AME Zion Universal Reading Lydia: Called To Serve

First Portion

Exodus Chapter 25

1"The Lord spoke to Moses saying:2"Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.3And this is the offering that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper;4blue, purple, and crimson wool; linen and goat hair;5ram skins dyed red, tachash skins, and acacia wood;6oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the incense;7shoham stones and filling stones for the ephod and for the choshen.8And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst9according to all that I show you, the pattern of the Mishkan and the pattern of all its vessels; and so shall you do.10They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.11And you shall overlay it with pure gold; from inside and from outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make upon it a golden crown all around.12And you shall cast four golden rings for it, and you shall place them upon its four corners, two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.13And you shall make poles of acacia wood and you shall overlay them with gold.14And you shall bring the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.15The poles of the ark shall be in the rings; they shall not be removed from it.16And you shall place into the ark the testimony, which I will give you.

Sunday

February 21, 2021

Priscilla: Called to Minister

Lesson Scripture: Mark 15:40; 16:1-9; Luke 8:1-3; John 20:10-18

Focus Scripture: Luke 8:1-3; Mark 15:40; John 20:10-18

Key Verse: The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits. Luke 8:1-2

Acts 18:1-3, 18-21, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4 (NRSV)

Acts 18:1-3

1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.

18-21

18After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. 19 When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay longer, he declined; 21 but on taking leave of them, he said, “I will return to you, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

24-26

24 Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.

Romans 16:3-4

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 4 and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Acts 18:1-3, 18-21, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4 (KJV) Acts 18:1-3 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 18-21 18 And Paul after this tarried there yeta good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 24-26 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Second Portion

Exodus Chapter 25

17And you shall make an ark cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits its length and a cubit and a half its width.18And you shall make two golden cherubim; you shall make them of hammered work, from the two ends of the ark cover.19And make one cherub from the one end and the other cherub from the other end; from the ark cover you shall make the cherubim on its two ends.20The cherubim shall have their wings spread upwards, shielding the ark cover with their wings, with their faces toward one another; [turned] toward the ark cover shall be the faces of the cherubim.21And you shall place the ark cover on the ark from above, and into the ark you shall place the testimony, which I will give you.22I will arrange My meetings with you there, and I will speak with you from atop the ark cover from between the two cherubim that are upon the Ark of the Testimony, all that I will command you unto the children of Israel.23And you shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height.24And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and you shall make for it a golden crown all around.25And you shall make for it a frame a handbreadth [wide] all around, and you shall make a golden crown for its frame all around.26And you shall make for it four golden rings, and you shall place the rings on the four corners that are on its four legs.27The rings shall be opposite the frame as holders for the poles [with which] to carry the table.28And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and you shall overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with them.29And you shall make its forms, its spoons, its half pipes, and its supports with which it will be covered; of pure gold you shall make them.30And you shall place on the table showbread before Me at all times.

Monday

2 Timothy 4:9–18 (NLT): Paul’s Final Words

9 Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.

16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Third Portion

Exodus Chapter 25

31And you shall make a menorah of pure gold. The menorah shall be made of hammered work; its base and its stem, its goblets, its knobs, and its flowers shall [all] be [one piece] with it.32And six branches coming out of its sides: three menorah branches from its one side and three menorah branches from its second side.33Three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower, and three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower; so for the six branches that come out of the menorah.34And on [the stem of] the menorah [shall be] four decorated goblets, its knobs and its flowers.35And a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it; so for the six branches that come out of the menorah.36Their knobs and their branches shall [all] be [one piece] with it; all of it [shall be] one hammered mass of pure gold.37And you shall make its lamps seven, and he shall kindle its lamps [so that they] shed light toward its face.38And its tongs and its scoops [shall be] of pure gold.39He shall make it of a talent of pure gold, with all these implements.40Now see and make according to their pattern, which you are shown on the mountain.

