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What is the lectionary?
The lectionary is a tool that churches use to make sure they cover the entire Bible. It assigns several Bible passages to each week. There is a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the Psalms, one from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), and one from the Epistles (which is the rest of the New Testament). Each week, Pastor Jon chooses one of the four readings to preach on. On the list below, the selection in italics is the one Pastor Jon will be preaching on that Sunday. However, some of the other selections may speak to someone more easily. August 31, 2008 Matthew 16:21-28 ALTERNATE VERSES Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c Romans 12:9-21 September 07, 2008 Matthew 18:15-20 ALTERNATE VERSES Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149 or Psalm 148 Romans 13:8-14 September 14, 2008 Matthew 18:21-35 ALTERNATE VERSES Exodus 14:19-31 Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 Romans 14:1-12 September 21, 2008 Matthew 20:1-16 ALTERNATE VERSES Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 or Psalms 78 Phillipians 1:21-30 FOCUS VERSE FOR August 31, 2008 Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection 21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ 23But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ The Cross and Self-Denial24 Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’ More about the scripture Jesus has been instructing his disciples about the mission they are to carry out on his behalf, about telling the good news. Now his message to them shifts to teaching them that he, the Messiah, must (per God's will and purpose), undergo great suffering – something inconceivable to most Jews. (“Jerusalem” is the city where prophets are put to death.) Peter grasped that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God”, (v. 16) but he cannot yet deal with the impending death of the Messiah, rather than his direct ascendance to glory. Then v. 24: to be Jesus' followers, we must devote the whole thrust of our lives to God (“deny themselves”), not reserving any part for our personal goals. Be willing to give up physical comfort and safety, accepting martyrdom if necessary. This approach to life will lead to true life with God. V. 26 asks a rhetorical question: nothing that one can get or “gain” now measures up to what God will give to the faithful in the time to come. There will be a reckoning, when Jesus comes in glory at the end of time. Some who hear these words now will still be alive at the Judgement Day (v. 28). People in the early church expected the age to end within their own lifetimes; however some today see the Transfiguration (which follows in Chapter 17) as fulfilment of this prophecy. |
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