Today’s Reflection:
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This week we remember: John (December 27).
John, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to James, was one of the first disciples Jesus called. James and John were "in the boat with their father ... mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him" (Matthew 4:21-22). Along with Peter, James and John formed the disciples' inner circle.
Jesus nicknamed the brothers "Sons of Thunder." Along with Peter, James and John formed the inner circle of the disciples. They accompanied Jesus when he healed Jairus' daughter, were present at the Transfiguration, and triggered a discussion on who would sit at Jesus' right hand (Matthew 20:20-23, Mark 10:35-45.) James and John stayed with Jesus while he prayed in Gesthemane but fell asleep.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, John was a leader in the Jerusalem church community. He preached with Peter, was arrested, and later traveled with Peter to Samaria. John is credited as the author of the fourth gospel (thus, the repeated references to John as "the Beloved Disciple" and the one Jesus loved best). He may also have written two epistles and the Book of Revelations.
The New Testament gives no evidence of John's death.
If John had taken the Spiritual Types Test, he probably would have been a Lover. John is remembered on December 27.
Image is oil on canvas by Piero di Cosimo (1462–1521).
This week we remember: John (December 27).
John, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to James, was one of the first disciples Jesus called. James and John were "in the boat with their father ... mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him" (Matthew 4:21-22). Along with Peter, James and John formed the disciples' inner circle.After the death and resurrection of Jesus, John was a leader in the Jerusalem church community. He preached with Peter, was arrested, and later traveled with Peter to Samaria. John is credited as the author of the fourth gospel (thus, the repeated references to John as "the Beloved Disciple" and the one Jesus loved best). He may also have written two epistles and the Book of Revelations.
The New Testament gives no evidence of John's death.
If John had taken the Spiritual Types Test, he probably would have been a Lover. John is remembered on December 27.
Image is oil on canvas by Piero di Cosimo (1462–1521).
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Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 27 December 2015
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
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Sunday, 27 December 2015
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
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Lectionary Texts:
1 Samuel 2:18 But Sh’mu’el ministered in the presence of Adonai, wearing a linen ritual vest even though he was only a child. 19 Each year his mother would make him a little coat and bring it when she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 ‘Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May Adonai give you children from this woman because of the boy you have loaned to Adonai”; then they would go home.
26 The child Sh’mu’el kept growing and gaining favor both with Adonai and with people.
Psalm 148:1 Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
26 The child Sh’mu’el kept growing and gaining favor both with Adonai and with people.
Psalm 148:1 Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all his armies!
3 Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all shining stars!
4 Praise him, highest heaven,
and waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of Adonai;
for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he has given a law to which they must conform.
7 Praise Adonai from the earth,
sea monsters and watery depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
storm-winds that obey his word,
9 mountains and every hill,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all livestock,
creeping reptiles, flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women alike,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of Adonai,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above both earth and heaven.
14 He has increased the power of his people,
granted praise to all his faithful,
to the descendants of Isra’el,
a people close to him.
Halleluyah!
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.
14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Luke 2:41 Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up for the festival, as custom required. 43 But after the festival was over, when his parents returned, Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim. They didn’t realize this; 44 supposing that he was somewhere in the caravan, they spent a whole day on the road before they began searching for him among their relatives and friends. 45 Failing to find him, they returned to Yerushalayim to look for him. 46 On the third day they found him — he was sitting in the Temple court among the rabbis, not only listening to them but questioning what they said; 47 and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked; and his mother said to him, “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you!” 49 He said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 So he went with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But his mother stored up all these things in her heart.
52 And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for
1 Samuel 2:18-20
Verse 18
[18] But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
Ministered — That is, performed his ministration carefully and faithfully.
Before the Lord — In God's tabernacle.
Ephod — A garment used in God's service, and allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though no Levite, was a Nazarite, from his birth.
[18] But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
Ministered — That is, performed his ministration carefully and faithfully.
Before the Lord — In God's tabernacle.
Ephod — A garment used in God's service, and allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though no Levite, was a Nazarite, from his birth.
26
Psalm 148
Verse 4
Colossians 3:12-17
Verse 12
Luke 2:41-52
Verse 43
Verse 4
[4] Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Heavens of heavens — Ye highest heavens, the place of God's throne.
Waters — Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
Verse 6
[6] He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Established — He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world.
A decree — Concerning their continuance.
Verse 7
[7] Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Dragons — Either serpents, which hide in the deep caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea-monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea.
Verse 8
[8] Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Fire — Lightnings and other fireworks of the air.
Vapour — Or, fumes: hot exhalations.
Fulfilling his word — Executing his commands, either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
Verse 13
[13] Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
Above — Above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
Verse 14
[14] He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
The horn — In scripture commonly denotes strength, victory, glory, and felicity.
