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Kechi
Wichita East District
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4th Sunday after the Epiphany – Green
Lectionary Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
Lectionary Text:
Deuteronomy 18:15 Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says. 16 You were asking for a prophet the day you were gathered at Mount Sinai[a] and said to the Lord, “Please don’t let us hear your voice or see this terrible fire again—if we do, we will die!”
17 Then the Lord told me:
Moses, they have said the right thing. 18 So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. 19 Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn’t obey the message will have to answer to me.
20 But if I haven’t spoken, and a prophet claims to have a message from me, you must kill that prophet, and you must also kill any prophet who claims to have a message from another god.[Footnotes:
18.16 Mount Sinai: See the note at 1.1-5.
Psalm 111: Praise the Lord for All He Has Done
1 Shout praises to the Lord!
With all my heart
I will thank the Lord
when his people meet.
2 The Lord has done
many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God’s marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
3 Everything the Lord does
is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice
will never end.
4 The Lord God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
5 He gives food to his worshipers
and always keeps his agreement
with them.
6 He has shown his mighty power
to his people
and has given them the lands
of other nations.
7 God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
8 They are true and right
and will stand forever.
9 God rescued his people,
and he will never break
his agreement with them.
He is fearsome and holy.
10 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense.[a]
God will always be respected.[Footnotes:
111.10 This. . . sense: Or “This is what wisdom and good sense are all about.”]
1 Corinthians 8:1Food Offered to Idols
1 In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 In fact, people who think they know so much don’t know anything at all. 3 But God has no doubts about who loves him.
4 Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. 5 Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. 6 We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.
7 Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8 But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
9 Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10 You know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. 11 Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. 12 When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So if I hurt one of the Lord’s followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.
Mark 1: A Man with an Evil Spirit
21 Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching. 22 Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. 23 Suddenly a man with an evil spirit[a] in him entered the meeting place and yelled, 24 “Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.”
25 Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” 26 The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.
27 Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.” 28 News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.[Footnotes:
1.23 evil spirit: A Jewish person who had an evil spirit was considered “unclean” and was not allowed to eat or worship with other Jewish people.]
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Verse 15
[15] The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Will raise up — Will produce and send into the world in due time.
A prophet like unto me — Christ was truly, and in all commendable parts like him, in being both a prophet and a king and a priest and mediator, in the excellency of his ministry and work, in the glory of his miracles, in his familiar and intimate converse with God.
Verse 19
[19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
I will require it — I will punish him severely for it. The sad effect of this threatning the Jews have felt for above sixteen hundred years together.
Psalm 111
Verse 2
[2] The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Sought — Diligently meditated upon.
Verse 3
[3] His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Work — Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people.
Righteousness — His justice or faithfulness in performing his word.
Verse 4
[4] He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Remembered — By their own nature, and the lasting benefits flowing from them, which are such as cannot easily be forgotten.
Verse 5
[5] He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
Meat — All necessary provisions for their being and well-being.
Verse 7
[7] The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
The works — All that he doth on the behalf of his people, or against their enemies.
Truth — Are exactly agreeable to his promises, and to justice.
Commandments — His laws given to the Israelites, especially the moral law.
Sure — Constant and unchangeable.
Verse 8
[8] They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
Done — Constituted or ordered.
Verse 9
[9] He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Redemption — The deliverance out of Egypt, which was a type of that higher redemption by Christ.
Commanded — Appointed, or established firmly by his power and authority.
For ever — Through all successive generations of his people to the end of the world.
Reverend — Terrible to his enemies, venerable in his peoples eyes, and holy in all his dealings with all men.
Verse 10
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The fear — True religion.
Beginning — Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Verse 1
[1] Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Now concerning the next question you proposed.
All of us have knowledge — A gentle reproof of their self-conceit. Knowledge without love always puffeth up. Love alone edifies - Builds us up in holiness.
Verse 2
[2] And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
If any man think he knoweth any thing — Aright, unless so far he is taught by God.
He knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know — Seeing there is no true knowledge without divine love.
Verse 3
[3] But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
He is known — That is, approved, by him. Psalms 1:6.
Verse 4
[4] As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
We know that an idol is nothing — A mere nominal god, having no divinity, virtue, or power.
Verse 5
[5] For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
For though there be that are called gods — By the heathens both celestial, (as they style them,) terrestrial, and infernal deities.
