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January 6, 2026 9:21 pm

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD January 6, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church Martin Luther's writings and sermons for the Day of Epiphany emphasize that God uses Scripture to reve... View MoreTHE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD January 6, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church Martin Luther's writings and sermons for the Day of Epiphany emphasize that God uses Scripture to reveal His Son to the Magi and to us. Luther's 1522 sermon for the Epiphany explains why the Lord guided the wise men to Bethlehem through His Word rather than solely by the star. This approach served to teach adherence to the Holy Scriptures as the source for finding Christ. The Reformer explained, "In them He desires to be found, and nowhere else.” Our Bible Readings: Old Testament – Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-15 Epistle – Ephesians 3:1-12 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 Our Hymn for the Day from Lutheran Service Book is: 398 “Hail to the Lord’s Annointed” HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LHDPX3ZQQWS&LIST=RDLHDPX3ZQQWS&START_RADIO=1 THE SERMON – In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Epiphany is the feast of God’s shining, a celebration of the great gift of Christ being unwrapped. It is a commemoration of divine light breaking into a darkened world. Christ is revealed not only to Israel, but to all people who were far off. As Isaiah proclaims, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” That glory is not an idea, nor a philosophy. It is not a vague, spiritual glow. The redeeming glory is a Child, truly human, truly divine, born in Bethlehem in humility, yet bearing the salvation of the world. Matthew tells us that wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” They had seen His star when it rose, and they had come to worship Him. Already here we see the great mystery of Epiphany. God reveals His Christ to those who did not know Him by birth or blood, but by His revelation. The Magi are Gentiles. They’re outsiders to the covenants and promises of Israel. Yet they’re drawn, summoned, guided by God. A lot of ink has been spent over the centuries on who the Magi were. Were they astrologers, astronomers, scholars, kings, or priests? How many were there, and exactly where did they come from? Scripture doesn’t satisfy our curiosity on these points. Instead, the Bible directs us to what truly matters. God revealed Christ to them. He did so by a star in the heavens, but far more importantly, by His Word on earth. When the Magi arrive in Jerusalem, the star alone does not lead them to Christ. It brings them first to the Holy City, not the Child. For that, God uses His written Word. Herod summons the chief priests and scribes and asks where the Christ is to be born. They answer by quoting the prophet Micah, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel . . . .” (Micah 5:2) This is crucial in the Epiphany account. These Gentiles have read and followed Holy Scripture. They know a King worthy of being worshipped by foreigners is to be born in Israel. The location of the Saviour’s birth, Bethlehem, is foretold in Scripture. That same Word speaks of His eternal nature, “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” This is how the Almighty continues to work today. God doesn’t reveal Christ to us by signs in the sky or internal feelings, but by His Word. As the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians, this mystery “was made known to me by revelation.” And that mystery is this: “the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” The Epiphany Good News is not merely that Christ exists. It is that Christ is given. Given to all nations. Given through the Word entrusted to and proclaimed in the Church. Martin Luther, preaching on this text in his 1522 Church Postil, makes this point with great clarity. He says the star was a servant, but the Word was the true guide. Luther wrote, “The star does not remain, but the Scripture remains and must guide them.” The Reformer explained, “God does not wish to lead us by new revelations, but by His Word.” This is a deep, comforting truth. Our faith doesn’t depend on fleeting signs or extraordinary experiences. It rests on the sure and true, inerrant Word of God. The same Word that pointed the Magi to Bethlehem, now leads us to Christ. That Word is found where God has promised. In His Church, in the means of grace. In the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, through which the Holy Spirit works faith within us. In the waters of Holy Baptism. In the body and blood of Christ given and shed for us. The Magi, once directed by the Word, rejoice with great joy. They find the Child with Mary, His mother. They fall down and worship Him. They open their treasures and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts are not payments. They’re confessions. Gold confesses Christ as King. Frankincense confesses Him as God. Myrrh confesses Him as the One who will suffer and die. Even here, at Epiphany, the shadow of the cross is present. The light that shines in Bethlehem will one day shine from Calvary. The Child revealed to the nations is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Psalm 72 echoes this Epiphany joy when it declares, “May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render Him tribute.” And Isaiah foretells it when he proclaims that nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. All of this finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Yet there is a sober warning in this Gospel as well. Herod hears the same Word the Magi hear. He’s reminded of the prophecy. He now knows where Christ is to be born. But instead of worship, he responds with murderous hatred. The same Word that creates faith in the Magi hardens Herod’s heart. This reminds us that Epiphany is not only revelation, but also division. The light of Christ exposes what lies in the darkness. Some rejoice. Others resist. Yet God’s purpose is not thwarted. He warns the Magi in a dream, and they return home by another way. They carry the light they’ve received back into the world from which they came. So it is with us. Having seen Christ by faith, we are sent back into our vocations bearing His light. Not as saviours. But as witnesses. We do not reveal Christ by our cleverness or holiness. We reveal our Lord by pointing to His Word. By confessing what has been revealed to us. Luther beautifully summarizes this Epiphany faith when he writes that the Magi, “allow themselves to be taught, not by their own thoughts, but by the Scriptures.” That is the posture of the Church. We receive what God reveals. And we worship the Christ whom the Word makes known. It shines in Christ. It shines for Jews and Gentiles alike. For sinners. For us. We have not seen His star in the sky. But we’ve heard His Word. And that is enough. For in that Word, Christ Himself comes to us, forgives us, and leads His forgiven children to eternal life. To Him be glory in the Church, now and forever. Amen.

