Lessons                                                                       Bread of Life                                                           29 August 2020

Jeremiah 15:15–21

₁₅O Lord, you know;

          remember me and visit me,

and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

          know that for your sake I bear reproach.

₁₆Your words were found, and I ate them,

          and your words became to me a joy

          and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

          O Lord, God of hosts.

₁₇I did not sit in the company of revelers,

          nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

          for you had filled me with indignation.

₁₈Why is my pain unceasing,

          my wound incurable,

          refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

          like waters that fail?

₁₉Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return, I will restore you,

          and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious,

          and not what is worthless,

          you shall be as my mouth.

They shall turn to you,

          but you shall not turn to them.

₂₀And I will make you to this people

          a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

          but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you

          to save you and deliver you,

declares the Lord.

₂₁I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

Psalm 26

₁Vindicate me, O Lord,

          for I have walked in my in- | tegrity,*

and I have trusted in the Lord without | wavering.

₂Prove me, O Lord, and | try me;*

          test my heart | and my mind.

₃For your steadfast love is be- | fore my eyes,*

          and I walk in your | faithfulness.

₄I do not sit with men of | falsehood,*

          nor do I consort with | hypocrites.

₅I hate the assembly of evil- | doers,*

          and I will not sit with the | wicked.

₆I wash my hands in | innocence*

          and go around your altar, | O Lord,

₇proclaiming thanksgiving | aloud,*

          and telling all your | wondrous deeds.

₈O Lord, I love the habitation | of your house*

          and the place where your | glory dwells.

₉Do not sweep my soul away with | sinners,*

          nor my life with blood- | thirsty men,

₁₀in whose hands are evil de- | vices,*

          and whose right hands are | full of bribes.

₁₁But as for me, I shall walk in my in- | tegrity;*

          redeem me, and be gra- | cious to me.

₁₂My foot stands on | level ground;*

          in the great assembly I will |

          bless the Lord. 

Romans 12:9–21

          ₉Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ₁₀Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ₁₁Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ₁₂Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ₁₃Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

          ₁₄Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ₁₅Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ₁₆Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. ₁₇Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ₁₈If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ₁₉Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ₂₀To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ₂₁Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 16:21–28

          ₂₁From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ₂₂And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ₂₃But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

          ₂₄Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ₂₅For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ₂₆For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? ₂₇For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. ₂₈Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”