1st Scripture Reading – Psalm 111
Praise for God’s Wonderful Works
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever.
2nd Scripture Reading – 2 Timothy 2:8-15
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9
for
which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God
is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also
obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord that they are to avoid wrangling over
words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly
explaining the word of truth.