Isaiah 6

Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call

   “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
      The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

 4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

 5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

 8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

   I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

 9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,

   ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
      Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
 10 Harden the hearts of these people.
      Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
   That way, they will not see with their eyes,
      nor hear with their ears,
   nor understand with their hearts
      and turn to me for healing ."

 11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”

   And he replied,

   “Until their towns are empty,
      their houses are deserted,
      and the whole country is a wasteland;
 12 until the Lord has sent everyone away,
      and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
 13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
      it will be invaded again and burned.
   But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
      so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

Psalm 138

A psalm of David.

 4 Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
      for all of them will hear your words.
 5 Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
      for the glory of the Lord is very great.
 6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
      but he keeps his distance from the proud.

 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
      you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
   You reach out your hand,
      and the power of your right hand saves me.
 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
      for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
      Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Luke 5:1-11   Theme:  leadership ; leadership
Theme one-liner:  leader

Luke 5

The First Disciples

 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

   Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid ! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ

 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins , just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

 10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace . 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.