the incarnation on Needs

Scripture

Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 11:28-30

God of grace–Father who loves us from forever and into forever; Word made Flesh–Jesus, God the Son ... Lord, Savior, Messiah; And Spirit ... Counselor and Comforter: You are our delight and our hope. ...

liturgy

Gracious and faithful God–our Creator,

Author

Scripture

Psalm 25:4-5, Matthew 1:23, James 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Luke 2:10-11, Isaiah 9:6, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 25:35-36, Proverbs 21:1, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 28:19-20, John 14:13, Luke 2:1-20, Mark 5:25-34, John 11:17-44

Gracious and faithful God–our Creator, Redeemer and Comforter: When we don’t know the way–You show us the way; and when we can’t find a way–You make a way. Thank you! Thank you for Your gift of a Sav...

liturgy

Inspired by John 1 and Matthew 25

Author

Ellen R. Dawson

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Matthew 25:31-46

You came to us, Word made flesh, to show us what it means to love. You came to us, Word made flesh, to teach us how to serve. You came to us, Word made flesh, to remind us to clothe the naked and fe...

Quote

Author

Barbara Brown Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 8:9-11, Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 3:16-19, John 15:4-5, Galatians 2:20

The last thing any of us needs is more information about God. We need the practice of incarnation, by which God saves the lives of those whose intellectual assent has turned them dry as dust, who have...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Micah 5:2-5a

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Keywords

Scripture

Micah 5:2-5, John 3:30

Check out our video discussion of the text with Austin D. Hill & Stu Strachan. Click here to view! The small size of Bethlehem reminds one of a common biblical theme: When God is about to do ...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Author

Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice

Keywords

Scripture

Micah 5:2-5a, John 3:30

Check out our video discussion of the text with Austin D. Hill & Stu Strachan. Click here to view! AIM Commentary The small size of Bethlehem reminds one of a common biblical theme: When God...

illustration

Incarnation Essential to Reconciliation

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 6:9-10, Proverbs 19:17, Hebrews 13:2, 1 John 3:17-18, James 2:15-16

In their thoughtful book on reconciliation, Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice share how Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement showed up in the lives of the working poor, which ultimately enable...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Advent

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Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 40:1-11, Lamentations 1:2, Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:17, Lamentations 1:21, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6, John 1:23

Advent 2020: Tear Down the Heavens Comfort My People Updated & expanded for 2023 AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Longing created by exile While crise...

lectionary

First Sunday of Advent

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 64:1-9, Exodus 19:18, Exodus 20:1-2, Isaiah 63:7-19, Isaiah 64:1-12, Isaiah 64:1-2, Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 63:15, Isaiah 63:7, Luke 2:25, Luke 2:36-38

Advent 2020: Tear Down the Heavens Tear Down the Heavens Updated & expanded for 2023 AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Longing created by exile For the...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, John 6:51-58

Author

Keywords

Scripture

John 6:51-58

Ancient Lens What's the historical context? A Hard Saying The difficulty of this saying was used by opponents of the early Christians to justify persecution, yet the early church still rallie...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 2:1-20 (Guide B)

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Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20

How do we prepare for Jesus? Where is Jesus when the waiting hurts? Where is Jesus when our needs are great? Where is Jesus when life turns upside down? The real answer to those questions is offered ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 9:2-7 (Guide B)

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2-7, John 1:9, John 1:5

Ancient Lens What’s the historical context? Light in the Darkness Light is good. When God created the heavens and the earth, we are first told that “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Philippians 2:5-11

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Philippians 2:5-11, Acts 16:, Philippians 1:27-2:4, Isaiah 45:22-23, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A letter of friendship Paul’s letter to the Philippians is from Paul and his companions to the saints in Philippi. It is a letter fro...

lectionary

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

As we've been progressing through Advent, we've been asking: How do we prepare for Jesus? Where is Jesus when the waiting hurts? Where is Jesus when our needs are great? Where is Jesus when li...

