Old and New Testament Readings

English Standard Version (ESV)

WORDcrafter Ministries Edition

Old and New Testament Readings

Easy reading, Easy listening, Better Understanding

July 17, 2016 - Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Hello, and welcome to WORDcrafter readings of Old and New Testament Scriptures for Sunday, July 17, 2016.

Readings during worship services in many churches typically include readings from the Old Testament, a Psalm, readings from the New Testament Epistles, and a reading from the Gospels. The following scriptures are being read in many Christian Churches who observe this Sunday, July 17, 2016, as the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost.

WORDcrafter transcripts and recordings are presented in Bible history order rather than the liturgical order that may be used in many church services.

The English Standard Version of the Bible is a faithful and accurate translation of the original Hebrew and Greek texts into modern English. The English Standard Version of the Bible is published by Crossway Bibles. Crossway Bibles is a ministry of Good News Publishers.

WORDcrafter Ministries has permission to edit the English Standard Version of the Bible for easier reading, easier listening, and better understanding. Some words and phrases have been repeated or added to help the reader or listener better understand the scriptures.

The Old Testament of the Bible contains the history of the creation of the world and the special history of the people of Israel. The people of Israel have been used by God to reveal Himself to the rest of the world through centuries of recorded history.

Almost 300 years of history took place between the end of the great flood to the time God instructed Abram to go to the land of Canaan. The construction of the tower of Babel had been interrupted by God. People were separated by languages to many parts of the world. The earth itself divided.

God, in His unique wisdom and power chose to begin a new special revelation of Himself with a single 75 year old man – Abraham and to the generations of Abraham's descendants who would become known, over 700 years later, as the nation of Israel. At the time of today's Old Testament History reading, Abraham is 99 years old and his wife Sarah is 90 years old.

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY –God's blessing for us begins with old Abraham and old Sarah

Genesis 18:1-14 (ESV)

And the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as Abraham sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him.

When Abraham saw the three men, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by me your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves. After that you may pass on—since you have come to me your servant.” So the three men said, “Do as you have said.” 

6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to his wife Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs (about 5 gallons!!!) of fine flour! Knead the flour, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave the calf to a young man, who prepared the calf quickly.8 Then Abraham took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set the food before the three men. And Abraham stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 The three men said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And Abraham said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord God said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and Abraham my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 

13 The Lord God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I the Lord God will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD

OLD TESTAMENT PSALM – A PSALM OF DAVID

Psalm 27(ESV) The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
 whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
 of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
 to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
 it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
 my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
 yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
 that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
 all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
 and to inquire in his temple.

5 For the Lord will hide me in his shelter
 in the day of trouble;
the Lord will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
 he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
 above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in the Lord's tent
 sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
 be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
 “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9  Hide not your face from me, O Lord.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
 O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
 O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
 but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
 and lead me on a level path
 because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
 for false witnesses have risen against me,
 and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
 in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage;
 wait for the Lord!

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD

NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. 39 And Martha had a sister called Mary. Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to Jesus' teaching. 

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Jesus and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister Mary has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

For St. Paul the Apostle, and for the people who are reading Paul's letters, there can be little misunderstanding about who Jesus is or about Jesus' relationship to God. There should be no doubt that Paul is referring to Our Lord Jesus Christ as he did in his opening sentences (Colossians 1:1 and 1:3).

Jesus is not just another prophet. Following Jesus is not just one of several acceptable pathways to God and eternal life. WORDcrafter Ministries has inserted the name Our Lord Jesus Christ where the pronouns HE, HIM, and HIS occur in the original text. WORDcrafter wants you to be as sure and clear about the person and position of Our Lord Jesus Christ as were Paul and the Colossian believers.

NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE – The Preeminence (Superiority) of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:13-29(ESV) The Preeminence (Superiority) of Christ

13 God the Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 Our Lord Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation.16 For by Our Lord Jesus Christ all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Our Lord Jesus Christ and for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

17 Our Lord Jesus Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 Our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the church. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he Our Lord Jesus Christ might be preeminent (superior to everything and everyone). 

19 For in Our Lord Jesus Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through Our Lord Jesus Christ God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you people, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 Our Lord Jesus Christ has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death. Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross in order to present you people holy and blameless and above reproach before him. 

23 This hope is for you if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you heard. I write to you people about this gospel which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now I, Paul, rejoice in my sufferings for the sake of you who believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ. In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the people of His church. 25 Of His church I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you. I, Paul, became a minister to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 

27 To his saints God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery. This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Our Lord Jesus Christ we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom. We proclaim Christ, we warn, and we teach everyone so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I Paul toil, struggling with all his energy that Our Lord Jesus Christ powerfully works within me.

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD

O most merciful God, since you have given your only begotten Son to die for us, have mercy on us and for the sake of Our Lord Jesus Christ grant us forgiveness of all our sins.

By your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of you and of your will. Increase in us true obedience to your your grace, bring us home to be with you for all eternity.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy on us and has given his only Son Our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and for his sake, God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on his name, he gives power to become the children of God and has promised them his Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

Grant this, Lord, to us all.

In the Name of God the Father, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

WORDcrafter Ministries - www. wordcrafter. us

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Joe Engel

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