Standard Sunday School Lesson Scriptures and Benediction for Saint Paul’s United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States for Sunday, 20 March 2016 “Struggling Faith”

Standard Sunday School Lesson Scriptures and Benediction for Saint Paul’s United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States for Sunday, 20 March 2016 “Struggling Faith”

Bible Study Prayer by Claralice Wolf:

Good Shepherd,

We are a small flock of Your disciples meeting here in this little room. We come with our fears and worries. We come with a hunger to know the truth.

Be in this place with us. Help us to hear Your voice still ringing down thorugh the centuries. Help us to discern what You still have to say to us today.

O Shepherd and Lamb, come. Amen.

Devotional Reading: Jeremiah 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north: ‘“Return, backsliding Isra’el,” says Adonai. “I will not frown on you, for I am merciful,” says Adonai. “I will not bear a grudge forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have committed crimes against Adonai your God, that you were promiscuous with strangers under every green tree, and that you have not paid attention to my voice,” says Adonai. 14 “Return, backsliding children,” says Adonai; “for I am your master. I will take you, one from a city, two from a family, and bring you to Tziyon. 15 I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and they will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 “‘“And,” says Adonai, “in those days, when your numbers have increased in the land, people will no longer talk about the ark for the covenant of Adonai — they won’t think about it, they won’t miss it, and they won’t make another one. 17 When that time comes, they will call Yerushalayim the throne of Adonai. All the nations will be gathered there to the name of Adonai, to Yerushalayim. No longer will they live according to their stubbornly evil hearts. 18 In those days, the house of Y’hudah will live together with the house of Isra’el; they will come together from the lands in the north to the land I gave your ancestors as their heritage.[Complete Jewish Bible]

Background Scripture: Mark 14:26 After singing the Hallel, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Yeshua said to them, “You will all lose faith in me, for the Tanakh says, ‘I will strike the shepherd dead, and the sheep will be scattered.’[Mark 14:27 Zechariah 13:7] 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you into the Galil.” 29 Kefa said to him, “Even if everyone else loses faith in you, I won’t.” 30 Yeshua replied, “Yes! I tell you that this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times!” 31 But Kefa kept insisting, “Even if I must die with you, I will never disown you!” And they all said the same thing.,66 Meanwhile, Kefa was still in the courtyard below. One of the serving-girls of the cohen hagadol 67 saw Kefa warming himself, took a look at him, and said, “You were with the man from Natzeret, Yeshua!” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about!” He went outside into the entryway, and a rooster crowed. 69 The girl saw him there and started telling the bystanders, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. A little later, the bystanders themselves said to Kefa, “You must be one of them, because you’re from the Galil.” 71 At this he began to invoke a curse on himself as he swore, “I do not know this man you are telling me about!” — 72 and immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” And throwing himself down, he burst into tears.[Complete Jewish Bible]

Key Verse:

Mark 14:30 Yeshua replied, “Yes! I tell you that this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times!” [Complete Jewish Bible]

India Benediction:

May the Lord disturb you and trouble you,

May the Lord set an impossible task before you,

And dare you to meet it.

May the Lord give you strength to do your best,

And then, but only then,

May you be granted the Lord’s peace.

Benediction from Heart of Christianity by Chaplain Tom Respess:

Go out into the world in peace;

Be of good courage;

Hold fast to that which is good;

Render to no one evil for evil;

Strengthen the faint hearted;

Support the weak; help the afflicted;

Honor all God’s children;

Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

---------------------