Lessons for July 1, 2007 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost The first lesson 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 Then the Lord told him, "Go back the way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. [16] Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. [19] So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field with a team of oxen. There were eleven teams of oxen ahead of him, and he was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and walked away again. [20] Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!" Elijah replied, "Go on back! But consider what I have done to you." [21] Elisha then returned to his oxen, killed them, and used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the other plowmen, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. (NLT) Psalm 16 L. Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. C. I said to the Lord, "You are my Master! L. All the good things I have are from you." C. The godly people in the land are my true heroes! L. I take pleasure in them! C. Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow. L. I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods. C. Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. L. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! C. I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. L. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. C. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! L. My body rests in safety. C. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your godly one to rot in the grave. L. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence C. and the pleasures of living with you forever. (NLT) The second lesson Galatians 5:1, 13-25 So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. [13] For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. [14] For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." [15] But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. [16] So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. [18] But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. [19] When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, [20] idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [22] But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Luke 9:51-62 As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. [52] He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. [53] But they were turned away. The people of the village refused to have anything to do with Jesus because he had resolved to go to Jerusalem. [54] When James and John heard about it, they said to Jesus, "Lord, should we order down fire from heaven to burn them up?" [55] But Jesus turned and rebuked them. [56] So they went on to another village. [57] As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go." [58] But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head." [59] He said to another person, "Come, be my disciple." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." [60] Jesus replied, "Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God." [61] Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." [62] But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (NLT)