The Virgin Birth of Jesus

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ^{He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.}

^{Isaiah 7: 14-15}

Escape to Egypt

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him

Matthew 2: 13

Young Jesus Teaching the Elders

They went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ^{46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”}

^{Luke 2: 45-47}

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ^{But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”}

^{Matthew 3:13-15}

He Turned the Water into Wine

Sermon on the Mountain

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ^{Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.}

^{Matthew 5:11-12}

Trial Under Pilate

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ^{16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ... “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”}

^{Matthew 27:15-17}

Burial of Jesus

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ^{58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.}

^{Matthew 27:57-61}

Jesus in Emmaus

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ^{They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.}

^{Luke 24:30-33}

The Ascension

^{10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”}

^{Acts 1:10-11}

Coronation of the Lamb of God

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” ^{14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.}

^{Revelation 5:11-14}

The Good Shepherd

^{“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.}

The Law

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. ^{2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.}

^{Psalms 1:1-3}

King of Kings

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. ^{2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”}

^{Isaiah 42:1-4}

What is Scripture?

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:19-21

Lost Windows

Special Note: These two window panes have been hidden for years behind the banner closet.. They are located in the sacristy behind the banner closet.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:105

“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ^{And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”}

^{John 20: 21-23}

Luther's Coat of Arms

The first thing a viewer of the coat of arms sees is the black cross inside a heart. The black cross represents the sin that resides in the heart of man . The heart sits inside a rose, called the Rose of Sharon. The rose represents the joy restored to mankind through the sacrifice of Christ.. Mankind is restored to the sinless state that existed in the Garden of Eden. This joy comes through faith in the Christ, who calls all into grace before the throne of God. The ring that surrounds the cross, heart and rose represents the endless bliss that comes to all who share in the eternal faith . This unbroken ring represents the unbroken promises of God to His people since the days of Abraham to the present. God’s desire is that all of His children join with Him forever. It is not a promise that will be broken by God even though man has broken that promise endless times. Luther designed this coat of arms while in Wittenberg to summarize his faith in Christ.

Martin Luther

Faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever.