Lessons for November 11, 2007 – Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

The first lesson

Job 19:23-27
 
    "Oh, that my words could be written. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, [24] carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. [25] "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. [26] And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! [27] I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (NLT)

Psalm 17:1-9 

L.  O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help.
C.  Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart. 
L.  Declare me innocent, for you know those who do right.
C.  You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
L.  You have scrutinized me and found nothing amiss,
C.  for I am determined not to sin in what I say. 
L.  I have followed your commands,
C.  which have kept me from going along with cruel and evil people. 
L.  My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.
C.  I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
L.  Bend down and listen as I pray. 
C.  Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
L.  You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies. 
C.  Guard me as the apple of your eye.
L.  Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 
C.  Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.  (NLT)

The second lesson

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
 
    And now, brothers and sisters, let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet him. [2] Please don't be so easily shaken and troubled by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Even if they claim to have had a vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us, don't believe them. [3] Don't be fooled by what they say.For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. [4] He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. [5] Don't you remember that I told you this when I was with you? 
[13] As for us, we always thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and by your belief in the truth. [14] He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [15] With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter. [16] May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, [17] comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Luke 20:27-38
 
    Then some Sadducees stepped forward—a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. [28] They posed this question: "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir. [29] Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children. [30] His brother married the widow, but he also died. Still no children. [31] And so it went, one after the other, until each of the seven had married her and died, leaving no children. [32] Finally, the woman died, too. [33] So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!" [34] Jesus replied, "Marriage is for people here on earth. [35] But that is not the way it will be in the age to come. For those worthy of being raised from the dead won't be married then. [36] And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life. [37] But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' [38] So he is the God of the living, not the dead. They are all alive to him."  (NLT)