Lessons for September 2, 2007 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The first lesson

Proverbs 25:6-7
 
    Don't demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. [7] It is better to wait for an invitation than to be sent to the end of the line, publicly disgraced!  (NLT)

Psalm 112 
    
L.  Happy are those who fear the Lord.
C. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands. 
L. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. 
C. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. 
L.  When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.
C.  They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. 
 L  All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly. 
C.  Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.
L.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered. 
C.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. 
L.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. 
C.  They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
L.  They will have influence and honor. The wicked will be infuriated when they see this.
C.  They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.  (NLT)

The second lesson

 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
 
    Continue to love each other with true Christian love. [2] Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! [3] Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies. [4] Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 
[5] Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

    "I will never fail you.
        I will never forsake you."
 
[6] That is why we can say with confidence,

    "The Lord is my helper,
        so I will not be afraid.
        What can mere mortals do to me?"
 
    [7] Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do. [8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  {15}With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. [16] Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Luke 14:1, 7-14
 
    One Sabbath day Jesus was in the home of a leader of the Pharisees. The people were watching him closely,  [7] When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: [8] "If you are invited to a wedding feast, don't always head for the best seat. What if someone more respected than you has also been invited? [9] The host will say, 'Let this person sit here instead.' Then you will be embarrassed and will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! [10] "Do this instead—sit at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, 'Friend, we have a better place than this for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. [11] For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored." [12] Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a dinner," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. [13] Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. [14] Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."  (NLT)