First Lesson: Isaiah 2:1-5:

¹This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: ²In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. ³Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ⁴He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. ⁵Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Psalm: Psalm 18 on Page 69 in Christian Worship

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

   he rescued me from my powerful enemy.

He brought me out into a spacious place;

   he rescued me because he delighted in me.

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;

   my God turns my darkness into light.

You save the humble

   but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

You give me your shield of victory,

   and your right hand sustains me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

   and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

   is now, and will be forever.   Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 24:36-44:

³⁶“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

⁴²“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Second Lesson/Sermon Text: Romans 13:11-14:

¹¹And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹²The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Theme and Parts:

WAKE UP!

I. For your sake

II. For the sake of others