Seventh S. of Easter (Exaudi):

The Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to JesusEzek. 36:22-28; 1 Peter 4:7-14; John 15:26-16:4; Psalm 51:1-12

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Exegesis of the LectionaryStudying, expounding, and interpreting the Bible readings through the Church Year

Memorization Verses:

Ezek. 36:26 I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: John 15:26 But when the Helper comes,

whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Truthἀληθείας

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

•God has put a new spirit in you. A new heart. •How does the truth set you free?•In one sentence, what’s the Spirit’s key work in your scripture passage tonight?

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray for God’s

cleansing. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

       

Lord in Your mercy,Hear our prayer.

1. Let us come before our Father’s throne as His redeemed children and pray to Him on behalf of the Church and all people in need.2. Gracious Father, in Your mercy You gave Your eternal Word to be made flesh of the pure Virgin, to suffer and to rise for our salvation, and to ascend in triumph to Your right hand, where He rules all things for our blessing. Send us Your Spirit to strengthen our faith and make bold our proclamation of Christ’s victory...3. Heavenly Father, as You gave Your son to His Blessed Mother to cherish and to raise, so upon His cross our Lord commended His mother to His beloved disciple. Give to all mothers Your great blessing this day and especially

keep in Your tender mercy all mothers who have known the sorrow of Mary at the foot of the cross, losing a beloved child to death. Instill in them and in us all a firm confidence in Your Word and promise that death will never stop all the saints from being united in Your kingdom where we shall ever laud and magnify Your glorious name...4. Almighty and Everlasting God, it is Your will to redeem all of creation. Grant to Your church zealous pastors, missionaries and evangelists to proclaim Your Word and the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ to all the world. Lift up our hearts, enlighten our minds and embolden our voices to speak Your promises in this fallen world...

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray for God’s

cleansing. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

5. O Lord, from whom all good and gracious gifts come; grant to all who work in government a measure of Your wisdom and grace, that we may enjoy peace and prosperity in our land...6. Lord God, Father Almighty, You remember not our sin but see us as Your redeemed children. Into Your loving hands we commend all who are in need: the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, the dying, the mourning, the lonely [and all whom we have been asked to remember in prayer:___________]. May Christ ever be their Health in sickness, Joy in sorrow and Life in death...OPEN PRAYER7. Father of glory, Your Son has established His heavenly feast for us here on earth, that we may be strengthened in our life and calling

as Your children. Pour out Your Spirit on all who will commune this day, that they may partake in a worthy manner of the great gifts of our Savior’s body and blood, and be filled with every heavenly benediction and grace...8. Heavenly Father, Your Son’s victory over death and the grave fills us with boundless hope and joy. Receive today our praises for all who have departed this life in Your faith and friendship, and bring us to sing with them the Easter song that knows no end...9. These things, O Master, and whatever else You know us to need, grant us, we pray, for the sake of our risen, ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

5391 Christ is the world’s Redeemer,The lover of the pure,The fount of heav'nly wisdom,Our trust and hope secure,The armor of His soldiers,The Lord of earth and sky;Our health while we are living,Our life when we shall die.

2 Christ has our host surroundedWith clouds of martyrs bright,Who wave their palms in triumphAnd fire us for the fight.This Christ the cross ascendedTo save a world undone,And, suff'ring for the sinful,Our full redemption won.

3 Down in the realms of darkness

He strode in victory,And at the hour appointedHe rose triumphantly.And now, to heav'n ascended,He sits upon the throneWhence He had ne'er departed,His Father's and His own.

4 Glory to God the Father,The unbegotten One;All honor be to Jesus,His sole begotten Son,And to the Holy Spirit--The perfect Trinity.Let all the worlds give answer:Amen! So let it be

Learning the Hebrew Alphabethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWEPFcyQXMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzjHjXe-2XU

Meet w/teams3-5 min per box

What are the major points of your text? How does your topic fit the pericope

theme? How does it connect to the other texts?

How is it unique?

Group Time The Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus

Ezekiel 36:22-28I Will Put My Spirit Within You22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and

you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

1 Peter 4:7-147 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.Suffering as a Christian12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the

fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon

John 15:26-16:426 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that whentheir hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Psalm 51:1-12Create in Me a Clean Heart, O GodTo the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Share Time: SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Exaudi) Ezekiel 36:22–281 Peter 4:7–11 (12–14)John 15:26—16:4 The Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus The Spirit of Truth bears witness to Jesus, who is the truth. But the world does not receive the truth. It loves its own and hates those who are of the truth. Just as Jesus was scorned, so is His Church. “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Yet it is by Jesus’ suffering and death that we are saved. Therefore we rejoice to share in His sufferings, that we may also share in His resurrection glory (1 Pet. 4:7–14). Through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth, we are cleansed from the deceit of our idols and given a new heart and a new spirit, the heart and Spirit of Christ (Ezek. 36:22–28). He now works in us fervent, self-giving love for one another, love which covers a multitude of sins, “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).

Sing it!

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence,

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

And uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

The Day of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Gives Peace

Gen. 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel

Acts 2:1-21 The Coming of the Holy Spirit; Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

John 14:23-31 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

Psalm 143 My Soul Thirsts for You

Next Week…

Gen. 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John 14:23-31; Psalm 143

Genesis 11:1-9The Tower of Babel11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the LORDcame down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.Acts 2:1-21The Coming of the Holy Spirit2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes andElamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews andproselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling

in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”Peter's Sermon at Pentecost14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,    and your young men shall see visions,    and your old men shall dream dreams;18 even on my male servants and female servants    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above    and signs on the earth below,    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;20 the sun shall be turned to darkness    and the moon to blood,    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.21 And it shall come to pass thateveryone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’John 14:23-3123 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But theHelper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.Let not your hearts be troubled, neitherlet them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the

ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.Psalm 143My Soul Thirsts for YouA Psalm of David.143 Hear my prayer, O LORD;    give ear to my pleas for mercy!    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,    for no one living is righteousbefore you.3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;    he has crushed my life to the ground;    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;    my heart within me is appalled.5 I remember the days of old;    I meditate on all that you have done;    I ponder the work of your hands.6 I stretch out my hands to you;    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!    My spirit fails!Hide not your face from me,    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,    for in you I trust.Make me know the way I should go,    for to you I lift up my soul.9 Deliver me from my enemies, OLORD!    I have fled to you for refuge.10 Teach me to do your will,    for you are my God!Let your good Spirit lead me    on level ground!11 For your name's sake, O LORD,preserve my life!    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!12 And in your steadfast love you willcut off my enemies,    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,    for I am your servant.