Posts with the category “advent”

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:       68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,          because he has come to his people and redeemed them.       69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us          in the house of his servant David       70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),       71 salvation from our enemies          and from the...  Read More

62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all thes...  Read More

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no on...  Read More

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be me...  Read More

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that th...  Read More

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy on...  Read More

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this mi...  Read More

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remai...  Read More

17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence o...  Read More

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of ...  Read More

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechar...  Read More

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know ...  Read More

“See, I will create    new heavens and a new earth.The former things will not be remembered,    nor will they come to mind.But be glad and rejoice forever    in what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight    and its people a joy.I will rejoice over Jerusalem    and take delight in my people;the sound of weeping and of crying    will be heard in it no more.Isaiah 65:17-19Full Rea...  Read More

Keep me safe, my God,    for in you I take refuge.I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;    apart from you I have no good thing.”I say of the holy people who are in the land,    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods    or take up their names on my lips.Lord, you alone are my...  Read More

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning an...  Read More

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature of a servant,    being made in human likeness.Philippians 2:6-7Full Readings: Isaiah 6:1–10, Philippians 2:6–11The humility of Christ is one of the st...  Read More

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”John 3:14-15Full Readings: Numbers 21:4–9, John 3:1–15Heaven. Paradise. Eternal life. For so many of us in the Northern Suburbs of Wollongong or in Australia, what happ...  Read More

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.After he has suffered,    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,    and he will bear their iniquities.Therefore...  Read More

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”Matthew 27:38-40Full Readings: Isaiah 53:7–9, Matthew 27:32–44We’ve spoken a bunch about Jesus’ humility and I don...  Read More

Who has believed our message    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,    and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.He was despised and rejected by mankind,    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.Like one from whom people hide their faces    ...  Read More

See, my servant will act wisely;    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.Just as there were many who were appalled at him—    his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being    and his form marred beyond human likeness—so he will sprinkle many nations,    and kings will shut their mouths because of him.For what they were not told, they will see,    and what they have ...  Read More

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish?You who fear the Lord, praise him!    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!For he has not despised or scorned    the suffering of the afflicted one;he has not hidden his face from him    but has listened to his cry for help.Posterity wi...  Read More

When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my...  Read More

Who among you fears the Lord    and obeys the word of his servant?Let the one who walks in the dark,    who has no light,trust in the name of the Lord    and rely on their God. But now, all you who light fires    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,go, walk in the light of your fires    and of the torches you have set ablaze.This is what you shall receive from my hand:    You will lie down...  Read More

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,    the one I love, in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him,    and he will...  Read More

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”Genesis 22:2Full Readings: Genesis 22:1–14, Matthew 3:13–17As a Dad, I find it unthinkable that I would ever do something so horrendous as sacrifice my child. It sends shivers down my spine. Can you imagine Abraham’s predicament? T...  Read More

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.Let Israel say:    “His love endures forever.”Let the house of Aaron say:    “His love endures forever.”Let those who fear the Lord say:    “His love endures forever.”The stone the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,    and it is marvelous in our eyes.The Lord has done it this very day;    let...  Read More

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:6-8Full Readings: Psalm 62, Romans 5:6–8I want you to imagine something with me. Picture...  Read More

The Lord says to my lord:“Sit at my right hand    until I make your enemies    a footstool for your feet.”The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,    “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”Your troops will be willing    on your day of battle.Arrayed in holy splendor,    your young men will come to you    like dew from the morning’s womb.The Lord has sworn    and will not change his...  Read More

And now the Lord says—    he who formed me in the womb to be his servantto bring Jacob back to him    and gather Israel to himself,for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord    and my God has been my strength—he says:“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant    to restore the tribes of Jacob    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,    that ...  Read More

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’John 1:29-30Full Readings: Exod 12:21–23, John 1:29–34One of my favourite events is the FIFA World Cup. And inevitably, every four years, a discussion pops up; who is the GOAT? ...  Read More

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sin...  Read More

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”“I baptize...  Read More

      A voice of one calling:          “In the wilderness prepare          the way for the LORD;          make straight in the desert          a highway for our God.       Every valley shall be raised up,          every mountain and hill made low;          the rough ground shall become level,          the rugged places a plain.       And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,          and all peo...  Read More

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.Joh...  Read More

      Therefore, you kings, be wise;          be warned, you rulers of the earth.       Serve the LORD with fears          and celebrate his rule with trembling.      Kiss his son, or he will be angry          and your way will lead to your destruction,          for his wrath can flare up in a moment.          Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:10–12.Full Readings: Psalm 2It’s the sev...  Read More

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30–33.Full Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1...  Read More

“But you, Bethlehemi Ephrathah,         though you are small among the clans of Judah,          out of you will come for me          one who will be ruler over Israel,          whose origins are from of old,          from ancient times.”Micah 5:2Full Readings: Micah 5:1-4, Mathew 2:3-12It’s the fifth day of the first week of Advent. A week of hope. A week to reflect on the anticipation of the birt...  Read More

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,a King who will reign wisely    and do what is just and right in the land.In his days Judah will be saved    and Israel will live in safety.This is the name by which he will be called:    The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.Jeremiah 23:5-6Full Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-6 & 33:14-16, Matthew 2:1-2It’s the fourt...  Read More

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14Full Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25 It’s the third day of the first week of Advent. A week of hope. A week to reflect on the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.Advent is all about liminality (you can look that one up - great word). ...  Read More