1. Jesus stands before the disciples as the bridge between heaven and earth, and between Old Testament and New Testament.
  2. This week we will take a closer look at God's love in Scripture.
  3. 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."
  4. 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.
  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. The lesson of Malachi reveals God’s love for his people. When the people ask for proof of God’s love, he reminds them of their election.
  9. We will not become hopeless because the Lord is with us.
  10. When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?
  11. Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
  12. The Church stands firm on the word of promise that Christ will one day return to change what we know by faith into sight.