Seeds of Faith Podcast

The text for this lesson is Matthew 2.

Key Point

• The Wise Men came to see the Savior and honor Him with gifts. In church, we see the Savior in His gifts of Word and Sacrament, which honor and bless us.
• Law: Like Herod, I do not want to worship the Savior, Jesus.
• Gospel: Christ comes to me, a sinner, through His Word and Sacraments in worship.

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Discussion Points

1. How did you come to realize that Jesus is the Christ who came into the world to save sinners?
2. Read Matthew 2:1–12. In verse 1, Matthew gives an abrupt, surprising introduction of the Magi (Wise Men): “Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.” When does this story take place? Who were the Magi? See Daniel 2:1–11, especially verses 2 and 10. Why does Matthew introduce them with the attention-grabbing word behold?
3. When the Magi arrive in Jerusalem, for whom are they looking and what do they want to do when they find that person? Who actually makes the connection that they must be referring to the Christ? What do the Magi need in order to find and bow down to the Christ Child?
4. Again in Matthew 2:9 the evangelist uses the word behold to grab our attention for something surprising. Why do the Magi need the star to guide them again, and how does their response to the star show this?
5. When the Magi finally see the infant King, what exactly do they do? What gifts do they offer and what do these gifts mean? See Isaiah 60:6 and Psalm 141:2. What do these gifts say about Jesus Christ Himself? How might we apply them to our Christian life and worship?
6. Read Matthew 2:13–18. When Joseph takes Jesus and Mary and escapes to Egypt, what does it mean for His reign of salvation and for us His people?
7. Read Matthew 2:19–23. Here, Matthew records Jesus’ return to the land of Israel and the Holy Family finally settling in Nazareth of Galilee. What does it mean that “the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23)? How can John 1:45–46 and John 7:40–44, 52 help understand Matthew’s message in this verse?
8. Why do we call this story, and hence the feast day on which we hear and celebrate this story each year, the Epiphany of our Lord?
9. How can the story of the holy innocents—the baby boys whom Herod brutally slaughtered—help us be proactive in standing up against the sin of abortion in our day?

The text for this lesson is Luke 2:1–20.

Key Point

• To you, is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
• Law: Because of sin, I am afraid and helpless before God and I deserve to die.
• Gospel: God sent His Son, Jesus, to save me from sin and death.

