration of Yahweh.” Does Yahweh actually intend to destroy everything on the earth? Why is He speaking so boldly? The phrase “face of the earth” appears twice in this passage; it encloses a miniature narrative that reference

Morning and Evening

Morning, September 21                               Go To Evening Reading           “I will rejoice over them to do them good.”           —Jeremiah 32:41 How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God has in his saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness; and we fear that God’s people cannot take much delight in us, for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities than admire our graces. But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery: that as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us. We do not read anywhere that God delighteth in the cloud-capped mountains or the sparkling stars, but we do read that he delighteth in the habitable parts of the earth and t

My Utmost for His Highest

September 21st Missionary predestination And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant. Isaiah 49:5 . The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our prejudices and our parochial notions and our patriotisms; we are turned into servants of God’s own purpose. The whole human race was created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Sin has switched the human race on to another tack, but it has not altered God’s purpose in the tiniest degree; and when we are born again we are brought into the realization of God’s great purpose for the human race, viz., I am created for God, He made me. This realization of the election of God is the most joyful realization on earth, and we have to learn to rely on the tremendous creative purpose of God. The first thing God will do with us is to “force thro’ the channels of a single heart” the interests of the whole world. The love of God, the very na

Thoughts for the Quiet Hour

September 21   Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing         Ps. 100:2 God wants our life to be a song. He has written the music for us in His Word and in the duties that come to us in our places and relations in life. The things we ought to do are the notes set upon the staff. To make our life beautiful music we must be obedient and submissive. Any disobedience is the singing of a false note and yields discord. J. R. Miller Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Blasphemy

Blasphemy John 10:33 , 36 Excerpt Profane or contemptuous speech or writing about (or action toward) God. In a general sense, “blasphemy” can refer to any slander, including any word or action that insults or devalues another being. In Greek literature, the term was used for insulting or deriding living or dead persons, but it was extended to cover the gods as well, including both doubting the power of and mocking the nature of a god. ... The most common form of blasphemy in the NT is blasphemy against God. One might insult God directly ( Rev 13:6 ; 16:9 ), mock his word ( Ti 2:5 ), or reject his revelation and its bearer ( Acts 6:11 ). Jesus was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to have a prerogative belonging to God—the power to forgive sins ( Mk 2:7 ). John 10:33–36 reports an attempt to stone Jesus; his accusers said to him, “You, being a man, make yourself God” ( v 33 ). Jesus was condemned by the highest Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, on the charge of blasphemy, because he

Gennesaret

Gennesaret Luke 5:1 Excerpt The term “Gennesaret” refers to a fertile, heavily populated area at the northwestern corner of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum lies at the lake’s northern tip. The district’s name was at times extended to the lake so that it could be called the Lake of Gennesaret. In light of the setting, this description serves primarily a geographical purpose rather than a theological one. Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.

Northwest Gateway, Ruins of Tiberias

Northwest Gateway, Ruins of Tiberias ‎Throughout the Mediterranean Basin, Turkey, the Nile Valley, Mesopotamia, and even up into Roman Europe, hundreds of ruins of interest to Bible scholars have been excavated, and yet many haven’t. Tiberias was founded in A.D. 20 and has been continuously inhabited since then. But even there, ruins remain to be excavated. ‎ Isa 58:12, Jer 51:37, Amos 9:11, Jer 51:37, Acts 15:16

But Because You are Lukewarm...

But Because You are Lukewarm... Excerpt The Laodiceans were in spiritual things cold, comparatively, but not cold as the world outside, and as those who had never belonged to the Church. The lukewarm state, if it is the transitional stage to a warmer, is a desirable state (for a little religion, if real, is better than none); but most fatal when, as here, an abiding condition, for it is mistaken for a safe state ( Rev 3:17 ). This accounts for Christ’s desiring that they were cold rather than lukewarm. For then, there would not be the same “danger of mixed motive and disregarded principle” [Alford]. Also, there is more hope of the “cold,” that is, those who are of the world, and not yet warmed by the Gospel call; for, when called, they may become hot and fervent Christians: such did the once-cold publicans, Zaccheus and Matthew, become. But the lukewarm has been brought within reach of the holy fire, without being heated by it into fervor: having religion enough to lull the consc