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January 4, 2026 7:49 pm

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS January 4, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn is: 376 “Once in Royal David’s City” ... View MoreTHE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS January 4, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn is: 376 “Once in Royal David’s City” Confession and Absolution Page 184-185 The Introit – Psalm 147:1, 5, 11-12; antiphon: John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And with thy Spirit. Our Collect Prayer – Almighty God, You have poured into our hearts the true Light of Your incarnate Word. Grant that this Light may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings: Old Testament: 1st Kings 3:4-15 Psalm 119:97-104 (antiphon: v. 99) Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14 Gospel Reading: Luke 2:40-52 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 410 “Within the Father’s House” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waHlA6fALAc&list=RDwaHlA6fALAc&start_radio=1 THE SERMON – The Gospel reading for this Second Sunday after Christmas gives us one of the few glimpses we have into the childhood of our Lord. We remember that the Gospels are not biographies of Jesus, but written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, we have life in his name. St. Luke tells us that the child Jesus, “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom,” and that “the favour of God was upon Him.” These words may sound simple, even comforting, but they also confront us with a profound mystery. The eternal Son of God, through whom all things were made, truly grows. The One who is Wisdom itself increases in wisdom. The Lord of heaven and earth submits Himself to the ordinary rhythms of human life —learning, asking questions, obeying parents, and maturing in body and mind. Here, in this Christmas season, the Church is led to confess not only that God became man, but that He has done so fully and humbly for us, and for our salvation. Luke presents a scene both tender and unsettling. Jesus is twelve years old, standing at the threshold between childhood and adulthood. He travels with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem for the Passover, faithful to the Law. Yet when the caravan returns home, Jesus remains behind in the temple, unnoticed at first, but soon missing. For three days, His parents search for Him, only to find Jesus sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. And then comes His startling reply: “Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” With these words, Christ reveals something essential about who He is and why He has come. Even as a boy, He knows His life is ordered toward His saving mission. Even now, His obedience is directed first to the heavenly Father, honouring both Him and His earthly parents. We can remember that Jesus is seated in the temple, only walking distance to where He will die, years later, on a cross, to make complete payment for the sins of the world. Mary and Joseph don’t fully understand what He says to them. St. Luke tells us that Mary treasures these things in her heart, pondering them. Faith doesn’t mean fully grasping the divine will. Often, it clings to God’s promises while still asking questions and bearing uncertainty. This Gospel reminds us that the Christian life is not lived by sight, but by trust in the Word of God, even when His ways seem hidden. The boy Jesus astonishes the teachers in the temple with His understanding and His answers. Yet, He doesn’t stand above them in a show of power. He listens. Asks. He learns according to His human nature. This isn’t a denial of His divinity, but a confirmation of His true humanity. As the Bible and the ancient Church confessed, Jesus is fully God and fully man, not confusing the two natures, nor separating them. Here, the Epistle reading from Ephesians helps us understand what’s at stake. The Apostle Paul blesses God for having chosen us in Christ, “before the foundation of the world.” Before Jesus sits in the temple as a boy, before He walked to the cross, before He rose from the dead, God’s saving plan was already in motion. In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. The child in the temple is the same Lamb without blemish who will later offer Himself as the final sacrifice for humanity’s sins. His questions and answers already point toward the wisdom of the cross, which confounds human reasoning, but reveals the heart of God. The Old Testament reading from 1st Kings also sheds light on today’s Gospel. When the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and invites him to request whatever he desires, Solomon doesn’t ask for wealth or long life. He asks for an understanding heart to govern God’s people and to discern between good and evil. The Lord delights in this response and grants Solomon wisdom beyond measure. Yet even Solomon’s wisdom, as great as it was, would later falter. Human wisdom, even at its best, remains fragile and incomplete. In contrast, Christ is the true wisdom of God in human flesh. He doesn’t merely receive wisdom as a gift; He embodies it. And yet He humbles Himself so that our salvation might be accomplished not by divine spectacle, but by faithful obedience to the Father, even to death on a cross. Martin Luther once reflected on our Gospel passage, saying, “Christ learned as other children learn, that He might sanctify learning and growth, and that no one might despise the humble estate of youth.” In this way, Luther reminds us that Christ’s childhood is not an incidental background. It is saving. In our Baptism, Christ unites us to Himself and claims us. His righteousness is credited to us. Because Jesus grows in wisdom, our ignorance is not condemned, but redeemed. Because He submits to His parents, our failures in obedience are covered by His perfect life. Because He remains faithful to His Father’s house and will, even at the cost of misunderstanding and sorrow, we are brought home to God. Today, the Church, like the temple of old, is a place where Christ is found in the midst of God’s Word. Here, He still listens to our prayers. He still teaches through Holy Scripture faithfully proclaimed. He still grows us in wisdom, not according to the standards of the world, but according to the truth and grace of God given in Him. Luke concludes this account by recording Christ’s return to Nazareth, where He is submissive to His parents. The extraordinary gives way to the ordinary. The Saviour of the world lives quietly, faithfully, patiently, until the time appointed by the Father. Our lives, as Christians, are sometimes hidden, marked by quiet daily faithfulness and service. Yet in Christ, these ordinary lives are filled with divine purpose. We are blessed in Him with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We are God’s adopted sons and daughters through Christ. We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. All of this flows from the same Lord who once sat in the temple as a boy and now reigns at the right hand of the Father. As we continue in the Christmas season, this Gospel invites us to marvel not only at the manger, but at the whole life of Christ lived for us. He grows so that we might be made new. He learns so we might be taught by grace. He obeys so that we might be freed from sin and death. To Him alone be all glory and honour, now and forever. Amen. THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Left-hand column) Page 201 OUR CLOSING HYMN: 386 “Now Sing We, Now Rejoice”

