Lessons for August 20, 2006 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

The first lesson

Proverbs 9:1-6
 
    Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. 2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. 3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. 4 "Come home with me," she urges the simple. To those without good judgment, she says, 5 "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise."  (NLT)

Psalm 34:9-14
 
L.  Let the Lord's people show him reverence, 
C.  for those who honor him will have all they need. 
L.  Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
C.  but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.
L.  Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. 
C.  Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? 
L.  Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! 
C.  Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.  (NLT)

The second lesson

Ephesians 5:15-20
 
    So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17 Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (NLT)
 
The Gospel Lesson

John 6:51-58
 
    I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna."  (NLT)