March 18th, 2012 Scriptures
1st Reading : Numbers : Ch 21 : Vs 4-9
2nd Reading : Ephesians : Ch 2 : Vs 1-10
Gospel Reading : John : Ch 3 : Vs 4-21
Psalm This Week Is # 107 : Vs 1-3 & 17-22
1st Reading : Numbers : Ch 21 : Vs 4-9
The Bronze Snake
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is
no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses
and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So
Moses prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made
a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
2nd Reading : Ephesians : Ch 2 : Vs 1-10
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among
them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions --- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the
heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in
his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this is not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God --- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Gospel Reading : John : Ch 3 : Vs 4-21
4 "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s
womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh
gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit."[d]
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel’s teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we
know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things
and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven --- the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in
him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’
s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the
sight of God.
Psalm This Week Is # 107 : Vs 1-3 & 17-22
Vs 1-3
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story ---
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.[a]
Vs 17-22
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
1st Reading : Numbers : Ch 21 : Vs 4-9
2nd Reading : Ephesians : Ch 2 : Vs 1-10
Gospel Reading : John : Ch 3 : Vs 4-21
Psalm This Week Is # 107 : Vs 1-3 & 17-22
1st Reading : Numbers : Ch 21 : Vs 4-9
The Bronze Snake
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is
no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses
and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So
Moses prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made
a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
2nd Reading : Ephesians : Ch 2 : Vs 1-10
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among
them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions --- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the
heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in
his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --- and this is not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God --- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Gospel Reading : John : Ch 3 : Vs 4-21
4 "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s
womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh
gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit."[d]
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel’s teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we
know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things
and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven --- the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in
him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’
s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the
sight of God.
Psalm This Week Is # 107 : Vs 1-3 & 17-22
Vs 1-3
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story ---
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.[a]
Vs 17-22
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.