Worship-helps

Seventh Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:16:26 +0000

Our Ascended Lord Watches Over Us

These are the Scripture readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

Our ascended Lord watches over his Church. He intercedes for us with the Father. He protects us with his power. He guides us with his Holy Word of truth.

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 1:15-26

Questions

1. This takes place soon after Jesus’ ascension and before Pentecost. What did Peter propose to the early believers?

2. The disciples let God choose who would take Judas’ place. Explain.

Answers

1. That they choose a replacement for Judas the Betrayer. He suggested that they choose a man who had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry.

2. Even though the disciple’s “chose” the final two candidates, they did it prayerfully according to the criteria mentioned above. Then they prayed and cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias. This was not luck, but rather God’s decision.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 7:54-60

Questions

1. Where/how did Stephen see Jesus? (See 7:55)

2. Luke does not say that Stephen “died.” What does Luke say?

Answers

1. Stephen saw heaven open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

2. Luke says that Stephen fell asleep. What comfort for us! In Christ, we have nothing to fear from death. We will rise again with Christ on the last day.

TRADITIONAL SECOND LESSON - 1 John 4:13-21

Questions

1. According to verse 15, how can we know that God lives in us?

2. What does our love for God lead us to do?

3. Verse 18 says that there is no fear in love. So, if I am afraid at some point, have I lost my faith?

Answers

1. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we know and trust that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. Therefore our trust in Jesus is proof that God dwells within us.

2. Out of thanks for God’s love, we seek to show love to others.

3. Our faith, which trusts solely in God’s love, does not fear anything. Faith says boldly with the Apostle Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Our trust in God’s love shows no fear. Yet we are at the same time saints and sinners. Our sinful nature does doubt. Our sinful nature does fear. The life of a Christian is a struggle against that sinful nature. Moments of fear and doubt should not drive us to despair of our salvation, but rather to the loving promises of our Savior God who strengthens our faith and takes away our fears.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - Hebrews 7:11-27

Questions

1. Jesus did not ascend into heaven to retire and rest. What is one vital thing Jesus is doing for us right now?

2. Since Jesus rose from the dead, he lives forever. Since Jesus lives forever, what kind of priesthood does he have? (See 7:24)

3. Old Testament priests also interceded for God’s people. Why is Jesus priesthood better? (And why, therefore, should we never leave Jesus?)

Answers

1. One vital thing Jesus does for us is to act as our high priest before the Father. He intercedes for us (7:25).

2. Since Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

3. Jesus priesthood is better than any Jewish priest of old (and therefore we should never leave Jesus), because he was sacrificed for our sins once for all. He is holy and blameless, exalted above the heavens.

GOSPEL - John 17:11b-19

Questions

1. Jesus prayed these words on the night before he died. It is commonly known as his High Priestly prayer. For what things did Jesus pray?

2. What did Jesus mean when he said, “Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth”?

Answers

1. Since he was leaving his disciples visibly, Jesus asked the Father to watch over his disciples, unite them, and protect them. He also prayed that th3e Father would sanctify them.

2. When Jesus asked the Father to sanctify his first disciples he, meant to “set them apart” for God and for holiness. God through his Word, and the trust worked by that Word, sets apart believers for himself. In other words, we are in the world, but we are not of it. We are heaven-bound. Jesus prayed that God would continue to keep them from sin, the devil and the evil of this world through his holy Word. God continues to set us apart through that same Word of truth.

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:33:43 +0000

Love One Another

These are the Scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

What one word summarizes all of God’s commands? Love. Luke tells us that about a Christian lady full of love for the widows of her city. The Apostle John teaches us that love for God and his Word compels us to carefully examine all teachings and churches in the light of Scripture. Jesus himself commands us to love one another as he has loved us.

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 11:19-26

Questions

1. According to verse 21, what happened to the church despite persecution?

2. Believers were first called Christians at Antioch. What is the significance of being called Christians?

Answers

1. Because of the persecution of the Jews, many Christians were scattered and the Word of God spread to other regions. In Antioch, many non-Jews heard the Gospel and came to believe.

2. By bearing the name “Christians” we give testimony to the fact that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Savior of the world. We bear the name proudly. We also recognize that the life we live reflects upon him whose name we bear.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 9:36-42

Questions

1. Why were the widows of Joppa so upset when Dorcas died?

2. What loving, amazing words did Peter speak when he raised Dorcas from the dead?

Answers

1. The widows of Joppa were so upset when Dorcas died because, out of her love, she had sewn clothes for them.

2. Peter said, “Tabitha, get up." (In Aramaic, this sounded very similar to the time Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, saying, “Talitha [little girl], get up.”)

SECOND LESSON - 1 John 4:1-11

Questions

1. Who/what are the “spirits” of which John speaks here?

2. What are we to do with such spirits?

3. Evaluate the following statement. “If we do not always show true love for others, that means that we are not true believers.”

Answers

1. The spirits about whom John speaks here are those who make spiritual claims.

2. We are to test such spirits, to see whether they are from God. That is, we are to test teachers and churches against the Bible. If they disagree with Scripture \ if they deny that Jesus is the Christ \ then they are not from God. Note that we are not to test other people’s hearts (we can’t), or count the followers of others, or try to gauge their pizzazz. Any of those would be unloving. Rather, we lovingly check out what a spirit, a person making spiritual claims, teaches.

3. If we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we will produce fruits of love. Sinners, however, are hardly perfect. The fact that we don’t always show love doesn’t mean that we aren’t believers; it means that our faith needs to grow. We will not use that need as an excuse to not show love, but rather as a reason to grow in our faith through the use of the Gospel.

GOSPEL - John 15:9-17

Questions

1. The world often portrays true love as weak and God’s commands as burdensome. According to verse 11, why did Jesus command us to show love?

2. What is love?

Answers

1. Jesus commands us to show love that we might have his joy and that our joy may be complete. God does not give us his commandments to make our lives boring or more difficult, but rather because he knows that it is for our good. We are happier when we follow his commandments.

2. Love is self-sacrifice in attitude and action. Love is the opposite of selfishness. Love does everything for the other person. Jesus gives us the ultimate example of love in verse 13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

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Fifth Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:10:06 +0000

In Christ, We Will Bear Much Fruit

These are the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

Through faith in Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are connected to the Risen Savior as a branch is connected to a grape vine. The result of being connected to Jesus is that we will now bear fruit. The fruit of a Christian is a life of love. Out of thanks for God’s love, we now seek to love others in many ways, including telling them the good news of Christ. As believers we seek to show love not only in what we say, but also in what we do.

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 8:26-40

Questions

1. The only way to truly understand the Old Testament is to know Jesus. Explain.

2. What fruits of faith did the Ethiopian Eunuch show after speaking with Philip?

Answers

1. The Old Testament reveals to us God’s loving promises of a Savior from sin. Those promises find their fulfillment in Jesus. Without Jesus, the Old Testament promises are left unfulfilled and there is no hope of salvation. Jesus, speaking of the Old Testament, said, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

2. He asked to be baptized. After being baptized, he went on his way rejoicing in his newfound salvation.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 16:11-15

Questions

1. Paul and Silas met a group of women in Philippi. What made Lydia notable?

2. No one can decide to ask Jesus into his or her heart. What is the only way someone becomes a believer in the Risen Savior today?

Answers

1. Lydia was well-to-do. The Lord opened her heart, and she asked to be baptized, along with the rest of her household. She then asked Paul and Silas to stay with her.

2. When people come to faith today, like Lydia, the gospel must first come to them in some way. Then the Lord must open their hearts to pay attention to it and believe it.

SECOND LESSON - 1 John 3:18-24

Questions

1. What aspect of love does John emphasize in verse 18?

2. At times we can begin to doubt whether or not we have true faith and are saved. According to verses 18-20, what evidence of faith can put our hearts at ease?

3. What is the relationship between our faith in Jesus and our love for one another?

Answers

1. In verse 18, John emphasizes that love is more than words. It is very easy to say, “I love you,” but John encourages us to show that love in everything we do.

2. A desire to serve God and show love to others is evidence of the faith that God has given us.

3. Our love for others is a result of faith. Through faith we receive forgiveness, life and salvation. Out of thanks for God’s great love, our faith now wants to live a life of love and service to others.

GOSPEL - John 15:1-8

Questions

1. By being connected to Christ through faith, we are saved and produce fruit. How do we stay connected to Christ?

2. Evaluate the following statement. “It is important that a Christian produce fruits of love.”

Answers:

1. If faith is what binds us to Christ, then the Means of Grace (the Gospel in Word and Sacraments) are what keep us connected to him. Through the Means of Grace, we are united with Christ and are able to produce fruit. If we do not make frequent use of the Means of Grace we become weak, do not produce much fruit and are in danger of separating ourselves from Christ.

2. We receive heaven as a gift of God’s grace through faith. Fruits of love are not necessary for salvation. That being said, however, faith will always produce fruit. The stronger the faith the more fruit it produces. God wants us to produce many fruits of love and commands us to do so. So even though fruits of love are not necessary for salvation, they are still very important. They are still necessary.

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Fourth Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:50:36 +0000

The Risen Lord Is our Shepherd

These are the Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

Jesus is our Good Shepherd. We are his sheep. Our Good Shepherd loves us so much that he gave his life for us. He knows us all by name. He protects us from our enemies. He gives us courage and strength. He continually brings more sheep into his fold. He promises heaven to all who believe in him. How great is the love that God has lavished upon us!

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 4:23-33

Questions

1. According to verse 24, how did the believers in Jerusalem respond when the Sanhedrin ordered Peter and John to no longer preach in Jesus’ name?

2. What did they ask for in verses 29 and 30? How did God respond?

3. Evaluate the following statement: As Christians, we should ask for such things today.

Answers

1. They responded by turning to God in prayer. What a great example for us today! When we are faced with difficulties, trials and setbacks in the Church, let’s always take it to the Lord in prayer.

2. They asked for boldness to preach and also the special gift of healing and miracles. Luke tells us that they received a special measure of the Holy Spirit and preached boldly. We see in other sections of Acts that some were given the gift of healing and of miracles.

3. God encourages us to ask him for whatever we desire in our hearts and he promises to give us whatever is for our good. Therefore, it is good and right that we pray for boldness to preach. Through the power of his Gospel, God answers our prayers and gives us strength and courage. Today God does not give all of the same gifts that he gave to the early church. Gifts such as healings, tongues and prophecy were given at that time according to their needs. God could still give such gifts today, but we should never expect them or doubt God if he decides not to give them to us.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 20:28-32

Questions

1. How did God acquire the church of God, according 20:28?

2. Who are the “savage wolves” whom Paul mentions (20:29)? 3. What is our true hope and strength against such difficult enemies, according to 20:32?

3. What is our true hope and strength against such difficult enemies, according to 20:32?

Answers

1. God acquired the church by buying her with his own blood.

2. The “wolves” to whom Paul refers in 20:29 are false teachers, men who distort God’s truth and who seek to gain followers for them. They lure away former believers by those distortions.

