Lessons for May 20, 2007 – Seventh Sunday of Easter

The first lesson

Acts 16:16-34
 
    One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. [17] She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." [18] This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. [19] Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. [20] "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted. [21] "They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs." [22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. [24] So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. [25] Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [26] Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! [27] The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. [28] But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!" [29] Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31] They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." [32] Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. [33] That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. [34] Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. (NLT)

Psalm 97
 
L.  The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice!
C.  Let the farthest islands be glad.  Clouds and darkness surround him.
L.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 
C.  Fire goes forth before him and burns up all his foes. 
L.  His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles. 
C.  The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 
L.  The heavens declare his righteousness; every nation sees his glory. 
C.  Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods—for every god must bow to him. 
L.  Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the cities of Judah are glad because of your justice, Lord! 
C.  For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
L.  You who love the Lord, hate evil!
C.  He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. 
L.  Light shines on the godly, and joy on those who do right. 
C.  May all who are godly be happy in the Lord and praise his holy name!  (NLT)

The second lesson

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
 
"See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
[14] Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. [16] "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." [17] The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge.  [20] He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!  [21] The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

John 17:20-26
 
    "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. [21] My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.  [22] "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are— [23] I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. [24] Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began!  [25] "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. [26] And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them."  (NLT)