GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT When I was attending grade school, some of the biggest infractions were chewing gum in class, throwing chalk, and running in the hallways. When caught, most kids were quick to… The “Who, Me?” Syndrome
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” (Hebrews 13:3) Jesus forewarned us that it wouldn’t be easy being Christians (Luke… Don’t Forget Fellow Sufferers
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTS — JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES In this twelve-part series we are taking a brief look at some of the major cults, past and present, that have found adherents in the United States. Your pastor… Jehovah’s Witnesses
“THIS WE BELIEVE” In ongoing observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief overview of the Book of Concord. The series will survey the three ecumenical creeds and the… The Apostles’ Creed
A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE CLC SNAPSHOTS OF CONGREGATIONS FROM AROUND THE CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CONFESSION Built on the Rock the Church doth stand, Even when steeples are falling; Crumbled have spires in ev’ry… Calvary Lutheran Church Marquette, Michigan
NOTES FROM THE FIELD In this series, thoseinvolved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors. These were the top questions posed by the students of Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran School in… Answering Elementary School Students’ Questions about KENYA
IN THE PIPELINE (EIGHTH IN A SERIES) This series profiles the men and women who are preparing for the public teaching and preaching ministry at our Immanuel Lutheran College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. … Sam Naumann
ILC Newsletter Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening recently at our Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Students come to Immanuel with many different God-given… Music and Theatrics
COVER STORY – ADVENT
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,”
as the old song goes. We see it all around us: lights and decorations, Christmas songs, Christmas shopping, and the planning of Christmas events. Even without a calendar, you would know that Christmas is coming soon.
You may be surprised to know the situation was somewhat similar leading up to the first Christmas. Of course, there were no Christmas decorations or music, but Daniel had given some very specific prophecies so that people who paid attention would know that the time was coming soon. That explains why, as Luke records, “Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, . . .” (Luke 3:15) It also explains why there were several people who claimed to be the Messiah at that time. The people were in expectation of Messiah’s coming soon. They were looking for him and testing the various claims.
Isn’t the same true for us?
We have been given many prophecies, many signs that Christ is coming soon. We, too, should be in expectation of His coming. Therefore the Apostle Paul urges us,
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
(Romans 13:11-14)Advent Is for Expectation
DEVOTION – JOHN THE BAPTIST
Pick one of today’s more “popular” preachers with a large following. Maybe it would be Joel Osteen with his average attendance of 52,000. Or maybe it would be the “Purpose Driven” preacher, Rick Warren, with his average attendance of 22,000.
Regardless of the numerically popular preacher’s name, can you imagine him telling his followers to quit coming to his church and start following another preacher? What would ever cause a popular preacher to do such a thing? Why would a preacher voluntarily surrender followers by directing them to someone else?
Why? Ask John the Baptist.“He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease”