3. Our hope and strength against such enemies is God’s Word itself, the same Word that the false teachers distort. God’s Word builds up believers in faith, and it gives us a place among those who are being set apart to lead holy lives for God.

TRADITIONAL SECOND LESSON - 1 John 3:1, 2

Questions

1. What have we become because of God’s love?

2. What does John mean when he says, “what we will be has not yet been made known”?

Answers

1. Though we were rebellious sinners and slaves to sin, God in his love has adopted us as his dear children. Through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, we are now heirs of heaven. We are sons and daughters of the king. Through God’s great love, we have become the greatest rags to riches story ever told!

2. Though we are sons and daughters of the King, in this world many times what we are is not so obvious. As believers we may suffer sickness, poverty and disaster. Only when we get to heaven will the glory that is ours be fully revealed.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - 1 Peter 5:1-4

Questions

1. Instead of calling himself an apostle, or even “the leading apostle,” what did Peter call himself?

2. Why does Peter say that Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, will “appear,” not arrive or the like?

3. What will you receive when the Chief Shepherd appears?

Answers

1. Peter called himself a “fellow elder,” and a “witness to Christ’s sufferings.”

2. Peter says Jesus will “appear” because, though we cannot see him, Jesus has not left us. He is right here with us in his Word and sacraments. On the last day we will finally see him, when he makes himself visible.

3. When the Chief Shepherd appears, we will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

GOSPEL - John 10:11-18

Questions

1. What, above all, proves that Jesus is our Good Shepherd? (See 10:11.)

2. What else does Jesus do for us?

Answers

1. Jesus proved that he is our Good Shepherd by willingly giving up his life for us his sheep.

2. Jesus also protects his sheep. He knows and loves each of his sheep personally. His sheep know and love him. He regularly brings new sheep into his flock, too.

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Third Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:20:41 +0000

We Are Jesus’ Witnesses

These are the Scripture readings for the Third Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

Does telling others about Christ intimidate you? Do you fear how people will react? Today we see that Jesus’ death and resurrection give believers confidence. Our sins have been washed clean in his blood. We have forgiveness for any and all sins. Such truths give us the courage to witness boldly to the lost about Christ’s love and the rescue we have in his name.

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 4:8-12

Questions

1. Peter stands before the Sanhedrin, the religious court of the Jews, to defend his healing of a crippled beggar. What does it mean that the man was healed “by the name of Jesus Christ”?

2. Peter here quotes Psalm 118:22. What does it mean that Jesus is the capstone?

Answers

1. Peter did not heal the crippled beggar. God healed him. Moreover, to heal by the name of Jesus does not mean that his name is some sort of magical incantation. It just means that Jesus was the one who healed him. Such a miracle shows God’s incredible mercy and also the authority that Peter and John had to be preaching what they were preaching.

2. The capstone in a building is either the stone that is placed at the top of an arch or the cornerstone that guides the dimensions of the building. The capstone is the most important stone of a building. Without it, a building could not stand or even be built. Jesus, the stone rejected by the Jews, is the one stone that is necessary for our salvation. Without him there is no salvation. Without him the Church cannot stand.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 12:1-19

Questions

1. Compare 12:5 with 12:15. What is ironic?

2. This story does not prove that a Christian will never suffer unjust imprisonment or death. What does it prove?

Answers

1. In 12:5 the believers pray earnestly that Peter will be released. When he is released, though, they can’t imagine how it could be true.

2. This story shows the power of God’s Word; it changed Peter from a man scared of a slave girl, denying his Lord three times, to a man who can sleep peacefully in prison. This story also proves that God answers prayer for the good of the spread of the gospel. It proves that God gives the holy angels great power; we should thank God for his holy angels and ask him to guard our loved ones.

TRADITIONAL SECOND LESSON - 1 John 1:1 - 2:2

Questions

1. How could John be so sure about what Jesus did for our salvation?

2. With what confidence do we confess our sins to God?

3. What does the word “atonement” mean?

Answers

1. He was an eyewitness to Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection.

2. The confidence that God will always forgive us because Jesus, with his sacrifice on the cross, washed away all of our sins.

3. To atone literally means to make “at one” with someone. It has the idea of reconciliation. Our sins separate us from God, but Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to God and makes us “at one” with the Father.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6

Questions

1. How does God always lead Paul and those who spread the gospel with him?

2. What does Paul mean, practically, when he says that to some we are the aroma of life, and to others, the smell of death?

3. What does Paul mean by “the letter” and “the Spirit” in 3:6?

Answers

1. God always leads Paul and his companions in triumphal procession in Christ. The picture of “triumph” calls to mind a lavish victory parade through the streets of Rome after a Roman general and his army won a great victory.

2. In Roman triumphs, according to one historian, “garlands of flowers were prepared to decorate every shrine and image. Incense smoked on every altar.” Victorious Roman soldiers enjoyed those sweet smells, but the same sweet odors told Roman captives being dragged through the streets that they were soon to die. In the same way, Jesus’ resurrection attracts believers but repels unbelievers.

3. Paul means law and gospel. The letter of the law kills, for we are sinners. But by the gospel, the Spirit gives life.

GOSPEL - Luke 24:36-49

Questions

1. What did the disciples think when Jesus appeared to them?

2. We have not seen Jesus with our own eyes. In what way are we also witnesses?

Answers:

1. The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost. Even after Jesus rose the disciples were slow to catch on. At first they did not grasp the meaning of what Jesus’ dying and rising meant. Only after a special outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost did they “get it,” and receive the strength to be witnesses to the gospel.

2. We too are witnesses of the resurrection, even though we have not seen Jesus physically.
We have come to know him through his Word. We now have the privilege and responsibility of
sharing that precious message with others.

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Second Sunday of Easter

abluhm — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:29:01 +0000

Faith Is Being Certain of What We Do Not See

These are the Scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Easter.

God’s Word for This Week

Our faith is based on firmest possible ground: Jesus, our risen Lord. We cannot see him. We cannot touch him. We have not yet experienced the joy that will be ours forever. We come to know and trust in him as our Savior only through the precious Gospel that is revealed to us in the words of Scripture.

TRADITIONAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 3:12-20

Questions

1. Peter here is responding to the crowds after healing a crippled beggar in the temple. According to verse 16, how was the man healed?

2. What does Peter encourage the people to do in verse 19?

Answers

1. The man was healed “by faith in the name of Jesus.” Through faith in Peter’s words and Jesus’ promises, the crippled beggar received salvation and the added blessing of healing.

2. Peter is speaking to the Jews who had only a short time before allowed and even asked for the crucifixion of Jesus. Peter tells them that forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ alone. He encourages them to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus their Savior.

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON - Acts 26:19-29

Questions

1. Before which two rulers was Paul testifying?

2. In what two ways did Paul describe his teaching about the resurrection, after Festus told Paul
that he was insane?

3. Isn’t the resurrection of all believers unreasonable? Explain.

Answers

1. Paul was testifying before Agrippa and Festus.

2. Paul said his teaching was “true and reasonable.”

3. The resurrection of all believers on the last day might seem unreasonable (how can a dead person come back alive, bodily?). Still, if a) God is all-powerful, if b) Jesus rose from the dead, and if c) Jesus promises to raise us, too, we would be “insane” not to believe in our bodily resurrection.

TRADITONAL SECOND LESSON - 1 John 5:1-6

Questions

1. According to verses two and three, now that we believe in Jesus as our Savior, what does that faith lead us to do?

2. What does Paul mean in verse six when he says that Jesus came by water and blood?

Answers

1. Faith leads us to love God and obey his commandments.

2. Water is a reference to Jesus’ baptism and blood is a reference to his sacrificial death on the cross. John wrote this letter as a reaction to those who were teaching that Jesus was not true God, but only true man. They were teaching that God somehow descended upon Jesus after his baptism and left him before he died. John tells us that Jesus is God’s eternal Son made man. As true God and true man, Jesus lived, suffered and died for our sins.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

Questions

1. What were some people in Corinth falsely claiming?

2. Why was that claim disastrous?

Answers

1. Some in Corinth were falsely claiming that there was no resurrection, and there will be none on the last day, either.

2. That claim was disastrous because if there is no resurrection, then Christ was not raised from the dead, either. And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, a) the apostles' preaching about Christ was useless, and b) so is our trust in Christ.

GOSPEL - John 20:19-31

Questions

1. Why are Jesus’ words in verse 29 so important for us as Christians today?

2. Why did John write the words of his Gospel?

Answers

1. Jesus’ words are so important for us because, unlike those first disciples, we did not have the opportunity to see Jesus in the flesh and witness his saving work. Even though we have not seen him, we have God’s promise that we will receive the same blessing of eternal life through trusting in him.

2. John did not record every last detail of Jesus’ life in his Gospel. He wrote what he wrote so that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Through faith in Jesus we, as those first disciples, will receive God’s eternal blessings in glory.

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Easter Sunday

abluhm — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:37:03 +0000

He Has Risen! Alleluia!

These are the Scripture readings for Easter Sunday.

God’s Word for This Week

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for us? It means that just as he lives, we also will live― bodily, eternally. Through faith in Jesus we have victory of death and the devil. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have a place in God's heavenly banquet where there will be no more sorrow, suffering or death.

FIRST LESSON - Isaiah 25:6-9

Questions

1. Here Isaiah describes heaven as the “mountain” of the Lord. What will God do for us on that mountain?

2. What will our reaction be to such glory?

Answers

1. God describes the glory and splendor of eternity as a great and luxurious banquet. At God’s holy banquet the “shroud” of mourning and death will be removed. We will be with God in perfection. After Judgment Day, there will be no more sorrow, no more suffering and no more death for believers.

2. Isaiah 25:9 tells us that we will recognize the great things that God has done for us. We will acknowledge that he is the one who saved us. We will rejoice in that salvation and thank God continually. But why wait? Let us today and everyday rejoice and be glad in the God of our salvation.

SECOND LESSON - 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Questions

1. What does Paul mean when he calls Jesus the “first fruits”?

2. What does Paul mean when he says that death came through a man? That the resurrection of death comes also through a man?

Answers

1. Paul calls Jesus the "firstfruits" because for centuries Jews had to offer to God the firstfruits of the harvest:the first grain stalks, the first grapes, etc. In the same way, Jesus is the first to be raised (harvested, if you will) from the dead. His bodily resurrection is a sign of things to come. On the last day all will be raised. Those who believe in Jesus will be given glorified bodies and will be with God in glory forever.

2. Through the sin of one man, Adam, death entered into the world. We who continue to sin as Adam did, deserve God’s eternal punishment in hell. Jesus, God’s Son and also true man, came and suffered the punishment of sin and death. With his resurrection we have the guarantee that we too will live forever with God in resurrected bodies.

GOSPEL- Mark 16:1-8

Questions

1. What was the concern of the women as they walked to Jesus’ tomb?

2. Who was the young man dressed in white sitting in the tomb? What did he tell the women?

Answers:

1. The women wanted to anoint Jesus’ body, in line with Jewish tradition, but they wondered how they would remove the large stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb.

