Let's All Be Monks | Week 10: How to Pray (Part II) | June 30, 2024
1 Samuel 8 | Guest Speaker - Joseph Lesh | June 23, 2024
1 Samuel 8:1-22 ESV
(1) When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. (2) The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. (3) Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. (4) Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah (5) and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." (6) But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. (7) And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. (8) According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. (9) Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them." (10) So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him. (11) He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. (12) And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. (13) He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. (14) He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. (15) He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. (16) He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. (17) He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. (18) And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." (19) But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, (20) that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." (21) And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. (22) And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
Let's All Be Monks | Week 9: How to Pray (Psalm 42-43) | June 16, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 8: How to Pray (Part I) | June 9, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 7: Rule of Life Monthly and Yearly Liturgies | June 2, 2024
Romans 8:1-4 | Guest Speaker - Joseph Lesh | May 26, 2024
Romans 8:1-4 ESV
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (3) For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, (4) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Let's All Be Monks | Week 6: Rule of Life Weekly Liturgies | May 19, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 5: Rule of Life Daily Liturgies | May 12, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 4: Liturgies of Hurry | May 5, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 3: Tech Liturgies | April 28, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 2: Habits and Liturgy | April 21, 2024
Let's All Be Monks | Week 1: Setting The Stage | April 14, 2024
2 Timothy 4:1-8 | Guest Speaker - Joseph Lesh | April 7, 2024
Click here to follow along with the liturgy.
2 Timothy 4:1-8 ESV
(1) I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (3) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (5) As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
John 20:11-18 | Mary at the Garden Tomb | March 31, 2024
John 20:11-18 ESV
(11) But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. (12) And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. (13) They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." (14) Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." (16) Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (17) Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (18) Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.
John 14:8-11 | Face of God | March 24, 2024
John 14:8-11 ESV
(8) Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”
Acts 6:1-7 | Deacons and Church Care | March 17, 2024
Acts 6:1-7 ESV
(1) Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. (2) And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. (3) Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (4) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (5) And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. (6) These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. (7) And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 5:17-42 | Before the Sanhedrin: The Sequel | March 10, 2024
Acts 5:17-42 ESV
(17) But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy (18) they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. (19) But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, (20) "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." (21) And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (22) But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, (23) "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside." (24) Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. (25) And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." (26) Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (27) And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, (28) saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." (29) But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. (30) The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (31) God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (32) And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." (33) When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. (34) But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. (35) And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. (36) For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. (37) After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. (38) So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; (39) but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, (40) and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 5:1-16 | The Holy Church | March 3, 2024
Acts 5:1-16 ESV
(1) But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, (2) and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? (4) While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God." (5) When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (6) The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. (7) After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. (8) And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." (9) But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." (10) Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. (11) And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (12) Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. (13) None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. (14) And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. (16) The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 4:32-37 | Sharing Community | February 18, 2024
Acts 4:32-37 ESV
(32) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (33) And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (34) There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold (35) and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (36) Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, (37) sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:23-31 | The Prayer for Boldness | February 11, 2024
Acts 4:23-31 ESV
(23) When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. (24) And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, (25) who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? (26) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- (27) for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, (28) to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (29) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, (30) while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (31) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.