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Sunday
First Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 43:1-12, 27-33
1 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of
heaven, with his glorious shew;
2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous
instrument, the work of the most High:
3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning
heat thereof?
4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth
the mountains three times more: breathing out fiery vapours,
and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment it runneth
hastily.
6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration
of times, and a sign of the world.
7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth
in her perfection.
8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully
in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining
in the firmament of heaven:
9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving
light in the highest places of the Lord.
10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their
order, and never faint in their watches.
11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful
it is in the brightness thereof.
12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and
the hands of the most High have bended it.
27
We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.
28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works.
29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.
30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.
31 Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is?
32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.
33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.
1st Lesson Questions -
Ecclesiasticus 43:1-12, 27-33. When was the last time I felt God's presence and glory in the same way as the writer of this passage did? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.
4 There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure
of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended
first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above
all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted
by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Ephesians 4:1-16. Seven elements of Christian unity are listed in verses 4-6. How do they relate to my parish church? Are they all present? If not, which ones aren't? Am I a help or hindrance to unity? RESOLVE.