Main Street UMC, Kernersville, NC
Mark 12

Reassessing Value – Generosity

Psalm 42

1. As the deer pants for streams of water,     so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.     When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food     day and night, while people say to me all day long,     “Where is your God?”
These things I remember     as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God     under the protection of the Mighty One[d] with shouts of joy and praise     among the festive throng.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?     Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,     for I will yet praise him,     my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;     therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan,     the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep     in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers     have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs his love,     at night his song is with me—     a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,     “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning,     oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony     as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long,     “Where is your God?”

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?     Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,     my Savior and my God.

Mark 12:38-44

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

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