Sundays at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m.

Sunday Prep // May 10-14, 2021

"Endgame" - Week Six

Each day this week, read these passages to prepare for the sermon this coming Sunday.

Monday, May 10 - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Tuesday, May 11 - 1 John 1:5-2:6

CONTEXT:  The Apostle Paul encourages the Thessalonians to continue in obedience and wait for the Lord's return, not because that will make God love them more, but because, by God's grace, their identity is children of light.  The Apostle John makes the same argument here in his first letter.

1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Wednesday, May 12 - Psalm 19:1-14

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
 
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, 
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 
2 Day to day pours out speech, 
and night to night reveals knowledge. 
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, 
whose voice is not heard. 
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, 
and their words to the end of the world. 
In them he has set a tent for the sun, 
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, 
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, 
and its circuit to the end of them, 
and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 
reviving the soul; 
the testimony of the Lord is sure, 
making wise the simple; 
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, 
rejoicing the heart; 
the commandment of the Lord is pure, 
enlightening the eyes; 
9 the fear of the Lord is clean, 
enduring forever; 
the rules of the Lord are true, 
and righteous altogether. 
10 More to be desired are they than gold, 
even much fine gold; 
sweeter also than honey 
and drippings of the honeycomb. 
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; 
in keeping them there is great reward. 
12 Who can discern his errors? 
Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; 
let them not have dominion over me! 
Then I shall be blameless, 
and innocent of great transgression. 
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
be acceptable in your sight, 
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Thursday, May 13 - Zephaniah 1:7-18

CONTEXT:  Zephaniah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Josiah.  Here, Zephaniah warns the people of Judah about the coming Day of the Lord where God will bring His wrath against all who rebel against Him.  This is the same Day of the Lord that Paul mentions in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. 8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 9 On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house
with violence and fraud.

10 “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. 11 Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. 12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ 13 Their goods shall be plundered,
and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”

14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. 15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.

17 I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Friday, May 14 - Ephesians 6:10-20

CONTEXT:  In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the Apostle Paul paints a shorter picture of the armor of God that is described here in Ephesians 6:10-20.  Why might this armor of God be important for you this week?

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.