The Wisemen

The Visit of the Wise Men

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

How can we learn from the story of the wisemen in our journey to seek the King?

The wisemen were seeking with
Urgency - The wisemen were in seek of the truth!
Joy - the scripture tells us they were overjoyed!
and
In Worship - Worship and giving go hand in hand. They opened their treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

What impresses you the most about the magi?

Christmas Day, 2012, Emmanuel God Among Us

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. Is. 9


“Do not be afraid;11-1
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Luke 2

Let us celebrate Christmas tonight with abandon.
Let us be drawn into its wonder and joy.
Let us pray for the gift of peace.


Timothy 2: 11-14
Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

May your Christmas Celebration be especially blessed with the revelation of God among you.

Advent Devotions, Monday, Dec. 24, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN

Christmas Eve, 2012

Luke 2:15-20

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.


In this passage, we have two different --- but appropriate --- responses to Jesus. Mary pondered; the shepherds proclaimed. Tonight, you will have a chance to come and worship, to hear this story yet again, and ponder its meaning for your life. Tomorrow, and in the days to come, you will have the chance to proclaim the glorious news of Jesus as Savior. Ask God to give you the courage to do so.

Thank you to Pastor Jim Kroninger of Our Savior Lutheran Church for providing the content for the devotions.

Learn more about us at our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg

Visit us online at http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg.


We worship every Sunday at 10:30 am with Sunday School at 9:15 am. Christmas Eve Services to be held at 5:00 and 11:00 pm.

Advent Devotions, Sunday, Dec. 23rd, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN

Luke 2:8-14

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

This part of Luke’s Christmas story focuses on two groups --- shepherds and angels. Angels were God’s special messengers, sent from heaven to declare God’s good news of Jesus’ birth. Shepherds were unclean (physically and religiously) and considered untrustworthy. Consider this day how in the coming of Jesus --- heaven and earth, holy and unclean, human and divine, were brought together.

Thank you to Pastor Jim Kroninger of Our Savior Lutheran Church for providing the content for the devotions.

Learn more about us at our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg

Visit us online at www.joinusinworship.com.


We worship every Sunday at 10:30 am with Sunday School at 9:15 am. Christmas Eve Services to be held at 5:00 and 11:00 pm.

Advent Devotions, Saturday, Dec. 22, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN

Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The story of Jesus’ birth, as recorded in Luke’s Gospel, is so well-known, we can easily assume there is nothing new to hear. Challenge that assumption. Read or re-read these first seven verses of Luke 2. Ask God to reveal something new to you in your reading, and then consider what that means in your life.

Thank you to Pastor Jim Kroninger of Our Savior Lutheran Church for providing the content for the devotions.

Learn more about us at our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg

Visit us online at www.joinusinworship.com.


We worship every Sunday at 10:30 am with Sunday School at 9:15 am. Christmas Eve Services to be held at 5:00 and 11:00 pm.

Advent Devotions, Dec. 21, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN

Isaiah 9:2-7

2 [a] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah says that the child born will be called “Prince of Peace,” and that through him “there shall be endless peace.” Sadly, we were reminded again this past week that evil and violence remain, and that peace is at best a temporary condition. What peace did Jesus bring into the world? In what ways can you, as his follower, bring peace to others?

Thank you to Pastor Jim Kroninger of Our Savior Lutheran Church for providing the content for the devotions.

Learn more about us at our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg

Visit us online at www.joinusinworship.com.


We worship every Sunday at 10:30 am with Sunday School at 9:15 am. Christmas Eve Services to be held at 5:00 and 11:00 pm.

Advent Devotions, Thursday, Dec. 20th, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, Tn

Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary[a] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 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 powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

There is a strong theme of “reversals” in Mary’s song. On the one hand, God “scattered the proud” and “brought down the powerful.” On the other hand, God “lifted up the lowly” and “filled the hungry with good things.” Has this happened yet, or is this still a future prophecy, one not yet fulfilled? What is the role of the Church in lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things?

Thank you to Pastor Jim Kroninger of Our Savior Lutheran Church for providing the content for the devotions.

Learn more about us at our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/oslc.gatlinburg

Visit us online at www.joinusinworship.com.


We worship every Sunday at 10:30 am with Sunday School at 9:15 am. We hold evening worship on Thursdays in December with dinner at 5:30 pm and worship at 6:30 pm.This Thursday will be a Hymn Sing - come and join us ALL are welcome.