Lessons for May 27, 2007 – Day of Pentecost

The first lesson

Genesis 11:1-9
 
    At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. [2] As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. [3] They began to talk about construction projects. "Come," they said, "let's make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. [4] Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies—a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world." [5] But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. [6] "Look!" he said. "If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! [7] Come, let's go down and give them different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other." [8] In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. [9] That is why the city was called Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.  (NLT)

Psalm 104:24-35b
 
L.  O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all.
C.  The earth is full of your creatures. 
L.  Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both great and small. 
C.  See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea. 
L.  Every one of these depends on you to give them their food as they need it. 
C.  When you supply it, they gather it.
L.  You open your hand to feed them, and they are satisfied. 
C.  But if you turn away from them, they panic.
L.  When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. 
C.  When you send your Spirit, new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth.
L.  May the glory of the Lord last forever! The Lord rejoices in all he has made! 
C.  The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains burst into flame at his touch. 
L.  I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! 
C.  May he be pleased by all these thoughts about him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 
L.  As for me—I will praise the Lord!
C.  Praise the Lord!  (NLT)
 
The second lesson

Acts 21:1-21 
    After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. [2] There we boarded a ship sailing for the Syrian province of Phoenicia. [3] We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload. [4] We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These disciples prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem. [5] When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including wives and children, came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, [6] and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home. [7] The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters but stayed only one day. [8] Then we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. [9] He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. [10] During our stay of several days, a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. [11] When he visited us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit declares, 'So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Romans.' " [12] When we heard this, we who were traveling with him, as well as the local believers, begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 
[13] But he said, "Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus." [14] When it was clear that we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said, "The will of the Lord be done." [15] Shortly afterward we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. [16] Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early disciples. [17] All the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us cordially. [18] The next day Paul went in with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. [19] After greetings were exchanged, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry. [20] After hearing this, they praised God. But then they said, "You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all take the law of Moses very seriously. [21] Our Jewish Christians here at Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews living in the Gentile world to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They say that you teach people not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

John 14:8-17, (25-27)
 
    Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied." [9] Jesus replied, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? [10] Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. [11] Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do. [12] "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [13] You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. [14] Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it! [15] "If you love me, obey my commandments. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. [17] He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.  
([25] I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. [26] But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. [27] "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.)  (NLT)