The Mosque of Amr

The Mosque of Amr ‎ This lofty and solitary ruin on the west side of Old Cairo is the Mosque of Amr, the earliest Saracenic edifice in Egypt. It was built by Amr ibn el-Asi, the Arab conqueror of Egypt in the twenty-first year of the Hegira (A. D. 642), ten years after the death of Mohammed. It was constructed on the plan of a single quadrangle two hundred and twenty-five feet square, surrounded by a covered colonnade, one range of pillars in depth on the west side, four on the north, three on the south and six on the east, which is the place of prayer. The columns, two hundred and forty-five in number, were brought from earlier Roman and Byzantine buildings, which had been overthrown by earthquakes. The heterogeneous nature of the columns is accounted for by the fact that they were brought from other buildings in Cairo, ruined by the same earthquake, and were adapted to their new functions by rude procrustean methods of lengthening and shortening. This is called “The Crown o

Loading a Camel

Loading a Camel ‎The camel was prized in ancient times, as it still is, for its ability to carry loads and passengers long distances through a dry country. Needing little water and content with rough forage, it formed a major part of the wealth of ancient patriarchs. While the Jews were forbidden to eat camel meat, they could use its hair for a type of rough cloth as John the Baptist did. ‎Gen 12:16, Gen 24:64, Job 42:12, Mark 1:6, Luke 18:25

Troubled Hearts

Troubled Hearts John 14:1–2 Excerpt To comfort the disciples, Jesus gave them several exhortations along with promises. Do not let your hearts be troubled, He said. “Troubled” is tarassesthō ( “stirred, agitated” ) from the same verb translated “troubled” in 11:33 ; 13:21 ; 14:27 . One’s heart is the center of his personality. Each believer is responsible for the condition of his heart ( cf . Prov. 3:1 , 3 , 5 ; 4:23 ; 20:9 ). By a firm trust in God the Father and Jesus the Son, they could relieve their soul-sorrow and be sustained in their coming tests Blum, Edwin A. “ John .” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 322. Print.

Connect the Testaments

September 20: Measuring Out God’s Goodness Habakkuk 2:6–3:19; Acts 18:1–28; Job 26:1–14 Although we don’t usually question God’s goodness, we do make assumptions about how He should act in the world. We expect God to use us in His work and to intercede on our behalf—and rightfully so since those promises come from Him. But when we find ourselves in messy or uncertain situations, we sometimes run ahead of God. Frustrated with the waiting and the unknown, we risk making judgments about how well He is running the world. As Habakkuk watches the destruction, violence, contention, and strife in Israel, he turns to Yahweh and makes bold demands: “Why do you cause me to see evil while you look at trouble?” ( Hab 1:3 ). But by the end of the dialogue, he has changed his mind. He will rejoice in Yahweh “though the fig tree does not blossom, nor there be fruit on the vines; the yield of the olive fails, and the cultivated fields do not yield food, the flock is cut off from the animal pe

Morning and Evening

Morning, September 20                             Go To Evening Reading           “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.”           —Judges 7:20 Gideon ordered his men to do two things: covering up a torch in an earthen pitcher, he bade them, at an appointed signal, break the pitcher and let the light shine, and then sound the trumpet, crying, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” This is precisely what all Christians must do. First, you must shine; break the pitcher which conceals your light; throw aside the bushel which has been hiding your candle, and shine. Let your light shine before men; let your good works be such, that when men look upon you, they shall know that you have been with Jesus. Then there must be the sound, the blowing of the trumpet. There must be active exertions for the ingathering of sinners by proclaiming Christ crucified. Take the gospel to them; carry it to their door; put it in their way; do not suffer

My Utmost for His Highest

September 20th The divine rule of life Be ye,therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48 . Our Lord’s exhortation in these verses is to be generous in our behaviour to all men. In the spiritual life beware of walking according to natural affinities. Everyone has natural affinities; some people we like and others we do not like. We must never let those likes and dislikes rule in our Christian life. “If we walk in the light as God is in the light,” God will give us communion with people for whom we have no natural affinity. The Example Our Lord gives us is not that of a good man, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” —show to the other man what God has shown to you; and God will give us ample opportunities in actual life to prove whether we are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. To be a disciple means that we deliberately identify ourselves with G

Thoughts for the Quiet Hour

September 20   Base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen         1 Cor. 1:28 In some of the great halls of Europe may be seen pictures not painted with the brush, but mosaics, which are made up of small pieces of stone, glass, or other material. The artist takes these little pieces, and, polishing and arranging them, he forms them into the grand and beautiful picture. Each individual part of the picture may be a little worthless piece of glass or marble or shell; but, with each in its place, the whole constitutes the masterpiece of art. So I think it will be with humanity in the hands of the great Artist. God is picking up the little worthless pieces of stone and brass that might be trodden under foot unnoticed and is making of them His great masterpiece. Bishop Simpson Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Abbasid Cooking Pots from an Occupational Context on the Ruined Exedra 3