2. Matthew tells us that the young man in white was an angel (28:2). The angel announced to the women that Jesus was not dead, but had risen. He commanded them to go and share the good news with Jesus’ disciples. We have received the same command to share the good news of life and salvation with all people. He is risen! Death has been swallowed up in victory!

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Palm Sunday

waj — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:18:38 +0000

Jesus Humbly Rides Into Jerusalem to Die

These are the Scripture readings for Palm Sunday.

God’s Word for This Week

Our Lord is so different from earthly rulers. The first Palm Sunday Jesus was coming to finish history's most crucial battle, yet he did not enter Jerusalem as a mighty warrior. He had no army. Jesus came on a lowly donkey, with twelve average men following him. Crowds greeted him with words from Psalm 118 / words that rang to the heavens / words still lifted to Jesus today: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

FIRST LESSON - Zechariah 9:9-10

Questions

1. Zechariah writes 520 years before Christ. What does Zechariah say Jesus will bring for all people? (See 9:9.)

2. Look at 9:10. What amazing gift would this King riding on a donkey bring?

3. How does Zechariah give us a picture of the salvation our King would bring in verse 10?

Answers

1. Zechariah says Jesus will come into Jerusalem with salvation― eternal life― for all people.

2. Peace.

3. What a picture: There would be no more instruments of war. In Zechariah’s day the instruments of war were chariots, warhorses and bows. Today we would say that there would be no more guns, missiles, tanks, bombers, or fighters. Instead there would be peace throughout the earth, and the King (Jesus) would rule over all. This picture finds its fulfillment in heaven, and on the new earth where sin and war will rage no more for God’s people.

SECOND LESSON - Philippians 2:1-10

Questions

1. As followers of Jesus what kind of attitude are we to have?

2. Why is it such a surprising thing that Jesus humbled himself all the way to the most cursed death, that of a cross?

3. Because Jesus was willing to endure so much for us, what glory did God the Father, give him?

Answers

1. We are to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus, who humbled himself in service to his Father and others.

2. If we had been in a position of authority over all things, we probably wouldn’t want to give it up to serve others, let alone die under God’s curse on the cross. Jesus left the glory of heaven to live in a world filled with sin, violence and death. What great love for sinners!

3. The Father gave the Son back the full use of the position the Son had always had from eternity: equality with the Father in every way. Now when we worship Jesus as Lord, God the Father receives the glory he deserves. Let us do this now and forever!

GOSPEL - Mark 11:1-10

Questions

1. If Jesus knew details about the colt, etc., ahead of time, what else must he know in advance?

2. What does the word hosanna mean?

Answers

1. If Jesus knew about the colt, etc., Jesus must have known all that would happen in his betrayal, suffering and crucifixion. What love for us and for the Father he had!

2. Hosanna literally meant, “Please, save.” It was a plea for deliverance. Because we generally only call for rescue to people great enough to help, over the centuries hosanna became a shout of exclamation or praise to someone great.

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Fifth Sunday in Lent

abluhm — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:57:10 +0000

Jesus Is Our High Priest Who Offers Himself

These are the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

God’s Word for This Week
Before Jesus was born, believers had to regularly offer up sacrifices for sin. Only the High Priest could go before God with the blood and prayers of the people. These sacrifices would go on and on for the entire life of the Old Testament believer as a vivid reminder that God would send a Savior who would be sacrificed on the behalf of all people. Today the Word of God shows that Jesus, our High Priest, would sacrifice himself and bring a new covenant of life that would last forever.

FIRST LESSON - Jeremiah 31:31-34

Questions

1. What is the old covenant that the LORD had made with Israel when he took them out of Egypt?
2. What would be the new covenant that the LORD would make?

Answers

1. The old covenant the Lord revealed to the children of Israel in the desert was a covenant that regulated everything the children of Israel did. They had laws of what to eat, how to clean, what to touch and not touch. They had Sabbath laws. God required animal sacrifices for many reasons; some happened daily.
2. The Lord says the new covenant “will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers.” It would not contain any laws, rules, or regulations that have to be kept or symbolic, repeated sacrifices. Jesus would fulfill all of God’s demands. Jesus would keep all the laws and rules for all people. Jesus’ death would be the only sacrifice that would finally pay for the sins of the whole world. Jesus’ death would open the way to God; the veil in the temple was torn in two. Instead of a covenant of “You must do this and not do that,” Jesus’ new covenant comes through the assurance, “It is finished.” All of Jesus’ work is bestowed to us as the Holy Spirit uses the Word and Sacraments to create and sustain faith in our hearts.

SECOND LESSON - Hebrews 5:7-10

Questions

1. How did Jesus show “reverent submission” when he prayed with “loud cries and tears”?
2. Does verse 9 mean that only those who perfectly obey Jesus can be saved?

Answers

1. Jesus’ “reverent submission” is seen clearly in the agony of his prayers in Gethsemane the night before his death. There he said, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
2. No. The Apostle John writes, “We obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 3:22-23) Faith is obedience to God and is worked in the individual by God’s grace through the Word and Sacraments

GOSPEL - John 12:20-33

Questions

1. How would the death of Jesus be judgment for the world?
2. Who is the prince of the world that would be driven out of his position of power?

Answers

1. Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world at the cross. Those who reject this truth will be judged and condemned. Those through faith who believe Jesus’ sacrifice was good for all eternity will enjoy heavenly bliss for all eternity.
2. Satan is the prince of the world. Jesus defeated him by apparent surrender to death.

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Fourth Sunday in Lent

gravitek — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:59:57 +0000

Jesus Must Be Lifted Up on the Cross

These are the Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

God’s Word for This Week
A drowning man will not complain about the size of the boat that comes to rescue him. Yet today’s first lesson shows us people complaining not long after God had freed them from slavery in Egypt. Note in each lesson how God shows his heart of grace―undeserved love that rescues sinners.

FIRST LESSON - Numbers 21:4-9

Questions

1. Which flaws of human nature led to the painful, in some cases deadly, lesson of venomous snakes?
2. God could have saved the people without having them look at something. What did he want to teach them (and us) by having them look at the snake on a pole?
3. Today we don’t look at a snake on a pole to save us? Where does God direct us to look?

Answers

1. The snakes came when people got impatient, complained, and were not thankful. They even criticized free daily food. It started with lack of trust and love for God. (“You brought us… to die in the desert.”)
2. By putting the snake on the pole, God said: “trust me”. God found a way to heal their soul and body at the same time. Their main problem was spiritual (lack of trust) and God taught them to trust his promise. Sure enough, anyone bitten who looked at the bronze snake lived.
3. God has us look at his Son in baptism’s waters and in his body and blood united with bread and wine in his supper.

SECOND LESSON - Ephesians 2:4-10

Questions

1. Find five different words or phrases in this precious section which highlight God’s goodness.
2. Find four different words or phrases Paul uses to emphasize that no part of the rescue is our doing.
3. If our good works have no part in paying for our eternal life, why do we still do good works? (See 2:10.)

Answers

1. Five key phrases which emphasize God’s goodness are: his great love for us, who is rich in mercy, riches of his grace, his kindness to us, it is the gift of God.
2. Four key phrases which emphasize that we cannot save ourselves at all are: “We were dead in transgressions,” “not from yourselves,” “not by works,” and “no one can boast.”
3. Good works result when people realize the great gift God has given them. A living fruit tree will naturally bear fruit; so also a person who realizes he has received eternal life at the cost of God’s own precious blood will then respond to that love with love for God and others. The reason God created us was to produce fruits of faith and love.

GOSPEL - John 3:14-21

Questions

1. How is Jesus like the bronze snake of today’s first lesson?
2. What is the criterion for God’s judgment? When does this judgment take place?

Answers

1. Both the snake and Jesus were lifted up. Both were lifted up so many could look, see the solution promised by God and be saved. Both required no payment or effort. Instead, both called dying people to look with trust to the only savior for their problem.
2. Whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish. God’s criterion is that you trust in Jesus. This judgment is already valid, not just a future “will be so,” but already “is condemned.” However, believer already cross over from death to life (John 5:24).

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Third Sunday in Lent

gravitek — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:56:09 +0000

Jesus Rescues Us From God’s Law

These are the Scripture readings for the Third Sunday in Lent.

God’s Word for Today
For centuries Christians have spent Lent meditating on Jesus’ suffering and death, which atoned for our guilt. Lent is the “serious season” of the church year in which we put extra emphasis on recognizing and confessing our own sins. Congregations with special mid-week services usually keep a somber, reflective tone. The Sundays in Lent, however, serve as “mini Easters” ; their readings and hymns bring comfort to the believer who is reflecting on his/her sins and Jesus’ passion. The third Sunday in Lent reminds us of God’s perfect law and his demand that we fear and love him. Thankfully, Jesus has fulfilled God’s law in our place.

FIRST LESSON - Exodus 20:1–17

Questions

1. Why does God remind the Israelites that he brought them out of Egypt before giving the Ten Commandments?
2. Since God already gave us his commandments on our hearts, why did he etch them on stone (and in the Bible) for us?

Answers

1. The holy God who demands we keep his commandments wants love and trust from his children. His law cannot instill that love and trust. Only his gospel can. By reminding the Israelites of how he rescued them from Egypt, he is putting in the forefront of their mind his love and mercy. That rescue from Egypt reminds us that the same holy God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin.
2. Our own sin and the sin around us combine to darken and callous our hearts, so we need God’s law written down― in detail― for us so we know exactly what his will is.

SECOND LESSON - 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Questions

1. How is Christ crucified “foolishness” to many people?
2. What is the essence of a Christian’s message to the world?

Answers

1. Later in this letter Paul explains that people don’t naturally understand or believe in Jesus, but only by the Holy Spirit can people recognize God’s wisdom in sending Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, the message of Jesus dying on a cross to save us makes no sense. With the Holy Spirit, we see God’s wisdom and love in providing the perfect Savior.
2. “Christ crucified” is the heart of the gospel. The only way sinners can stand before a holy God is if their sins are removed. The only way sins are removed is by Christ being crucified for us.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - Romans 8:1–10

Questions

1. Were you born neutral toward God and his commands? Or even favorable toward them? (See 8:7.)
2. How much does God blame you now, in his courtroom? (See 8:1.)

Answers

1. No. We were all born hostile to God. We did not submit to God’s law. We could not.
2. You are completely innocent in God’s courtroom, because of Jesus’ blood. There is no condemnation for all who are in Christ Jesus. None.

GOSPEL - John 2:13–22

Questions

1. Why do you think the Jewish leaders allowed the buying and selling of animals in the temple courts?
2. How do you know that Jesus was not sinning by angrily overturning the tables and driving out the money changers?
3. Why are Jesus’ words in verse 19 significant?

Answers

1. The Jewish leaders let people buy and sell in the temple courts, presumably, because those who sold animals and changed money made a profit. However, nothing should disturb God’s people from hearing God’s Word, or coming to God in prayer and praise in thanks for his mercies.
2. Jesus was not sinning, because what was at stake was the glory and honor of God. His temple was to be a place for worship. But isn’t anger always sin? No. God the Father “expresses his wrath every day,” but never sins (Psalm 7:11). Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). He could not.
3. In John 2:19 our Savior predicted his own resurrection from the dead. When he fulfilled his promise, he proved he truly is God and keeps his Word. That truth gives us sinners hope and comfort. Only God can save us; Jesus is God. He has rescued us! (See Romans 4:25.)

