Standard Sunday School Lesson Scriptures and Benediction for Saint Paul’s United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States

Standard Sunday School Lesson Scriptures and Benediction for Saint Paul’s United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States for Sunday, 8 May 2016 “Grateful Faith”
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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 through the centuries. Help us to discern what You still have to say to us today.

O Shepherd and Lamb, come. Amen.
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Devotional Reading: Colossians 3:12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[Colossians 3:13 Other ancient authorities read just as Christ] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[Colossians 3:16 Other ancient authorities read of God, or of the Lord] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[Colossians 3:16 Other ancient authorities read to the Lord] 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.[New Revised Standard Version]
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Background Scripture: Luke 17: Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus[Luke 17:11 Gk he] was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers[Luke 17:12 The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases] approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’[Luke 17:16 Gk his] feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”[New Revised Standard Version]
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Key Verse: Luke 17: Some Sayings of Jesus 1 Jesus[Luke 17:1 Gk He] said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come![New Revised Standard Version]

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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.

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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.

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