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.
Today is the eighth day of Christmas, just like the old song goes. Christmas is such good news that it takes 12 days to celebrate it fully. No sermon this week as we celebrate our annual Lessons & Carols service, hearing the story of our Savior's birth from its promise in the Old Testament to its fulfillment in the New.
Today we'll observe our celebration of the Festival of Our Lord's Epiphany, comemorating the historical day that the Wise Men, or Magi, brought the infant Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myhrr. During coffee time we'll have a king cake, and according to the south Texas tradition, whoever finds the baby in their piece of cake gets to bring tamales next week for coffee time. Good luck! (Yes, we know Epiphany is properly January 6, 13 days after Christmas.)
Current Series: Guest List
Who’s coming to the holiday party?
Study & Share Insert
...#4 How did you become a child of God (vv12-13)? Who has helped you grow & how? Praise God right now for those people who showed & told you about Jesus’ birth. See Small Catechism: Apostles’ Creed II, Holy Baptism; available bookofconcord.org; John 3:1-8; Romans 6:1-11, 8:14-17, 9:8; 1 Corinthians, 4:14-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16b-18; Galatians 3:26, 4:4-7 Ephesians 1:5-14; 2 Timothy 1:5-7
Grateful Men
Luke 2:8-20
What an amazing time they got to have
Current Series: Guest List
Who’s coming to the holiday party?
Study & Share Insert
...#3 Sketch how you imagine the nativity scene (stick figures are OK; make sure you stick to the Bible story). Which character (not Jesus) do you identify with in the story & how? Add yourself to your picture. Show & tell about your illustration to someone else. This might be a fun & interesting activity for that after-Christmas-dinner “Now what?” time.
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS_2022-12-25_ChristmasDay
A New Man Luke 2:1-20
His life brings the gift of life
Current Series: Guest List
Who’s coming to the holiday party?
Study & Share Insert
...#3 Sketch how you imagine the nativity scene (stick figures are OK; make sure you stick to the Bible story). Which character (not Jesus) do you identify with in the story & how? Add yourself to your picture. Show & tell about your illustration to someone else. This might be a fun & interesting activity for that after-Christmas-dinner “Now what?” time.
A Righteous Man Matthew 1:18-25
He brings his gift of “doing the right thing” even if it means reappraising his principles & other’s opprobrium
Current Series: Guest List
Who’s coming to the holiday party?
Study & Share Insert
...#6 As a righteous/just man St. Joseph intended to do what was right by God’s Old Testament law, yet with mercy, compassion, gentleness, humility, even kindness (v19; cf. Deuteronomy 22:23-24). How does your following Joseph’s example make your community a better place? See Proverbs 21:3; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8; Matthew 9:13, 12:3
A Wild Man Matthew 3:1-12
He brings his gift of full-throttle, full-throated, two-fisted faithfulness
Current Series: Guest List
Who’s coming to the holiday party?
Study & Share Insert
...#2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…Bear fruit worthy of repentance!” (vv2, 8). What might these fruits look like? See Matthew 7:15-20, 21:28-46; John 15:1-8-, 16; Romans 7:4-5; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:6-11; Colossians 1:4-14; Hebrews 12:11, 13:15; James 3:17; 2 Peter 1:3-11
With Me Psalm 46
Today you will be with me in Paradise.
Current Series: Come Down Here
Called down from our attempts to get a leg up on others, we serve them instead
Study & Share Insert
...#2 The Festival of Christ the King celebrates Jesus’ promised return to bring his Kingdom in its fullness. (It’s the completion of annual our Advent expectant waiting.) What do we learn about this kingdom from Luke 23:33-43? See John 5:18-24, 37-42, 8:21-24, 16:4-11, 18:33-38; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS_2022-11-20_Pent24CtK
Sitting Down 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
I already did my share, now I’m putting my feet up.
Current Series: Come Down Here
Called down from our attempts to get a leg up on others, we serve them instead
Study & Share Insert
...#2 How can St. Paul set himself up as an example to be followed? See 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 5:1-21, 6:17; Philippians 1:20, 2:5-13
Download the rest (*.pdf) SS_2022-11-13_Pent23
Strength & Endurance Training Luke 6:20-31
Physical health and wellness involves both; so too with saintly, spiritual wellness.
Current Series: Come Down Here
Called down from our attempts to get a leg up on others, we serve them instead
Study & Share Insert
...#6 As American elections become increasingly bitter & hateful, how does the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49, esp. vv26-38) equip you to be a force for peacefulness, temperance, & happiness in your community or workplace? How does that cut against your own preferred political party’s platform?
Jacob's Family Homecoming
Genesis 32:22--33:4
Out of tricks & alone, Jacob must reckon with God before reckoning with Esau
Current Series: From Generation to Generation
Imparting the Faith for the Future, Today
Study & Share Insert
...#2 Consider Hosea 12:3-5 (also Exodus 4:24-26); Luke 12:27-34, 13:24; 1 Corinthians 12:27--13:1 (13:2-8), 14:1; Colossians 4:12; 2 Peter 3:15; see also Isaiah 45:9. How is Jacob’s wrestling match, striving with God, a model for us? What warning does Isaiah give? What do 1Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 11:21-28 1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7 add?
