This is Pastor Jared's weekly sermon info and his weekly Study and Share devotional Bible study. Unless otherwise noted all sermons and studies are copyright Jared Stillions 2020-2023. The devotional Bible studies may be reproduced & shared for personal, non-sale use, provided this copyright notice is included. The studies are formatted two to a page to make sharing it easier. Weekly posts go live at 9:00 AM on Sundays.
You can find his sermon podcast on the sermon-cast page. Check back each Sunday for new content. The podcast will soon be listed with major services. Why not put them on the same page? Due to limitations of our website builder.
By the way, here's the Lutheran Confessions, The Book of Concord, online and in the public domain. These writings, including Luther's Small & Large Catechisms are frequently referenced in these devotional studies. The Confessions are the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church and a faithful exposition of the Bible. You could say they are squared, leveled, and plumb by and to the Bible itself.
Sunday's Sermon Another Road
Keeping our eyes on Jesus leads us down another way, a narrow way, away from the avenues of power.
Current Series: Remembrance
Our Christmas celebrations bridge the gap between back then, right now, and what’s still to come, as well as, back there, right here, and over yonder.
Study & Share Insert
...#3 Changing gears for a moment- How does Psalm 72 square with Psalm 146:3-4 (also Psalms 20:7, 33:16-17, 118:8-9, 147:10-11)? How does treating Psalm 72 as a prayer help? How does Psalm 72 help you pray for governmental leaders- regardless of party affiliation? See 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Our Christmas Eve & Day sermons are... 12.24 Let Us Go
Somehow going there helps us see it right here.
12.25 Returning with Joy
We’ll soon return to “business as usual” with the holidays over, but with a treasure of joy.
12.27 No Sermon
Our lessons and carols service. We'll hear and sing the story of our dear Savior's birth from its promise in the Old Testament to its fulfilment in the New Testament.
Current Series: Remembrance
Our Christmas celebrations bridge the gap between back then, right now, and what’s still to come, as well as, back there, right here, and over yonder.
Study & Share Insert
12.24 #1 Why might God send the angels to poor shepherds & not the powerful elite? See 2 Samuel 7:8, 16; Isaiah 61:1-3a; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12, 11:25; John 1:29, 35-36, (10:11, 14-15); 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS2020-12-24_ChristmasEVE
12.25 ...#2. Compare & contrast the shepherds & their reaction with these other gospel characters & reactions. See Luke 4:16-29, 8:26-39, 9:57-62, 17:11-19, 18:18-30, 23:1-25, 24:13-25; John 1:35-51, 4:25-30,
6:41-69, 8:1-11, 9:1-17, 30-41, 19:4-12, 20:11-18
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS2020-12-25_ChristmasDAY
12.27 ...#5. How have people come to believe through you? See v7 Check out this funny story from the Babylon Bee website https://bit.ly/3rhZdMG
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS2020-12-27_LessonsCarols
Sunday's Sermon Grand Gifts
God’s goodness and mercy aren’t left the past; they stack up to give us this present, promising the future fulfillment of what they signify.
Current Preaching Series Finite & Infinite
God’s infinite promises come down to us in our finite world, especially in Jesus’ promised return.
Study & Share Insert
...#2 Review the history behind v6. See Exodus 33:7-11, 40:34-38; Numbers 11:24-30; Joshua 3:14-17, 6:1-15; 18:1, 19:51, 22:9; Judges 20:26–28; 1 Samuel 21–22; 2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Kings 3:2–4, 8:4; 1 Chronicles 13:5–6, 15:1, 16:39, 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:2–6, 13; Psalm 78:54-72 How does it provide a prototype for the promise of Emmanuel- God with us? See Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 How about for the promise of the Holy Spirit? See Isaiah 11:1-10; John 15:26--16:15; Acts 1:1-5, 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:5
Sunday's Sermon
No sermon this week during the children's Sunday School program
Current Preaching Series Finite & Infinite
God’s infinite promises come down to us in our finite world, especially in Jesus’ promised return.