Abbasid Cooking Pots from an Occupational Context on the Ruined Exedra 3 Fig. 16. Abbasid cooking pots from an occupational context on the ruined exedra 3. The origin of market buildings must be sought in the archaic Greek agora; this public space was conceived mainly as a meeting place with a specific political function, but it gradually acquired some commercial functions as well. Moreover, in Classical Greece both functions were clearly separated by the construction of two different spaces; thus a commercial agora appeared within most of the Greek cities. During the Hellenistic period, the number of commercial agoras was increased and they consisted of mere quadrangular open spaces enclosed by four independent stoas on their four sides. The examples of Ephesos (Akurgal 1983: 161; fig. 50, 17) or the Pergamon lower agora dated from the times of Eumenes II onwards (Akurgal 1983: 102; fig. 34, 19) illustrate the Hellenistic prototype of marketplaces. Uscatescu, Al

Phrygian Coin

Phrygian Coin ‎This silver three-drachma coin’s Latin inscription says “Lentulus Imperator.” Lentulus became “Imperator” ( “Commander” ) in 57 B.C. when, with Julius Caesar’s backing, he was elected one of Rome’s two ruling proconsuls. As Roman Cilicia’s provincial governor, he issued this coin in about 55 B.C. in Apamea, near Laodicea. The local magistrate’s name, Kastoros, appears in Greek at the bottom. The Greeks called Apamea’s region Phrygia, as did Luke ( Acts 2:10 ). With a first century A.D. population around 450,000, Apamea followed only Ephesus in economic importance among the cities in Roman Asia. ‎Acts 2:10, Acts 16:6, Acts 18:23

Chameleon’s Face, Close-Up

Chameleon’s Face, Close-Up ‎ This photograph of a common chameleon in a tree in Libya centers on one of its eyes. Chameleons can move their eyes independently, processing two separate fields of vision, and can also direct both eyes forward for stereoptic vision. In Israel, chameleons are most active from May to November and usually mate sometime between July and September. The mature female produces one clutch of eggs per year between mid-July and late October. ‎ Lev 11:30 ‎Image by Victor Korniyenko, from Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Aquinas on What a Sacrament Signifies

Aquinas on What a Sacrament Signifies Excerpt A sacrament properly speaking is that which is ordained to signify our sanctification. In which three things may be considered; viz., the very cause of our sanctification, which is Christ’s passion; the form of our sanctification, which is grace and the virtues; and the ultimate end of our sanctification, which is eternal life. And all these are signified by the sacraments. Consequently, a sacrament is a sign that is both a reminder of the past, i.e., the passion of Christ; and an indication of that which is effected in us by Christ’s passion, i.e., grace; and a prognostic, that is, a foretelling of future glory. Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province. London: Burns Oates & Washbourne. Print.

Double-Masted Egyptian Galley

Double-Masted Egyptian Galley ‎The two trees constituting this Egyptian ship’s double mast were probably firs from Lebanon’s or Syria’s mountains. African trees useable as masts grew far south of Egypt; transport logistics were impractical. The bases of the two mast uprights attached to ship gunwales. At this stage of Egyptian boatbuilding, they hadn’t yet adopted the Phoenician practice of fixing the mast base to a keel at the center of the hull. The sail was almost certainly linen; the Egyptians were known for the linen sails they produced. ‎Prov 23:31–35, Isa 33:21–23, Ezek 27:5–7, 25–36

Woe to Me!

Woe to Me! Isaiah 6:5 Excerpt This vision of God’s majesty, holiness, and glory made Isaiah realize that he was a sinner. When Ezekiel saw God’s glory he too responded with humility. (Cf. the responses of Job, Job 42:5-6 ; Peter, Luke 5:8 ; and the Apostle John, Rev.1:17 .) Isaiah had pronounced woes (threats of judgment) on the nation ( Isa. 5:8-23 ), but now by saying Woe to me!  ( cf. 24:16 ) he realized he was subject to judgment. This was because he was unclean. When seen next to the purity of God’s holiness, the impurity of human sin is all the more evident. The prophet’s unclean lips probably symbolized his attitudes and actions as well as his words, for a person’s words reflect his thinking and relate to his actions. Interestingly Isaiah identified with his people who also were sinful ( a people of unclean lips ). Martin, John A. “Isaiah.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Vict

Armor of God: Shield

Armor of God: Shield ‎The curve was created using three bonded layers of thin wood strips. Covered by linen or leather, the shield was painted according to the legion. A bronze rim covered the rounded edges as additional protection.