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Second Sunday in Lent

gravitek — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:39:06 +0000

Jesus Calls us To Follow Him

These are the readings for the Second Sunday in Lent.

God’s Word for This Week
To follow Jesus we must carry our cross. This means our faith will bring us severe burdens and shame. But through Jesus’ cross we have such good news: Heaven is open! We can rejoice in our sufferings! By losing our lives for Jesus, we will find them!

FIRST LESSON - Genesis 28:10-17

Questions

1. Whom did Jacob see on the stairway? Above it?
2. What promises did Jacob receive which include you?

Answers

1. God’s holy angels were going up and down on the stairway. The Lord God himself was at the top of the stairway.
2. a) God is the God of all believers, both dead (Abraham) and alive (Isaac and Jacob). Even dead believers are alive with God! b) With all people on earth, we are blessed in Jesus with a holy Savior. c) God will keep all his promises to us, for Jesus’ sake.

SECOND LESSON - Romans 5:1-11

Questions

1. What amazing gifts do we receive by trusting that Jesus died for our sins? (Verses 1-2)
2. Why do we rejoice in our sufferings? Isn’t that a bizarre way to act? (Verse 3)
3. In Christ, what three things are no longer true about us? (Verses 6, 8, 10)

Answers

1. We stand innocent before God in his court. We have peace toward God. We have entrance into God’s grace. We rejoice because we are sure that we will share glory with God forever.
2. It might surprise the rest of the world, but rejoicing in our sufferings fits with faith in God’s promises. We know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces proven character, and proven character produces confident hope of eternal life.
3. We were powerless; we were sinners; we were God’s enemies. Relying on Jesus’ blood, we’re none of those things anymore in God’s sight. We have God’s strength. We are holy in God’s sight. We are God’s friends.

GOSPEL - Mark 8:31-38

Questions

1. Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? (Verse 31)
2. When Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” he didn’t mean Satan had taken total control of him and made Peter helpless. What did Jesus mean?
3. Why is trying to become rich apart from God such a poor choice?

Answers

1. He said so. God the Father told him so. God the Spirit said so in the Old Testament in many places. There was no other way we could have eternal life. “For the joy set before him” Jesus endured the cross and scorned its shame (Hebrews 12:2). His joy was seeing us sinners receive the gift of eternal life.
2. He meant that for Peter to try to keep Jesus from dying for us was Satanic. If Jesus hadn’t died for us, we would all have spent eternity with the devil in hell.
3. Even if we gain the whole world, it won’t do us any good if we lose our souls and end up in eternal fire, body and soul.

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First Sunday in Lent

gravitek — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:34:08 +0000

Jesus Defeats the Devil

These are the Scripture readings for the First Sunday in Lent.

God’s Word for This Week
In Lent we see Jesus go to the cross to suffer and die for us. Today’s lessons show that when God tests us and the devil tempts us (every day!), Jesus is our holiness before God. He is also our strength, and our example. We do not live on bread alone, Jesus says. We live on God’s promises. They come to us in holy baptism, in holy communion, and straight from the Bible the book in which every word is from the mouth of God.

FIRST LESSON - Genesis 22:1-18

Questions

1. Abraham believed God would somehow quickly raise Isaac from the dead (see Hebrews 11:19). How did Abraham show this to his servants?
2. Who is the Angel of the Lord?
3. By what two unchangeable things did God say to Abraham, encourages us to trust in Jesus?

Answers

1. See the end of verse 5. Abraham assured his servants that after he and Isaac worshiped atop Mt. Moriah, they would both come back down the mountain.
2. The Angel of the Lord is God the Son himself. The proof is in verses 12 and 16, where the Angel of the Lord speaks of himself as God. 1 Corinthians 10:4 says that the Angel of the Lord was Christ. This does not mean Jesus is a created angel. “Angel” in both Hebrew and Greek means “messenger.” Essentially, even before he became man, the Son of God was the Father’s messenger to us.
3. See Hebrews 6:18. God both made a promise to Abraham, and swore by himself. What could be surer?

SECOND LESSON - Romans 8:31-39

Questions

1. What do we have to endure, for God’s sake? (Verse 36)
2. Do we conquer in Christ now, forever, or both? (Verse 37)
3. Where is God’s love? (Verse 39)

Answers

1. We daily suffer great grief and pain. Paul says this by quoting from Psalm 44:22.
2. We conquer both now and forever. In all our troubles we are more than conquerors, not just after all our troubles.
3. God's love is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Since Jesus lives forever, God’s love for us will never end.

GOSPEL - Mark 1:12-15

Questions

1. Who sent Jesus into the desert to be tempted?
2. Wild animals in stadiums threatened some of Mark’s first readers. What comfort did Jesus’ temptation give them?

Answers

1. God the Holy Spirit drove Jesus (in overly-literal Greek: "threw him out" into the desert). We can take comfort that the devil never tempts us unless God allows it.
2. When Jesus was tempted in the desert he too was with the wild animals. He overcame all temptations by the same Word that steadied the hearts of martyrs whom Roman officials fed to lions. No matter how God allows us to be tempted, he will always make a way out for us (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Transfiguration

gravitek — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Jesus Reveals His Future Glory

These are the Scripture readings for Transfiguration Sunday

God’s Word for This Week

Scripture only records one time when Jesus showed his divine glory. That was on a hilltop in northern Israel. On the Mount of Transfiguration Peter, James and John got a firsthand (and terrifying) look at Jesus’ perfect glory. Why did Jesus do this? He did it, among many reasons, to give his disciples a glimpse at what the future holds for all believers. They were about to enter a difficult time as disciples. They would see their Messiah crucified. But future glory would follow, by God's grace.

FIRST LESSON - 2 Kings 2:1-12a

Questions

1. Why was Elisha upset?
2. What request did Elisha have for Elijah?
3. How was Elijah taken away into heaven?

Answers

1. He realized that his master, Elijah, was going to be taken away from him.
2. Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He knew he would need spiritual strength when Elijah was gone. In those days the oldest Jewish son would inherit a double portion of the estate, so Elisha seems to be asking to be Elijah's heir/successor.
3. A chariot and horses of fire separated Elijah and Elisha, then Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind.

SECOND LESSON - 2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2

Questions

1. To which Old Testament event does Paul refer in this lesson?
2. True or false: The old covenant (the law) is more glorious than the new covenant (the gospel).
3. As ministers of the glorious gospel, how do we proceed in our mission?

Answers

1. When Moses returned from Mt. Sinai and his face shone because he had seen a portion of the Lord’s glory. Moses put a veil over his face because the people couldn’t stand to look at him. Paul says that the stubborn Jews who rejected Jesus as Savior still have a veil over their hearts.
2. False. The law brings sin, guilt and death to sinful people. It is glorious because the law is truth and shows us that God is holy and perfect. But, Paul says, that the gospel is more glorious because it brings freedom from sin, life and salvation (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:10, 17-18).
3. We don’t need to use trickery or slight of hand. We don’t need to distort the word of God. Instead, we set forth the truth plainly and trust that God works life and salvation through the simple gospel. There’s no need to manipulate the truth to make it more acceptable; glory comes only through the truth of the gospel.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Questions

1. Why don't all people trust in Jesus' blood?
2. In short, who is Jesus, this man who appears in such glory on the Mount of Transfiguration?
3. If you trust in Jesus― unlike many― why is that? (See 4:6.)

Answers

1. All people do not trust in Jesus' blood because the devil, “the god of this age,” has blinded the minds of unbelievers. Result: They cannot see the light of the good news.
2. Jesus is the image of God. When we see Jesus, we see exactly what God the Father is like.
3. The God who did the miracle of making light at the beginning, just by saying, “Let there be light,” did a similar miracle in you. He made light where there was only darkness. He gave you light to know the glory of God in the face of Christ.

GOSPEL - Mark 9:2-9

Questions

1. Who met Jesus and his disciples when they climbed this high mountain?
2. Why did Peter make the suggestion he did in verse 5?

Answers

1. Jesus and his three disciples met Moses and Elijah, who were generally considered by the Jews to be the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament.
2. Peter wanted to build shelters on the mountain for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, in order to keep the glory of God all to themselves. Mark the Evangelist suggests that Peter was speaking foolishly. Jesus needed to head for Jerusalem, where he would suffer death on a cross to secure eternal glory for his followers (verse 9).

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Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

gravitek — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:26:40 +0000

Jesus is Revealed by Giving the Crown of Life

The following are the Scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.

God’s Word for This Week

John the Evangelist tells us that “through (Jesus) all things were made… In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:3, 4). Apart from Jesus there is no life. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). In the lessons for today we see how Jesus reveals himself as our Savior by giving us the crown of life. Only Jesus can do that. “Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.”

FIRST LESSON - 2 Kings 5:1-14

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Naaman, and what was his problem?
2. What did the prophet Elisha tell Naaman to do?
3. What happened when Naaman finally obeyed?

ANSWERS

1. Naaman was a commander in the king of Aram’s army. He was a great man, but he had leprosy, a debilitating and disfiguring skin disease.
2. Elisha told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan. At first Naaman went away angry, but his servants encouraged him to listen to Elisha.
3. When Naaman washed in the Jordan he was healed. More importantly, he was brought to realize that the God of Israel was the only true God, the Savior of all who gives the crown of life.

SECOND LESSON - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

QUESTIONS

1. To what does Paul compare our lives as Christians?
2. What reward is waiting for those who willingly serve others in response to our Savior’s love and forgiveness?

ANSWERS

1. He compares our lives to a race. We need to train ourselves diligently to live as servants of others, motivated by the gospel.
2. When we willingly surrender our Christian freedom in service to others, we will be rewarded with a “crown that will last forever.” As Jesus told his disciples: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

QUESTIONS'

1. Why, in particular, did Paul and Timothy praise God as Paul wrote this letter?
2. What is one reason God gives us troubles?

ANSWERS

1. Paul and Timothy praised God for comforting them in all their troubles.
2. God's purpose is that later we comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

GOSPEL - Mark 1:40-45

QUESTIONS

1. What disease did Jesus heal?
2. Why did Jesus heal the man?
3. How did the man react when he was given new life?
4. Did Jesus know ahead of time that the man would react this way?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus healed a man with leprosy (a skin disease). More importantly, he revealed himself as the Savior who gives the crown of life. The man trusted that Jesus could help, and his faith made him well.
2. Jesus healed the man, humanly speaking, because the man came, fell to his knees and begged Jesus for help. Jesus answers prayer. Jesus, then, must be God.
3. Though Jesus told the man to keep quiet, the man went out and began to talk freely about his miraculous healing.
4. Surely if Jesus could heal the man, he is all-powerful. If he is all-powerful, he is all-knowing, too. He is God. He knows the “risk” he takes by healing the man and telling him to keep quiet. He knows what the man will do. Still, Jesus is so compassionate that he wants to help the man who begs. This, too, gives us sinners great comfort.

