“The word of the Lord; Thanks be to God.” That’s the refrain you hear after scripture is read in Anglican worship. Sometimes we give thanks for words that are obviously full of sweet comfort and joy. Others time God’s word is hard to our ears and hard on our hearts. All of God’s Word is good, though. And even those hard words come from his great love for us and his longing that we might be with him.

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

Psalm 1

Philemon 1–25 or 4–21

Luke 14:25–33