1. By his first Advent in the flesh, through his second Advent with bread and wine and water and Word, we await his third Advent at the end.
  2. When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?
  3. Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
  4. Preachers and church workers must also hear the gospel preached to them.
  5. If a key part of the Reformation was placing God’s Word back into the hands of the people in a clear, understandable way, then John of Ragusa can be called a “Prometheus” in his own right.
  6. When the Reformers read the Bible (especially when studied in the original languages), they found a God who was gracious and merciful for the sake of Christ.
  7. Through water, blood, and word, the Spirit never stops pointing us to Christ, and even more, giving us Christ.
  8. The good news is that with our God there is always more: more than we deserve, dare, ask, or expect, more than we can see, hear, feel, or think.
  9. The reason that God’s commandments are not burdensome is that Jesus has fulfilled them.
  10. Both now and forever, the bruised and crucified Lord nailed to a cross is our assurance of deliverance.