Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Day of the Lord’s Judging

4 “There is a day coming that will be like a hot furnace. All the proud and evil people will be like straw. On that day they will be completely burned up. Not a root or branch will be left,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies. ² “But for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun. There will be healing in its rays. You will jump around, like calves freed from their stalls.

The God of Power and Justice

A song.

The Duty to Work

⁶ Brothers, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work. People who refuse to work are not following the teaching that we gave them. ⁷ You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy when we were with you. ⁸ And when we ate another person’s food, we always paid for it. We worked and worked so that we would not be a trouble to any of you. We worked night and day. ⁹ We had the right to ask you to help us. But we worked to take care of ourselves so that we would be an example for you to follow. ¹⁰ When we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If anyone will not work, he will not eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They do nothing. And they busy themselves in other people’s lives. ¹² We command those people to work quietly and earn their own food. In the Lord Jesus Christ we beg them to do this. ¹³ Brothers, never become tired of doing good.

The Temple Will Be Destroyed

⁵ Some of the followers were talking about the Temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God.

⁶ But Jesus said, “The time will come when all that you see here will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another!”

⁷ Some followers asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will show us that it is time for them to take place?”

⁸ Jesus said, “Be careful! Don’t be fooled. Many people will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Christ’ and, ‘The right time has come!’ But don’t follow them. ⁹ When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things must happen first. Then the end will come later.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and other terrible things in many places. In some places there will be no food for the people to eat. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.

¹² “But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. They will do all these things to you because you follow me. ¹³ But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me. ¹⁴ Don’t worry about what you will say. ¹⁵ I will give you the wisdom to say things so that none of your enemies will be able to show that you are wrong. ¹⁶ Even your parents, brothers, relatives and friends will turn against you. They will kill some of you. ¹⁷ All people will hate you because you follow me. ¹⁸ But none of these things can really harm you. ¹⁹ You will save yourselves by continuing strong in your faith through all these things.