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Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

gravitek — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:22:59 +0000

Jesus is Revealed by A Tireless Compulsion to Preach the Gospel

These are the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.

God’s Word for Today
In all three lessons we read today, people are hurting. Jesus reveals himself as God by healing the people of Capernaum. Why doesn't he take all hurts and troubles away from us now? We do not know, finally, but his Word promises that he has power over sickness and the devil, and his Word gives many examples of God using evil for our good. Jesus himself did not stay in Capernaum to be their miracle man. He traveled throughout Galilee. First he prayed― perhaps that his popularity would not go to his head and keep him from going to the cross for us.

These are the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.

First Lesson - Job 7:1–7

QUESTIONS

1. How was Job feeling about his life?
2. Why did Job feel the way he did?
3. Job had not lost his faith in God. How can you tell?

ANSWERS

1. Job was frustrated with his lot in life. Tired and depressed, Job figured that he would never be happy again. Job had lost his desire to proclaim good news about his Savior God.
2. Job had lost his fortune, his children and his reputation. Then he lost his health, too. His friends figured that he had done something terrible to deserve such treatment from God. Job resented them and their accusations. God seemed distant and unfair. Job's suffering led him to discouragement and despair.
3. Job was frustrated with his lot in life. Tired and depressed, Job figured that he would never be happy again. Job had lost his desire to proclaim good news about his Savior God.

Second Lesson – 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

QUESTIONS

1. How much was Paul being paid to preach?
2. What does Paul mean: “I have become all things to all men”? (v 22)
3. What was Paul’s motivation to preach?

ANSWERS

1. Paul was preaching to the Corinthians free of charge, not using his right as a minister of the gospel to be paid for his work among them (cf. 1 Co 9:15). Normally this would bring disappointment, but Paul boasted of the situation. He was motivated to preach by the gospel, not by payment.
2. Paul is referring to the servant attitude he had taken toward his listeners. Although, as a Christian, Paul had been given complete freedom in Christ in matters of conscience, he surrendered his Christian freedom in order “to please everybody in every way” (1 Co 10:33). He did this so that he might have an opportunity to preach the gospel.
3. Paul was motivated by the freedom that Jesus gives through the gospel of forgiveness. He couldn’t help but proclaim that message of forgiveness to others. He had a tireless compulsion to preach the gospel.

Supplemental Second Lesson - Romans 8:28–30

QUESTIONS

1. Earlier Paul has said that we know that the whole world is groaning as in pains of childbirth. What else do we know?
2. God's purpose is not necessarily to make us happy now. What is his eternal purpose?
3. What unbroken chain does Paul want us to picture?

ANSWERS

1. We also know that all things work together for good to those who love God, whom God has called to faith.
2. God's purpose now and forever is to conform us to the likeness of his Son. This is why he chose us to be believers before he made the world. (What grace.)
3. The unbroken chain of God's grace is that those God predestined in eternity to be his children, he also called to faith in Jesus here in time. Those he called he also declared innocent in his courtroom, for Jesus' sake, and those he justified, he also glorified. We are not on the new earth yet, shining like the sun, but because of God's grace it is as good as done. (What amazing grace.)

Gospel - Mark 1:29–39

QUESTIONS

1. How did Jesus feel after a long day of ministry?
2. How did Jesus respond to the demands of the people?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus was worn out and looking for solitude. People were demanding an audience with him. Sadly, it seems that they were more interested in earthly blessings (miracles of physical healing) rather than the heavenly blessings that Jesus had to offer: the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
2. Jesus left and went to other villages, realizing that his primary mission from the Father was to preach the gospel and bring eternal healing to souls. He had a tireless compulsion to preach the gospel.

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Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

gravitek — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:18:34 +0000

Jesus is Revealed by Setting Captives Free

The following are the Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

God’s Word for This Week
We call Jesus our Redeemer. The word “redeem” means to buy back from capture and captivity, to pay a ransom. As sinful human beings we were captive to the law of God because of our sin and the consequences of sin, principally death. But Jesus has set us free from the law, its threats and its curses, by keeping God’s law for us perfectly. As Christians we are no longer “under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). But we are not to abuse our Christian freedom. Instead Jesus has set us free so we will become slaves to righteousness, serving others in love, always thanking our Redeemer.

First Lesson - Deuteronomy 18:15-20

QUESTIONS

1. What request did the people of Israel have for the Lord when they had previously assembled at Mt. Horeb (Sinai)?
2. Whom was the Lord going to send?
3. Which is worse, for a preacher to speak a little that God has not commanded, or to speak in the name of other gods?

ANSWERS

1. The Israelites asked that the Lord no longer speak to them with his own voice― in all his majesty. They feared they would die. We sinners cannot deal with holy God in his full glory, as the Lord had told Moses: “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
2. The Lord was going to send a prophet from among the people of Israel who would speak on God’s behalf. He meant his own Son, our Savior Jesus.
3. Preaching a little false doctrine is just as bad as advocating idolatry. God insists on passing along his Word of truth 100 percent. Only the truth can combat the father of lies.
(See today's Gospel, Mark 1:21–28).

Second Lesson - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

QUESTIONS

1. What Corinthian problem does Paul address in this chapter?
2. Whom does Paul address in this chapter?
3. What command does he give them?

ANSWERS

1. Paul addresses the important issue of adiaphora (things neither commanded nor forbidden by God). For instance, in the New Testament era, Christians are given freedom to eat all things, but some Jewish Christians were still having difficulty understanding that they were free from Old Testament ceremonial laws about meat sacrificed to idols.
2. Paul addresses those who understand that they are free from the ceremonial laws (the strong Christians).
3. Even though they are free as Christians, Paul encourages the strong Christians to surrender their freedom out of loving concern for their fellow Christians (the weak), so that the weak Christians might not sin against their consciences.

Supplemental Second Lesson - Hebrews 3:1-6

QUESTIONS

1. Who was greater, Moses or Jesus? Why?
2. Who or what is God's house on this earth?
3. What will happen if we don't fix our thoughts on Jesus and don't hold onto the eternal hope Jesus gives?

ANSWERS

4. Jesus was greater than Moses. Moses was a faithful servant over God's house, but Jesus is God's Son who is over God's house. Jesus was faithful even when God told him to die on the cross for us with the world's guilt on him.
5. We are God's house, as long as we hold onto our courage and don't fall away from Christ when others try to influence us. God's Spirit lives in all Christians together and individually. We have become God's holy house by faith.
6. If we do not, God will not live in us anymore. We will not live with God forever. We will die apart from him, with the devil.

Gospel - Mark 1:21-28

QUESTIONS

1. What struck people, when Jesus taught?
2. How did Jesus demonstrate his authority?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus amazed people because he taught others based on his own authority (verses 22, 27), while the Jewish teachers of the law often based their teachings on quotes from famous rabbis.
2. Jesus shows his authority by casting out an evil spirit. (Note how the demon tried to scare/ deceive people by screaming out the truth.) Jesus is God. He has the power, ability and willingness to set us free from the devil and all harm.

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Third Sunday after Epiphany

abluhm — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:58:15 +0000

Jesus is Revealed by Preaching Repentance

These are the Scripture readings for the Third Sunday after Epiphany.

God’s Word for This Week
Is God calling you today to sell everything you have, give it away and move to a foreign country to be a penniless missionary? His Word does not say that. God does call some people to public ministry. He sends some far from home. He gives some of his ministers hard assignments. Note: He calls all believers by our baptisms to be ready to leave anything for him. He left everything for us. He gave his holy life for us.

First Lesson - Jonah 3:1-5, 10

QUESTIONS

1. What message did Jonah have for Nineveh?
2. What is repentance?
3. What fruit of repentance did the people of Nineveh show?

ANSWERS

1. Jonah preached a message of repentance.
2. Normally when the Scriptures use the word “repentance” it not only means that people are sorry for their sins, but that they believe that God forgives them in Jesus. Repentance, then, includes both sorrow over sin and faith that our sins are forgiven. St. Paul explains: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Co 7:10).
3. They declared a fast and put on sackcloth.

Supplemental First Lesson - 1 Kings 19:19-21

QUESTIONS

1. Elisha seems to have been from a wealthy family; he plowed with 12 yoke of oxen. Still, what did Elijah call Elisha to do?
2. What did Elisha do before leaving his family?
3. What example is God giving you here?

ANSWERS

1. Elijah called Elisha to leave behind his family and former duties and to become Elijah's successor as God's prophet.
2. He slaughtered his yoke of oxen and burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat.
3. God is giving you an example of full dedication to his call.

Second Lesson - 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

1. What does Paul mean, “the time is short” (v 29)?
2. What Christian attitude should we have as we look toward the Last Day?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus will soon be returning on the Last Day.
2. We should live with a penitent attitude, expecting that Jesus will return at any moment. Paul warns that we should not become “engrossed” in the things and people of this world.

Supplemental Second Lesson - Acts 13:1-5

QUESTIONS

1. Which of the seven men in Antioch is now known as Paul?
2. How did other believers set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which God the Spirit had called them?

ANSWERS

1. Saul is now known as Paul.
2. The other believers set apart Barnabas and Saul for public ministry elsewhere as missionaries by fasting, praying and laying hands on them. (We do similar things today.)

Gospel - Mark 1:14-20

QUESTIONS

1. What message did Jesus proclaim?
2. Did Jesus preach his message of repentance by himself?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus preached: “Repent and believe the good news!” Here Jesus uses the “repent” in a more narrow way, referring only to sorrow over sin.
2. No. He began to call his disciples to proclaim that message, too. What faith they showed by dropping everything and following Jesus!

Second Sunday after Epiphany

gravitek — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:54:47 +0000

Jesus is Revealed by his Gospel Call

These are the Scripture readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany.

God’s Word for This Week
How is Jesus revealed to the sinful people of this world? Not by threats. God is serious about his “Do's” and “Don't's,” but he does not force people to be Christians. Instead, Jesus is revealed to blind sinners by the call of the gospel, God’s word of forgiveness. The Holy Spirit shows us our sin, then calls out “Jesus died for you” in God's Word and sacraments. He changes unbelievers into believers who want to live for God.

First Lesson - 1 Samuel 3:1-10

QUESTIONS

1. Whom did Samuel think was calling him?
2. Who was really calling Samuel?
3. What model attitude does Samuel display for Christians?

ANSWERS

1. Eli.
2. The Lord.
3. Samuel displays a wonderful willingness to hear the Word of the Lord. Only through the gospel does the Holy Spirit awaken and strengthen faith.

Second Lesson - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

QUESTIONS

1. True or false: Christ has freed us from the law.
2. How were some Corinthians abusing their freedom from the law?
3. Why do Christians honor God with their bodies?

ANSWERS

1. True. The law is no longer the determining factor for our conduct as Christians. Christians are motivated by the gospel to love God and love one another.
2. Some Corinthians were abusing their Christian freedom to justify sins of the flesh, including sexual immorality.
3. Christians do not belong to themselves; Christ has bought us by shedding his blood, rising again and calling us to faith in him. We no longer live to please ourselves but him. Our motivation for living Christian lives comes from the gospel, not the law.

