Lectionary Readings for Trinity Sunday, May 30th, 2021
Reading One: Isaiah 6:1-8 (NRSV)
Song: Holy, Holy, Holy (We Bow Before Thee) (lyrics here)
Reflection
When we come face-to-face with the holiness of God, we have no choice but to fall on our face in worship. How has God revealed himself to you, and how might he be calling you to respond with deeper, more worshipful reverence in your daily walk?
Reading Two: Psalm 29 (NRSV)
Song: The God of Glory (Psalm 29) (no lyrics available)
Reflection
This psalm talks of the mighty voice of God, reminding us that he is the King of all Creation who spoke the universe into being by the power of his word. How have you experienced the voice of God speaking into the chaos of your life, reminding you of his power and might? Spend some time giving thanks to God for the ways he has spoken into your life in meaningful and powerful ways.
Reading Three: Romans 8:12-17 (NRSV)
Song: Holy Spirit Have Your Way (lyrics here)
Reflection
Paul’s words remind us that the transformative work of the Spirit in our lives is always ongoing, inviting us to deeper levels of surrender as we “put to death” the things in our life that are not of God. Paul also reminds us that this is not something we do in our own strength, but in the power of the Spirit. Spend some time asking God to reveal by his Spirit areas of your life where that work of transformation needs to go deeper, and offer to him the things you need his help to surrender and let die.
Reading Four: John 3:1-17 (NRSV)
Song: God So Loved (lyrics here)
Reflection
John 3:16-17 is one of those passages of Scripture that can become so familiar we start to lose our sense of awe at what it says. One way to return to a fresh view of familiar passages is to read them in different translations, and a few are offered below for you to read and reflect upon. Spend some time in silent, prayerful worship before God, giving thanks for the gift of his love and the gift of his Son.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!
The Voice Translation (VOICE)
For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.
God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!