Concord Wesley Umc Sermon Podcast

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Lukan Psalter translation Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God! How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise! ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers Israel’s exiles. God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. God knows the number of the stars and calls each one by name. Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power; there is no limit to God’s wisdom. ADONAI lifts up the oppressed, and casts the corrupt to the ground. Sing to our God with thanksgiving; sing praise with the harp to our God— who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass sprout on the mountains and herbs for the service of the people, who gives food to the cattle, and to the young ravens when they cry. God does not thrill to the strength of the horse, or revel in the fleetness of humans. ADONAI delights in those who worship with reverence and put their hope in divine love. Alleluia!

Psalm 111 Lukan Psalter translation Alleluia! I will thank you, ADONAI, with all my heart in the meeting of the just and their assembly. Great are your works, to be pondered by all who love them. Majestic and glorious are your works, and your justice stands firm forever. You make us remember your wonders— you are compassion and love. You give food to those who revere you, keeping your Covenant ever in mind. You reveal to your people the power of your actions by giving them the lands of the nations as their inheritance. The works of your hands are truth and justice, and all your precepts are sure, standing firm forever and ever, and carried out uprightly and faithfully. You have sent deliverance to your people and established your Covenant forever. Your Name is holy and awe-inspiring! Reverence for ADONAI is the beginning of wi

Psalm 62: 5-12 Lukan Psalter translation In God alone my soul finds rest, for my deliverance comes from God, who alone is my rock, my salvation, my fortress: I will never be shaken. Only in God—my deliverance, my glory— my refuge is God. Trust in God always, my people; pour out your hearts before God our refuge. Humankind is but a breath, mortals are just an illusion. Put them on the scales and the balance is thrown off: they weigh less than a breath. Do not trust in extortion, or put false hopes in stolen goods; do not set your heart on riches even when they increase. For God has said only one thing, Twice have I heard it: that power belongs to God: Steadfast love is yours, ADONAI – you repay all people according to their deeds.

Psalm 139: 1-18 Lukan Psalter translation ADONAI, you’ve searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up, you discern my thoughts from afar. You trace my journeys and my resting places; and are acquainted with all of my ways. Indeed, there is not a word on my lips; but you, O God, know it altogether. You press upon me, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is so high I cannot attain it! Where can I go then from your Spirit, Where can I flee from your presence? If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you; the

Psalm 29 Lukan Psalter translation Give glory to ADONAI, you heavenly court, give ADONAI glory and strength! Give forth the glory that God’s Name deserves, and worship ADONAI in the splendor of holiness! The voice of ADONAI resounds over the waters; the God of glory thunders over the raging seas. God’s voice is powerful, God’s voice is full of majesty. The voice of ADONAI snaps the cedars, shatters the cedars of Lebanon. It makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of ADONAI strikes with bolts of lightning; the voice of YHWH shakes the wilderness, the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of God twists the oaks, and strips the forests bare; and in God’s Temple all cry, “Glory!” ADONAI sits in judgment over the flood; ADONAI is its Ruler forever. Give strength to your people, ADONAI! Bless your people with peace!

Psalm 29 The Voice of God in a Great Storm A Psalm of David. 1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a] ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,[b] and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his p

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 New Revised Standard Version The Law to Be Read Every Seventh Year 9 Then Moses wrote down this law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 Moses commanded them: “Every seventh year, in the scheduled year of remission, during the festival of booths,[a] 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people—men, women, and children, as well as the aliens residing in your towns—so that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God and to observe diligently all the words of this law, 13 and so that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.”

Baruch 5:1-5 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendour everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, ‘Righteous Peace, Godly Glory’. Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look towards the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. Philippians 1:3-11 Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in

Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Righteous Branch and the Covenant with David The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Psalm 25:4-5 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

Joel 2:21-27 Forget your fear, my beloved land! Rejoice and be glad, for YHWH has done great things. Forget your fear, you beasts in the field! The wilderness pastures will once again be carpeted in green, trees will bear fruit again, and the fig and the vine will give you their full yield. 23 Rejoice, Children of Zion! Rejoice! Be glad in YHWH your God, who sends you rain— the autumn and spring rains as of old— and a new spring crop. 24 The threshing floors will be heaped with grain, the vats will overflow will new wine and oil. 25 I will repay you for the years that were eaten away** by the locust swarm, the winged locust, the scavenger locust, and the bark-stripping locust— my great army, which I sent against you. 26 You will eat your fill and be satisfied, and praise the name of YHWH your God, who has dealt wondrously with you! My people will never again be put to shame!†† 27 You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, YHWH, am your God, and there is no other. My people will

Mark 13:1-8 The Destruction of the Temple Foretold As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Psalm 24 Entrance into the Temple Of David. A Psalm. The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah

Job 42:1-6, 10-17 Job Is Humbled and Satisfied Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’ Job’s Fortunes Are Restored Twofold And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more

Mark 10:35-45 The Request of James and John James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over t

Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter Then Job answered: ‘Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge. ‘If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Mark 10:2-16 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’ Jesus Blesses Little Children People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But

Mark 9:38-50 Another Exorcist John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. Temptations to Sin ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble,

Proverbs 31:10-31 A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purpl

Acts 2:38-47 Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Life among the Believers Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad