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Second Sunday before Advent
First Lesson
Isaiah 66:1-2,10,12-16, 18-23
1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth
is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and
where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things
have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even
to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at
my word.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that
love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her
like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream:
then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be
dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you;
and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones
shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be
known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots
like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke
with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all
flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come,
that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come,
and see my glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that
escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that
draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that
have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they
shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto
the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and
in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy
mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel
bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites,
saith the LORD.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make,
shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and
your name remain.
23 And
it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and
from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship
before me, saith the LORD.
1st Lesson Questions -
Isaiah 66:1-2, 10,12-16, 18-23. Has V. 23 happened? When will it happen? Where am I in that event? RESOLVE
Second Lesson
Matthew 25:14-29
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far
country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them
his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to
another one; to every man according to his several ability; and
straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded
with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other
two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth,
and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought
other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five
talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord,
thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two
other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler
over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord,
I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast
not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:
lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather
where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall
have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away
even that which he hath.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Matthew 25:14-29. Looking at my life for the past month, which servant am I most like? Why? Am I ready for the "Boss" to come home again? RESOLVE