1. If we just say to God, “We don’t get it, please explain,” he will. He will send us a preacher to point us to his words for more clarification.
  2. The needs of the people remain the same, but now the people are you and me. We still sin, and that sin causes so many challenges in our lives.
  3. It’s scary to share my struggle and to show that I have cracks because once I’ve shown my cards, I open myself up for judgment.
  4. Unprompted, without any warning, for no reason at all, without any instigation say, "I love you." And that will wash over your parents like a beautiful absolution.
  5. Rightly distinguishing between law and gospel, as Paul helps us see in 2 Corinthians 3, is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
  6. God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.
  7. Repentance is meaningless unless we are willing to acknowledge who we are: sinners needing mercy.
  8. The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.
  9. God resolves his wrath through the unexpected giving of his Son.
  10. Maybe, just maybe, our goal for 2023 should not be to live more but to die more.
  11. Toy Story is indeed a Christmas story.
  12. That great truth of creedal Christianity – that God is man in Christ – is not set forth for our speculative enjoyment.