This Our Sacrifice of Praise (MPLS)

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!

Mark 13:1–8

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.

‘Text Message’ Reflection:
From Pastor Chris Enstad

This week’s passages give us a vision of where true security and unity are found—rooted in God’s steadfast faithfulness beyond the changing world around us.

Psalm 146 calls us to praise the Lord, who “keeps faith forever,” who cares for the oppressed, provides for the hungry, and lifts up those bowed down. It reminds us that our ultimate loyalty is to the God who stands with the vulnerable and offers justice to all.

Mark 13:1–8 portrays Jesus’ disciples marveling at the grandeur of the Temple, only to have Jesus remind them that no human structure, however impressive, is eternal. Jesus speaks of a world marked by upheaval—wars, earthquakes, famines—and warns against being led astray by false hopes or idols of human power. In times of instability, we are called back to unity in Christ, grounding ourselves in a trust that transcends the world’s shifting tides.

As we move through this month, celebrating our Unity in Christ, let us remember that our foundation is never to be found in buildings, ideologies, or temporary human structures and security. Jesus Christ calls us together and unifies us across our lives, gifts, and struggles.

‘Text Message’ Reflection Questions:

• When we consider “Unity in Christ,” what do we think holds us together as a community of believers?
• In moments of fear or uncertainty, how can we support one another and grow in our unity as the body of Christ?

Prayer:
Holy God, source of all true unity, we thank you for your constant love and faithfulness. Draw us together in you, even when our world feels divided or uncertain. May we trust your justice, mercy, and power alone, finding our true home in Christ. Teach us to love as you love and to live as one people, grounded in your grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.