1. The Value of Vicarage
Guest Rev. Michael Roth, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Saint Joseph’s, Michigan, talks about the value of vicarage. Rev. Roth wrote an article in Winter Issue of For the Life of the World, a publication of Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, IN, on the experience and value of vicarage. Find the CTSFW publication here: ctsfw.edu/resources/for-the-life-of-the-world.
2. Meditation on the Day’s Psalm
Rev. Jonathan Fisk gives a meditation on the Psalm of the Day, Psalm 40:6-10.
Psalm 40:6-10
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me
- Psalm 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
3. Worldview Watch
Avery Jackson, 9, covers the subscriber’s edition of National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution” issue in January.
Rev. Jonathan Fisk talks about the recent National Geographic cover of a transgender child. Read Walt Heyer’s article on the Federalist here thefederalist.com/2015/12/02/public-schools-force-kids-into-transgender-wars. Find the National Geographic cover and their rationale at nationalgeographic.com/magazine.
4. Daily Lectionary
Rev. Dustin Beck from Trinity Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, studies Luke 2:41-52.
5. Morning Prayer Sermonette
Today’s sermonette is given by
Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents[a] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[b] 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[c] and in favor with God and man.
Footnotes:
- Luke 2:48 Greek they
- Luke 2:49 Or about my Father’s business
- Luke 2:52 Or years
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