Verse 6
[6] But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Yet to us — Christians.
There is but one God — This is exclusive, not of the One Lord, as if he were an inferior deity; but only of the idols to which the One God is opposed.
From whom are all things — By creation, providence, and grace.
And we for him — The end of all we are, have, and do.
And one Lord — Equally the object of divine worship.
By whom are all things — Created, sustained, and governed.
And we by him — Have access to the Father, and all spiritual blessings.
Verse 7
[7] Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
Some eat, with consciousness of the idol — That is, fancying it is something, and that it makes the meat unlawful to be eaten.
And their conscience, being weak — Not rightly informed.
Is defiled — contracts guilt by doing it.
Verse 8
[8] But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
But meat commendeth us not to God — Neither by eating, nor by refraining from it. Eating and not eating are in themselves things merely indifferent.
Verse 10
[10] For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
For if any one see thee who hast knowledge — Whom he believes to have more knowledge than himself, and who really hast this knowledge, that an idol is nothing-sitting down to an entertainment in an idol temple. The heathens frequently made entertainments in their temples, on what hath been sacrificed to their idols.
Will not the conscience of him that is weak — Scrupulous.
Be encouraged — By thy example.
To eat — Though with a doubting conscience.
Verse 11
[11] And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? — And for whom thou wilt not lose a meal's meat, so far from dying for him! We see, Christ died even for them that perish.
Verse 12
[12] But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
Ye sin against Christ — Whose members they are.
Verse 13
[13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
If meat — Of any kind. Who will follow this example? What preacher or private Christian will abstain from any thing lawful in itself, when it offends a weak brother?
Mark 1:21-28
Verse 21
[21] And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Luke 4:31.
Verse 26
[26] And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
A loud noise — For he was forbidden to speak. Christ would neither suffer those evil spirits to speak in opposition, nor yet in favour of him. He needed not their testimony, nor would encourage it, lest any should infer that he acted in concert with them.
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Sermon Story "The Prophet After Moses" by Gary Lee Parker with Sermon Test for Sunday, 1 February 2015
Scripture Texts:
Deuteronomy 18:15 Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says. 16 You were asking for a prophet the day you were gathered at Mount Sinai[a] and said to the Lord, “Please don’t let us hear your voice or see this terrible fire again—if we do, we will die!”
17 Then the Lord told me:
Moses, they have said the right thing. 18 So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. 19 Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn’t obey the message will have to answer to me.
20 But if I haven’t spoken, and a prophet claims to have a message from me, you must kill that prophet, and you must also kill any prophet who claims to have a message from another god.[Footnotes:
18.16 Mount Sinai: See the note at 1.1-5.]
Psalm 111: Praise the Lord for All He Has Done
1 Shout praises to the Lord!
With all my heart
I will thank the Lord
when his people meet.
2 The Lord has done
many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God’s marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
3 Everything the Lord does
is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice
will never end.
4 The Lord God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
5 He gives food to his worshipers
and always keeps his agreement
with them.
6 He has shown his mighty power
to his people
and has given them the lands
of other nations.
7 God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
8 They are true and right
and will stand forever.
9 God rescued his people,
and he will never break
his agreement with them.
He is fearsome and holy.
10 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense.[a]
God will always be respected.[Footnotes:
111.10 This. . . sense: Or “This is what wisdom and good sense are all about.”]
1 Corinthians 8: Food Offered to Idols
1 In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 In fact, people who think they know so much don’t know anything at all. 3 But God has no doubts about who loves him.
4 Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. 5 Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. 6 We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.
7 Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8 But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
9 Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10 You know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. 11 Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. 12 When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So if I hurt one of the Lord’s followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.
Mark 1: A Man with an Evil Spirit
21 Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching. 22 Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. 23 Suddenly a man with an evil spirit[a] in him entered the meeting place and yelled, 24 “Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.”
25 Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” 26 The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.
27 Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.” 28 News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.[Footnotes:
1.23 evil spirit: A Jewish person who had an evil spirit was considered “unclean” and was not allowed to eat or worship with other Jewish people.]