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December 28, 2025 8:44 pm

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS December 28, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto ... View MoreTHE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS December 28, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn is: 380 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Lutheran Service Book Confession and Absolution Page 184-185 The Introit – Jeremiah 31:15-17; antiphon: Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And with thy Spirit. Our Collect Prayer – (Please stand) O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings – Old Testament: Isaiah 63:7-14 Psalm 111 (antiphon: verse 9a, b) Epistle: Galatians 4:4-7 Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:13-23 THE NICENE CREED Page 191 HYMN OF THE DAY: 370 “What Child Is This” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xh8CQ60onk&list=RD4Xh8CQ60onk&start_radio=1 THE SERMON – Brothers & sisters, grace, peace, and mercy be to you from God our Father and from our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. The First Sunday after Christmas often feels jarring to us. Only days ago, we sang of angels and shepherds, of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. We beheld the manger, seeing the Word made flesh, lying quietly in Mary’s arms. And now, almost without warning, the Church places before us an account filled with fear, flight, and bloodshed. Joseph is warned in a dream. Mary gathers her Child in the darkness. The Holy Family flees to Egypt. And behind them, in Bethlehem, the cries of grieving mothers are heard as Herod orders the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. This abrupt turn unsettles us, and perhaps it should. The Apostle Matthew won’t allow us an overly sentimental Christmas. The Child born in Bethlehem doesn’t enter a neutral world. He enters a fallen world hostile to God, fearful of losing power, and willing to destroy the innocent, to preserve itself. From the very beginning, the shadow of the cross falls across the manger. Herod’s rage is not merely the cruelty of one tyrant. It is the world’s response to the coming of its true sovereign. Herod hears of a child “born King of the Jews” and is troubled. Not curious. Not repentant. But enraged and murderous. For Herod, the birth of Christ is not ‘good news,’ but a threat. So, it has always been. Where Christ reigns, false kings tremble. Where the true Son of David appears, the ungodly powers of this age reveal their violence and hate. This is why the Church must hear this Gospel so soon after Christmas. It teaches us what kind of Saviour has been born to us. Jesus wasn’t brought into comfort and safety, but into danger and rejection. He isn’t shielded from human suffering, but enters fully into it. Even as an infant, He is hunted. Even before He can speak, He is marked as an enemy by the world’s darkness. Matthew tells us that Joseph’s flight into Egypt fulfills the word of the Lord: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” This is not an accident. God’s plan of redemption is unfolding according to His promises, even when events appear chaotic, and cruel. Just as Israel once went down into Egypt and was later called out by God’s mighty hand, so, now Jesus, retraces their path. Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s steadfast love and compassion, of how He redeemed His people and carried them all the days of old. The prophet recalls how God Himself became their Saviour, bearing and leading them through the wilderness. In Christ, this is no longer a memory. It is happening again, but in a deeper, final way. The Son of God enters exile so that we the exiles from the fall into sin, might be brought home. He flees from danger so that those enslaved to sin and death might be delivered. The flight into Egypt tells us something profound about God’s way of working. The Lord doesn’t save by avoiding the world’s suffering, but by entering into, and uniting Himself, to it. He doesn't redeem the world from a distance, but within it, from a cross. The slaughter of the Holy Innocents confronts us with a painful truth. The coming of Christ does not immediately remove evil from the world. Herod still kills. Mothers weep. Rachel mourns her children and refuses to be comforted. And yet, even here, God is at work. The children who die because of Christ are the first Christian martyrs, witnesses who die in His place. Their deaths are not meaningless, though they are grievous. They remind us that the cost of our redemption is real. Sin isn’t an abstraction. It destroys lives and spills innocent blood. And, it is into this reality that Christ has come. Galatians reminds us why. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.” The timing is God’s. The sending is God’s. The purpose is redemption. Christ is born under the same law that condemns us. He enters the same broken world we inhabit. He does so not to escape, but to bear and overcome it. In fleeing Herod, Jesus doesn’t avoid His mission. He advances it. For this Child will one day stand before another ruler who fears losing power. He will face another unjust sentence. He will hear the cries of a crowd stirred up by hatred and envy. And this time, He will not flee. He will go willingly to His sacrificial death bearing our sins. Psalm 111 calls us to praise the Lord for His mighty works, for His faithfulness and justice. At first glance, the events of Matthew Chapter 2 don’t look like mighty works, but tragedy. Yet faith learns to see God’s hand even when it is hidden beneath suffering. The Lord is faithful to His covenant, even when the effects of evil are on full display. He remembers His mercy. He keeps His promises. And He brings salvation in ways the world neither expects nor understands. Dear brothers and sisters, this Gospel also speaks to our own lives. We, too, live between promise and fulfillment. We rejoice in Christ’s birth, yet still encounter sorrow and loss. We confess Christ, while the world often responds with hostility or indifference. The Church herself often seems small, vulnerable, and forced to flee rather than triumph. But the Gospel assures us that none of this means God has lost control. The same Lord who guided the Holy Family by dreams and promises is guiding His Church today. The same Saviour who was carried into Egypt is carrying you through every trial. You are not forgotten, nor abandoned. Because in Christ, you are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. You have been adopted by grace. Christ has entered our suffering and made us His own. The First Sunday after Christmas teaches us to hold joy and sorrow together. The manger and the massacre belong to the same story. So do the cross and the empty tomb. God’s plan of redemption moves forward not by human strength but by divine faithfulness. What Herod meant for evil, God used to bring His Son to the place where His saving work would continue. What the world still means for evil, God will finally overcome in Christ. So, we do not look away from this hard Gospel. We look at it through the eyes of faith. And there we see not chaos, but promise. Not retreat, but redemption unfolding. Not the defeat of God, but the quiet advance of His saving will. The Child who fled for His life is the same Lord who now reigns forever. And He has come to redeem you. To Him alone be all glory and honour, now and forever. Amen. THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201 OUR CLOSING HYMN: 379 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

