1. Ash Wednesday's purpose is not to motivate our resolve to redouble our efforts to do better.
  2. Jesus stands before the disciples as the bridge between heaven and earth, and between Old Testament and New Testament.
  3. This week we will take a closer look at God's love in Scripture.
  4. Forty days after giving birth, Mary, along with her husband Joseph, presented their firstborn Son at the temple and "bought" him back with a sacrifice of two small birds. This is known as the "Presentation of Our Lord."
  5. Even as he was dying, the heart of God poured itself out for the sake of sinners.
  6. All of Scripture, every last syllable of it, is meant to drive us to "consider Jesus," the One who comes to "make us right" by gifting us his righteousness.
  7. Repentance is meaningless unless we are willing to acknowledge who we are: sinners needing mercy.
  8. The answer to our messages is God's "yes," Jesus, who sends his preachers to proclaim that there's no place for us now other than in the grip of our God and Savior.
  9. The usual acclamation when one becomes King is: “Long live the King!” But this King of kings, this son of David, has come to die.
  10. God the Father sent us – his wayward, sinful, and naughty children – his own series of Father Christmas Letters.
  11. Psalm 8 is a trailer for the entire biblical movie, and the entire biblical movie centers on Christ.