Look There
Scripture Text: Luke 2:49–50
Seek! Search! Look everywhere else. But you will never find Christ Jesus anywhere else but in the holy Scripture. The Spirit will reveal himself there.
Freely Given Gifts
Scripture Text: Matthew 8:5–10
Take the Word of God "as it stands," as it is written, and be transformed by the Holy Spirit who works through that very Word in all his people.
Proud of the Gospel
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 11:21–23
A Christian glories in the things of which other men are ashamed — in the cross and in his sufferings. For the world will not long endure the Word.
Favor the Lowly
Scripture Text: Romans 12:14–16
As much as you are able, live in peace with all; spend time with those of humble circumstance. Be a blessing to your neighbor.
The Marriage Will
Scripture Text: John 2:1–2
Marriage, because it is God's institution, will be a difficult work, as the flesh will resist and rebel, as it always does against doing God's will.
Love Your Neighbor
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:43–46
Love desires the best for its neighbor, even when one's neighbor does not desire the best for you, so one must pray for them even when they are not neighborly.
Wheat and Weeds
Scripture Text: Matthew 13:26–30
Jesus allowed for believers and unbelievers alike in the church, so that both might be spared, believers from violent uprooting, and unbelievers an opportunity to believe.
Many Functions
Scripture Text: Romans 12:3–5
Each Christian has been given a calling, and with that calling a particular gift or gifts to fulfill the calling. These do not make her better or happier than another.
Failure
Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–49
God permits us to fail in order to make us seek him in his Word. Do not despair when things do not go your way. God is calling you.
Prophecy
Scripture Text: Romans 12:6–8
Paul does not put much emphasis on foretelling the future, but on the explanation of the Scriptures, so that there may be faith in the gospel.
Content with the Gospel
Scripture Text: Luke 2:50–52
May we be content with the gospel, with what is written, for it contains all that God wants us to know about himself, all that we need to know.
Love Is Not Vengeful
Scripture Text: Proverbs 10:12
Love is virtue pure and precious. It neither utters, nor thinks any evil of its neighbor. It rather covers sin; not one sin, nor two, but a “multitude of sins.”
Worship for Christ's Sake
Scripture Text: Luke 2:36–38
Our worship and good works are to be done for Christ's sake, not because we think that we earn salvation through our deeds or piety.
Dealing with Trouble
Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–45
Good and bad happens to bad and so-called good people alike. The difference is how one responds, and why, and from where their peace comes.
The Offense of Faith
Scripture Text: Luke 2:33–35
Have we forgotten that in order to be saved, we must have faith in Christ, trusting in God above our own works of religious devotion?
Sober Judgment
Scripture Text: Romans 12:1–3
We must consider ourselves with sound and sober judgment, not thinking much of our piety. There is always room for improvement in the Christian life.
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Appearances
Scripture Text: Luke 2:33–35
Simeon was not impressed by appearances and so, could bless Christ Jesus. If appearances are our motivation, we will not bless Jesus.
Acceptable Sacrifice
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:2–5
Christians are priests, each and every one of them, and as priests, are to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. That sacrifice is self for the honor God.
Faith in His Word
Scripture Text: Luke 2:25–33
We must have faith in the Word, not in what our senses tell us. Feelings are secondary (at least) and are to be subordinated to "what is written."
Bless
Scripture Text: Romans 12:14–21
Christians should not curse—in the sense of wishing evil in a person's life. However, Christians are to censure and reprove evil in the hope of good.
Kept in Humble Faith
Scripture Text: Luke 2:41–52
God allows suffering to guard against presumption, as example to others to repent, and as preparation for finding Christ, and keeping him.
Living Sacrifice
Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-2
The sacrifices of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the one sacrifice of Christ Jesus so that we may offering the living sacrifice of faith in everyday life.
Indebted to Love
Scripture Text: Romans 13:8
Having Christ's Spirit within us, we are to love our neighbors so fully through that it seems as though we are indebted to love our them.
Evidence of Faith
Scripture Text: Romans 13:8–10
Love of neighbor does not justify us to God. Faith in God does however, compel us to love our neighbor, and this is evidence of faith, and love of God.
The Twofold Effect of the Gospel
Scripture Text: Isaiah 60:1
The light exposes the darkness of human reason, doctrine, and works, and displays our need of the grace and glory of he who is Light from Light, true God from true God.
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