Youth Readings for Worship
January 22, 2012
Mark 1: 14-20
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said, “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When they had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them and the left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God, by grace alone, you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
January 29, 2012
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught the as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out. “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet,” said Jesus sternly,, “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.“ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Prayer of the Day:
Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our fusion that all creation will see and know your son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
February 5, 2012
Mark 1:29-39
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon ad Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Prayer of the Day:
Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
February 12, 2012
Mark 1: 40-45
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Jesus went him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priests and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result Jesus could no long enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Prayer of the Day:
Almighty and ever-living God with your mercy you look upon our weaknesses. Stretch out your wondrous hand to protect us from danger and restore us to health, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
February 19, 2012
Mark 9: 2-9
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God, the radiant light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts. Change us through your Son, and light the world with your image through Jesus who lives and reigns with you.
February 26, 2012
Mark 1:9-15
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
After john was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said, ”The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Prayer of the Day:
Heavenly Father, you saved your chosen ones from the waters of the flood. You protected your Son in the wilderness of temptation. Renew us with the figt of baptism. Send you holy angels to be with us so that the wicked foe will have no power over us. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Savior.
March 4, 2012
Mark 8:31-36
Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “The nation’s leaders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed but three days later he will rise to life.” Then Jesus explained clearly what he meant.
Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples he corrected Peter. He said to him, “Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God.”
Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer and he said, ”If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself.
Prayer of the day:
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son, you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
March 11
John 2:13-22
Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins.
Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves. “Get those doves out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace.”
The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, “My love for your house burns in me like a fire.”
The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, “What miracle will you work to show us why you have done this?”
“Destroy this temple and in three days, and I will build it again,” answered Jesus.
The leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?”
But Jesus was talking about his body as a temple. And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus.
Prayer of the Day:
Holy God, through your Son you have called us to live faithfully and act courageously, Keep us steadfast in your covenant of grace, and teach us the wisdom that comes only through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
March 18, 2012
John 3:14-21
The son of Man must be lifted up, just like that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the son of man will have eternal life.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn His people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned, but everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only son.
The light has come into the world and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by truth will go to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.
Prayer of the Day:
O God, you are so rich in mercy. Through your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into you light that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
March 25, 2012
John 12:23-31
Jesus said: “The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this life, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say, but I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself.”
A voice from heaven then said, “I have already brought glory to myself and I will do it again!” When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder. Others thought an angel had spoken to Jesus.
Then Jesus told the crowd, “That voice spoke to help you, not me. This world’s people are now being judged, and the ruler of this world is already being thrown out.
Prayer of the Day:
O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
March 4, 2012
Mark 8:31-36
Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “The nation’s leaders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed but three days later he will rise to life.” Then Jesus explained clearly what he meant.
Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples he corrected Peter. He said to him, “Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God.”
Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer and he said, ”If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself.
Prayer of the day:
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son, you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
March 11
John 2:13-22
Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins.
Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves. “Get those doves out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace.”
The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, “My love for your house burns in me like a fire.”
The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, “What miracle will you work to show us why you have done this?”
“Destroy this temple and in three days, and I will build it again,” answered Jesus.
The leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?”
But Jesus was talking about his body as a temple. And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus.
Prayer of the Day:
Holy God, through your Son you have called us to live faithfully and act courageously, Keep us steadfast in your covenant of grace, and teach us the wisdom that comes only through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
March 18, 2012
John 3:14-21
The son of Man must be lifted up, just like that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the son of man will have eternal life.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn His people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned, but everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only son.
The light has come into the world and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won’t come to the light because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by truth will go to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.
Prayer of the Day:
O God, you are so rich in mercy. Through your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into you light that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
.
March 25, 2012
John 12:23-31
Jesus said: “The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this life, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say, but I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself.”
A voice from heaven then said, “I have already brought glory to myself and I will do it again!” When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder. Others thought an angel had spoken to Jesus.
Then Jesus told the crowd, “That voice spoke to help you, not me. This world’s people are now being judged, and the ruler of this world is already being thrown out.
Prayer of the Day:
O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.