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“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2020

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TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Hymns Reading Comments
Jan 1 TLH 529 (LSB 719) Judges 1:1-3 When the Israelites did not know what to do, they asked the Lord. Judah followed the Lord’s direction, as should we in this new year.
Jan 2 WS 706 (LSB 388) Judges 2:8-18 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell away from the Lord in just a generation. It reminds us how important it is to teach our children to fear of the Lord.
Jan 3 WS 714 (LSB 378) Judges 3:7-11 Israel had done evil, yet when they turned to the Lord for mercy He was merciful and gave them a leader to lead them away from their sinful ways.

The Big Unveiling

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COVER STORY – Epiphany

How often in our world of self-centered people don’t we hear promises of big things, soon to come. Coming soon, we are told, is the newest, greatest breakthrough in automotive excellence. Coming soon is the ground-breaking, sure-fire, Oscar-winning movie.
But in the world of man, it sometimes happens that a big, public unveiling is merely a moment of frustration and shame. The big movie is a flop. The automotive breakthrough proves a disappointment. Do you remember, some years ago, when the biggest name in electronic devices publicly demonstrated his latest invention—and was embarrassed by a series of glitches? More recently a highly touted inventor was demonstrating breakthrough technology in bullet proof auto glass—and a hand-thrown steel ball cracked and dented the windshield.
We live in a world where hype is normal but is viewed skeptically by careful people. The bigger the noise, the greater the skepticism. We prize the times when good news comes in confident but understated tones. That we can trust.
What about in God’s world?

Jesus, Baptized for Us

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DEVOTION – JESUS’ BAPTISM

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19

We who have been baptized know the power and purpose of Baptism. It was our lost and sinful condition from conception which prompted our Triune God to give us this blessed sacrament. From birth we cannot, nor do we even have the desire to, follow our Lord or keep His commands. Our hearts needed a transformation—a conversion. The Holy Spirit alone can give that change of heart and create saving faith. Often—as is the case with infants—it is the Spirit working through the water and Word of Baptism that effects conversion.

It’s All About Having the One Thing

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GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

(Read Psalm 27)
In this psalm King David expresses an awareness of the reality that all believers face in this world: we have enemies who are determined to harm us. They’ll destroy us if they can. Ephesians 6 describes them as principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age. Our soul is the ultimate target of their attacks.
We can attempt to spare ourselves the distress of this truth by pretending we have no such enemies or by staying very busy in order not to think about it. Neither mitigates the reality of the dangers facing our souls.
On the other hand, always thinking and worrying about it can make us so weary that we feel like giving up. Even the prophet Elijah went through a time when he was ready to just quit and die.

Wisdom from Above

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STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask… 

“WHY?”

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GOD SPEAKS TO THE SUFFERING CHRISTIAN Personal tragedy – whether your own, or that of someone close to you—has a way of making an anguished person ask this question: “If there really is a God,… 

Early Protests and Withdrawals

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THE ORIGIN OF THE CLC One aspect of the discussion surrounding the “Joint Statement,” which will again be before us at our 2020 convention, is how much importance to give to the events that took… 

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Rapid City, South Dakota

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A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE CLC Snapshots of congregations from around the Church of the Lutheran Confession The Black Hills have always drawn people to them. The Lakota Indians migrated there from Minnesota in… 

The Best Training

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BEST. JOB. EVER! Are you a young person pondering a career? Have you considered becoming a pastor or a Christian day school teacher? This twelve-part series is meant to coincide with the work of the… 

Nick Naumann

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IN THE PIPELINE This series profiles the men and women who are in their final year of preparation for the public teaching or preaching ministry at our Immanuel Lutheran College and Seminary in Eau Claire,…