1. This is an excerpt from part two of “On Any Given Sunday: The Story of Christ in the Divine Service” by Mike Berg (1517 Publishing, 2023).
  2. Paul thinks the consequences of Christ not being raised are worse for those who believe than those who never did if it were to be true Christ was not raised.
  3. We can’t predict the harvest. We can only sow.
  4. To believe God is love and thus loves you is a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit.
  5. His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you.
  6. “So loved,” then isn’t about how much but instead simply how.
  7. Love is pointing to Jesus who said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
  8. Jesus not only healed her daughter, but he also gave himself to her. Wherever she went from then on, he was with her.
  9. The gospel's message is the scandalous announcement that Yahweh has stooped to our frame, to where we are.
  10. As the writer to the Hebrews affirms, what makes the Christian gospel so much better is that we are no longer dealing with “types and shadows."
  11. God resolves his wrath through the unexpected giving of his Son.
  12. Toy Story is indeed a Christmas story.