Connect the Testaments

September 19: Honestly Questioning God Habakkuk 1:1–2:5; Acts 17:1–34; Job 25:1–6 Many people are afraid, to be honest with God—which is odd, considering that He already knows what we’re thinking. The biblical authors certainly told God how they felt, and they did so eloquently and often. The prophet Habakkuk remarked, “O Yahweh, how long shall I cry for help and you will not listen? How long will I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?” ( Hab 1:1–2 ). Habakkuk felt that God was not answering his prayers—that God was ignoring his petitions. He reminded God of the desperate need for His intercession. In doing so, Habakkuk reminds us that wrestling with God is a healthy and necessary component of following Him. Habakkuk went on to make more desperate, even angry, request: “Why do you cause me to see evil while you look at trouble? Destruction and violence happen before me; contention and strife arise. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice does not go forth

Morning and Evening

Morning, September 19                              Go To Evening Reading           “The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”           —Galatians 5:1 This “liberty” makes us free to heaven’s charter—the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer, “When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee.” You are free to that. Here is another: “The mountains shall depart, and the hills are removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee” ; you are free to that. You are a welcome guest at the table of the promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please without let or hindrance. Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths of tribulations let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee let it be thy solace. This i

My Utmost for His Highest

September 19th Do you continue to go with Jesus? Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations. Luke 22:28 . It is true that Jesus Christ is with us in our temptations, but are we going with Him in His temptations? Many of us cease to go with Jesus from the moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh and the devil. We wear His badge, but are we going with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.” The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going with Jesus in the life we are living now? We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. Never! God engineers circumstances, and whatever they may be like we have to see that we face them while abiding c

Thoughts for the Quiet Hour

September 19   I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction         Isa. 48:10 Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it, not an asbestos armor, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayest stride in at my door—but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayest intrude, but I have a balsam ready—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears I know that He has “chosen” me. Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.” Spurgeon Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Pergamum Theater from Below

Pergamum Theater from Below

The International Sunday School Lesson

Lesson for September 18, 2016 Foundations of the Earth Isaiah 40:21-31 Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson . Scott teaches  preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri . This lesson treatment is published in the September 11 issue of  The Lookout  magazine and is also available online at  www.lookoutmag.com . ______ By Mark Scott  There are such things as primal realities. Examples include the law of gravity, DNA, and math formulas such as 2 + 2 = 4 . Primal realities are things that are original or primitive. They are of first importance, fundamental, and foundational. We have some of these in our text today. As we turn the corner in the study of I saiah ( chapter 40 is a significant shift in the book), we find a reminder of the primal realities of God in the earth. Isaiah prophesied that the future destructions of Assyria and Babylon would precede the coming of the Messiah . By Isaia

Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | PENTECOST PROPER 20 YEAR C               Old Testament       Amos 8:4–7              Psalm       Psalm 113               Epistle       1 Timothy 2:1–15               Gospel       Luke 16:1–15 Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

Christian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with Supplemental Lectionary)

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | PENTECOST EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST YEAR C               Old Testament       Amos 8:4–7               Old Testament       Genesis 14:8–24 ( Supplemental )              Psalm       Psalm 38              New Testament       1 Timothy 2:1–8              New Testament       1 Timothy 6:6–16 ( Supplemental )               Gospel       Luke 16:1–13 Christian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with Supplemental Lectionary). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 20 YEAR C               Old Testament       Jeremiah 8:18–9:1              Psalm       Psalm 79:1–9 or Psalm 4 (UMH 741)               New Testament       1 Timothy 2:1–7               Gospel       Luke 16:1–13 Vanderbilt Divinity Library. United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

Catholic Lectionary

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | ORDINARY TIME TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL               First Reading       Amos 8:4–7               Response       Psalm 113:1a, 7b               Psalm       Psalm 113:1–2, 4–8               Second Reading       1 Timothy 2:1–8               Gospel Acclamation       2 Corinthians 8:9               Gospel       Luke 16:1–13 or Luke 16:10–13 Catholic Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | PENTECOST PROPER 20 YEAR C               Old Testament       Amos 8:4–7              Psalm       Psalm 113               Epistle       1 Timothy 2:1–15               Gospel       Luke 16:1–15 Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

The Episcopal Church

SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 20 YEAR C              Psalm       Psalm 138               First Reading       Amos 8:4–7 (8–12)               Second Reading       1 Timothy 2:1–8               Gospel       Luke 16:1–13 The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer (1979) Sunday Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010. Print.

The Sunday School Lesson Outline

September 18 Lesson 3 TEACHING VALUES DEVOTIONAL READING: Proverbs 1:1–7 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE : Proverbs 10:1–15:33 PROVERBS 15:21–33 21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. 22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! 24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. 28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer o