Author: TLC Secretary

The Day When Grace Is Dawning

December 25, 2022

John 1:1-14 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

December 24, 2022

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

December 18, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Joseph always seems to be in the background! In many manger settings, he seems to peer over Mary’s shoulder from a distance at the wondrous Child of Bethlehem. After bringing Mary and the Child back to Galilee from Egypt, Joseph is not mentioned again. Obviously, a man of faith, Joseph’s journey to faith was not easy. After all, his intended betrothed wife, Mary, was expecting a child, and Joseph knew it was not his! He did not want to believe her “story.” It was the Word of God, spoken through the angel, which moved Joseph to faith, and moved him to function as our Lord’s earthly father. For this man of faith, we give thanks to God.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 7:10-17
(The coming of Immanuel is foretold to Ahaz.)

EPISTLE READING: Romans 1:1-7
(Paul begins to tell the Romans about Jesus, the Son of God and descendant of David.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25
(Joseph is told of the coming birth of Jesus.)

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

December 11, 2022

AS WE GATHER
John the Baptist believed. Even before he was born, he leaped inside Elizabeth’s womb in recognition of the presence of Jesus the Christ. John’s ministry was devoted to announcing that the Kingdom of God had arrived in Jesus. When Jesus appeared in the wilderness, John clearly announced, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Yet when John the Baptist found himself confined in Herod’s prison, he wondered as he sent word to Jesus, “Are You the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3) We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Yet, like John, we may have times of doubt, questioning, and even unbelief. Therefore, our prayer today is “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 35:1-10
(The prophet describes the glories to be seen when the Messianic Age arrives.)

EPISTLE READING: James 5:7-11
(James urges patience as we wait for the coming of the Lord.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 11:2-15
(John the Baptist begins to doubt Jesus, while being held in Herod’s prison.)

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

December 4, 2022

AS WE GATHER
The word shows up everywhere: “Repent!” John the Baptist in today’s Gospel called people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:1).” Jesus began His public ministry by proclaiming the same thing: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 4:17 NIV).” Peter told the crowd on Pentecost to “repent and be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38).” And Luther urged that every day should begin with “contrition and repentance.” The kingdom of heaven is at hand – repent!

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 11:1–10
(The prophet describes the wonders of the Messianic age.)

EPISTLE READING: Romans 15:4-13
(Paul reminds us that Jesus came for all people, both Jews and Gentiles, and in Him we have hope.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 3:1-12
(John the Baptist preaches repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.)

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

November 27, 2022

AS WE GATHER
There are many different questions in life. Some are rather inconsequential: “Paper or plastic?” “Do you want fries with that?” Other questions are of greater importance: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Will you marry me?” Among all of life’s questions, however, there is one that is of the greatest importance. “Who is Jesus?” That’s the question that the crowds asked on Palm Sunday. As we read in today’s Gospel text, “when He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:10). Consider who you say Jesus is. Perhaps the best answer is that Jesus is the Savior of the nations and, specifically, your Savior. As we enter this season of Advent, that’s why we sing along with saints over the centuries,
Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth. LSB 332:1

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 2:1–5
(The Mountain of the Lord)

EPISTLE READING: Roman 13:11–14
(Fulfilling the Law through love)

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 21:1–11
(The triumphal entry)

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR (Proper 29)

November 20, 2022

AS WE GATHER
On this last Sunday of the Church Year, our attention is drawn to the Last Day of Christ’s return when, in the resurrection of the body, our deliverance and salvation will be fully completed. The Gospel for today’s celebration, however, points our eyes back to the cross, for there all sacrifice for sin was fulfilled and completed. It was a rather conclusive statement when Jesus said to the repentant thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Likewise, “Having been buried with [Christ] in baptism…you were also raised with him” (Colossians 2:12). Salvation is fulfilled; there is nothing essential that needs to be added in the interim between baptism and paradise. To say it another way, the fulfillment is both past and future for those who are in Christ.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT: Malachi 3:13-18
(Our names written in the Book of Life)

EPISTLE READING: Colossians 1:13-20
(We have redemption now.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 23:27-43
(“This is the King of the Jews”)

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (Proper 28)

November 13, 2022

AS WE GATHER
“Behold, the day is coming,” warns the prophet Malachi. He speaks of the Last Day of the judgment of all mankind. If that were the only “day of the Lord,” we would be hopeless. But there are many days of the Lord, days that proclaim our salvation and deliverance from judgment—Christmas Day, Transfiguration Day, Good Friday, Easter Day, and the day His deliverance became your own in your Holy Baptism! Because of the earthly days of Jesus Christ, now all our days, indeed, today “is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
“The day is surely drawing near When Jesus, God’s anointed, in all His power shall appear as judge whom God appointed” (LSB 508). But the day has already come when we can draw near to Jesus, that by the forgiveness of our sins and by faith in His blood, He holds us safely and already now places us on the right side of Judgment Day.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Malachi 4:1-6
(The Day of Judgment preceded by the Day of Grace.)

EPISTLE READING: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
(The fellowship of love and steadfast hope)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 21:5-28
(Joyous assurance in the coming Kingdom)

ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY

November 6, 2022

AS WE GATHER
All Saints’ Day celebrates our Lord’s victory over sin, death, and the devil, bringing His people of faith into His presence in eternity. They have been forgiven because of Christ and are therefore declared to be saints. We, too, have that gracious title bestowed on us, although we are sinners at the same time. Today is a day to ask God to strengthen our faith in His mercy and grace for Jesus’ sake and to keep us safe until we join those who have gone before us.

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Revelation 7:9-17
(Saints and angels praise God before His throne.)

EPISTLE READING: 1 John 3:1-3
(In His love, God calls us His children.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12
(Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes.)

REFORMATION SUNDAY

October 30, 2022

AS WE GATHER
We celebrate something that is 499 years in the making: the Reformation of the Christian Church. As we mark time, we trace our heritage back to Martin Luther’s posting of the Ninety-Five Theses on October 31, 1517—an action that would ignite the Reformation movement and reorient the life of God’s people around the scriptural teaching of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. However, from God’s perspective, this teaching has neither a beginning nor an ending. It is the “eternal gospel”, (Revelation 14:6), proclaimed in an unending fashion by both the angels in heaven and God’s messengers on earth. By God’s grace, we receive this precious, life-saving, life-changing good news in our worship today. Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word!

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Revelation 14:6-7
(The eternal gospel is for all people.)

EPISTLE READING: Romans 3:19-28
(We are justified by faith apart from works.)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 8:31–36
(God’s Son sets us free, free indeed.)