Supplemental Second Lesson - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

QUESTIONS

1. Paul has just warned us about believing the lie that our good works can save us from hell. Now he changes topics. Who gets the credit for saving us?
2. Why did God call us to belief in the truth?
3. True or false? As long as we trust that Jesus died for us, it doesn't matter if we believe a few
lies.

ANSWERS

1. God gets the credit. God gets all the credit. From the beginning he chose us to be saved through trusting in Jesus as our Savior. We didn't decide to become believers. We could not.
2. God called us to belief in the truth so that we would share forever in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. False: Paul urged the Thessalonians to stand firm and hold onto the teachings he had given them face to face and in writing. We must hold onto all the teachings of the Word of God. We must hold onto what we have learned from the Bible via trustworthy parents, pastors and teachers. The result? We will get eternal encouragement, good hope and strength to serve God and our neighbor in whatever callings God has placed us.

Gospel - John 1:43-51

1. What did Philip do when Jesus commanded: “Follow me”?
2. How did Nathanael react to Philip’s news?
3. When Nathanael met Jesus, how did he react?

ANSWERS

1. Not only did he follow Jesus, but he went and told his friend Nathanael.
2. He couldn’t believe that the Savior would come from such an insignificant place as Nazareth.
3. He believed wholeheartedly that Jesus was the Messiah, the Chosen One.

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Baptism of Our Lord

gravitek — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:46:46 +0000

Jesus is Revealed as Our Perfect Substitute The Baptism of Our Lord

These are the Scripture readings for the Baptism of Our Lord.

God’s Word for This Week
“Why did Jesus need to be baptized? I thought baptism was for sinners?” That’s a common question among Christians. It doesn’t make sense that our perfectly sinless Savior would need to be baptized, yet he was. Why? Because Jesus had come to be our perfect substitute, and he is revealed as such in his baptism. God laid on him the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). Even from birth he endured the effects of our sin. Jesus wasn’t a sinner himself, but he was carrying our sin, pain and sorrow (Is 53:4). He needed the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness, just as if he were a sinner himself. Jesus received those promises in baptism, just like we do.

First Lesson - Isaiah 49:1-6

1. Which person of the Trinity is speaking through the prophet Isaiah in these verses?
2. True or false: Jesus felt frustration in his job as Savior.
3. What task has been given to Jesus?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus
2. True. The Savior voices his frustration in verse 4. Sometimes he felt like he had “labored to no purpose” and that he had “spent (his) strength in vain and for nothing.” Yet Jesus persevered in his role as our perfect substitute.
3. Not only to “bring Jacob back to (God) and gather Israel” (i.e., Jewish Christians) but also to be “a light for the Gentiles” (non-Jews) that they might be brought to faith (Jn 10:16).

Second Lesson - Acts 16:25-34

1. How does the Holy Spirit work the faith that Paul encouraged the jailer to have in verse 31?
2. Who was baptized that evening?

ANSWERS

1. God works faith through the hearing of the gospel promises (Ro 10:17). In this particular instance, those promises were proclaimed in word and in the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
2. The jailer’s whole household was baptized. We may assume that his household included both adults and children.

Gospel - Mark 1:4-11

1. What was the purpose of the baptism given by John?
2. If Jesus was sinless, why was he baptized?
3. Which three special people were present at the baptism of Jesus?

ANSWERS

1. The purpose was the same as the baptism we have today: it’s “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4).
2. Though Jesus did not have any personal sin, in his role as Savior he was carrying the sins of the world. He had come to be our perfect substitute. He very much desired the promises of God that baptism gives sinners.
3. The Holy Trinity (God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) were present at Jesus’ baptism. In the same way, the Holy Trinity was present at our baptisms, as we are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

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First Sunday after Christmas

abluhm — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:04:38 +0000

Jesus Comes to Save Us, Even as an Infant

These are the scripture readings for the First Sunday after Christmas.

God’s Word for This Week
Whether or not we had a “good Christmas,” as some may ask us, today over and over we hear good news of God’s grace.

First Lesson - Isaiah 45:20-25

1. What key ability does the LORD have that idols do not have (verses 20–21)?
2. Why do all the ends of the earth need to turn to the LORD (verses 21–22)?
3. On the last day, how will all believers in the LORD be found? How will we feel (verse 25)?

ANSWERS

1. The LORD can predict the future and does so with perfect accuracy. Idols and those who follow them have no ability to predict the future.
2. All the ends of the earth need to turn to the Lord because he is the only God. He is the only Savior. He is righteous, so he must punish sinners, but in mercy the Father has punished his Son in our place.
3. All believers in the LORD will be found righteous, and will exult. To be found righteous means that on the last day God will judge us sinners right with him, for Jesus’ sake. This will make us exult. That is, we will be full of joy.

Second Lesson - Colossians 3:12–17

1. What three key gospel truths motivate our new lives in Christ (verse 12)?
2. Where is the only place to find strength for our new life in Christ (verse 16)?

ANSWERS

1. A) In Christ, we are God’s chosen people. In eternity, in pure grace, the Father picked us to be his own. B) In Christ, we are holy in God’s sight. Jesus’ holiness is credited to us, as if we have had only holy thoughts and actions all our lives. C) In Christ, we are dearly loved.
2. The only place to find strength for our new life in Christ is in God’s Word. Let’s dig into it daily it to teach and warn each other! Let’s sing it gladly!

Gospel - Luke 2:25-40

1. What did God do for Simeon, compared to what God had promised him (verses 25–28)?
2. What did Simeon hint at to Mary (verse 35)?
3. For what were Simeon and Anna waiting (verses 25, 38)? For what are you waiting?

ANSWERS

1. God had promised Simeon that he would not die before he saw God’s Anointed Son. But God did better than he promised; he let Simeon hold his Savior!
2. He hinted that Jesus would suffer great pain, and Mary, without Joseph at her side, would see it. A sword would pierce her own soul, too.
3. They were waiting for the consolation of Israel, the redemption of Jerusalem— waiting for God to come and comfort his people by paying for their sins. We wait for Jesus to comfort and rescue us by coming again.

Christmas Day

abluhm — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:18:09 +0000

Christmas Messengers

These are the Scripture readings for Christmas Day.

God’s Word for Today
Many people long for God to talk to them. How often we miss his message when we don’t listen to his Son Jesus. Jesus is God’s communication to us today. Too many run after other “voices” that pretend to offer solutions to life. But those who carry the message of Jesus to others are highly honored and share the exciting reaction from those who are led to real peace.

First Lesson - Isaiah 52:7-10

1. What makes feet beautiful?
2. What is that great message?

ANSWERS

1. Feet become very beautiful when they are vehicles carrying the greatest message of all times to others – the gospel of Jesus.
2. It is a message of the victory and peace that God has established for us. It is the message of good tidings of great joy announced by the angels at Christ’s birth. That birth indicates a greater proof that our God reigns over everything.

Second Lesson - Hebrews 1:1-9

1. How did God communicate to the world before Christ?
2. Why is it so much greater that he speaks to us through Jesus today?

ANSWERS

1. God spoke to the people of the Old Testament times through prophets who carried that message in different formats in differing situations.
2. Jesus is the final word for us because as God himself he exactly and directly represents the mind of God to us. As the one who purified us with his life, death and resurrection he speaks utmost concern for us. And as the one who rules over all things he knows what great things he has in the future for us.

Gospel - John 1:1-14

1. What title is immediately given to Jesus and why?
2. What is the shame in this section?

ANSWERS

1. Jesus is called the Word (“Logos” in Greek). He is the one who clearly communicates to us the mind and plans of God. Without Christ you cannot really know God. That “Word” has power seen at the creating of the world. It also made his presence felt when he “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Do you constantly listen to him?)
2. That Word of God opens people’s eyes to see the love and eternal life that he came to give us. Unfortunately many don’t recognize him and lose out on the right to be called God’s children and receive “one blessing after another.”

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Fourth Sunday in Advent

gravitek — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:42:10 +0000

God Makes the Impossible Happen so We Can Be Part of His Kingdom

These are the Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday in Advent.

God’s Word for This Week
We have a lot of hopes and dreams in this world. Some even seem to have an honorable motive. Yet the Lord is the one who steps in and outshines our plans with the miraculous. He sends his Son to earth in a miraculous way to set up an eternal kingdom. Then in a miraculous way he draws us into that kingdom through the gospel and establishes our place in it.

First Lesson - 2 Samuel 7:8-16

1. What does God promise for David?
2. What house would the Lord establish for David?

ANSWERS

1. David had wanted to build a permanent house (temple) for his God. The Lord told him someone else would build the house of the Lord. Yet God was going to make David’s name great and make the conditions ideal for his people. He accomplished that in Jesus, a “son” of David.

2. But this prophecy goes far beyond Solomon to the one who would establish an eternal kingdom. Jesus (Luke 1:29-33) would be the cornerstone of a spiritual house - a people in which God dwells with his Spirit – the people of God (Eph 2:19-22) who will rule eternally with Christ.

Second Lesson - Romans 16:25-27

1. How does God establish us in faith?
2. Who gets the praise for our stability in faith?

ANSWERS

1. God uses the simple gospel message, the proclamation of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to create faith and obedience in people. Do you keep the connection strong by continual growth in that word?
2. So often the emphasis is placed on a person’s wise choice to follow Jesus. But that leaks some of the praise away from the one to whom all credit is due. It is the only wise God who gets the glory for setting up our salvation through Jesus and changing hearts to faith through the gospel. That will be the main theme of the singing in heaven.

Gospel - Luke 1:26-38

1. How was it that Mary found favor with God?
2. What simple phrase answered Mary’s puzzled inquiry about having a child while she is still a virgin?

ANSWERS

1. Often people place the focus on virtues of Mary, but God’s favor starts with his own loving plans and his unmerited choice. His favor focused on this one individual through whom the Holy Spirit would provide this miraculous birth. This happened so God’s favor could in turn rest on everyone because of that child.
2. The angel helped her put aside simple, experiential logic and replace it with faith in the promise: “For nothing is impossible with God.” How important for us to realize this in the season that challenges the world with things too hard and awesome to explain – the birth of Jesus.

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Third Sunday in Advent

gravitek — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:43:59 +0000

Jesus is the Central Focus of our Message and the Joy in our Living

God’s Word for Today
We often become enamored with eloquent and influential speakers who promise wealth and ease. But Malachi said that the true messenger of God would be another Elijah. He would speak God's Word and prepare people for God's judgment. He would turn fathers' hearts to their children and children's hearts to their fathers. Through the Word comes real change in our faith-born outlook. Through the Word comes humility that longs to serve God.

These are the Scripture readings for the Third Sunday in Advent.

First Lesson - Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11
1. Upon whom is this prophecy mainly focusing?
2. What are some of the changes that come in a relationship to God through Christ?
3. Who makes all these changes?

