DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Today TUESDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Catholic Daily Readings First Reading  Ro 8:18–25 Response  Ps 126:3a Psalm   Ps 126:1b–6 Gospel Acclamation  Mt 11:25 Gospel  Lk 13:18–21

REFORMATION DAY Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary First Reading  Re 14:6–7 Psalm   Ps 46 Epistle   Ro 3:19–28 Gospel   Jn 8:31–36  or  Mt 11:12–19

TUESDAY AFTER PROPER 25 Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Psalm   Ps 119:41–48 First Reading  Dt 10:10–22  or  Ex 34:29–35 Second Reading  Jas 2:14–26

TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK AFTER TRINITY, MORNING PRAYER Book of Common Prayer (1928) Daily Office Lectionary Psalm   Ps 125 ;  126 First Reading  2 Ki 4:18–25a Second Reading  1 Ti 4:6

The Mount of Olives Luke 19:29 ,  37 Excerpt The Mt of Olives gained its name from its extensive olive groves, which were renowned in antiquity ( Zec 14:4 ;  Mk 11:1 ). Its western face collects rainfall from the Mediterranean, which, together with decomposed limestone, makes for fertile orchards. The eastern side marks the boundary of the arid Judean wilderness. Bethany and Bethphage are two NT villages hugging these eastern slopes. ... During his final week, Jesus taught on the Mt of Olives ( Mk 13 ) and spent his evenings there ( Lk 21:37 , although this may refer to Bethany). Following the Last Supper, Jesus came to this mountain for prayer ( Mk 14:26 ). In a garden near an olive oil press ( “Gethsemane” ), he was arrested (v 32). The final event of Christ on earth, his ascension, was viewed from the mount by his followers ( Acts 1:12 ).  More Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort.  Tyndale Bible dictionary  2001 : 975. Print. Tyndale ...

Patmos, the Place of Exile Revelation 1:9 Excerpt In Revelation 1:9 John says that he was on the island of Patmos “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” He also indicates that he is a fellow participant in their “tribulations.” The Roman historian Tacitus informs us that the Romans used some of the Aegean islands as places of banishment and exile during the 1st century ( Annals , 3:68; 4:30; 15:71 ). Thus the language of the author and the evidence of Tacitus, joined to Christian traditions from the 2nd and 3rd centuries about John’s banishment, support the likelihood that Patmos was a place of exile or political confinement.  More Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Patmos.”  Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1988 : 1620. Print.

The Mission of the Son Romans 8:3–4 Excerpt But what law could not do, God did by sending his very own Son with a nature that resembled our sinful nature. He came in the “likeness of sinful man.”124 If Christ had not taken on our nature, he could not have been one of us. On the other hand, had he become completely like us (i.e., had he sinned), he could not have become our Savior. Barrett translates “in the form of flesh which had passed under sin’s rule,” which means that  “Christ took precisely the same fallen nature that we ourselves have, and that he remained sinless because he constantly overcame a proclivity to sin.”125 His mission was to put an end to sin, to condemn that evil power that has, since the dawn of history, held the human race in bondage. Knox says that God “signed the death warrant of sin.”  More Mounce, Robert H.  Romans . Vol. 27. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995. Print. The New American Commentary.

October 1 At Jesus’ feet Luke 10:39 At Jesus’ feet—that is our place of privilege and of blessing, and here it is that we are to be educated and fitted for the practical duties of life. Here we are to renew our strength while we wait on Him, and to learn how to mount on wings as eagles; and here we are to become possessed of that true knowledge which is power. Here we are to learn how real work is to be done, and to be armed with the true motive power to do it. Here we are to find solace amid both the trials of work—and they are not few—and the trials of life in general; and here we are to anticipate something of the blessedness of heaven amidst the days of earth; for to sit at His feet is indeed to be in heavenly places, and to gaze upon His glory is to do what we shall never tire of doing yonder. W. Hay Aitken  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Morning, October 31 Go To Evening Reading “Renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his l...

October 31: Speaking the Truth Daniel 11:1–12:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:1–18 ; Job 42:10–17 “And now I will reveal the truth to you” ( Dan 11:2 ). How much better would our world be if more of us were willing to take this kind of stand—to make these kinds of statements? The truth Daniel refers to are the prophecies foretelling what will happen in the Persian Empire. Great power and wealth are coming, and with them comes the fear of how that power and wealth may be used. If we read between the lines of the prophet’s statements in Dan 11 , we can feel the trepidation. He is concerned that wickedness will once again sweep over the land. Such was the case for Paul: “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored … and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, for not all have the faith” ( 2 Thess 3:1–2 ). Paul was aware that unbelievers would seek his life. He wasn’t sure what the future would look like. We can imagine the fear that he must have felt...

October 31st Discernment of faith Faith as a grain of mustard seed.… Matthew 17:20 We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith, it may be so in the initial stages; but we do not earn anything by faith. Faith brings us into right relationship with God and gives God His opportunity. God has frequently to knock the bottom board out of your experience if you are a saint in order to get you into contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of sentimental enjoyment of His blessings. Your earlier life of faith was narrow and intense, settled around a little sun-spot of experience that had as much of sense as of faith in it, full of light and sweetness; then God withdrew His conscious blessings in order to teach you to walk by faith. You are worth far more to Him now than you were in your days of conscious delight and thrilling testimony. Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it dif...

MONDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Catholic Daily Readings First Reading  Ro 8:12–17 Response  Ps 68:21a Psalm   Ps 68:2 ,  4 ,  6–7b ,  20–21 Gospel Acclamation  Jn 17:17ab Gospel   Lk 13:10–17

MONDAY AFTER PROPER 25 Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Psalm   Ps 119:41–48 First Reading  Dt 6:1–9 ,  20–25  or  Nu 33:38–39 Second Reading  Jas 2:8–13

MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK AFTER TRINITY, MORNING PRAYER Book of Common Prayer (1928) Daily Office Lectionary Psalm   Ps 124 ;  128 First Reading  2 Ki 4:8–17 Second Reading  1 Ti 3:14–4:5

David’s fame Excerpt As Goliath moves in to silence his brash opponent, David slings one of the stones with unerring accuracy. It strikes the Philistine on the forehead, perhaps killing him instantly ( v.  49 ). David then removes Goliath’s sword from the scabbard and cuts off his head. Stunned by this turn of events, the Philistines flee back to their coastal cities with the Israelites in hot pursuit. As David had predicted in  verse 46 , many of the Philistines are killed along the way. David puts Goliath’s weapons in his own tent and later dedicates the sword to the Lord, taking it to the tabernacle ( 21:9 ) as a way of acknowledging that God gave him the victory. According to  verse 54 , David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. This may refer to a later time after David conquered Jerusalem ( 2  Sam. 5:1–9 ) or it may mean that a number of Israelites already lived in Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem was a major city, it would have been a logical place to display a...

Priestly Division of Abijah Luke 1:5 Excerpt The service of the temple was divided into twenty-four divisions, and each provided for the needs of the temple service for a week at a time, twice a year.17 During the major religious festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles) all the divisions served.  More Stein, Robert H.  Luke . Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.

Zebulun and Naphtali Isaiah 9:2 Excerpt With typical Hebrew parallelism the prophet described the effect of the Messiah on this northern part of Israel.  The people  were  in darkness  (cf.  8:22 ) and in  the shadow of death.  Then they  saw  a great light  and  light...dawned  on them. Matthew applied this passage to Jesus, who began His preaching and healing ministry in that region (Matt.  4:15-16 ).  More 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: Victor Books, 1985. 1052. Print.

The Lord Tells Abram about Future Events Excerpt A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold. 1. The suffering state of Abram’s seed for a long time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of heaven are strangers on earth. They shall be servants; but Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing. They shall be suffers. Those that are blessed and beloved of God, are often sorely afflicted by wicked men. 2 . The judgment of the enemies of Abram’s seed. Though God may allow persecutors and oppressors to trample upon his people a great while, he will certainly reckon with them at last. 3. That great event, the deliverance of Abram’s seed out of Egypt, is here foretold. 4. Their happy settlement in Canaan. They shall come hither again. The measure of sin fills gradually. Some people’s measure of sin fills slowly. The knowle...

Morning, October 30 Go To Evening Reading “I will praise thee, O Lord.” — Psalm 9:1 Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth’s gratitude rises when the sun of heaven’s love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God’s mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating ...

October 30: An Obstructed View Daniel 9:1–10:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–17; Job 42:1–9 We need to see ourselves as we truly are, but we can’t do that on our own. Our communities can help us glimpse a more accurate reflection, but we truly know ourselves only when we know God. His light brings us understanding. After suffering incredible loss, Job tries to understand his pain. He speaks some truth, but he often misunderstands God’s motives and minimizes His love. As his friends try to help him grapple with his grief, they sometimes point out truth, but more often they cause even more pain and confusion. It’s only when God arrives to enlighten Job’s understanding that everything changes. First God questions Job’s knowledge ( Job 38:19–21 ), power ( Job 38:25–38 ), and ideas about justice ( Job 40:10–12 ). Then He shows Job that He is all of these things. The realization exposes Job’s heart. “Then Job answered Yahweh and said, "I know that you can do all things, and any scheme...

October 30th Faith Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6 . Faith in antagonism to common sense is fanaticism, and common sense in antagonism to faith is rationalism. The life of faith brings the two into a right relation. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual; of impulse and inspiration. Nothing Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, it is revelation sense, and it reaches the shores where common sense fails. Faith must be tried before the reality of faith is actual. “We know that all things work together for good,” then no matter what happens, the alchemy of God’s providence transfigures the ideal faith into actual reality. Faith always works on the personal line, the whole purpose of God being to see that the ideal faith is made real in His children. For every detail of the commonsense life, there is a revelation fact of God whereby we can prove in practical experience what ...

September 30 He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways Ps. 91:11 Count no duty too little, no round of life too small, no work too low, if it come in thy way, since God thinks so much of it as to send His angels to guard thee in it. Mark Guy Pearse  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 | Pentecost Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost Old Testament Hosea 1:2–11 Psalm Psalm 27 New Testament Ephesians 5:15–21 Gospel Matthew 22:1–14   Christian Worship One Year Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 | After Pentecost Proper 25 Year A Old Testament & Psalm, Option I Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Psalm Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17 or Old Testament & Psalm, Option II Old Testament Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18 Psalm Psalm 1 New Testament 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Gospel Matthew 22:34–46   Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 | After Pentecost Proper 25 Year A Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Psalm Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17 (UMH 789) New Testament 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Gospel Matthew 22:34–46  Vanderbilt Divinity Library. United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print.

Sunday, October 29, 2017 | Ordinary Time Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading Exodus 22:20–26 Response Psalm 18:2 Psalm Psalm 18:2–4, 47, 51 Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:5c–10 Gospel Acclamation John 14:23 Gospel Matthew 22:34–40   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print.