Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

Reading: Matthew 1:18–23

The God who thundered from Sinai’s peak sheds tears in the manger of Bethlehem. Yahweh, who had wrapped Himself in a pillar of smoke, is now wrapped in human flesh. No longer is His Word simply etched on stone tablets, but is inseparably bound to this flesh. God has made His dwelling among us, not between golden cherubim but in the embrace of His virgin mother and her husband.

Prayer: O Immanuel, You draw near in Word and Sacrament to make Your dwelling among us. Grant us faithful hearts as we tarry in this life, that on the day of Your return You may find in us a mansion prepared for You; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:1

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Timothy Sheridan, Sem IV)

Reading: John 18:33–37

We long not for an earthly king. We long for an eternal king, to rule over us in grace, mercy, peace, and perfect justice. We long for a king whose crown is made of thorns. Yet we know that at the speaking of one little word, those thorns sprout the sweetest grapes, whose wine won our salvation. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the eternal King, reigning from His throne at the right hand of the Father, yet coming to us each Lord ’s Day, enthroned on a paten and seated in a chalice. His kingdom is eternal and our place in that kingdom is won.

Prayer: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have given all things into the hand of Your Son. Grant that we, Your creatures, be sustained in the faith until that day when we enter into the glory of Your Kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:7

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Mark Kranz, Sem IV)

Reading: Luke 1:67–79

Who are the ones who sit in darkness? We are the ones in the shadow of death. Our lives are consigned to blackness. Our sins have committed us to the depths. O splendor of light everlasting, cast Your light upon us that we may live! Deliver us from our enemies, sin, death, and the devil. O Dayspring of light, come quickly! Seek us out, O Shepherd from on high. Give us life that we may grow, O Branch of Jesse’s tree. For You have visited and redeemed Your people. For in You are the tender mercies of our God; the sunrise that has visited us from on high. You are our hope, O Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, You have come to Your people and redeemed them. You have shed light on those in darkness. Come to us now in Your Holy Word and Sacrament that, having received full pardon for our sins, we may find peace with You forever. This we humbly ask in Your name, where, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, You live and reign; one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:6

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Jonah Domenichelli, Sem IV)

Reading: Matthew 16:13–19

The Father in heaven has revealed the Key of David, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has opened to us the kingdom of heaven. The Key has given the keys to His Church, and when the words are spoken, “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” your sins are forgiven here and in heaven. Our Lord came in human time, comes to us now through His Word and Sacraments, and will come again. No one and nothing shall prevail over us, His Church.

Prayer: Father in heaven, through Your Son You have rescued us from the shadow of death and have opened to us the kingdom of heaven through the forgiveness of sins. Close all things that are harmful to us and by Your Spirit lead us to confess our sins and so receive Your forgiveness; for the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:5

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Trae Fistler, Sem IV)

Reading: John 3:22–36

All kings of the earth are without speech. They are mute. The Root of Jesse springs forth out of heaven, out of the Blessed Virgin’s womb. Neither do the nations of the earth say a word. They pay Him homage in the earthly forms of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but it is He who gives them all things. He gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. Whoever receives His testimony sets His seal to this, that God is true. He comes to deliver kings, foreigners, and servants from their sin. He gives the Spirit without measure.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, ruler of heaven and earth, pour out your Spirit upon us so that we would be preserved until that day when You come to bring us into Your eternal kingdom; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:4

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Thomas Van Hemert, Sem IV)

Reading: Luke 21:25–36

It was our Lord who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. It was also our Lord who led the people Israel in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. On the day of His crucifixion, thick clouds covered the sky and it became as night. So too, on the last day, He will come, descend-ing upon a cloud in great power and glory. We receive this glorious Savior under the veil of words, water, bread, and wine, but on that last day the veil will be removed and all eyes will behold His glory.

Prayer: O ruler of the house of Israel, You have come to Your people in fire, cloud, thunder, lightning, and, at the last, in flesh. Send to us Your Holy Spirit, that we would be sustained in faith by Your Holy Word and Sacraments until that glorious day when we shall see You face to face. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:3

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times didst give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Mark Kranz, Sem IV)

Reading: Luke 7:24–35

All wisdom belongs to the Lord. Using the most powerful of microscopes, scientists have seen the complexity of cells, DNA proteins, atoms, and even subatomic particles. It seems that the smaller the scope, the systems become more complex, but many in the scientific community deny that creation comes from God. Yet the wisdom of God is on display in the creation and natural ordering of the universe. When we try to manipulate that order, our foolishness results in unintended consequences, which reveal our inadequacy and need for a Savior. How wise, then, must be the one to have created these systems of marvelous complexity?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, whose wisdom is seen from the foundation of the world, we thank You for Your foresight in sending Your Son into the world, that by His sacrifice the sin of the world would be washed away in accordance with Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn LSB 357:2

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

(Kurt Laskowsky, Sem IV)