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Thursday
The First
Lesson
Nehemiah 9:32-38
32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible
God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble
seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings,
on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and
on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the
kings of Assyria unto this day.
33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for
thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our
fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and
thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.
35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy
great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat
land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from
their wicked works.
36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou
gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good
thereof, behold, we are servants in it:
37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast
set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over
our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are
in great distress.
38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write
it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.
1st Lesson Questions -
Did I keep my covenant with God today? What is it? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 15:1-12
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren,
and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses,
ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas,
and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the
apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through
Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:
and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of
the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared
all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and
to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of
this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and
said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while
ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should
hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving
them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck
of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able
to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to
Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had
wrought among the Gentiles by them.
2nd Lesson Questions -
The early Church fought over whether to admit Gentiles. Are there modern-day parallels? What? RESOLVE.