1. 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.
  2. 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."
  3. That great truth of creedal Christianity – that God is man in Christ – is not set forth for our speculative enjoyment.
  4. Despite our best efforts to avoid him, King Jesus remains very much unavoidable.
  5. Who would ever want all these screamers and haters? It turns out that Christ does.
  6. When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?
  7. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of him who works.
  8. Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
  9. Preachers and church workers must also hear the gospel preached to them.
  10. We don’t start with behavior and work toward Christ. We start with Christ and everything works out from there.
  11. Through water, blood, and word, the Spirit never stops pointing us to Christ, and even more, giving us Christ.