TAKING FAITH HOME
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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2024
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2024
19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
INTRODUCTION
Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’
name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did
to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like
Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done
in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around
Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by
people we can’t keep tabs on.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Generous God, your Son gave his life that we might come to peace with you.
Give us a share of your Spirit, and in all we do empower us to bear the name of
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING
NUMBERS 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
What constitutes legitimate need and legitimate leadership is the focus of this
reading. God provides manna in the wilderness, yet the people crave meat. What
is truly needful? God bestows the spirit on seventy elders, yet two men not
designated as leaders prophesy in the power of God’s spirit. What constitutes
real leadership?
4The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again,
and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we used to eat in
Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the
garlic; 6but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna
to look at.”
10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances
of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased.
11So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why
have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on
me? 12Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say
to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child, to the land
that you promised on oath to their ancestors’? 13Where am I to get meat to give
to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’
14I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me.
15If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have
found favor in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.”
16So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel,
whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them
to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.”
24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered
seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the
Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that
was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon
them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named
Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they
had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young
man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said,
“My lord Moses, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my
sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would
put his spirit on them!”
PSALM
PSALM 19:7-14
(Response) The commandment of the Lord gives light to the eyes. (Ps. 19:8)
7The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple.
8The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
9The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
(Response) The commandment of the Lord gives light to the eyes. (Ps. 19:8)
11By them also is your servant enlightened,
and in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can detect one’s own offenses?
Cleanse me from my secret faults.
13Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
(Response) The commandment of the Lord gives light to the eyes. (Ps. 19:8)
SECOND READING
JAMES 5:13-20
Marks of the Christian community include praying for those who are sick and in
need, celebrating with those in good health, restoring those who have strayed,
confessing sins to one another, and offering forgiveness to each other.
13Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They
should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the
name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise
them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16Therefore
confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be
healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a
human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three
years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and
the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is
brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in the truth. Alleluia. (John 17:7)
GOSPEL READING
MARK 9:38-50
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his disciples about ministry that involves
service and sacrifice. His disciples are slow to realize that these words apply to
them as well as to others.
38John said to [Jesus], “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your
name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus
said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be
able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us.
41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear
the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe
in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck
and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it
off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to
hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off;
it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into
hell. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to
enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown
into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49“For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if salt has lost its
saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
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SERMONS
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