1. As disciples of Jesus, our righteousness cannot be performed before others, because our righteousness was already performed by Jesus.
  2. Even if the numbers are bad, the news about Jesus crucified for sinners and raised to new life hasn’t become any less good.
  3. There is a revival, no less real and even more definitive, taking place in every church, every weekend, where God’s people gather around his gifts.
  4. Ash Wednesday's purpose is not to motivate our resolve to redouble our efforts to do better.
  5. The sign of the cross, according to the earliest centuries of Christians, is “the sign of the Lord,” and every baptized Christian was “marked” with it.
  6. That great truth of creedal Christianity – that God is man in Christ – is not set forth for our speculative enjoyment.
  7. Despite our best efforts to avoid him, King Jesus remains very much unavoidable.
  8. When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?
  9. Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
  10. Preachers and church workers must also hear the gospel preached to them.
  11. Through water, blood, and word, the Spirit never stops pointing us to Christ, and even more, giving us Christ.
  12. Even though All Saints is a day for remembering the dead, it is not a day of mourning.