Fourth S. in Advent (Rorate Coeli) (Dec. 23) � �John the Baptizer Points Everyone to the Messiah

�Deut. 18:15-19; Phil. 4:4-7; John 1:19-28 or Luke 1:39-56; Psalm 111� � �

Exegesis of the LectionaryStudying, expounding, and interpreting the Bible readings through the Church Year

Memorization Verses: Deut. 18: 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.Phil. 4:� 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.John 1:� 26 John answered them… even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am

not worthy to untie.” Luke 1:49 he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.Psalm 111:� 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

Messiah – Savior, Liberator   Μεσσίας

•God reveals strength and power in weakness, or in simple ways we don’t expect. •Think of examples from the bible and your own life.

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray about God’s gift

of the Messiah. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

       

…Lord in Your Mercy.…Hear our Prayer. 1 Let us come before the throne of God’s grace and present our petitions with confidence in the Spirit through our Lord Jesus to His heavenly Father, for He is kind and full of compassion. 2 Faithful Father, in the fullness of time You sent Your Son into the womb of the Blessed Virgin that there might finally be a Man who fully did Your will and so bring all people back to You. Give Your baptized people grace to welcome their Savior’s birth with songs of joy and shouts of deliverance, for He is truly our Emmanuel. 3 As Mary heard, believed and treasured the Words spoken by the angel, so grant to all pastors, deaconesses, teachers and other servants of Your Church a love for Your Word and a fervent desire to proclaim its promises.

4 Ruler of Israel, Ancient of Days, to you we commend our government, all who hold offices of public trust, and all in our armed forces, especially those in these days serving far from home and loved ones. Strengthen and uphold them in honor, protect them from evil and guide them in paths that are pleasing to You. 5 O King whose mercy is on all who fear Him from generation to generation, in the days ahead many will come to Your services who do not make a regular use of Your means of grace. Touch their hearts, renew their minds and stir up in them a hunger for You and Your good gifts that they may return often to Your house and feast on Your bounty with all Your faithful.

Use your prayer notes. Use a verse from the

bible to reflect on. Pray about God’s gift

of the Messiah. P raise

R epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Prayer Activity

6 Father, You sent Your Son into the flesh to be our Good Shepherd and the very gift of peace. We beg that peace for all who are sad in these days, for the grieving and lonely, the forgotten and homeless, the refugee and the imprisoned, the widows and the orphans, the poor and the needy and all who cry out for healing and mercy upon their broken lives [especially___________].,7 God our Savior, You gave Your Son to be the Bread of Life, born for us in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Grant all your children who commune this day both repentance for their sin and faith in Your unfailing mercy, that they might receive the body and blood of their Savior in a worthy manner and to their abundant blessing. 8 O God our Father, by the

offering of Your Son’s body, once and for all, You have sanctified Your people and freed them from destruction and promised to raise them from the grave. Receive our praise this day for Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Joseph and all your faithful ones who have trusted in Your promises and fallen asleep in Your friendship. Give us grace to walk before You with faith like theirs and bring us at last with them to the joyous light of Your heavenly Kingdom. 9 These things and whatever else You know us to need, most Holy Father, grant us for the sake of Him who is Emmanuel, the God who is with us, and who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN

LSB 357

1 O come, O come Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!2 O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,Who ord'rest all things mightily;to us the path of knowledge show,And teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain]3 O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's heightIn ancient times didst give the LawIn cloud and majesty and awe. [Refrain]4 O come, Thou Branch of Jesse's tree,Free them from Satan's tyrannyThat trust Thy mighty pow'r to save,

And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. [Refrain]5 O come, thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heav'nly home;Make safe the way that leads on high,And close the path to misery. [Refrain]6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death's dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]7 O come, Desire of nations, bindIn one the hearts of all mankind;Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,And be Thyself our King of Peace. [Refrain]

Learning the Hebrew Alphabethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWEPFcyQXMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzjHjXe-2XU

Meet w/teams3-5 min per box

What are the major points of your text? How does your topic fit the pericope

theme? How does it connect to the other texts?

How is it unique?