lectionary

13th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Keywords

Scripture

John 6:51-58

Ancient Lens What's the historical context? A Hard Saying The difficulty of this saying was used by opponents of the early Christians to justify persecution, yet the early church still rallie...

lectionary

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord (Guide A)

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2-7, Genesis 1:3-4, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:9, John 1:5

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What’s the historical context? Light in the Darkness Light is good. When God created the heavens and the earth, we are first told that “God said, ‘Let there be l...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:19, Revelation 11:15, Luke 1:46-48, John 8:41, Luke 1:29, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Advent 2023: Make Some Noise! AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Couldn’t See That Coming Powerful parents with a family pedigree derived from Judah and the David...

liturgy

You know all about us–our weakness, our

Author

Scripture

Philippians 4:6-7, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 40:29, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 34:18

You know all about us–our weakness, our failing, our sin; and you still love us enough to give your Son to redeem us. Hear the cries of our hearts today. There’s someone for whom it was hard to get ou...

liturgy

Jesus, you are our peace You proclaim

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 3:16, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 9:6, Romans 5:1, John 14:27, Colossians 1:19-20

Jesus, you are our peace You proclaim it You create it You bring us near Without you there is No safety No belonging No nurturing No identity rooted beyond this dust Without you we are Anchorless St...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 2:22-40

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-40, Leviticus 12:null, Exodus 13:1-16, Luke 2:47, Luke 2:51

Unexpected Circumstances Strange days, unexpected times: a belief-defying announcement of a pregnancy, a wearying journey to be taxed, an uncomfortable birthing bed in a hewn out cleft in the rock ...

liturgy

Jesus, Lord—because you took on flesh,

Author

Scripture

Isaiah 53:4-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Romans 12:15, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 34:18, Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus, Lord—because you took on flesh, You know what it’s like to be us. You know what keeps us awake at night, or yanks us out of sleep in the early morning. You know what it’s like to have good days...

Quote

Author

C. S. Lewis

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 53:6, Luke 5:31-32, 1 John 4:10, Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 Timothy 1:15

Non-Christians seem to think that the Incarnation implies some particular merit or excellence in humanity. But of course it implies just the reverse: a particular demerit and depravity. No creature th...

liturgy

Lord Jesus–You’ve come, are coming and

Author

Scripture

Revelation 22:12, Titus 2:13, John 8:12, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:44

Lord Jesus–You’ve come, are coming and will come again. Whether we know it or not, we live on the edge of Your advent every moment of every day either with anticipation or with anxiety. As if stumblin...

lectionary

12th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 2:4-13, Jeremiah 2:null, Jeremiah 1:, John 4:14

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Passage Context - Divided Kingdom, Common Struggles The prophet, Jeremiah, conducted the bulk of his ministry in...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Jeremiah 2:4-13

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 2:4-13, Jeremiah 2:null, Jeremiah 1:, John 4:14

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Passage Context - Divided Kingdom, Common Struggles The prophet, Jeremiah, conducted the bulk of his ministry in the latter half of the...

lectionary

First Sunday after Christmas

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-40, Leviticus 12:null, Exodus 13:1-16, Luke 2:47, Luke 2:51

Preaching Commentary Unexpected Circumstances Strange days, unexpected times: a belief-defying announcement of a pregnancy, a wearying journey to be taxed, an uncomfortable birthing bed in a hewn...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide Isaiah 61:1-4;8-11

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 61:1-4, Isaiah 40:null, Lamentations 1:2, Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:17, Lamentations 1:21, Luke 4:18-19

Ancient lens What's the historical context? Living as Captives Our text today matches, at least in part, last week’s lectionary passage (Isaiah 40). Just as in Isaiah 40, a message of comfort...

liturgy

God of grace and truth, holy and

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 41:10

God of grace and truth, holy and compassionate—Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You hold the universe in Your hands and earth’s oceans hardly moisten Your palm; yet—You number the hairs of our heads and k...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Advent

Author