The Worship of God October 1, 2017 Glenn Memorial UMC: First and Second Lesson..?

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Psalm 25

English Standard Version (ESV)

Teach Me Your Paths

Of David.

 25 

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 

O my God, in you I trust;

    let me not be put to shame;

    let not my enemies exult over me.

3 

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

    teach me your paths.

5 

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

    for you are the God of my salvation;

    for you I wait all the day long.

6 

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

7 

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

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10

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast

 love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant

 and his testimonies.

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11 

For your name's sake, O Lord,

    pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 

His soul shall abide in well-being,

    and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 

The friendship[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

    for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 

The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

    bring me out of my distresses.

18 

Consider my affliction and my trouble,

    and forgive all my sins.

19 

Consider how many are my foes,

    and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20 

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21 

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

    for I wait for you.

22 

Redeem Israel, O God,

    out of all his troubles.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
2. Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

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Philippians 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's[d]proven worth, how as a son[e] with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died[f] for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Footnotes:

1. Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
2. Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
3. Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
4. Philippians 2:22 Greek his
5. Philippians 2:22 Greek child
6. Philippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8

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