Verse 12
[12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
All who are thus renewed are elected of God, holy, and therefore the more beloved of him. Holiness is the consequence of their election, and God's superior love, of their holiness.
Verse 13
[13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Forbearing one another — If anything is now wrong.
And forgiving one another — What is past.
Verse 14
[14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
The love of God contains the whole of Christian perfection, and connects all the parts of it together.
Verse 15
[15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
And then the peace of God shall rule in your hearts - Shall sway every temper, affection, thought, as the reward (so the Greek word implies) of your preceding love and obedience.
Verse 16
[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Let the word of Christ — So the apostle calls the whole scripture, and thereby asserts the divinity of his Master.
Dwell — Not make a short stay, or an occasional visit, but take up its stated residence.
Richly — In the largest measure, and with the greatest efficacy; so as to fill and govern the whole soul.
Verse 17
[17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
In the name — In the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus. Giving thanks unto God - The Holy Ghost.
And the Father through him — Christ.
Verse 43
[43] And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
The child Jesus — St. Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of the womb, Luke 1:42; an infant, Luke 2:12; a little child, Luke 2:40; a child here, and afterward a man. So our Lord passed through and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not become him.
Verse 44
[44] But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Supposing him to have been in the company — As the men and women usually travelled in distinct companies.
Verse 46
[46] And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
After three days — The first day was spent in their journey, the second, in their return to Jerusalem: and the third, in searching for him there: they found him in the temple - In an apartment of it: sitting in the midst of the doctors - Not one word is said of his disputing with them, but only of his asking and answering questions, which was a very usual thing in these assemblies, and indeed the very end of them. And if he was, with others, at the feet of these teachers (where learners generally sat) he might be said to be in the midst of them, as they sat on benches of a semicircular form, raised above their hearers and disciples.
Verse 49
[49] And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Why sought ye me? — He does not blame them for losing, but for thinking it needful to seek him: and intimates, that he could not be lost, nor found any where, but doing the will of a higher parent.
Verse 50
[50] And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
It is observable that Joseph is not mentioned after this time; whence it is probable, he did not live long after.
Verse 52
[52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Jesus increased in wisdom — As to his human nature, and in favour with God - In proportion to that increase. It plainly follows, that though a man were pure, even as Christ was pure, still he would have room to increase in holiness, and in consequence thereof to increase in the favour, as well as in the love of God.
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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Sermon Stories "Children in Ministry" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 27 December 2015 with Scripture Text 1 Samuel 2:18 But Sh’mu’el ministered in the presence of Adonai, wearing a linen ritual vest even though he was only a child. 19 Each year his mother would make him a little coat and bring it when she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 ‘Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May Adonai give you children from this woman because of the boy you have loaned to Adonai”; then they would go home.
26 The child Sh’mu’el kept growing and gaining favor both with Adonai and with people.
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We have come to the time when Hannah released your son, Samuel, to the service of God after God gave her the promised son w\she so requested. Children in ministry for and to God with adults is unlike the child labor that we have had in the past and even today where the children are denied their rightful education, nourishment, love, and chance to grow as a child into adulthood the way God has create His people to do in emotional, physical, and spiritual ways. Here we have Samuel who was dedicated to God before he was even conceived by his parents serving in the Temple or Tablenacle under the guidance of Eli the Head Priest. Eli too care of Samuel's education, physical nourishment, and spiritual growth while his mother still took care of his emotional growth through providing for his clothing as he physically grew. Today, we become so scared about the child labor laws or the abuse of children that we do not understand that children are able to minister to God and others as children while they mature emotionally, physically, academincally, and spiritually. We see a little of this when Jesus was found listening to and questioning the religious leaders of His day when he was left in Jerusalem by his parents accidentally. We see that there are all children are able to inister with adults no matter what their abililties may be. I have seen children with down syndome minister with their ability to love unconditionally or even autistic children minister with their presence and ways to praise God or even children who are slow learners begin to allow others the ability to slow down and see who God really is. Where we seek God's ways to allow all children minister for the growth of God's KIngdom we come with them in taking the Body of Jesus and eating it and taking the Blood of Jesus and drinking it through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come with our children to receive from God His blessings singing the Hymn "JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN" by C. Herbert Woolston (1856-1927)
1. Jesus calls the children dear,
“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”
“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”
Refrain:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
[Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.]
2. Jesus is the Shepherd true,
And He’ll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He’s a Savior great and strong,
And He’ll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.
Refrain:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
[Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.]
3. I am coming, Lord, to Thee,
And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I’ll always bear,
And for You I’ll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.
Refrain:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
[Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.]
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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