Lent 2a

Overview

Scripture for the Day:

 Genesis 12:1-4a
 Psalm 121
 Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
 John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9 (alternate reading – today’s song suggestions not based on this Matthew reading. See Transfiguration A Gospel suggestions)

Liturgical Color:

1st Reading

 Genesis 12:1-4a (NIV)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

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 121 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

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

 Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 (NIV)

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by graceand may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

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

 John 3:1-17 (NIV)

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believesmay have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

or

Matthew 17:1-9 (NIV) alternate reading – song suggestions do not reflect this reading. See Gospel songs for Transfiguration a.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them,“Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

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: 

 BREATH OF GOD  Vicky Beeching | 2008 | CCLI Song #5462188

 BUILD YOUR KINGDOM HERE  Rend Collective Experiment | 2011 | CCLI Song #6186078

 OCEANS (WHERE FEET MAY FALL)  Joel Houston \ Matt Crocker \ Salomon Ligthelm | 2012 | CCLI Song #6428767

 ALWAYS  Jason Ingram \ Kristian Stanfill | 2010 | CCLI Song #5881037

 EXALTED ONE  Chris Brown \ London Gatch \ Mack Brock \ Wade Joye | 2011 | CCLI Song #6024518

 LET EVERY HEART  Bryan Torwalt \ Katie Torwalt | 2013 | CCLI Song #7001312

 SPIRIT SPEAKS  David Leonard \ Drew Cline \ Leslie Jordan | 2010 | CCLI Song #5806627

 I AM  Mark Schultz | 2005 | CCLI Song #4572079

 FATHER (LOVE YOU GAVE)  Glen Yoder \ Peter Hurtgen | 2012 | CCLI Song #6511052

 REIGN IN US  Ben Glover \ Jon Neufeld \ Tim Neufeld | 2008 | CCLI Song #5207587

 FILL ME UP  Don Poythress \ Jared Anderson | 2009 | CCLI Song #5366693

 O GOD OF ABRAHAM  Don Moen \ Mia Fieldes | 2008 | CCLI Song #5265282

 I WANT TO KNOW YOU  Chris Quilala \ Ian McIntosh \ Jeffrey Kunde | 2010 | CCLI Song #5875177

 WE BELIEVE  Matthew Hooper \ Richie Fike \ Travis Ryan | CCLI Song #6367165

 ONCE AND FOR ALL  Chris Tomlin \ Ed Cash \ Jason Ingram \ Matt Maher | 2013 | CCLI Song #6502212

 WELCOME IN THIS PLACE  Miriam Webster | 2005 | CCLI Song #4435790

 TEAR DOWN THE WALLS  Joel Houston \ Matt Crocker | 2008 | CCLI Song #5372144

 LOVE CAME DOWN  Brian Johnson \ Ian McIntosh \ Jenn Johnson \ Jeremy Edwardson \ Jeremy Riddle | 2009 | CCLI Song #5148938

 INFINITE GRACE  Marc Byrd \ Sarah Hart | CCLI Song #1439844

 LET IT RAIN  Michael Farren | 2001 | CCLI Song #3591817

 ALIVE  Alexander Pappas \ Aodhan King | 2012 | CCLI Song #6605212

 JESUS SAVES Nick Herbert \ Tim Hughes | 2008 | CCLI Song #5322950

 JOYFUL (THE ONE WHO SAVES)  Brenton Brown \ Jason Ingram | 2010 | CCLI Song #5895580

 SALVATION DAY  Jonathan MacIntosh \ Sarah MacIntosh \ Vicky Beeching | 2010 | CCLI Song #5657508

 MADE ALIVE  Brian Eichelberger \ Zach Bolen | 2013 | CCLI Song #6534390

 BORN AGAIN  Brad Avery \ David Carr \ Mac Powell \ Mark D. Lee \ Tai Anderson | 2008 | CCLI Song #5208531

 FROM JESUS’ SIDE  Jennie Lee Riddle \ Matt Boswell \ Matt Papa | 2011 | CCLI Song #5933806

 COMMUNION Brad Avery \ David Carr \ Mac Powell \ Mark Lee \ Tai Anderson | 2005 | CCLI Song #4586072

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

Hymn Suggestions for the Day:

 O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST  Isaac Watts \ William Croft | Public Domain | CCLI Song #43152 | Hymnary

 MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE  Ray Palmer \ Lowell Mason | Public Domain | CCLI Song #43334 | Hymnary

 TO GOD BE THE GLORY  Fanny J. Crosby \ William Howard Doane | Public Domain | CCLI Song #23426 | Hymnary

 HOLY SPIRIT TRUTH DIVINE  Samuel Longfellow | Public Domain | CCLI Song #3128905 | Hymnary

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