Lessons for January 7, 2007 – Baptism of our Lord The first lesson Isaiah 43:1-7 But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. [2] When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. [3] For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom. [4] Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. [5] "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west [6] and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. [7] All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them." (NLT) Psalm 29 L. Give honor to the Lord, you angels; give honor to the Lord for his glory and strength. C. Give honor to the Lord for the glory of his name. L. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. C. The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. L. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. C. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. L. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. C. He makes Lebanon's mountains skip like a calf and Mount Hermon to leap like a young bull. L. The voice of the Lord strikes with lightning bolts. C. The voice of the Lord makes the desert quake; the Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. L. The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. C. In his Temple everyone shouts, "Glory!" L. The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever. C. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. (NLT) The second lesson Acts 8:14-17 When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. [15] As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. [16] The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. [16] John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [17] He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you." (NLT)