Lessons for January 22, 2006 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany

The first lesson

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
 
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2"Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message of judgment I have given you."  3This time Jonah obeyed the Lord's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" 5The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show their sorrow.  When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn't carry out the destruction he had threatened.  (NLT)

Psalm 62:6-12
 
L.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. 
C.  My salvation and my honor come from God alone.
L.  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
C.  O my people, trust in him at all times.
L.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
C.  From the greatest to the lowliest—all are nothing in his sight.
L.  If you weigh them on the scales, they are lighter than a puff of air. 
C.  Don't try to get rich by extortion or robbery.
L.  And if your wealth increases, don't make it the center of your life.
C.  God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times:
L.  Power, O God, belongs to you;  unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
C.  Surely you judge all people according to what they have done.  (NLT)

The second lesson

1 Corinthians 7:29-31
 
Now let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not let marriage be their major concern. 30Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God's work. 31Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.   (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Mark 1:14-20 

Later on, after John was arrested by Herod Antipas, Jesus went to Galilee to preach God's Good News. 15"At last the time has come!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!"  16One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. 17Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 18And they left their nets at once and went with him.  19A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets. 20He called them, too, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with him.  (NLT)