Study & Share Insert #4 The Magnificat also holds a mirror up to us so that we may see ourselves, warts & all. Where is the Lord preparing you for Jesus’ arrival by calling you to repent of being the king of the hill, top of the heap? Your pride? Power? Prestige? Privilege? Pedigree? Personality traits (flaws)? Position? (misdirected) Passion? (misguided) Purpose? Impiety? Ambition? Greed? What awaits your failure to repent (vv51-53)? See 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; 2 Peter 2:1-10a
By the way, our Wednesday Sermon and Series is... To Rescue the Godly (12.16.2020)
the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment -2 Peter 2:9 How to Hear a Sermon
Why do we bother with sermons and what are they good for? They open God's Word to us, both his Law and his Gospel. They're not self-help motivation or instructional lectures.
Sunday's Sermon The Point
We’re not sure just how far away our breaking point is. Jesus gives the “signs of the times” an infinite purpose
Current Preaching Series Finite & Infinite
God’s infinite promises come down to us in our finite world, especially in Jesus’ promised return.
Study & Share Insert #3 Review Mark 2:17, Luke 15:7, Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:8-9. What’s the point of repentance? To embarrass you before God, who already knows everything about you (cf. Psalms 94:11, 139:2, 23; Matthew 10:30)? Look up repentance in your study Bible & read the Augsburg Confession XII. Where does the old joke, “I know I’m going the wrong way, but I’m making great time!” apply to your life? AC available bookofconcord.org
By the way, our Wednesday Sermon and Series is... To Glorify Jesus In You(12.09.2020)
God will make you worthy of his call..so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you -2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 How to Hear a Sermon
Why do we bother with sermons and what are they good for? They open God's Word to us, both his Law and his Gospel. They're not self-help motivation or instructional lectures.
Sunday's Sermon The Point
We’re not sure just how far away our breaking point is. Jesus gives the “signs of the times” an infinite purpose
Current Preaching Series Finite & Infinite
God’s infinite promises come down to us in our finite world, especially in Jesus’ promised return.
Study & Share Insert #5God’s hiddenness is a common theme in the Bible & theology. Martin Luther contrasts it with the The_revealed_God. Where can you look to find God revealed, & more importantly, revealed for you? See John 1:14, 3:16; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20; Small & Large Catechisms: Holy Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion
How can you tell this to someone else who senses God’s hiddenness?
By the way, our Wednesday Sermon and Series is... What It Really Is (12.02.2020)
When you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. -1 Thessalonians 2:13 How to Hear a Sermon
Why do we bother with sermons and what are they good for? They open God's Word to us, both his Law and his Gospel. They're not self-help motivation or instructional lectures.
Sunday's Sermon
"2-Minute Warning"
The time is late & ministry is a gift, like the talents; we can’t claim it’s rewards for ourselves.
Current Preaching Series
A New King
Signs of the kingdom in everyday life, part II; despite the apoplectic election coverage since last year, the election results don’t overthrow Jesus.
Sunday's Sermon
"Us vs. Them"
Sadly, we’re more prepared for Inauguration Day than Judgement Day. Alas, the new president can’t make justice roll down like waters- only God can. Divine justice isn’t revenge, but Grace & Life.
Current Preaching Series
A New King
Signs of the kingdom in everyday life, part II; despite the apoplectic election coverage since last year, the election results don’t overthrow Jesus.
Sunday's Sermon
"Election Rolls"
We have no fear even as Christianity inches ever closer to being outlawed in public . Our citizenship is in heaven because our names are in heaven's Book of Life.
Current Preaching Series
A New King
Signs of the kingdom in everyday life, part II; despite the apoplectic election coverage since last year, the election results don’t overthrow Jesus.
Sunday's Sermon
"(The Purpose of) Declaring His Honor & Praise"
Ascribe to the LORD honor & power (v7b)
Current Preaching Series
Using God's Gifts for God's Purposes
This is the best definition of stewardship. The Psalms show and tell us what a few of those purposes are. BTW, the Psalms are a lot like the blues.
Daily Psalms
As mentioned in the sermon, you can use this Daily Psalter to include all the Psalms in your daily prayers and Bible reading. You can use it two ways: monthly or bi-monthly. First, you can read and pray through all the psalms every 30 days, as labled in the AM and PM columns with the dated rows. Second, you can read and pray through them in 60 days by using the left column in odd months (Jan, Mar, May, etc.) and the right column in even months (Feb, Apr, Jun, etc.) with the dated rows. It's useful to conclude each unit of Psalms by saying the Gloria Patri- "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen." Enjoy!