Exodus Chapter 26

1"And the Mishkan you shall make out of ten curtains [consisting] of twisted fine linen, and blue, purple, and crimson wool. A cherubim design of the work of a master weaver you shall make them.2"The length of one curtain [shall be] twenty eight cubits, and the width of one curtain [shall be] four cubits; the same measure for all the curtains.3"Five of these curtains shall be joined to one another, and [the other] five curtains shall [also] be joined to one another.4"And you shall make loops of blue wool on the edge of one curtain [that is] at the edge of the [first] set, and so shall you do on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.5"You shall make fifty loops on [the edge of] one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set; the loops shall correspond to one another.6"And you shall make fifty golden clasps, and you shall fasten the curtains to one another with the clasps; so shall the Mishkan become one.7"And [then] you shall make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the Mishkan; you shall make eleven curtains.8"The length of one curtain [shall be] thirty cubits, and the width of one curtain four cubits; the same measure for the eleven curtains.9"And you shall join the five curtains by themselves, and the [other] six curtains by themselves; and you shall fold the sixth curtain before the front of the tent.10"And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of one curtain, [which is] at the edge of the [first] set, and fifty loops on the edge of the [outermost] curtain of the second set.11"And you shall make fifty copper clasps; you shall bring the clasps into the loops, and you shall fasten the tent together so that it will become one.12"And the overhanging excess in the curtains of the tent half of the extra curtain shall hang over the rear of the Mishkan.13"And the cubit from here and the cubit from there of the excess in the length of the curtains of the tent shall hang over the sides of the Mishkan from here and from there to cover it.14"And you shall make a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red and a covering of tachash skins above.

Tuesday

Colossians 4:7–15 (NLT): Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings

7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.

10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!

12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

Fourth Portion

Exodus Chapter 26

15"And you shall make the planks for the Mishkan of acacia wood, upright.16"Ten cubits [shall be] the length of each plank, and a cubit and a half [shall be] the width of each plank.17"Each plank shall have two square pegs, rung like, one even with the other; so shall you make all the planks of the Mishkan.18"And you shall make the planks for the Mishkan, twenty planks for the southern side.19"And you shall make forty silver sockets under the twenty planks; two sockets under one plank for its two square pegs, and two sockets under one plank for its two square pegs.20"And for the second side of the Mishkan on the northern side twenty planks.21"And their forty silver sockets: two sockets under one plank and two sockets under one plank.22"And for the western end of the Mishkan you shall make six planks.23"And you shall make two planks at the corners of the Mishkan at the end.24"And they shall be matched evenly from below, and together they shall match at its top, [to be put] into the one ring; so shall it be for both of them; they shall be for the two corners.25"And there shall be eight planks and their silver sockets, sixteen sockets two sockets under one plank and two sockets under one plank.26"And you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the planks of one side of the Mishkan,27"and five bars for the planks of the second side of the Mishkan, and five bars for the planks of the [rear] side of the Mishkan, on the westward end.28"And the middle bar in the midst of the planks shall [extend and] penetrate from one end to the other end.29"And you shall overlay the planks with gold, and their rings you shall make of gold as holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold.30"And you shall erect the Mishkan according to its proper manner, as you will have been shown on the mountain.

Wednesday

2 Corinthians 13:11–14 (NLT): Paul’s Final Greetings

11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13  All of God’s people here send you their greetings.

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–28 (NLT): Paul’s Final Greetings

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.

27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Fifth Portion

Exodus Chapter 26

31"And you shall make a dividing curtain of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen; the work of a master weaver he shall make it, in a [woven] cherubim design.32"And you shall place it on four pillars of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, their hooks [shall be] gold, on four silver sockets.33"And you shall place the dividing curtain beneath the clasps. You shall bring there on the inner side of the dividing curtain the Ark of the Testimony, and the dividing curtain shall separate for you between the Holy and the Holy of Holies.34"And you shall place the ark cover over the Ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies.35"And you shall place the table on the outer side of the dividing curtain and the menorah opposite the table, on the southern side of the Mishkan, and you shall place the table on the northern side.36"And you shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen the work of an embroiderer.37"You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia and overlay them with gold, their hooks [shall be] gold, and you shall cast for them five copper sockets.

Thursday

Acts 18:4–11 (NLT):

4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

7 Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.

Sixth Portion

Exodus Chapter 27

1And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height [shall be] three cubits.2And you shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be from it, and you shall overlay it with copper.3And you shall make its pots to remove its ashes, and its shovels and its sprinkling basins and its flesh hooks and its scoops; you shall make all its implements of copper.4And you shall make for it a copper grating of netting work, and you shall make on the netting four copper rings on its four ends.5And you shall place it beneath the ledge of the altar from below, and the net shall [extend downward] until the middle of the altar.6And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you shall overlay them with copper.7And its poles shall be inserted into the rings, and the poles shall be on both sides of the altar when it is carried.8You shall make it hollow, out of boards; as He showed you on the mountain, so shall they do.

Friday

Acts 18:12–17 (NLT):

12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”

14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 And he threw them out of the courtroom.

