Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A Generous and Growing Church

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^(A) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.^(B)

⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{(C) 44} Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{(D) 45} They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,^{(E) 47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number^[a] those who were being saved.^(F)

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A psalm of David.

¹⁹ For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(A) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

²¹ For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^(B) for you, leaving you an example,^(C) that you should follow^(D) in his steps. ²² He did not commit sin,^(E) and no deceit^(F) was found in his mouth;^{[a](G) 23} when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges^(H) justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins^(I) in his body^(J) on the tree;^(K) so that, having died to sins,^(L) we might live for righteousness.^(M) By his wounds^[b](N) you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray,^[c](O) but you have now returned to the Shepherd^(P) and Overseer^[d] of your souls.

The Good Shepherd

10 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.^{(A) 2} The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd^(B) of the sheep.^{(C) 3} The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand^(D) what he was telling them.

⁷ Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am^(E) the gate for the sheep.^{(F) 8} All who came before me^[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ A thief comes only to steal^(G) and kill and destroy.^(H) I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.