Good News Weekly Message

If it seems like Christmas only creates extra burdens in your life, that isn't by design. When God's prophet Isaiah spoke about the birth of Jesus, he said, "You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders." Today we see that Jesus came to shatter the burden of exile. All of us were made for a home that we have lost because of sin. And yet, by becoming flesh, Jesus willingly made himself the exile so that he could lead his exiled people home. Because of Jesus, we have a permanent home in God’s family and a place where we always belong!

If it seems like Christmas only creates extra burdens in your life, that isn't by design. When God's prophet Isaiah spoke about the birth of Jesus, he said, "You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders." Whatever burden you're carrying this Christmas, know that Jesus was born to shatter it. Christmas means that the weight is over!

Today our Sunday School Children participate in proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ birth. What a joy to see the peace and hope that fills their hearts because of Jesus! We thank all those who involved in the planning and preparation of the service!

It's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." But it usually doesn't feel like it. Between deadlines and decorating, shopping and baking, the countdown to Christmas can easily become more of a burden than a blessing. Thankfully God’s Word reminds us to prepare patiently. Like John the Baptist, we may want to see the judgment, power, and glory immediately. And yet, just as those things came after the defeat, denial, and sacrifice for Jesus, so they did for John and so they will for us. As we wait, we don’t always see God’s plan for our lives. As a result we must listen to and cling to his promises.

It's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." But it usually doesn't feel like it. Between deadlines and decorating, shopping and baking, the countdown to Christmas can easily become more of a burden than a blessing. Thankfully God’s Word helps to prepare productively. In contrast to the self-imposed busyness of the holiday season, the production God wants is fruit that grows out of a repentant heart. Through the warnings of his law and the comforting assurance of his gospel, God turns us into living healthy trees that ill naturally and inevitably produce all kinds of good fruit.

It's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." But it usually doesn't feel like it. Between deadlines and decorating, shopping and baking, the countdown to Christmas can easily become more of a burden than a blessing. Thankfully God’s Word helps to prepare sleeplessly. While we might wish that we could go the next month without any sleep, that’s impossible. However, it is possible to wait for Jesus without any spiritual sleep. Jesus’ presence among us now in Word and Sacraments enables us to wait for his arrival on the last day wide awake. Scripture implores us: “Night is nearly over; day is almost here!”

Are you a sinner or a saint? It’s easy to think it’s a multiple choice question. We assume we can only be one or the other. As our Christian Year draws to a close, we remember the fact that God sees our sin even more than we are able to. And yet, in Christ, we have been given the status of saint. Christ has turned an either/or into a both/and. This week we consider the blessed eternity that God has in store for us. As everything around us fails and fades, it is easy to lose sight of the eternal reward God has in store for us. On this last Sunday of the Church Year, God’s Word lifts our eyes and hearts to confidently and joyfully await Christ’s return.

Are you a sinner or a saint? It’s easy to think it’s a multiple choice question. We assume we can only be one or the other. As our Christian Year draws to a close, we remember the fact that God sees our sin even more than we are able to. And yet, in Christ, we have been given the status of saint. Christ has turned an either/or into a both/and. This week we consider how God sees us at the time of our judgment. Since we sin daily, it’s easy to think as though that sin must be atoned for daily as well. But Jesus offered his life as a once-for-all payment for sins. The verdict we receive from God doesn’t depend on whether we manage to seek forgiveness for every last sin we commit before we die. His judgment will be on the basis of Jesus’ complete and perfect work for us.

Are you a sinner or a saint? It’s easy to think it’s a multiple choice question. We assume we can only be one or the other. As our Christian Year draws to a close, we remember the fact that God sees our sin even more than we are able to. And yet, in Christ, we have been given the status of saint. Christ has turned an either/or into a both/and. This week we consider how God sees us at the time of death. Death itself is evidence of sin. It’s not natural and it’s impossible to go through it with dignity. But Christ has the power over death and will give eternal life to all who die in him. As sinners we are subject to death and all the shame that goes with it. As saints, we will be victorious over death as it leads to eternal life.

Back in 1517, something happened that didn't just change the church. It changed the whole world with it. It's known as the Lutheran Reformation. 499 years later ("ID" in Roman numerals), the same truths that started it all are still the heart and core of our identity as a church. Most importantly, they still offer unequaled peace, joy, and hope to sinners. This week we acknowledge that God alone deserves the glory for the rescue he has accomplished for us. 499 years ago people were more likely to give glory to their rituals and behavior than to God. Today people very interested in how God should glorify us with happiness and fulfillment, but not so interested in finding happiness and fulfillment in the gifts God has already given. Today we confess that God has saved us in Christ, and we are more than happy to thank him by saying, ”To God alone be the glory!”*

Back in 1517, something happened that didn't just change the church. It changed the whole world with it. It's known as the Lutheran Reformation. 499 years later ("ID" in Roman numerals), the same truths that started it all are still the heart and core of our identity as a church. Most importantly, they still offer unequaled peace, joy, and hope to sinners. This week we learn that God’s gift becomes ours through a relationship of trust. 499 years ago preachers were more likely to advocate a relationship of terror. “Repent or die,” was the recurring theme. Today the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction as many teach that belief in God makes no difference at all. The truth lies in the middle: The work of Jesus Christ leads us to trust in him, and that confidence makes all the difference because we only have salvation by faith alone.