17 The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.

Seventh Portion

Exodus Chapter 27

9And you shall make the courtyard of the Mishkan on the southern side [there shall be] hangings for the courtyard of twisted fine linen, one hundred cubits long on one side.10And its pillars [shall be] twenty and their sockets twenty of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their bands [shall be of] silver.11And so for the northern end in the length hangings one hundred [cubits] long, its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.12The width of the courtyard on the western side, hangings fifty cubits, their pillars ten and their sockets ten.13The width of the courtyard on the eastern side, fifty cubits.14The hangings on the shoulder [shall be] fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three.15And on the second shoulder [there shall be] fifteen hangings, their pillars three and their sockets three.16And at the gate of the courtyard shall be a screen of twenty cubits, [made] of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen, the work of an embroiderer; their pillars four and their sockets four.17All the pillars around the courtyard [shall have] silver bands, silver hooks, and copper sockets.18The length of the courtyard [shall be] one hundred cubits and the width fifty by fifty [cubits]. The height [of the hangings] shall be five cubits of twisted fine linen, and their sockets [shall be of] copper.19All the implements of the Mishkan for all its labor, and all its pegs and all the pegs of the courtyard [shall be] copper.

Saturday

Romans 16:1–2 (NLT): Paul Greets His Friends

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

Romans 16:6–7 (NLT):

6 Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did.

Romans 16:12–13 (NLT):

12 Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.

Romans 16:16 (NLT):

16 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

Maftir Portion

Deuteronomy Chapter 25

17You shall remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you went out of Egypt,18how he happened upon you on the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear, when you were faint and weary, and he did not fear God.19[Therefore,] it will be, when the Lord your God grants you respite from all your enemies around [you] in the land which the Lord, your God, gives to you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget!

Haftarah

I Samuel Chapter 15

1And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over His people, over Israel; and now hearken to the voice of the words of the Lord.2So said the Lord of Hosts, 'I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid (wait) for him on the way, when he came up out of Egypt.3Now, go, and you shall smite Amalek, and you shall utterly destroy all that is his, and you shall not have pity on him: and you shall slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' "4And Saul called the people together, and he counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand, the men of Judah.5And Saul came as far as the city of Amalek, and he fought in the valley.6And Saul said to the Kenite, "Turn away and go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, and you did kindness with all the children of Israel, when they went up out of Egypt." And the Kenites turned away from amidst Amalek.7And Saul smote Amalek, from Havilah until you come to Shur, which is in front of Egypt.8And he seized Agag, the king of Amalek, alive; and he completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.9And Saul and the people had pity on Agag, and on the best of the sheep and the cattle, and the fatlings, and on the fattened sheep, and on all that was good; and they did not want to destroy them; but everything which was vile and feeble, that they utterly destroyed.10And the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying,11"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and he has not fulfilled My words." And it distressed Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.12And Samuel arose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told to Samuel, saying, "Saul has come to Carmel, and behold, he is setting up a place for himself, and he passed and went down to Gilgal."13And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "May you be blessed of the Lord; I have fulfilled the word of the Lord."14And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears? And the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"15And Saul said, "They brought them from the Amalekites, for the people had pity on the best of the sheep, and the oxen, in order to sacrifice to the Lord your God: and the rest we have utterly destroyed."16And Samuel said to Saul, "Desist, and I shall tell you what the Lord spoke to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak."17And Samuel said, "Even if you are small in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you as king over Israel.18And the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and you shall utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and you shall wage war against them until they destroy them.'19Now, why did you not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but you flew upon the spoil, and you did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord?"20And Saul said to Samuel, "Yes, I did hearken to the voice of the Lord. I did go on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and I brought Agag, the king of Amalek alive, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.21And the people took from the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the ban, to sacrifice to your God in Gilgal."22And Samuel said, "Has the Lord (as much) desire in burnt offerings and peace-offerings, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a peace-offering; to hearken (is better) than the fat of rams.23For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Since you rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you from being a king."24And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I transgressed the Lord's command, and your words, for I feared the people, and I hearkened to their voice.25And now, forgive now my sin, and return with me, and I shall prostrate myself to the Lord."26And Samuel said to Saul, "I shall not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being a king over Israel."27And Samuel turned to go, and he seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore.28And Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you, today; and has given it to your fellow who is better than you.29And also, the Strength of Israel will neither lie nor repent, for He is not a man to repent."30And he said, "I have sinned. Now, honor me now in the presence of the elders of my people, and in the presence of Israel, and return with me, and I shall prostrate myself to the Lord your God."31And Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul prostrated himself to the Lord.32And Samuel said, "Bring Agag, the king of Amalek, near to me." And Agag went to him delicately. And Agag said, "Surely, the bitterness of death has turned."33And Samuel said, "As your sword bereaved women, so will your mother be bereaved among women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.34And Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.