Epiphany 7a | OT 7 – February 23, 2014

Overview

Scripture for the Day:

 Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
 Psalm 119:33-40
 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
 Matthew 5:38-48

Liturgical Color:

1st Reading

 Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 (NIV)

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am theLord your God.

11 “‘Do not steal.

“‘Do not lie.

“‘Do not deceive one another.

12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am theLord.

13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.

14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.

17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.

18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm

 Psalm 119:33-40 (NIV)

33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

2nd Reading

 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 (NIV)

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Gospel

 Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Contemporary Song Suggestions for the Day: 

 YOUR LOVE IS ALL AROUND  Bryan Brown \ David Leonard \ Leslie Jordan | 2011 | CCLI Song #6180816

 MORE AND MORE OF YOU  Jennie Lee Riddle | Jonathan Lee | Richie Fike | 2012 | CCLI Song #6381691

 FROM THE INSIDE OUT  Joel Houston | 2005 | CCLI Song #4705176

 YOU ARE HOLY (PRINCE OF PEACE)  Marc Imboden \ Tammi Rhoton | 1994 | CCLI Song #2332149

 BLESSINGS  Laura Story | 2011 | CCLI Song #5897818

 THE PERFECT WISDOM OF OUR GOD  Keith Getty \ Stuart Townend | 2011 | CCLI Song #5933569

 MIRACLE OF GRACE Curtis Stephan | 2008 | CCLI Song #5767814

 I WILL BOAST  Paul Baloche | 2006 | CCLI Song #4662350

 GOD YOU ARE STRONGER  Jordan Riley \ Mark Tedder | 2012 | CCLI Song #6465050

 HOLY SPIRIT  Bryan Torwalt \ Katie Torwalt | 2011 | CCLI Song #6087919

 HOLY  Jason Ingram \ Jonas Myrin \ Matt Redman | 2011 | CCLI Song #6016306

 MY EVERYTHING  Chris Quilala | 2011 | CCLI Song #6169600

 SECOND CHANCE  Rend Collective Experiment | 2011 | CCLI Song #6186054

 SHINE  Matt Redman | 2006 | CCLI Song #4831435

 CARRIER Jared Anderson | 2009 | CCLI Song #5502725

 LEARN TO LOVE  Jack Mooring \ Leeland Mooring \ Steve Wilson \ William Jacob Holtz | CCLI Song #5643299

 LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE  Aaron Lindsey \ Israel Houghton \ Tommy Sims | 2010 | CCLI Song #5763021

 This week’s worshipcurrent pick for Holy Communion/Eucharist
 Found exclusively on worshipcurrent

Hymn Suggestions for the Day:

 TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS  Helen H. Lemmel | Public Domain | CCLI Song #15960 | Hymnary

 HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US  Stewart Townend | 1995 Thankyou Music | CCLI Song #1558110 | Hymnary

 LOVE DIVINE ALL LOVES EXCELLING  Charles Wesley \ Rowland H. Prichard | Public Domain | CCLI Song #40306 | Hymnary

 HELP US ACCEPT EACH OTHER  Fred Kaan | 1975, 1977 Hope Publishing | CCLI Song #1515081 | Hymnary

 JESU JESU  Tom Colvin | 1969, 1989 Hope Publishing Co | CCLI Song #186208 | Hymnary

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About W. Zachary Taylor

W. Zachary Taylor is the founder and lead curator of worshipcurrent.com, worship leader, songwriter, producer, organist, and consultant in his twenty-fifth year of worship music ministry. He loves challenging worship music professionals to design deeply meaningful worship experiences, healing broken ministries, pushing boundaries, and helping others. He can typically be found somewhere in Minneapolis - usually in a studio, church, or office of some kind. Zachary currently serves as Worship & Music Director at Atonement Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN and Alternative Worship Music Minister at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, MN.

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