We come to this week as we hear from God and relaize that the prophesy of God that there will be a prophet like Moses became fulfilled in the Presence of God coming to earth as the Messiah we know as Jesus. Yes, there is a description of what should happen to the false prophets who attempt to deceive the people, but this punishiment will come from God Himself. we recognize that as Jesus lived and healed, even the demons knew him, while the religious leaders had questions about His authenticity. We realize that even other leaders in non-Christian faiths point to who Jesus is, The Son of God, and the Savior of the world if we only believe and reopent of our sins. We see this in the writings of Paul where the meat that has been sacrificed to no-god idols is all right to eat because we Jesus' Spirit within us, but if this action would offend a weaker Christian we should partake of the meat that was sacrificed to a no-god idol. This even apply to the 21st century when we are free to do what continues to lead us closer to God and His Holiness in our life, but if a practice offends a weaker follower of Jesus we should partake of the event. This is why, for an example, is the conducting Faith on Tap is so important to reach people who would not step into a church for whatever reason, but we must be careful not to contribute to a follower or non-follower who has addiction problems with alcohol or drugs by either them coming or drinking the alcohol at the Faith on Tap. Yet, we cannot stop having Faith on Tap for those who are being reached with God's Grace and Love and/or growing in their journey of faith. This could also be in the exclusion rather than inclusion of people who have a different culture, language, or skin color or sexual orientation or even who are differently abled from fellowship with God's Church. What chararcters do you relate to in these stories? How does your faith fit into these thoughts and ideas? How will you reach people who do not know or even understand God's Grace and Love? may we sing this Hymn "O Worship the King all glorious above" by Robert Grant (1833)
1. O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
2. O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.
3. Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
4. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
5. O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!
____________________________Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Light for the World" for Tuesday, 3 February 2015 - Scripture: Matthew 5: Salt and light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden.[Matthew 5:14 (CEB)]
One morning I sat in my cozy upstairs room overlooking the river — the room where I spend time with God. As I read the scripture quoted above, I hoped and prayed that I could be a light to those I would meet and work with that day. Then I looked across the river and noticed a house that stood out from the others. It was bright and shining with a strong light. On looking more closely I could see that it was catching and reflecting the rays of the early-morning sun.
For me, that house was an example of how I could be a light in my world. By being open to the work of the Holy Spirit in me, I can reflect God’s light and love in the world. However, I can shine that light into the world only if my relationship with God is a priority. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). When we draw near to Jesus through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers, we can reflect this light to those who do not know him. When we are open and available to the light of Jesus, we — like beacons in a dark world — can shine his love on others.
Read more from the author, here.
"River of Life"
I am blessed to live in a beautiful and peaceful location overlooking the River Murray, which is the main source of water to the state where I live. South Australia is the driest state in Australia and water is a precious commodity. When the river is healthy it brings life to the land. The river is a wonderful place of activity with the many birds, the fish, the turtles, the plants and the people who enjoy recreational activities there. For me the river is a source of interest, enjoyment and inspiration and I am very thankful for the peace I feel as I look out at the river while spending time in my upstairs room during my times of morning devotion.
Thinking about the river I am reminded of the river of life we hear about in the Bible. There was a river in the Garden of Eden and then the river of life is shown to the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47; 1-12) and described again in Revelation (Revelation22; 1-5). Jesus offers the woman at the well the life-giving water that will always satisfy (John 4; 13). As I picture this river of life I see it flowing from the throne of God. It’s crystal clear, fresh, bubbling, and life-giving. It’s a healing river and on its banks grow the trees with the leaves that are for the healing of the nations. This river gets deeper as it flows and it makes all things new and full of life. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross I see this river flowing into our world and, through grace, available for all. We can immerse ourselves in its healing power, drink from its pure, fresh water and receive all the abundance and blessings that God has provided for us. Jesus is with us, his Holy Spirit is in us and the peace, joy, and love that is ours is immeasurable.
As I think on these truths and imagine myself wading into that river of life I am refreshed and renewed. As I see myself walking on its banks under those healing trees I receive healing and peace. Then hopefully the grace that is mine will flow out from me to others as I seek to serve my wonderful Father God and bring his light into the world.
I pray that if you are thirsty and dry today, like I am at times, you might like to reflect on the life-giving water that Jesus offers us and imagine the river of life flowing into the world, into your country, into the room you are in, and all over you.[Ann Stewart]
The Author: Ann Stewart (South Australia, Australia)
Thought for the Day: How can I reflect the light of Jesus today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the light Jesus brings into our lives. May we reflect his light in all we do today. Amen.
Prayer focus: Bible study groups
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Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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