Catechesis

Join us on today's episode to hear Rev. Adam Roberts and Pastor James Goodlet riff on Christmas and some of their favorite traditions of Christmas.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be...

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 1 An account[ a ] of the genealogy[ b ] of Jesus the Messiah,[ c ] the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4 and Aram the father of Aminad...

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus[ a ] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]][ b ] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himsel...

The Glorious New Creation 17 For I am about to create new heavens     and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered     or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever     in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy     and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem     and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it...

11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,[ a ] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked wi...

The Promise of the Holy Spirit 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering[ a ] he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kin...

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” The Widow’s Offering 41 Jesus sat down...

Spiritual Gifts 12 Now concerning spiritual gifts,[ a ] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were gentiles you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there...

The Commissioning of the Disciples 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of...

Feeding the Five Thousand 6 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.[ a ] 2 A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towa...

Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty To the leader. A Psalm of David. A Song. 1 Praise is due to you,     O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed, 2     O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. 3 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,     you forgive our transgressions. 4 Happy are those whom you choose and bring near     to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the good...

Instructions concerning Prayer 2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth....

Gratitude for Mercy 12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me[ a ] with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesu...

The Potter and the Clay 18 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to...

Jesus Heals the Man with Edema 14 On one occasion when Jesus[ a ] was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. Humility and Hospitality 7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone...

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help 1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge;     let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;     incline your ear to me and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge,     a strong fortress[ a ] to save me,     for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,     from the grasp of the unjust and cruel...

The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[ a ]because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what mor...

The Meaning of Faith 11 Now faith is the assurance[ a ] of things hoped for, the conviction[ b ] of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[ c ] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[ d ] The Faith of Abraham 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a...

The Parable of the Rich Fool 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The...

The Lord’s Prayer 11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father,[ a ] may your name be revered as holy.     May your kingdom come.[ b ] 3     Give us each day our daily bread.[ c ] 4     And forgive us our sins,         for we ourselves forg...

The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.[ a ] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” 28...

The Healing of Naaman 5 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from a skin disease. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If o...

Salutation 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops[ a ] and deacons:[ b ] 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians 3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy 5 for your partnership in...

Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac 26 Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes,[ a ] which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn[ b ] any clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus,...