Jeremiah 20:7-13 O Lord, you persuaded me, and I allowed myself to be persuaded. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked by everyone in the city. 8Whenever I speak, the words come out in a violent outburst. "Violence and destruction!" I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke. 9And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in! 10I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me "The Man Who Lives in Terror." And they say, "If you say anything, we will report it." Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. "He will trap himself," they say, "and then we will get our revenge on him." 11But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him they will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will be shamed and thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12O Lord Almighty! You know those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. 13Now I will sing out my thanks to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For though I was poor and needy, he delivered me from my oppressors. (NLT) Psalm 69:8-11, (12-17), 18-20 L. Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me; they treat me like a stranger. C. Passion for your house burns within me, so those who insult you are also insulting me. L. When I weep and fast before the Lord, they scoff at me. C. When I dress in sackcloth to show sorrow, they make fun of me. L. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunkards sing about me. C. But I keep right on praying to you, Lord, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. L. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. C. Pull me out of the mud; don't let me sink any deeper! L. Rescue me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. C. Don't let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. L. Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. C. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. L. Don't hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble! C. Come and rescue me; free me from all my enemies. L. You know the insults I endure— the humiliation and disgrace. C. You have seen all my enemies and know what they have said. L. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. C. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. (NLT) The second lesson Romans 6:1-11 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? 2Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. 9We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. 11So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Matthew 10:24-39 24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (NIV)