Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2023
 
“The Mark of the Jesus-Follower”
John 14:15-24
 
 
FIRST READING Hosea 11:1-9 (NIV ’84)
 1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.  2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.  3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.  4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.  5 "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? 6 Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans. 7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.  8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.  9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
 
 
SECOND READING Philippians 2:1-4;14-16 (NIV ‘84)  
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  14  Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
 
HOLY GOSPEL  John 14:15-24 (NIV “84) (Sermon Text)
15  "If you love me, you will obey what I command.  16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  18  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"  23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.