Back in 1517, something happened that didn't just change the church. It changed the whole world with it. It's known as the Lutheran Reformation. 499 years later ("ID" in Roman numerals), the same truths that started it all are still the heart and core of our identity as a church. Most importantly, they still offer unequaled peace, joy, and hope to sinners. This week we discover mankind’s inability to come to faith and life on our own power. 499 years ago people banked on the hope that God would not deny grace to those who “did what they could.” Today a vast majority of Christians believe the same thing, that God “helps those who help themselves.” That might work if we could help ourselves, but we cannot. Sin has so corrupted humanity that we only have salvation by grace alone.

Back in 1517, something happened that didn't just change the church. It changed the whole world with it. It's known as the Lutheran Reformation. 499 years later ("ID" in Roman numerals), the same truths that started it all are still the heart and core of our identity as a church. Most importantly, they still offer unequaled peace, joy, and hope to sinners. This week we see that God lays claim to be the first and final word on matters of faith and life. 499 years ago the main source of spiritual authority was found in man-made opinion and tradition. Today our authorities have new names—pop psychology, political ideals, popular demand—but they share a flaw five centuries old: they offer no true hope in the way divine revelation can. We only have salvation by Scripture alone.

Sometimes the impression is given that questioning the church, religion, or the Bible isn't allowed. But if Jesus didn't allow questions, that would mean he wasn’t much of a teacher. During his ministry he demonstrated patience and willingness to answer all kinds of questions, both from his followers and from his opponents. Today we consider the question: What must I do to get to heaven? When people ask that question, they’re often wondering whether obedience to one specific moral code (the biblical one, for example) is really any better than obedience to another. As a result, we need to be shown by Jesus that no amount of obedience to any moral code gets us a single step closer to heaven. Thankfully, what is impossible for us is possible with God and reality in Christ.

Sometimes the impression is given that questioning the church, religion, or the Bible isn't allowed. But if Jesus didn't allow questions, that would mean he wasn’t much of a teacher. During his ministry he demonstrated patience and willingness to answer all kinds of questions, both from his followers and from his opponents. Today we consider the question: Is marriage out of date? It certainly seems as though marriage is an ever-changing thing. As a result, its usefulness is sometimes called into question. In reality, however, marriage was instituted by God and its blessings are a result of his design. Whenever we’re tempted to think that marriage is out of date, all we have to do is go back to the very beginning.

Sometimes the impression is given that questioning the church, religion, or the Bible isn't allowed. But if Jesus didn't allow questions, that would mean he wasn’t much of a teacher. During his ministry he demonstrated patience and willingness to answer all kinds of questions, both from his followers and from his opponents. Today we consider the question: Why do I need religion? In today’s world, “religion” is almost seen as a dirty word. And according to Jesus, many times it can be. If religion is defined as our own self-made solutions to the problem of sin, religion is rightly condemned. However, true religion is the solution to sin that comes from God to us: the perfect life and innocent death of Christ in our place.

Sometimes the impression is given that questioning the church, religion, or the Bible isn't allowed. But if Jesus didn't allow questions, that would mean he wasn’t much of a teacher. During his ministry he demonstrated patience and willingness to answer all kinds of questions, both from his followers and from his opponents. Today we consider the question: Why do I need religion? In today’s world, “religion” is almost seen as a dirty word. And according to Jesus, many times it can be. If religion is defined as our own self-made solutions to the problem of sin, religion is rightly condemned. However, true religion is the solution to sin that comes from God to us: the perfect life and innocent death of Christ in our place.

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week Jesus lets us know how our appetite for the Bread of Life grows. The things he teaches are by nature offensive to us. They are contradictory to our gut instincts about God. Thankfully, through the power of the Word, the Holy Spirit makes those same teachings the sweet-tasting words of eternal life. The more we are in contact with the Word, the more our appetite for the Word grows.

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week Jesus explains exactly what he means by calling himself the Bread of Life. He promises us a richer, fuller life that lasts into eternity. But just as when Jesus made that promises, appearances can deceive. Is that really what the life of a Christian looks like? Jesus points us away from what human wisdom tells us and invites us to trust his divine wisdom.

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week we see how Jesus points us toward that deeper hunger. It’s easy to view him as someone whose primary job is to provide for our earthly needs because he does that so generously. However, his generosity in providing for earthly needs is intended to be a sign of his greater goal of providing for our spiritual needs. As he gives us daily bread, it points us to the fact that he is the bread of life.