St. Luke's Lutheran Church*First Sunday of Christmas*Contemporary Service*12-22-24

ALL are WELCOME!!! Our goal is "To know God's love and to share it!!" something we here at St. Luke's believe from deep within our souls. Today we break down our lessons in a very important season of preparation, for our Lord's birth as a human, and His second coming as the One true Lord of All!! Thank you Jesus, come, we await your return. First Lesson: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD”; and then they would return to their home.   26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people. . Samuel emulated Jesus, before Jesus came the first time, as a meek and mild human, like us. Samuel found favor in the Lord in ministering to the people of Israel. As a child. Read it again ya'll, as a child, he was praying over, offering sacrifice for and pleading to God for redemption, forgiveness, and absolution on behalf of many. Yet another example of one chosen by God walking in a righteous path, preordained by Abba Himself. Second Lesson: Colossians 3:12-17 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. If this isn't the actual mapping out of how to live a life like Jesus, then I don't know what is. "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." all things that I myself pray for, like, all the time!! We are taught to be gentle, loving, forgiving, and let Christ rule us, day by day, moment by moment and in all things. We are to be thankful in all things and even in the darkness because our God fights for us, so we can enjoy peace. His peace. Gospel Luke 2:41-52 41 Now every year [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that He was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for Him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. 46 After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have You treated us like this? Look, Your father and I have been searching for You in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what He said to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.   52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. This is the story of a young Jesus and how even in His youth, He was teaching, asking teachers in the temple questions, and giving profound answers, showing an understanding of God's word and will, unlike anyone else. Child or adult. Now He did so while His earthly family believed Him to be in a caravan with them returning to Nazareth. No Jesus was in His Fathers' house, the Temple, for 3 days before being found, and chastised by His parents for "disappearing". Jesus states simply "Why search? Did you not know that I MUST be in my Father's house?" basically, why worry when I am in the arms of my Father, God. Amen!!! Walk this journey with us as we continue to learn and grow as followers of Christ, through his teachings, life, and how he loved us enough to pay the ultimate price, with HIS life. Thank you Jesus for loving us so much. May we love with our lives as you did with yours!! #sundaychurchservice #jesusisking #hallelujah #AMEN #jesussaves #godblessusall #wejustneedjesus #Lordweneedyou #prayfortheworld #prayforeveryone #G