Arianism
ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so…
Arianism
Messiah Lutheran Church Hales Corners, Wisconsin
What’s New With YOU? Updates from congregations around the church of the Lutheran Confession 2020 will long be remembered for many things, perhaps most notably the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak. The year also marks the 60th…
A Kenyan Rite of Passage
NOTES FROM THE FIELD In this series, thoseinvolved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors. The early morning light would not be seen for another few hours. The songs and dancing,…
Our God is the Only Constant
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. Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Change is the…
Drew Naumann
IN THE PIPELINE Want to meet the person who may be your next pastor or Christian day school teacher? This series profiles the men and women who are in their final year of preparation for…
“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS DECEMBER 2020
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date Hymns Reading Comments
Dec 1 TLH 75 (LSB 354) 1 Kings 21:1-29 “There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. . . .” Yet when he humbled himself before the Lord, the Lord held off on His immediate judgment. What
mercy! You too will find that He is merciful.
Dec 2 TLH 289 1 Kings 22:1-28 Four hundred false prophets vs. one true prophet. Whose word do you think will be right? Remember that just because “everyone” says it, that doesn’t make it true. Only God’s Word is always
true.
Dec 3 TLH 61 (LSB 347) 1 Kings 22:29-44 Micaiah was right because his word was from the Lord. Ahab was killed while faithful Jehoshaphat became king in Judah.
God’s Advent TIMING
COVER STORY – ADVENT
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
There is, perhaps, nothing in this life that is more anticipated than the upcoming birth of a child. When it is your own son or daughter who is yet to be born, or that of a close relative or friend, you literally count the days until the baby will arrive. “Let’s see, the pregnancy began in July, that means (counting on fingers) . . . a February baby! Will the baby be early? I hope not too early! Or will the baby be late?” Finally, the baby always comes when good and ready—when it is God’s time. A joyful birth announcement then follows, with all the particulars about the name, parents, weight and length, and the date of birth.
Throughout the world, this miracle of newborn life happens about 350,000 times each day. Does each one of these worldwide births capture your personal anticipation and attention? Of course not. Out of all the billions of births that have taken place throughout history, there has been only one that has universal, heartfelt meaning. That is the birth of God’s only-begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. From the beginning of history, the Lord began to fill in the “birth announcement” for His Son, revealing more and more details about how this birth would take place. These included His human and divine parentage, His royal lineage, His redeeming work, and His death and resurrection.
Where is John Pointing?
DEVOTION—JOHN THE BAPTIST
Have you experienced the frustration that comes when you try to point at something exciting, only for your audience to miss it? This happens frequently in my family when we’re on the road. I will see something that I want my young children to see as well. I will point and exclaim, “Look over there!” And my boys will be staring at my hand instead. I will more vigorously thrust my pointed finger back and forth to get them to look in that direction while their eyes will follow the movement of my hand and miss the moment entirely. Toddlers will do this. Don’t adults sometimes do the same?
TLH 59, LSB 398 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING
In the Old Testament, the kings of Israel were anointed to their office. We read of how Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon as king by pouring oil on his head (1 Kings 1:34, 39). This ceremony of anointing publicly identified Solomon as the one whom God Himself had chosen and endowed with the Holy Spirit to be the ruler of His people.
The anointing of Israel’s kings also served an even more important purpose. It pictured something about the coming of the promised Savior. His titles of Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean “the Anointed One,” God’s own choice to be the world’s Redeemer.
A Living Faith Works
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on…