2 Corinthians, Lesson 19: Paul’s Planned Third Visit

Having shown how he exalted in his weakness, so Christ may be exalted all the more, Paul now concludes his boasting in is weakness. Conclusion of Paul Boasting in His Weakness Read 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 Paul asserts he is not inferior to whom?   Why?   Excursus: “Signs and Wonders”: From Exodus to Corinth “Signs […]

Luke 3:15-22: Baptized for You to Fulfill All Righteousness

When Jesus came the Jordan River for John to baptize Him, the entire Old Covenant came face to face with its Fulfillment. Every saving act of God, from Noah’s flood to the Red Sea, to the Temple sacrifices of atonement, came head to head with the Person to whom they pointed. Those events in the […]

2 Corinthians, Lesson 18: Weak that Christ May be Strong

Paul and Timothy are dealing with the disruption caused by false apostles in the Church at Corinth. As a review, we know little about these “false apostles.” Here is what we do know. They: were ethnically Jewish (11:22); brought letters of recommendation for themselves, which they used to sanction what they were doing (3:1); preached […]

Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12: What’s Revealed in the Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

They came bringing gifts—but found the better One. They left the blindness of deepest darkness, coming to the pure Light, finding the source of eternal Gladness. They came to the Jews but found a Gift greater than themselves, meant for all the Gentiles. So, who are “they”? They are the wise men, sometimes called kings, […]

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Galatians 4:1-7: The Now of God’s Timing

What is time? The dictionary says it is the interval, or period, between two events. It can also be a continued progression when something happens. And we measure that interval in seconds, minutes, hours, years, even centuries But then the dictionary also adds these many time-related expressions. We have a time capsule, time-consuming, time-honored, and […]

The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

It’s only been a few days since we celebrated Jesus’ birth. But already, we’ve leaped forward 40 days to Jesus’ presentation at the Temple. And Jesus, as a 40-day-old infant, at the Temple overflows with prophetic fulfillment and significance. For the entire Old Covenant had come to its focal point in this little Child. He […]

What Jesus’ Incarnation Means for Us

Being Brought into the Old Covenant Genesis 17:9-14: God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant…. Every male among you is to be circumcised…. On the eighth day after birth, every male in every generation must be circumcised… If any male […]

John 1:1-14: The Word became Flesh

We heard many words in our Christmas Gospel, telling us of Jesus. He is the Word. He is God and Creator, even Life and the Light of all people, shining in the darkness. He is the one-and-only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Such beautiful and truth-filled words for our Savior, which […]

Jesus, our Brother, has Come into the Flesh

Now in those days, it came to pass that a decree went out from the Prince of Darkness, the Prince of this World, that all the world should be taxed. And this was the first taxing when Adam chose to become Lord of his life and master of his soul. For when he ate of […]

Christmas Day Service: The Service of Christ’s Mass

Our Christmas Day Service will be a “Christ’s Mass” service, which is a Service of the Sacrament of our Lord’s Supper.  The service time will be at 10:00 AM. As we celebrate Jesus becoming incarnate for our salvation in His birth, so also will we celebrate Him becoming “incarnate” for us in His body and […]