Micah 6:6-8 - The prophet Micah asks the question of what he should bring as an offering to please the Lord. He asks if he should bring burnt offerings, thousands of rams, or even his firstborn child. But he concludes that God does not desire any of those things. Rather, God calls people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord. This passage reminds us that what truly matters to God is how we live and treat others, not religious rituals.

Amos 5:14-15, 24 - Amos urges the people to seek good and not evil so they may live, and so that the Lord will be with them. He calls them to hate evil, love good, and seek justice in their communities. He emphasizes that God desires justice and righteousness to flow continuously and abundantly, like a never-ending stream, more than religious rituals or outward displays.

Jonah 1-3 - The prophet Jonah is called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people to turn away from their wrongdoings. Instead of obeying, Jonah runs away and boards a ship, but God sends a storm. Jonah knows that the storm was because of him and he tells the sailors to throw him overboard to calm the sea. He is then swallowed by a giant fish, and after three days, the fish spits Jonah out and God gives him the command once more. This time, Jonah obeys and delivers God’s message to Nineveh and the people repent.

Isaiah 6:1-8 - This passage recounts the Prophet Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple. He sees the Lord seated on a high throne, surrounded by angels calling out, “Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The temple shakes and smoke fills the space, overwhelming Isaiah with a sense of his unworthiness. One of the angels touches his lips with a burning coal from the altar, symbolically cleansing him. Then, God asks, “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah responds, saying, “Here I am, send me!” This marks Isaiah’s calling and commissioning as a prophet.

2 Samuel 5 - David is anointed king over all Israel after the tribes recognize his leadership and God’s calling on his life. He conquers Jerusalem and takes up residence in the fortress of Zion, which becomes known as the City of David. David continues to grow in strength and success because the Lord is with him. He builds a palace with the help of King Hiram of Tyre. When the Philistines attack, David seeks God’s guidance and defeats them twice.

1 Samuel 18 - After defeating Goliath, David becomes close friends with Jonathan, King Saul’s son. Jonathan makes a covenant with David and gives him his robe and weapons as a sign of loyalty. David gains popularity with the people and continued success in battle, which makes Saul increasingly jealous and fearful. In his envy, Sault attempts to kill David by sending him on dangerous military assignments and offering his daughter Michal in marriage in exchange for David fighting the Philistines. However, David continues to succeed, and both Jonathan and Michal remain loyal to him.

1 Samuel 16:1-11 - In this passage, God tells the prophet Samuel to stop mourning Saul’s rejection and to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from among Jesse’s sons. Samuel is hesitant, fearing Saul’s reaction, but obeys after God provides a cover story. In Bethlehem, Samuel invites Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice. As Jesse’s older sons are presented, Samuel assumes that the eldest, Eliab, must be God’s chosen, but God tells him not to judge by appearance, for God looks at the heart. One by one, seven sons pass by, but none are chosen. Samuel then asks if there are any more sons, and Jesse mentions the youngest, David, who is tending sheep.

1 Samuel 17 - This passage recounts the famous story of David and Goliath. The Philistines and Israelites are at war, and the giant Goliath challenges Israel to send a champion to fight him. David, a young shepherd visiting his brothers at the battlefield, volunteers to faith Goliath despite his youth and inexperience. Rejecting Saul’s armor, David confronts the giant with only a sling and five stones. Trusting God, he strikes Goliath in the forehead with a stone, securing victory of Israel.

Acts 2:22-41 - During his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth was accredited by God through miracles, signs, and wonders, yet was handed over to be crucified according to God’s plan. Peter declares that God raised Jesus from the dead, fulfilling prophesy, and exalted him as Lord and Messiah. Convicted by his message, the crowd asks what they must do, and Peter urges them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. About 3,000 people respond to the message and are added to the early church that day.

Acts 1:15-26 - The followers of Jesus gather together after his return to heaven. Peter stands up among them and explains that they need to choose someone to take the place of Judas as one of the twelve apostles. The new apostle should be someone who was with them the whole time Jesus was teaching and who saw him after he came back to life. They pray and ask God to show them who to choose. Then, by casting lots, they select a man named Matthias to join the apostles.

Acts 1:9-11 - In this passage, Jesus is with his disciples for the last time before he is taken up into the clouds before their eyes. As they are staring into the sky after him, an angel appears and asks them why they are looking at the sky. He then informs them that Jesus will one day return in the same way that he left.

Luke and Acts - This week’s lesson is about how the story of Jesus continues from the Gospel of Luke into the Book of Acts. Luke tells us about Jesus’ life, his teachings, and the amazing things he did — right up to his death, resurrection, and return to heaven. But before Jesus went back to the Father, he gave his followers a special mission: to be his witnesses throughout the whole world, spreading the good news of God’s love and forgiveness that is available to all. The Book of Acts picks up the story, showing how the apostles carried out that mission and how the church began to grow.

John 21 - After his resurrection, Jesus appears again to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Several disciples, including Peter, go fishing but catch nothing until Jesus, standing on the shore (though they don’t recognize him yet), tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, leading to a miraculous catch. Recognizing Jesus, Peter jumps into the water to reach him. After having breakfast together, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, restoring him after his earlier denial and commissioning him to “feed my sheep.”

John 20:1-23 - Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene discovers the stone rolled away from Jesus’ tomb and runs to tell Peter and another disciple. They race to the tomb and find it empty, with the burial cloths left behind. After they leave, Mary remains outside weeping and then sees two angels in the tomb. Turning around, she encounters Jesus, though she doesn’t recognize him at first. When he says her name, she realizes that it’s him, risen from the dead. Jesus tells her not to cling to him but to go and tell the disciples. Later that evening, Jesus appears to his disciples behind locked doors, offers them peace, shows them his wounds, and breathes on them, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit,” thus commissioning them to continue his mission.

John 12:12-19 - This passage describes Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As Jesus approaches the city, a large crowd gathers, having heard about his miraculous raising of Lazarus. They welcome him by waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord — blessed is the King of Israel!” Fulfilling prophecy, Jesus rides in on a young donkey, a symbol of peace. His disciples don’t fully understand the significance at the time, but later they recognize it as a fulfillment of Scripture. The Pharisees, witnessing the growing support for Jesus, express frustration, remarking that the whole world seems to be following him.

John 18:1-27 - Jesus is arrested after Judas leads soldiers to him in the Garden of Gethsemane. When they come for him, Jesus identifies himself, causing them to fall back. He also stops Peter from violently resisting. Jesus is then taken for questioning while Peter follows from a distance. In the courtyard, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus foretold, and a rooster crows. Meanwhile, Jesus is questions about his teachings and is struck by an officer before being sent to the high priest.