We are entering what many consider to be their favorite season of the church year – the season of Lent.
Isn’t it interesting that some appreciate the somber season of Lent more than the excitement of a newborn Savior at Christmas? Or the exuberant joy of victory over death at Easter? Without Lent Christmas would be irrelevant; without Lent we would not know the full joy of Easter.
Of all the names ascribed to Jesus in the Bible, which is your favorite?
That is a tough question, I suppose, because every name given to Jesus shines forth with special beauty: Good Shepherd, Redeemer, Light of the World,the Lord our Righteousness (and dozens more).How can one pick a favorite from such a list? Each tells something special about our Savior—who He is, what He has done for us, what wonderful reasons we have to love and serve Him.Yet there is a name we might be encouraged to rejoice in especially at this season of the year (Lent). I’m thinking of the name given to Jesus by John the Baptist: Lamb of God.
Consider the gospel comfort contained in this gorgeous name!
In Old Testament times lambs played an important role in the worship lives of God’s people. Each morning and evening, at God’s direction, the priest took a lamb, slaughtered it, and offered it as a sacrifice.Through this worship ritual God was picturing for them what the promised Messiah would do. He would offer His sinless life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
And do you remember the account of the Passover recorded in Exodus chapter 12? God instructed the Israelites to choose a lamb from their flock (a one-year old male and a perfect specimen), bring it home and take care of it for two weeks.
I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I Corinthians 2:2
I wonder how many outsiders and non-members read these pages.
I hope there are some, because we have a message for you. And it should offend you in at least two ways.
A first-person Lenten parable on contrition and repentance
It appeared to be such a splendid day.
Light filtered through the overhanging boughs showing well the path I trod. The sounds of the forest held no warning. The cheerful song of birds, the droning of some busy insects, the rustling of branches as a gentle wind came through, but then I heard it though faintly, but with an increasing tenor.
2 Timothy 2:13-18 We know that God is almighty and that with Him nothing is impossible. Yet can it be that there is something God cannot do? “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,…
For fifty years the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) has existed as a confessional Lutheran Church whose single purpose it is to be a Christian church that proclaims the saving gospel of Jesus Christ…
“…Submitting to one another in the fear of God” Ephesians 5:21
Most of you have probably heard the stunning statistic that 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce. When we look at different statistical websites, the breakdown is even more alarming: 40% to 50% of all first marriages end in divorce, around 65% of all second marriages end in divorce, and about 75% of all third marriages end in divorce. (www.divorcerate.org)
So the odds are stronger than 50/50 that you or someone in your family has gone through a divorce.
But of the estimated one million divorces that took place in 2008, how many of those do you suppose ended because the spouses “submitted to one another in the fear of God”? (See Ephesians 5:21)
It seems that people of most every culture enjoy a good contest and/or an award. Every year in our country we have Miss America and Mrs. America contests. There is the ‘Man of the Year,’…
Many CLC congregations have members who live a great distance from their home congregation or other sister CLC congregations. As the Lord gives the opportunity, preaching stations have been established. Pastors from several congregations serve…
Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The wonderful Nellore atmosphere welcomed all the pastors of the CLCI, BELC, and HCLCN and gave good pleasure to everyone…