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Discussion Points

1. Why is Christmas a particularly fitting time to celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
2. Around this time of year, you often see the phrase “Jesus is the reason for the season” on church signs and billboards. Read Luke 2:10–11. Who does the angel say is the reason for the season? Read John 1:1–4. How do we know that Jesus does not need a season for His own sake?
3. “Christmas is for children,” people often say. Usually they mean that the excitement of music and presents and Santa Claus is particularly for little children. Read John 1:12–14. How is it that, in a very real and positive sense, Christmas is for children? In what negative way are all of us too often children at Christmas?
4. When you hear that something is a story, do you think first of fiction or nonfiction? When discussing the Christmas story and Bible stories with others, how can we best communicate that they are not just made-up?
5. We should thank God for the remarkable literary and historical skills that Luke received from Him. In his Gospel, Luke eloquently and accurately portrays Jesus as a real man born within an actual historical context. How do we know that Luke was careful to keep his facts straight? Read Luke 1:1–4. What statements in Luke 2:1–2 provide the historical setting for this factual account? Why do you think Luke sets Jesus’ birth on the stage of well-known world history?
6. King David was from Bethlehem and was a shepherd (1 Samuel 16:1, 11). We saw in Lesson 2 that the promised Messiah (also known as the Christ or Anointed One) would come from David’s household (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Why was it necessary that Jesus be born in Bethlehem? See Micah 5:2–5a. What people mentioned in Luke 2:8–20 are fitting candidates to receive the Good News about the Messiah?
7. Luke 2:11 says that the child who is born in Bethlehem is “Christ the Lord.” We know from previous questions and lessons that the Messiah (the Christ) would be a successor to King David and would be very great. What did people commonly expect the Messiah to be like? See Luke 23:35, 39; Matthew 16:15–23; Acts 1:6. Where could they have looked for a correct understanding of what the Messiah would be like? See Isaiah 52:13–53:12.
8. Isaiah 52–53 describes the Lord’s Suffering Servant in remarkable detail. Why would we talk about this passage on Christmas when it seems more appropriate for Good Friday? It helps us remember that Jesus was born to die. His death was foreseen in Scripture, as Jesus Himself teaches the disciples in Luke 24:25–27, 44–47. Isaiah 52–53 is just one instance of prophecy that the Christ would suffer, die, and rise again. As Luke says, “[Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
   One of the passages we are studying in this lesson is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” In light of the things we have learned about the Messiah, what do you think is the best interpretation of the phrases “God so loved the world” and “He gave His only Son”?
9. Read Luke 2:6–7. Perhaps the best word to describe the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth is humble. There is nothing impressive about the birth itself. Only a few people knew about it. The glory of it is only shown through the angels, the messengers of God. The same can be said of the Church. She is not very impressive in the eyes of the world. The glory of the Church is only seen through the message of the Gospel given through the Word. Only the eyes of faith can see her glory. Christ’s birth, life, and death reveal God’s way of working in the world. We can also see that way of working in Christ’s Bride, the Church. Read Luke 1:48, 52; 14:7–11. How important is humility for the Christian? How does that virtue work itself out in practice?
10. At Christmas, we celebrate the wonderful truth that God took on human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The Creator of the universe made Himself into a tiny unborn baby. Though this is a time of year when we focus on joy and peace, the harsh reality of this sinful world is that many unborn babies are not safe in their mothers’ wombs but will be murdered through abortion. As we remember our Lord’s incarnation, let us reflect on the great tragedy and injustice of abortion and seek ways to protect the little ones. The incarnation is the ultimate testament to the great value of unborn babies and little children. We also should remember that Jesus came to save sinners, including those who have had and who perform abortions. What was Jesus’ attitude toward infants? Read Luke 18:15–17. Why must we adults constantly learn to be children?
11. The angel in Luke 2:11 announced that a Savior had been born. Many Jews thought that the Messiah would be a secular savior who would defeat their enemies. What kind of savior are people looking for today? What kind of Savior is Jesus? See Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:77.
12. Don’t the nativity scenes make you wish you were there? Don’t the Christmas carols paint such a lovely picture of that night when Christ the Lord was born? Can you imagine how beautiful the angels’ song was? It certainly would have been a glorious experience. But we have things even better than the shepherds. How?

The text for this lesson is Luke 2:22–40.

Key Point

• God’s Law requires payment for every sin. God’s Son fulfilled the Law and paid for our sin.
• Law: God’s Law demands perfection, but I am not perfect.
• Gospel: As God and man, Jesus lived a perfect life to satisfy the Law in my place.

The podcast for this week comes from our archives.
 

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Discussion Points

1. Everyone loves to hold a little baby! Seasoned mothers who have already raised their children simply melt with joy when they get to hold a newborn infant. Reserved, mild-mannered men break down and enjoy making silly baby talk noises when they hold an infant. What would you do if you got to hold an infant who was also the very Son of God? Would you be able to comprehend that the well-being of the whole world rested on that little tyke?
2. Read Luke 2:21. How did Jesus keep the Law given through Abraham and Moses? See Genesis 17:10–12 and Leviticus 12:3. How does Jesus’ circumcision show us His salvation?
3. Read Luke 2:22–24. How does the infant Jesus keep the Law and show us His salvation when He is only forty days old? See Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 and Leviticus 12:2–8.
4. Now read Luke 2:25–35. What do we learn about aged, pious Simeon? What exactly is he waiting for, and how did he know to wait for it in the temple? See also 1 John 2:1. What had the Holy Spirit revealed to him?
5. When Simeon finally does see the Christ of God, the holy infant Jesus in the flesh, he does the same thing Zechariah did—he blesses God by singing of the Lord’s salvation. Look again at Simeon’s song in Luke 2:29–32. This song is called the Nunc Dimittis because of the first two words in the Latin version. Discuss the details of the Nunc Dimittis and what these details mean.
6. Look again at the prophecy that Simeon spoke to Mary in Luke 2:34–35. What does it mean that Jesus “is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed”? What is the “sword” that would pierce Mary’s soul?
7. Read Luke 2:36–38. Here we meet aged Anna, a prophetess. How is Anna like the shepherds, after they had heard the good news proclaimed by the angels, in Luke 2:15–20? How is her proclamation different than that of the shepherds?
8. Read Luke 2:39–40. The scene shifts suddenly from the temple in Jerusalem to the home of the holy family in Nazareth in Galilee. What does it mean that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom?
9. Since Jesus fulfilled God’s law of circumcision for us, we Christians no longer need to be circumcised in the flesh as part of God’s saving covenant. What sign has our Lord given us for our entry into His covenant of grace and mercy? See Colossians 2:11–12.
10. Simeon’s song, the Nunc Dimittis, shows up in different places in our Christian liturgy. We are probably most used to singing it after the Lord’s Supper in the Divine Service. It also gets sung at the end of the day in Prayer at the Close of the Day (LSB, pp. 253–259) and is included in the Funeral Service (LSB, pp. 278–281). What are we confessing as we sing Simeon’s song at these different times?

The text for this lesson is Luke 1:26–38.

Key Point

• Because of Christ, God favored Mary and chose her to be the mother of the Savior. Because of Christ, God favors us and chooses us to be His children.
• Law: Like Mary, I deserve nothing from God because of my sinfulness.
• Gospel: God gives me unmerited grace and favor because of His Son.

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Discussion Points

1. Why is it absolutely essential that we maintain that Jesus was conceived without a human father while Mary was a virgin?
2. Gabriel says to Mary in Luke 1:37 that “nothing will be impossible with God.” How could this verse be misused by Christians today? How should we apply it?
3. Is it appropriate to call Mary “the mother of God”?
4. What is the traditional date for observation of the annunciation (Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of Jesus’ conception)? Does your congregation celebrate the annunciation?
5. The angel Gabriel came to both Zechariah and Mary with prophecies of extraordinary births. Compare Zechariah’s response in Luke 1:18 with Mary’s responses in 1:34, 38. How are they different? What could account for the differences between their responses? What can we learn from this comparison?
6. In Luke 1:28, Mary is called “favored one,” and in 1:30, she is told that she has “found favor with God.” What does favor mean? See Genesis 6:5–8 for the first instance of the word favor in the Bible. What caused God to favor Noah? What caused God to favor Mary? How does this help us see that we are justified by grace?
7. Joshua was the successor of Moses and led the children of Israel triumphantly into the Promised Land. His name means “the Lord helps” or “the Lord saves.” In a way, Joshua was a savior of Israel. Jesus is the Greek form of the name Joshua. In Luke 1:31, Gabriel tells Mary that she will call her son Jesus. How does Jesus’ name reveal who He is? See Matthew 1:21. How does Matthew define what kind of Savior Jesus is?
8. Read 2 Samuel 7:11b–16 and Isaiah 9:6–7. The first is a prophecy from the Lord given through the prophet Nathan to King David that there would come after him a King (Messiah or Christ) whose throne would endure foreHow does Luke emphasize that Jesus will fulfill the Jewish hope for the long-awaited Messiah?
   How does he reveal that Jesus is not a mere earthly king but is actually God Himself?ver. The second is a prophecy from Isaiah concerning the Messiah. Compare these prophecies to Luke 1:27, 32–33, 35, and note similar phrases.
9. The liturgy and confessions that we use in the Church help connect us historically to God’s people of all times. Much of our liturgy is derived from the Psalms, the prayer book of the Old Testament. The Sanctus is from Isaiah 6, the Aaronic Benediction is from Numbers 6, and more Old Testament examples could be given. Of course, New Testament phrases and songs also appear in the liturgy. We also confess our faith through the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, which declare what we believe about the God who created the world, redeemed us by the cross of Jesus, and sanctifies us through the Holy Spirit’s continuing work.
   As we read the Old and New Testaments, we learn that they are truly part of the story of our lives as Christians. Christian doctrines are not just abstract statements disconnected from reality but are living descriptions of God’s gracious dealings with His people of all times. We see an example of this in Mary. Where do we find her in our creeds and liturgy? How does the Church properly remember Mary?
10. In Luke 1:35, Gabriel says to Mary that “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Though Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, in what way can all Christians be called “holy” and “sons of God” through the work of the Holy Spirit? See 1 Corinthians 6:11; John 3:5; Galatians 3:26–27; and Romans 8:14–17.
11. A literal translation of Luke 1:28 from the Greek would be “Rejoice, favored woman, the Lord is with you.” Gabriel indicates that the Lord’s favor toward and presence with Mary are cause for rejoicing. In what unique sense was the Lord with Mary? See Matthew 1:23. Where do we find Immanuel today?

