Rejoice! God for Us!
This Sunday we stand almost on the eve of the incarnation, when God acts decisively on our behalf, with a gift we can neither earn nor deserve - the gift of Himself, His love made manifest in the birth of the babe of Bethlehem.WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Dec 23, 2018Rejoice! God for Us!Rejoice! God for Us!This Sunday we stand almost on the eve of the incarnation, when God acts decisively on our behalf, with a gift we can neither earn nor deserve - the gift of Himself, His love made manifest in the birth of the babe of Bethlehem.
- Dec 16, 2018The Child Who is John’s JoyThe Child Who is John’s Joy
It was a joyous scene when the ark of God drew near to Jerusalem in King David’s day. The ark of the covenant was such a gift of grace and mercy, David did something that adults—especially kings—never do. He leapt for joy before the ark. But it was an even more joyous scene when John the Baptist, the forerunner, met Jesus, the Savior, for the first time, while they were both still in their mothers’ wombs. John, in the womb of an elderly, formerly barren woman, leapt for joy at the voice of Mary, the Virgin carrying God’s Son in her womb. God’s special presence on earth would no longer be tied to a gold-covered box but rather to the incarnate Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our hearts have every reason to leap for joy as John the Baptist leapt. God’s presence is among us as Christ draws near to us in His Word and Sacraments, and He has promised to be near to us forever when He comes again on the Last Day. - Dec 9, 2018The Child Who Is a Virgin’s Great SonThe Child Who Is a Virgin’s Great Son
Throughout Holy Scripture, God brought forth important men from the wombs of barren women. One such woman was the wife of Manoah. Through her, God gave oppressed Israel a great deliverer named Samson. But the greatest son to come from an unlikely mother was the Child born of the Virgin Mary; He was the greatest gift this oppressed world will ever receive. Samson’s greatness was evident in feats of incredible strength, but the greatness of Mary’s Son was seen in His willingness to set aside His power to deliver us from sin, death, and the devil.” - Dec 2, 2018The Child Who is Zechariah’s HopeThe Child Who is Zechariah’s Hope
When Israel was going into exile in Babylon, the Lord promised comfort, both in a return a few decades later and also in a Messiah to pay for their sins. Centuries later, most people had forgotten the promise, but the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were among those trusting in God. Yet when the angel brought Zechariah news of his son, who would be John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord, it was too good to be believed. It is our problem also as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. God overwhelms us with His love, remembering the promises we sometimes forget and forgiving us purely by grace. The Child, the Son of Mary, is the fulfiller of all God’s promises. He is Zechariah’s hope and ours. - Nov 25, 2018ReunificationReunification
After all that Joseph’s brothers have done to him, when Joseph becomes second in command in Egypt, he could use his power to exact vengeance from his brothers. But instead, he eventually reconciles with his brothers. Then when the brothers are getting ready to go see their brother Joseph a second time, Judah offers to bear the blame if something happens to his younger brother Benjamin. How far are we willing to go for the sake of love, forgiveness and reunification? Christ went all the way to the cross for us. - Nov 21, 2018Two DreamersTwo Dreamers
After being thrown into a cistern, Joseph eventually winds up in prison in Egypt. But even in prison, Joseph seeks to serve God by helping others. During our worst times, do we seek to help others, or are we only focused on ourselves? Can we be thankful, despite our circumstances? - Nov 18, 2018JosephJoseph
Every family has brokenness. Just ask Joseph. His brothers hate him so much that they throw him into a cistern and almost leave him for dead. When our families experience brokenness and bitterness, we must love in selfless ways. How thankful we are that our Lord has shown us selfless love! - Nov 11, 2018Wrestling with GodWrestling with God
As Jacob is running from his brother, he wrestles with God in the middle of the night. Have you ever felt like you were wrestling with God? Counterintuitively, our greatest struggles with God can lead to great growth in our strength and in our faith. God uses even our weaknesses to His glory, if we humble ourselves and cling to His strength. - Nov 4, 2018Leah and RachelLeah and Rachel
When Jacob falls in love with his uncle’s daughter, Rachel, he is willing to do anything to get her. Love drives us to do many things. This is why we can be thankful that God’s love for us drove Him to do the ultimate thing – to sacrifice His Son for our salvation. Because of this, we live loved. - Oct 28, 2018Jacob and EsauJacob and Esau
From the womb, two brothers, Jacob and Esau, feud with each other. When we feud with others, how are we to handle these feuds? Our desire to love others must always be stronger than our desire to triumph over others. Thankfully God’s love for us triumphed over our sin. It is this good news that allows us to love even our enemies. - Oct 21, 2018IsaacIsaac
God makes an unthinkable request of Abraham – to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. But a human sacrifice can never atone for human sins. God Himself must provide the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. - Oct 14, 2018Sodom and GomorrahSodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah were the epitome of wickedness in the ancient world. Yet, in spite of their wickedness, Abraham argues for God’s grace. When we see wickedness, how do we argue? Do you we argue for judgment or grace? Thankfully, we have a God who argues on our behalf and who loves at all costs. - Oct 7, 2018AbrahamAbraham
God continues to seek new beginnings in a world filled with old sin. He makes a promise to Abraham that from him He would bring forth a new nation that will be a beacon of righteousness in a world darkened by sin. He also shows us how righteousness is ultimately obtained – through faith. - Sep 30, 2018BabelBabel
Noah brings a new beginning, but humanity quickly falls back into its old ways as it seeks to usurp God’s position by building a tall tower. This tower demonstrates both the folly and the danger of human ambition. Human ambition is filled with folly because, of course, no one can build a tower to the heavens. But human ambition is also filled with danger because it cannot compete with God’s perfect commands. - Sep 23, 2018NoahNoah
As man’s wickedness increases, God’s justice against sin is finally rendered in the form of a flood. But out of disaster emerges a man chosen by God to bring forth a new beginning – Noah. As “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17), we too are called to bring forth new beginnings in a world that is filled with sin.
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