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

September 8 Lesson 2  ( KJV ) Faithful During Grief Devotional Reading:   Psalm 99 Background  Scripture :   1 Samuel 1:1–2:10 1 Samuel 1:9–20 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her,...

Sun , Sep 8, 2019 (Aug 26, 2019) | Octoechos Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Matins Gospel Matthew 28:16–20 Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 Gospel Matthew 19:16–26   Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.

Sunday , September 8, 2019 | Pentecost Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year C Old Testament Jeremiah 23:23–29 Old Testament 2 Kings 11:1–3, 12–18 ( Supplemental ) Psalm Psalm 139 New Testament Hebrews 12:1–13 New Testament Ephesians 6:10–20 ( Supplemental ) Gospel Luke 12:49–53   Christian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with Supplemental Lectionary) . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Sunday , September 8, 2019 | Ordinary Time Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C | Roman Missal | Lectionary First Reading Wisdom of Solomon 9:13–18 b Response Psalm 90:1 Psalm Psalm 90:3–6, 12–14 , 17 Second Reading Philemon 9–10, 12–17 Gospel Acclamation Psalm 119:135 Gospel Luke 14:25–33   Catholic Daily Readings . Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009. Print. Sunday , September 8, 2019 | After Pentecost Proper 18 Year C Old Testament Jeremiah 18:1...

Today's Scripture : Proverbs 4:10–27  (NIV)

Insight  The structure of the book of Proverbs is distinctive. Chapters 1–9 form the counsel of a father to a son, including themes like the pursuit of wisdom and the need for sexual purity. Proverbs 10–31 , however, are for the most part a collection of wise sayings that often contrast the wise living described in the first nine chapters with self-destructive foolishness. By:  Bill Crowder

God, as our loving Father, offers us “blue-line” guidance in the Bible. While He’s given us the freedom to “ski” wherever we like, the wisdom He offers in the Scriptures, like racecourse markers, are “life to those who find them” (v. 22). When we turn from evil and walk instead with Him, our path will be lit with His righteousness, keeping our feet from stumbling and guiding us onward each day (vv. 12, 18). By:    Kirsten Holmberg Reflect & Pray How has reflecting on the wisdom of God kept you from stumbling? In what ways are you becoming more like Jesus? God, thank You for Your Word. Help me to hold fast to the wisdom You offer. To learn more about how to get the most out of your Bible study time, visit  christianuniversity.org/SF106.

September 8: Resilient Hope and Red Herrings Joel 3:1–21; Acts 7:54–8:25 ; Job 19:1–12 The death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, must have crushed and discouraged the early church. But in this event Luke shows us glimmers of hope. He reminds us that God is working behind the scenes. Facing death, Stephen prayed for his persecutors, asking that God “not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). God answered that cry of mercy in a generous way. As we watch Stephen being forced out of the city and stoned to death, Luke introduces us to another character present in the crowd: “The witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:54). This detail seems like a red herring, but by introducing Saul (later Paul) to us before his conversion, Luke gives his readers hope in desperate circumstances. Saul was determined to squelch this dangerous new sect coming out of Nazareth, but soon Paul would become its greatest advocate. By placing Stephen’s de...

Bible in a Year  :   Proverbs 1–2; 1 Corinthians 16

Today's Scripture : Philippians 2:1–11  (NIV)

Insight  In Philippians 2:1–11, Paul calls believers to live counter-culturally. He wasn’t naive about the capacity for believers to live driven by “selfish ambition” ( v . 3 ), by a self-interested need for power or control. It would be only natural for the Philippian believers to continue the habits learned in their culture, which Paul described as a “warped and crooked generation” ( v . 15 ). But Paul urged them to learn to live “worthy of the gospel of Christ” ( 1:27 ). And in  chapter 2 , he paints a stunning picture of the life believers are invited into, one of radical self-giving love ( vv . 1–4 ). Living in a community marked by unity, joy, and freedom is only possible when we follow the example of Christ ( v . 5 ) and remain rooted in, nourished by, and sustained by the Spirit ( v . 1 ). By:  Monica Brands

Scripture tells us to do the same ( v . 5 ). Like Jesus, we serve rather than dominate. We move toward humility rather than prominence. We give rather than take. In Jesus’s power, we walk backward. By:    Winn Collier Reflect & Pray How has Jesus demonstrated a way of walking backward in the world? Where is God calling you to live out Christ’s humble example? The only way to healing and goodness, the only way to move forward, is to join Jesus in walking backward.

September 8 Lesson 2 ( KJV ) Faithful During Grief Devotional Reading:   Psalm 99 Background Scripture :   1 Samuel 1:1–2:10 1 Samuel 1:9–20 9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long w...