Group Time John the Baptizer Points Everyone to the Messiah

Deuteronomy 18:15-19A New Prophet like Moses15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORDmy God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise

up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

Philippians 4:4-7English Standard Version (ESV)4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to

God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 1:19-28The Testimony of John the Baptist19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the

voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him,“Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Luke 1:39-56Mary Visits Elizabeth39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my

Savior,48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,    and holy is his name.50 And his mercy is for those who fear him    from generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with his arm;    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones    and exalted those of humble estate;53 he has filled the hungry with good things,    and the rich he has sent away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel,    in remembrance of his mercy,55 as he spoke to our fathers,    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Psalm 111Great Are the LORD's Works111 [a] Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.2 Great are the works of the LORD,    studied by all who delight in them.3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,    and his righteousness endures forever.4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;    the LORD is gracious and merciful.5 He provides food for those who fear him;    he remembers his covenant forever.6 He has shown his people the power

of his works,    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;    all his precepts are trustworthy;8 they are established forever and ever,    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.9 He sent redemption to his people;    he has commanded his covenant forever.    Holy and awesome is his name!10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;    all those who practice it have a good understanding.    His praise endures forever!

Share Time: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT (Rorate Coeli) Deuteronomy 18:15–19Philippians 4:4–7John 1:19–28or Luke 1:39–56 John the Baptizer Points Everyone to the Messiah The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15–19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses—the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39–56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19–28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4–7).

Sing it!

Christmas Eve-359 1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming

From tender stem hath sprung!Of Jesse's lineage comingAs men of old have sung.It came, a flower bright,Amid the cold of winterWhen half-gone was the night.

Christmas Midnight- 358 From Heaven above to earth I come

To bear good news to every home;Glad tidings of great joy I bringWhereof I now will say and sing:

To you this night is born a child

Of Mary, chosen mother mild;This little child, of lowly birth,Shall be the joy of all your earth

Christmas Dawn- 375 1 Come, your hearts and voices raising,

Christ the Lord with gladness praising;Loudly sing His love amazing,Worthy folk of Christendom.

Christmas Day- 382 1.  We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth;

Clothed in flesh You came to earth.The virgin bears a sinless boyAnd all the angels sing for joy.Alleluia!

Dec. 30First Sunday a. ChristmasIsaiah 11:1-5 or 2 Samuel 7:1-16Galatians 4:1-7Luke 2:(22-32)33-40Psalm 89:1-8The Seed of David Comes

to His Temple

Next Week…

Isaiah 11:1-5 The Righteous Reign of the Branch 11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and might….2 Samuel 7:1-16The Lord's Covenant with David 7 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lordhad given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwellin a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says theLord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? … Galatians 4:1-7 Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a

] though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, bornof woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.Luke 2:22-40 Jesus Presented at the Temple 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23… 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] departin peace,    according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and for glory to your people Israel.”33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”36 And there was a prophetess, Anna… The Return to Nazareth 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord… Psalm 89:1-8 I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord A Maskil[a] of Ethan the Ezrahite. 89 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;    with my mouth I will make known yourfaithfulness to all generations….  

Isaiah 11:1-5; 2 Samuel 7:1-16; Galatians 4:1-7; Luke 2:22-40; Psalm 89:1-8Isaiah 11:1-5The Righteous Reign of the Branch11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and might,  the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of theLORD.3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.He shall not judge by what his eyes see,    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.The LORD'S Covenant with David7 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORDhad given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwellin a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says theLORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b

] over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to

you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c

] Your throne shall be established forever.’”Galatians 4:1-7Sons and Heirs4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a] though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, bornof woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.Luke 2:22-40Jesus Presented at the Temple22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] departin peace,    according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation31     that you have prepared in the presence of all

peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and for glory to your people Israel.”33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple,worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who werewaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.The Return to Nazareth39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.Psalm 89:1-8I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the LORDA Maskil[a] of Ethan the Ezrahite.89 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;    with my mouth I will make known yourfaithfulness to all generations.2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;    in the heavens you will establish yourfaithfulness.”3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with mychosen one;    I have sworn to David my servant:4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,    and build your throne for all generations.’”Selah5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!6 For who in the skies can be compared to theLORD?    Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like theLORD,7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,    and awesome above all who are around him?8 O LORD God of hosts,    who is mighty as you are, O LORD,    with your faithfulness all around you?