Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Hosea 1:2-10

Verse 2. When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.” Verse 3. So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Verse 4. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. Verse 5. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” Verse 6. Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. Verse 7. Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them — not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.” Verse 8. After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. Verse 9. And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God. Verse 10. Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

PSALM

Psalm 85

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.

You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin.

You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.

Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.

Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Genesis 18:20-32

Verse 20. Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, Verse 21. I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.” Verse 22. And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Verse 23. Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Verse 24. What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? Verse 25. Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” Verse 26. So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.” Verse 27. Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord— though I am but dust and ashes— Verse 28. suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” Verse 29. Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.” Verse 30. Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.” Verse 31. And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.” Verse 32. Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

PSALM

Psalm 138

Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.

I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.

On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.

All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.

They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.

The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever — do not abandon the works of Your hands.

SECOND READING

Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)

Verse 6. Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, Verse 7. rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Verse 8. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. Verse 9. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. Verse 10. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Verse 11. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. Verse 12. And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. Verse 13. When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, Verse 14. having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! Verse 15. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

GOSPEL

Luke 11:1-13

Verse 1. One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Verse 2. So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Verse 3. Give us each day our daily bread. Verse 4. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’” Verse 5. Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Verse 6. because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ Verse 7. And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ Verse 8. I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Verse 9. So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Verse 10. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Verse 11. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Verse 12. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? Verse 13. So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”