ANSWERS
1. When Jesus read this passage in the synagogue (Luke 4:21), he announced that it was talking about him. Many missed the good news he was anointed to preach with his life, death and resurrection. Life is often filled with misery, trouble and disappointment, but the good news from Jesus as Savior brings comfort and strength.
2. Life may be rough and bring people down, but Jesus covers us with gladness and praise, beauty and splendor. A brand new spirit invades the negative environment of our sinful hearts and makes it alive!
3. The LORD, Jahweh, the God of faithful love, purchased a robe of righteousness for us through the righteous life of Jesus. He wraps that around us and views us as beautiful. This should result in greater praise to God and a new view of the people of God – ones who are forgiven and clothed with Christ.

Supplemental First Lesson - Malachi 4:1-6
1. In verses 5-6, whom does the Lord promise to send?
2. If everything will burn, and all the arrogant people will be stubble, should we concentrate on money and the things it can buy? Why or why not?
3. Look at verse 2. What will happen when the last day dawns? What will be the end result for us?

ANSWERS
1. The Lord promises to send Elijah. Elijah had been a prophet centuries before Malachi, though. Jesus said that John the Baptist was the Elijah whom Malachi had foretold (Matthew 11:14).
2. No, we shouldn't concentrate on things that will burn. We shouldn't imitate the godless and their ways. That is senseless. Also, someday we will trample those who may today be trampling us. Instead, we will trust in God's promises, do good in whatever callings God has placed us, and wait eagerly for the last day.
3. When the last day dawns, the rays of Jesus' glory (which Malachi pictures as the “wings” of the rising sun) will heal us in every way. The joy! Judgment day will bring freedom for all believers. We will be so happy that we will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Second Lesson - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
1. When the Holy Spirit changes us, what attitudes will emerge?
2. How in the world are we to keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus?

ANSWERS
1. Those attitudes include joy, habitual prayer, unflappable thanks despite obstacles, respect for God and his word all have a part in our Christian living. In all things we are to stay away from every brand of evil.
2. We don't have to do it. God called it; God will do it. If we try to make these changes on our own, we will end up even more frustrated and guilty. These are attitudes that emerge as a fruit of the Spirit as he works in us. “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

Gospel - John 1:6-8, 19-28
1. Who was the focal point of John’s message?
2. What was John’s attitude toward Christ?

ANSWERS
1. Some might have focused on John as their leader. But John said he wasn’t the “light” but only the messenger to point out the light. Jesus is the Light of the world.
2. John didn’t want the spotlight on himself but on Christ. His selfless humility is heard as he voiced that he wasn’t even worthy to do slave duty for Christ. Can we have any less an understanding of our relationship to Christ?

Second Sunday in Advent

gravitek — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:23:34 +0000

God Provides Messengers and Means to Prepare us for the End

These are the scripture readings for the Second Sunday in Advent.

God’s Word for This Week
God doesn’t leave us to flounder on our own in this world but prepares us for the final great event – Jesus’ return at the end. He sends his messengers to point out the reality of sin and its consequences so we don’t drift into complacency. He sends his good news of salvation in Christ and connects us with him in baptism. What a change that should create in our focus for living!

First Lesson - Isaiah 40:1-11

1. How will the people receive “double” for all their sins?
2. Who is the “voice of one calling in the desert to prepare a way for the Lord?”

ANSWERS

1. God was not going to punish them twice as hard as they deserve. Instead they would receive “double” grace – much more blessing than any one could expect. This is not something that can be earned, but what we inherit by his free grace - a full forgiveness we don’t deserve.
2. The Lord makes it clear (Mtt 3:3, Mk 1:3 and Lk 3:4) that this is pointing ahead to the person of John the Baptist. He was the voice who preached stern and pointed law to the people to prepare their hearts with repentance. And he was the one who preached the sweet gospel as he pointed out the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This is the good news we are also to shout out to people – a word that will outlast worldly “experts.”

Second Lesson - 2 Peter 3:8-14

1. “With the Lord a day is like a 1000 years and a 1000 years like a day.” What does that have to do with this reading?
2. Knowing that the Lord will come suddenly and destroy the earth, what change should be evident in our lives?

ANSWERS

1. We are bound to clocks and passing schedules. But God is not restrained by time, which he created for us. He sees and knows all things as if they were “now.” The end of the world may seem like a long ways away for scoffers, but God sees it clearly as “today” and patiently opens opportunities all over the world to come to repentance and avoid perishing eternally at that time.
2. It should be evident in our lives that we are looking forward in Christ to the transition into heaven. Every effort should be made to be at peace with God realized by faith in Christ. Every effort should be made to live lives that represent the holiness he has destined us for.

Gospel - Mark 1:1-8

1. What was the focus of John’s baptisms?
2. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit?” What was to be different?

ANSWERS

1. John baptized with a focus on the reality of our sinfulness and the forgiveness God gives us in the Lamb of God – Jesus. This is the same focus you hear from Peter on Pentecost as he sets the pace for our baptisms.
2. Although true baptism always carries the Holy Spirit’s presence, Jesus carries the full authority to send the Spirit in a miraculous way as was first evidenced at Pentecost. It is Christ the gives baptism its power.

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First Sunday of Advent

gravitek — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

God’s Faithful Intervention in our Lives
Connects us to an Eternal Life with Him

God’s Word for Today
Advent reminds us: Jesus is coming soon. The world will end soon. If we seriously look at our sins, we have plenty cause for fear and worry. But our lessons focus on the faithfulness of God, who calls himself our Father and himself takes care of all the details. Instead of feeling down about the end drawing near, by God’s grace we see the richness we have in Christ and the gifts we have to serve him in these last days.

These are the scripture readings for the First Sunday in Advent.

First Lesson - Isaiah 63:16,17, 64:1-8
1. What comfort is there in knowing God as “Father?”
2. Why does he want God to do awesome things?
3. What makes God’s grace and love even more spectacular when we look at our own lives?

ANSWERS
1. He talks about the tenderness and compassion of God. He is the one who knows us. The saints in glory do not know or influence the affairs of people on earth. Only God, our Father, is our Redeemer to rescue us; the potter who fashions our lives according to his good pleasure. Remember that when you address God as “Our Father” in the Lord’s Prayer.
2. He knows that the world does not recognize the true God who is behind the scenes. Often God reveals himself in unexpected, miraculous happenings that draw even enemies to acknowledge his name and see that he comes to help those who depend on him.
3. Even the things we think are so good are disgusting and revolting in the sight of God because they still carry the stain of sin. The penitential heart sees that. Our troubled lives evidence it. Yet the God of grace forgives our sins for the sake of Christ. Those who understand this live in the true joy of the Lord.

Supplemental First Lesson - Genesis 6:1-3,5-14,17-22
1. In Noah's era, what did believing men, the “sons of God,” foolishly do?
2. Nephililm (perhaps meaning “falling ones”) became heroes in those days. Often sexually immoral and violent people are heroes today. Why is that a problem?

ANSWERS
1. The sons of God married unbelieving women.
2. It is a problem when sexually immoral and violent people are heroes because
   a) they fall away from God and his Word,
   b) they are eager to fall on other, weaker people, and
   c) by example they teach impressionable young people to do the same, as if “might makes right.”

Second Lesson - 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
1. Upon what is Paul’s thankfulness focused as he writes to the people in Corinth?

ANSWERS
1. Paul focuses his thanks not toward the Corinthians but toward God for the undeserved love he brought them. He knew what they really were like in their selfish, prideful ways. Yet God was glad to call them “saints” and “holy” because of Jesus and equip them with a richness of spiritual gifts and an eager anticipation of the Lord’s return. When you are feeling insignificant or unworthy, think back to God’s faithfulness towards you.

Supplemental Second Lesson - 1 Peter 3:18-22
1. When and why did Jesus descend into hell?
2. What does baptism do for us, just as the flood did for Noah?

ANSWERS
1. Jesus descended into hell after he came back alive, Peter says, so we gather he did so early Easter Sunday morning. Jesus went, body and soul, to the only place in the universe where spirits are in prison― hell. He went there to preach to them. We gather he preached to the spirits in hell his victory over death: If he had won, they had lost forever. How Jesus went to hell, we do not know, but since he proved that he had taken all the devil's might from him, we know that neither hell nor the devil can take captive or injure us.
2. The water of the flood drowned everyone else in the world, but it floated the ark, so it saved Noah and his family. In the same way, God's Word and the water of baptism save us. They wash away all our sin, so they give us a clean conscience before God. They plug us into the power of Jesus' resurrection. They comfort us when we suffer for our faith in Jesus.

Gospel - Mark 13:32-37
1. Who can predict the day when “heaven and earth will pass away?”
2. Since we know the end of the world will come out of the blue, unexpectedly, what should our lives be like?

ANSWERS
1. God has the specific time set for judgment day. No one can discover the last day with his or her logical calculations. Jesus will come at a time we not only do not know, but will not expect.
2. Instead of being caught up in the busyness of our world, we should be watchful and on our guard against falling away. We should be busy with the tasks God has assigned us so we can impact the world with the gospel in whatever time God allows.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Christ The King Sunday

abluhm — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:01:34 +0000

Christ the King

The following are the readings commonly used in our churches for Sunday, November 20,2012.

God’s Word for This Week
The almighty King of the universe in his great love laid down his life for his people. The Lord of all things allowed himself to be mocked, beaten and crucified for his subjects. Then with his resurrection from the dead, he demonstrated his true power and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

First Lesson (Ezekiel 34:11-16,23,24)
¹¹ ”‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. ¹² As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. ¹⁴ I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. ¹⁶ I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. ²³ I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. ²⁴ I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

1. In the verses that directly precede this lesson, God rebukes the shepherds, i.e., the kings, leaders and priests of Israel for not being taking care of his sheep. According to God, our Shepherd-King, how will he deal with his sheep?
2. These verses were written hundreds of years after the reign of King David. So, who is this “servant David” that God would raise up to rule over his people?

Second Lesson (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. ²⁸ When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

3. Explain the comparison between Adam and Christ in these verses.
4. Evaluate. Verse 28 is telling us that Jesus is somehow inferior to God the Father.

Gospel (Matthew 27:27-31)
²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

5. How did the King of kings show his love for us his subjects?

Answers:

1. He promises to seek out and rescue the lost, to gather his sheep from every nation, to provide for all their needs and to strengthen them when they are weak.

2.This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah. God had promised that a descendant of David would rise up to sit on his throne. The Messiah would be the greatest king in the history of Israel. Jesus, a blood descendant of King David, is that king. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

3. Through Adam and Eve’s sin, all mankind fell and became subject to death. We are born dead spiritually. We will all face physical death someday. Because of our sins we all deserve eternal death in hell. But in Jesus we have been made alive. With his suffering and death, the payment of sin was made. His resurrection is proof that we too will be raised and will live forever with him in heaven.

4. Verse 28 is a difficult verse. The Bible states clearly in many places that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal in power, glory and authority (John 10:30). No one is superior to the other. Jesus however humbled himself to come to earth and obey the will of his Father (John 14:28). How can this be? As Professor Carleton Toppe once wrote: “Such is the mystery and wonder of the Trinity and of the God-man Jesus Christ” (The People’s Bible: 1 Corinthians, p.148).

