Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 2:4-13

Verse 4. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. Verse 5. This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves. Verse 6. They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ Verse 7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable. Verse 8. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols. Verse 9. Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children. Verse 10. Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this: Verse 11. Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. Verse 12. Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” Verse 13. “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns — broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

PSALM

Psalm 81:1, 10-16

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Sirach 10:12-18

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

FIRST READING

Proverbs 25:6-7

Verse 6. Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; Verse 7. for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

PSALM

Psalm 112

Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright — for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever.

He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is assured; he does not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Verse 1. Continue in brotherly love. Verse 2. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Verse 3. Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. Verse 4. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Verse 5. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Verse 6. So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Verse 7. Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Verse 8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Verse 15. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. Verse 16. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

GOSPEL

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Verse 1. One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely. Verse 7. When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable: Verse 8. “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. Verse 9. Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place. Verse 10. But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. Verse 11. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Verse 12. Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. Verse 13. But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, Verse 14. and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”