Daily Scripture Reading for the
Liturgical Calendar Year
(beginning the 1st Sunday of Advent)

April 20, 2008

Text taken from the
Third Millennium Bible^® (TMB^®)
(New Authorized Version^TM NAV^TM)

The Lectionary According to the Christian Seasons

Acts 6:1-7

1 And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, "It is not fitting that we should leave the Word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, look ye out among you for seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles. And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Psalm 33:1-19

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous!
For praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto Him a new song;
play skillfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right,
and all His works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment;
the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He layeth up the deep in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought;
He maketh the devices of the people of no effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,
the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The LORD looketh down from heaven;
He beholdeth all of the sons of men.
14 From the place of His habitation
He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashioneth the hearts of all;
He considereth all their works.

16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 A horse is a vain thing for safety;
neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him,
upon them that hope in His mercy,
19 to deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine.

1 Peter 2:1-9

1 Therefore laying aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisy and envy and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, 3 if so it be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture:

"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious;
and he that believeth in Him shall not be confounded."
7 Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious; but unto those who are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders disallowed,
the same is made the head of the corner,"
8 and, "A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense,"
even to those who stumble at the Word, being disobedient, unto which also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 In times past ye were not a people, but are now the people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Words of Worship - John 14:6b

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

John 14:1-12

1 "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

5 Thomas said unto Him, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said unto him,

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. 7 If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also; and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him."

8 Philip said unto Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." 9 Jesus said unto him,

"Have I been so long a time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, `Show us the Father'? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth in Me, the works that I do he shall do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father.

Words of Wisdom - Proverbs 15:26

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, 
but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Jesus Speaks Morals & Values - Luke 8:16-17
         (see UniversalJesusSpeaks.info for more information)

"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel or putteth
it under a bed, but setteth it on a candlestick, that they that enter in may see
the light. For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any
thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad.