(Zephaniah 3:14-20). Today we meet the third false christ as seen in American culture: The Good Teacher, who is not the incarnate Divine Lord and nothing more than a wise religious person. However, the knowledge and ways of this false christ are not God’s knowledge and ways (Isaiah 55:8). The real Jesus is indeed so much more. Today God comes to me and you. He is in our midst. “Hosanna to the Lord, For He fulfills God’s Word!” (LSB 343 refrain). Readings for Advent 3: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 7:18-28. The example of Mr. Darby is taken from Rev. Matthew Richard’s book, “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? 12 False Christs” published by Concordia Publishing House. The entire poem “At the Smithville Methodist Church,” by Stephen Dunn can be accessed at https://www.blueridgejournal.com/poems/sd-smithville.htm.

(Malachi 3:1-7b). The promised messiah will be a refiner. God only refines what he values. What needs refining in our lives this season of Advent as we consider the Real Jesus? Repentance is the doorway to freedom from being taken in by the wily charms of the false Christ called “The Mascot.” This is the second week of the Advent sermon series called, “Promise Fulfilled: Let us See (the Real) Jesus.” Readings for Advent 2: Old Testament Malachi 3:1-7b; Epistle: Philippians 1:2-11; Gospel: Luke 3:1-14.

(Jeremiah 33:14-16). This is the first week of the 2024 Advent sermon series called, Promise Fulfilled: Let Us See (the Real) Jesus! Today, we meet one of the false christs that is so prominently seen in American culture: “The option among many”. The Old Testament prophets are declaring God’s promised Messiah to come long before he showed up. Christ’s exclusive incarnation, life, death, and resurrection means  that every one of God’s promises in Jeremiah are now yours: The Real Jesus is your righteousness. “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12)

What motivates you to give? Zacchaeus will help us answer this question as he shows money’s generous side. This weekend we wrap up our three-week series called Money Talks and Zacchaeus is our man. The readings are about money’s generous side OT: Proverbs 3:5–10; EP: 1 Timothy 6:17–19; GO: Luke 19:1–10

Money Talks! That’s the name of the three-week sermon series we’re in. Today’s money talk comes from 2 Kings 5. The focus? A greedy man named Gehazi. The sermon and the readings for week 2 are about money’s tempting side: OT: 2 Kings 5:1–27; EP: 1 Timothy 6:11–16; GO: Matthew 6:24–26

This Sunday we begin a three-week series called Money Talks and Lot is our focus. Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Lot, whose wife famously became a pillar of salt. Lot, whose life shows us money’s dark side. There is much to learn! Scripture Readings: The readings are about money’s dark side:
OT: Genesis 19:1–11; EP: 1 Timothy 6:6–10; GO: Luke 12:13–21

Theme of the Day: Today is the day—the Anniversary of the Reformation!  And we do so based upon Christ’s words in John 8:32, “The truth will set you free.” This is our Independence Day! Scripture readings for Reformation Sunday: Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36.

Luke 1:38. On this Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League (LWML) Sunday we are thinking about service. As redeemed children of God, we serve others as we have been served, to proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and that He came for all nations. Readings for LWML Sunday: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 1:26-38. For more information about LWML and its ministry and mission, please see LWML.org. As a practical way of serving as Christian citizens, we are thinking about the competing abortion related initiatives in Nebraska. For more information about these two initiatives (and how churches can engage in government) see nebraskafamilyalliance.org. 

Mark 10:17-22. God has looked at our broken lives and our miserable attempts at righteousness, even when we still are in the midst of our deception and he has loved us nonetheless.

(1 Peter 3:13-17). Even amid suffering, when we talk about Jesus in our everyday conversations, we do this with “gentleness and respect.” Learn more about the Spiritual Conversation Curve in a free course offered by Lutheran Hour Ministries called “Prepared to Respond” at lhm.org/curve