5. Our King did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus showed his love for us in this: that as King of the universe he allowed himself to be mocked and tortured by a handful of ignorant unbelieving soldiers. In love, he allowed himself to suffer the physical agony of the cross. In love, he willing suffered the punishment of sin in our place. Our King truly deserves our honor, service and praise!

Pentecost A23 - 11202011

gravitek — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Love: The Fulfillment of the Law

The following are the readings commonly used in our churches for Sunday, November 20, 2011.

God’s Word for This Week
What does God demand of all people in his Law? Only one thing: Love. God commands us to love him above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Looking into the mirror of that Law we see what we really are: ugly and selfish sinners. Yet in his love, God suffered the punishment of our selfishness. Out of thanks, we now seek to show that same love to others.

First Lesson (Leviticus 19:1,2,15-18)
The LORD said to Moses, ²“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

¹⁵”‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. ¹⁶“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. ”‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD. ¹⁷”‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. ¹⁸”‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

The word “holy” appears more often in Leviticus than in any other book of the Bible. What does it mean to be “holy”?
Looking honestly at what God demands of us in verses 15-18, what must we confess?

Second Lesson (1 Thessalonians 1:5b-10)
You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

How did the Thessalonian Christians respond to the message of God’s love that was preached to them by the apostles?
Evaluate the following statement. “We should imitate Jesus and not other sinful human beings.”

Gospel (Matthew 22:34-46)
³⁴Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
³⁷Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴²“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied. ⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, ⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’
⁴⁵If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” ⁴⁶No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

How did Jesus summarize God’s Law?
What was the point of the questions that Jesus posed in verses 42 and 43?

Answers:

The word “holy” literally means “to be set apart”. In this context it means to be set apart for God. Only that which is completely separated from sin can truly be dedicated to God. To be “holy”, therefore, means to be perfectly pure without sin.
Do we always treat others fairly? Do we always speak well of others? Do we always forgive one another? When we look honestly at what God commands, we must humbly say with the tax collector of Jesus’ Parable: “God, have mercy on me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
They welcomed that Gospel with joy despite severe suffering and imitated the Christian example set by the Apostles. In doing so, they also became an example of faith and love for other Christians.
Out of love and thanks for our salvation we seek to be imitators of Christ, as Paul encourages us in Philippians chapter two. As our fellow believers reflect Christ’s love to others and live their faith, we become encouraged and can rightly follow their example. We follow the example of fellow believers in their service to Christ. We do not, however, follow their example when they in weakness sin.
God’s Law can be summarized with one word: “Love.” Jesus rightly points out that first and foremost we are to love God above all things. Such love for God also shows itself in humble and selfless love toward our fellow man.
The Pharisees asked Jesus many questions trying to trap him in what he said. Jesus answered every one of their questions correctly and eloquently. Jesus himself now poses a few questions of his own to reveal the Pharisees’ unbelief. They believed that the promised Messiah would be an earthly king, a descendant of Israel’s most famous king, David. With these questions, Jesus reveals that the promised Savior is greater than David. He is the very Son of God. His purpose was not to rule on an earthly throne, but rather to win a place for all mankind in his heavenly kingdom.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Saints Triumphant A - 11132011

gravitek — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Saints Triumphant

The following are the readings commonly used in our churches for Sunday, November 13, 2011.

God’s Word for This Week
Like children playing hide and seek, Jesus calls out to us through his Word, “Ready or not here I come!” Thanks be to God that in his love and through Jesus’ saving work on the cross, we have been made ready. When Jesus comes in the end, we will be raised and united with all those who have preceded us in the faith. Therefore, let us continue to be vigilant in the faith until that day comes.

First Lesson (Isaiah 52:1-6)
Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. ² Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. ³ For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” ⁴ For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. ⁵ “And now what do I have here?” declares the LORD. “For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,” declares the LORD. “And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed. ⁶ Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.”

1. Who are the “uncircumcised and defiled” that will never enter the holy city of Jerusalem?
2. Verse three tells us that we were redeemed without money. Define the term “redeem”.

Second Lesson (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
¹³ Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. ¹⁴ We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage each other with these words.

3. Who are those who had “fallen asleep”?
4. Agree or Disagree. A Christian should never mourn the death of a fellow Christian.

Gospel (Matthew 25:1-13)
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
⁹ ”‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
¹² “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

5. How did the five foolish virgins demonstrate their foolishness?
6. How do we “keep watch” for Jesus’ coming?

Answers:

Throughout its history, Israel had been invaded and attacked by foreign nations (most recently by the nation of Assyria). Due to their disobedience, pagan armies entered and even conquered Jerusalem. God promised that a day would come when Jerusalem would be freed from such invasions. In the New Testament we find that the true Israel and the true Jerusalem are God’s holy people – his church. We will see the deliverance foretold by Isaiah when we put on our “garments of splendor” in heaven.
To redeem means “to buy back” or “to pay the price of freedom.” Jesus paid the price necessary to free us from our slavery to sin and death. He did this, “not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death.”
This word picture is often used in the Bible to describe those who have died. It seems that there was some confusion in the Thessalonian congregation about those who had died. The Thessalonians were waiting eagerly for the imminent return of Jesus. They were worried because they were afraid that those who died before his coming would not receive the same salvation.
As Christians we are comforted and encouraged by the fact that those who die in Christ will receive the reward that he won for them on the cross. We are consoled by the knowledge that we will see them again in heaven. A Christian will not despair as many in this world do. Yet, death is separation. A Christian will feel the loss. A Christian will miss his loved ones. A Christian will mourn and even cry. Did not Jesus cry when his friend Lazarus died? As Christians, however, we are comforted by the promises of our loving God.
The virgins of Jesus’ parable are comparable with the bridesmaids of today. Their responsibility was to prepare the bride for the coming of the bridegroom. The foolish virgins did not bring enough oil for their lamps. They were not prepared. So when the bridegroom took longer than was expected, they were not ready for him.
As Christians we are ready for Jesus’ coming through faith. We keep watch, therefore, by maintaining and strengthening that faith through a constant use of the Word and Sacraments.The following are the readings commonly used in our churches for Sunday, November 13, 2011.

_{Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.}

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Pentecost A21 - 11062011

gravitek — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:08:29 +0000

Invited to the Heavenly Wedding Banquet

The following are the readings commonly used in our churches for Sunday, November 6, 2011.

God’s Word for This Week
Are you worried about what the future holds? Are you sure of your heavenly inheritance? Are you dressed for reception into the heavenly wedding banquet? Thanks to Jesus and His perfect life and substitutionary death, we confidently answer all three questions in the affirmative. What a grand and glorious day it will be when we find ourselves seated at God’s heavenly banquet table!

First Lesson (Isaiah 25: 6-9)
⁶On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. ⁷On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; ⁸he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. ⁹In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

What are the “shroud” and the “sheet” that will be destroyed according to verse 7? Explain.
According to verse 9, what will be our bold profession on the last day?

Second Lesson (Philippians 4: 4-13)
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The fundamental sentiment of a Christian’s entire life is happiness. On what is our happiness based?
What remedy does Paul offer for dealing with anxiety?
What kinds of thoughts should fill the believer’s mind?

Gospel (Matthew 22: 1-14)
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
⁴“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
⁵“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. ⁶The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. ⁷The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
⁸“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ ¹⁰So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
¹¹“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹²‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
¹³“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
¹⁴“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

God has invited everyone to His heavenly wedding feast, but so few attend. Why?
Is it possible to sneak into God’s heavenly wedding banquet without proper attire?

Answers:

The “shroud” and the “sheet” are the veils that blinded the people from a correct understanding of their natural depravity and sinfulness and kept them from recognizing Christ as the Savior of the world. In conversion, the Holy Spirit removes the blinders and gives God’s people the spiritual vision to understand and accept Him as the promised Messiah and Savior from sin.
It might sound something like this: “We placed our confidence with unwavering certainty in the Lord our God, and He has not disappointed. The time for us to experience and enjoy the blessed fulfillment of God’s promises is finally here. Hallelujah!”
Our joy is always in the Lord and on account of the Lord. We are jubilant and exultant over the free gift of salvation attained through the atoning work of Christ. It’s especially during periods of trial and tribulation that we take time to reflect on and rejoice in the changeless love of our God.
Prayer. When we are consumed with worry and concerned about the future, entrust it to the Lord, leaving all matters to His fatherly direction and care. Whether it’s the most monumental problem or the most insignificant detail, bring it to the attention of your merciful God, Who has demonstrated time and time again that He is deeply concerned about the welfare of His beloved children.
To paraphrase verse 8, the believer’s mind is flowing with thoughts that are truthful and sincere, open and honest, just and right, chaste and clean, wholesome and pleasant, excellent and laudable. In short, in all our thoughts, the sanctification of the Christian should be evident.
Many people simply are indifferent and apathetic to God’s urgent call. Others are distracted by their own private, earthly affairs. As in the parable, some even go to the extent of being hostile toward the messengers of God’s invitation.
Impossible. God has provided a wedding garment of spotless righteousness and purity for every sinner that He has invited to the feast, courtesy of His Son, Jesus Christ. The garment is required to cover the filth and nakedness of their sin. All intruding wannabe’s will be detected, sentenced, and thrust into the outer darkness of hell.

Worship-helps

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

We Are Jesus’ Witnesses

Second Sunday of Easter

Easter Sunday

Palm Sunday

Jesus Humbly Rides Into Jerusalem to Die

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Jesus Is Our High Priest Who Offers Himself

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Jesus Must Be Lifted Up on the Cross

Third Sunday in Lent

Jesus Rescues Us From God’s Law

Second Sunday in Lent

Jesus Calls us To Follow Him

First Sunday in Lent

Jesus Defeats the Devil

Transfiguration

Jesus Reveals His Future Glory

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Jesus is Revealed by Giving the Crown of Life

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Jesus is Revealed by A Tireless Compulsion to Preach the Gospel

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Jesus is Revealed by Setting Captives Free

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Jesus is Revealed by Preaching Repentance

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Jesus is Revealed by his Gospel Call

Baptism of Our Lord

Jesus is Revealed as Our Perfect Substitute The Baptism of Our Lord

First Sunday after Christmas

Jesus Comes to Save Us, Even as an Infant

Christmas Day

Christmas Messengers

Fourth Sunday in Advent

God Makes the Impossible Happen so We Can Be Part of His Kingdom

Third Sunday in Advent

Jesus is the Central Focus of our Message and the Joy in our Living

Second Sunday in Advent

God Provides Messengers and Means to Prepare us for the End

First Sunday of Advent

God’s Faithful Intervention in our LivesConnects us to an Eternal Life with Him

Christ The King Sunday

Christ the King

Pentecost A23 - 11202011

Love: The Fulfillment of the Law

Saints Triumphant A - 11132011

Saints Triumphant

Pentecost A21 - 11062011

Invited to the Heavenly Wedding Banquet

God’s Faithful Intervention in our Lives
Connects us to an Eternal Life with Him