The text for this lesson is Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23; Luke 11:11–12; Ephesians 6:1–4; 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12.

Key Point

• The heavenly Father used dutiful Joseph to deliver His Son from death at the hands of Herod to preserve Him for death in due time on the cross.
• Law: Raising a family demands sacrifices of money, time, and freedom—sacrifices many men make in word only. Being a father is often a thankless job that is not highly honored in today’s world.
• Gospel: Since the heavenly Father sacrificed His Son, we are able to make great personal sacrifices willingly, knowing we still have everything we truly need. God honors men highly by allowing them to raise His dear children in faith.

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Discussion Points

1. Why did Joseph take his family to Egypt?
2. God sent angels in at least three dreams to enable Joseph to protect the child Jesus. God also warned the Wise Men in a dream in Matthew 2:12 to return to their homes by a different route to keep Herod from finding Jesus. Why was it important to protect the child Jesus from death at this time?
3. How is God’s control evident in the events of this lesson?
4. How did God, our heavenly Father, also provide for us when He provided Joseph ways to keep his family safe?
5. Read Luke 11:11–13; Matthew 10:29–31; 2 Corinthians 6:18; and 1 John 3:1. Discuss how God as our heavenly Father loves us and provides for us by claiming us as His children.
6. Naaman was healed with simple water, directed by God’s Word. What does this remind us of today? What do we receive through Baptism?
7. Read Ephesians 2:1–5, 10. Describe the change that takes place in us through Baptism. What effect does that change have on us? Read also 1 Peter 2:9–12. What examples can you give of Christians demonstrating these effects in their lives?
8. How did God work through the humans in this story to fulfill His plan of salvation for all people?

The text for this lesson is John 2:1–11.

Key Points

• Through His first miracle, Jesus revealed Himself to be true God. God uses His Word and physical means—water, bread, and wine—to reveal to me that Jesus is my Savior.
• Law: Like the disciples, I am unsure who Jesus is.
• Gospel: In His Word and Sacraments, Jesus shows me that He is the Savior, as He showed the disciples through His Word and miracles.

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The text for this lesson is Luke 2:41–52.

Key Points

• As a boy, Jesus was found in His Father’s house. In God’s house, I hear His Word, see that Jesus is my Savior, and receive His gifts of forgiveness and salvation.
• Law: Because of sin, I, like Jesus’ parents, do not understand what God says to me.
• Gospel: God makes His Word clear to me through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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The text for this lesson is Luke 2:1–20.

Key Points

• A Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.
• Law: Because of my sin, I fear God as the shepherds did.
• Gospel: God’s Son, Jesus, takes away my fear and offers me true peace.

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The text for this lesson is Luke 1:26–38.

Key Points

• God favored Mary because of Christ, choosing her to be the mother of the Savior. God favors me because of Christ, choosing me to be His child.
• Law: Like Mary, I deserve nothing from God because of my sinfulness. God grants me unmerited grace and favor because of His Son. God must punish sin.
• Gospel: In His mercy, God sends His Son to take my punishment upon Himself. Because of my sin, I was separated from God. Because of God’s grace and favor, the Lord is with me. On my own, I am sinful and not blessed. Christ blesses me with His presence, just as He did Mary and Elizabeth.

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The text for this lesson is Luke 2:41–52.

Key Points

• Jesus is always about His Father’s business—and that business is always earning our salvation! No thing and no one can stand in His way.
• Law: God doesn’t act the way we want Him to act. He acts in harmony with His will, not ours. But we try to cage Him, tame Him, force Him to be a circus deity. In our hearts, if not even in our prayers, we list conditions for Him to meet. We are in a vain—oh, so vain—power struggle with heaven.
• Gospel: The Lion of the tribe of Judah is no tame lion. He won’t roar on our cue or jump through our hoops. Even at the age of twelve, the boy Jesus shows that He is no ordinary boy. The Son of Mary, yes, and the “Son” of his foster father, Joseph, yes, but also their Lord. He is about His Father’s business. And that business is always earning our salvation.

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