St. Martin's Church

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, December 2 are from Lectionary Year C, First Sunday of Advent: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and Luke 21:25-36. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Jeremiah 33:14-16

¹⁴ “ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. ¹⁵ “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’

Psalm 25:1-9

¹ In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
     ² I trust in you;
      do not let me be put to shame,
      nor let my enemies triumph over me.

³ No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,
      but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
      teach me your paths.

⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
      for you are God my Savior,
      and my hope is in you all day long.

⁶ Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
      for they are from of old.

⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
      according to your love remember me,
      for you, LORD, are good.

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
      therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
      and teaches them his way.

¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
      toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Luke 21:25-36

²⁵ Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.