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December 25, 2025 12:25 pm

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY – Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church Almighty and everlasting God, we praise You with thanksgiving on this holy day, ... View More

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December 24, 2025 8:37 pm

OUR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto OPENING HYMN 368 “Angels We Have Heard on High”... View MoreOUR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto OPENING HYMN 368 “Angels We Have Heard on High” Lutheran Service Book Our Prayer This Evening: Heavenly Father, on this holy Eve, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for the shining star and the angel's song, for the infant's cry in the lowly manger. Father, we exalt and thank you for the greatest gift of all, Your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold His glory, and are bathed in its light. Be with us as we sing hymns of praise, and hear and accept our prayers. This Christmas Eve, we remember Your promise fulfilled; Christ our Saviour has come. Hallelujah! Amen. HYMN OF PRAISE: 387 “Joy to the Word” CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Page 184-185 of Hymnal OUR BIBLE READINGS: First Reading: Isaiah 9: 2-7 Psalm 100 Epistle Reading: 1st John 4: 7-16 Our Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-20 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 383 “A Great and Mighty Wonder” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6NXeX7P5Io&list=RDu6NXeX7P5Io&start_radio=1 THE SERMON – “Unto You Is Born This Day a Saviour” Brothers & sisters, peace, grace, and mercy be to you through God our Father, and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. Today, we hear, again, the words that are so familiar, that we have heard since childhood. “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” We know the Biblical account well, and its place in documented human history. We know the shepherds, angels, the manger, and the song of Heaven. And yet, the Holy Spirit would have us hear this Gospel not as a charming memory, but as a living, present truth. For this story was first spoken into a world that was afraid, divided, and weary. And it is spoken again this afternoon into our world, our city, and another time of darkness. Toronto is a beautiful city, but it is also a wounded one. Violence has touched neighborhoods and families. Economic strain presses hard on many households. Anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty weigh heavily on hearts. Many are tired not only in body, but in soul. For the faithful, the night can feel long, and hope can seem fragile. Yet, it is into such a night, some 2,000 years ago, that God chooses to act. Not with thunder. Not with armies. Not with the power of Caesar or the wealth of Rome. But with a Child. Luke tells us that while an emperor issues decrees and history marches on, God is quietly keeping His promise. The virgin gives birth. Mary wraps her Son in swaddling clothing. She places Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Already, we see the way of our God. The Saviour doesn’t enter this world demanding a palace. He comes into poverty, rejection, and vulnerability. He enters into the ordinary and the overlooked. This is not an accident. This is grace. The One who made all things humbles Himself to be made dependent on His own creation. The eternal Word becomes flesh. The Light of the world is laid in the darkness of a stable. And then the angels appear. Not to kings. Not to the priests in the Jerusalem temple. But to poor shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. Men accustomed to danger. Who knew what it meant to live with uncertainty and risk. Men whose nights were long and whose work was hard. To them, the glory of the Lord shines around, and they are filled with fear. And rightly so. For sinners cannot stand before the holiness of God on our own. But hear the first word the angel speaks: “Fear not.” That word isn’t advice. It is Gospel. ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.’ Not just for the deserving. Not only for the secular and powerful. For all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Unto you, and we can all place our name there. Not merely unto the world in general, but to you personally. For you who are weary. Who might be afraid. For you who may be burdened by guilt, illness, regret, or grief. For you who lie awake at night, wondering what tomorrow will bring. This Child is born for you. He is a Saviour, because we all need saving. He is Christ, the Anointed One, promised long ago. He is the Lord, though He comes hidden in humility. The Prophet Isaiah foresaw this night when he proclaimed, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Not a small light. Not a flickering candle. The greatest, the true light. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Notice again the language of gift. Unto us is given Christmas is not first about what we give to God. It is about what God has provided to us. A Child. A Saviour. Peace that the world cannot manufacture. Hope that does not depend on circumstances. The angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” This peace is not the absence of conflict. It is reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ. It is peace grounded in the forgiveness of sins. Peace established not by treaties, but by a cross that already casts its shadow over the manger. The shepherds go with haste. They see. They believe. They make known what had been told them. And they return, glorifying and praising God. Nothing about their external circumstances has changed. The sheep still need tending. The night remains cold. The Roman occupation still rules. But they have seen their Saviour. And that changes everything. Dear friends, the same is true for us this day. We, too, are sent back into our vocations. Back into homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and challenges that remain unfinished. But we do not go back alone. Christmas doesn’t deny the darkness in our world. It enters it. It does not pretend that violence, hardship, illness, and sorrow are illusions. It declares that God Himself has stepped into this world to redeem us. The Apostle John writes, “God is love.” Not merely that God shows love, but that He is love. And this love was made manifest among us, “that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” Christmas is God saying, “I will not remain distant.” “I won’t leave you alone.” “I will come to you.” This love doesn’t wait for us to ‘improve’ ourselves. It meets us as we are. It forgives us. Claims us. Abides with us. Psalm 100 invites us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.” This evening those gates stand open, not because we are worthy, but because Christ has opened them with His own holy flesh and blood. The manger points us forward to the altar. Here, the same Lord who lay in Bethlehem gives Himself to us in Communion for the forgiveness of sins, just as He promised. The swaddling cloths point us to the grave clothes. Yet the empty tomb assures us that the darkness will not have the final word. Beloved, tonight we are not asked to fix the world. We’re not asked to carry the weight of the future on our shoulders. You are invited to receive a gift. To hear again the angel’s proclamation. To trust that God is faithful. To know that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. In this city, in our times, we hear the Good News. Christ is born, for you. Thanks be to God. Amen. THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 THE LORD’S PRAYER Page 196 THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Page 197 THE DISTRIBUTION POST COMMUNION COLLECT (Left-hand column) Page 201 BENEDICTION Page 202 CLOSING HYMN: 363 “Silent Night, Holy Night”

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December 21, 2025 10:14 pm

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 21, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto ... View MoreTHE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT December 21, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn is: 814 “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” Lutheran Service Book Confession and Absolution Page 184-185 The Introit – (Please be seated) Psalm 19:1, 4-6; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness. Let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout. Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And with thy Spirit. Our Collect Prayer – Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible Readings – Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Psalm 111; antiphon verse 9 Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel: John 1:19-28 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 357 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRY-KZLBECU&list=RDlRY-KZLBECU&start_radio=1 THE SERMON – Brothers and sisters, grace, peace, and mercy be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent, our Gospel text stands at the threshold of Christ’s earthly ministry. The promises are ancient. The expectation, intense. And yet, the Apostle John places before us not a manger, nor angels or shepherds, but a man standing in the wilderness being questioned. “Who are you?” That’s the issue posed to John the Baptist. And it is not merely curiosity. It’s an urgent, even hostile, theological interrogation. The priests and Levites come from Jerusalem because something is happening that can’t be ignored. A prophet has appeared. The Word of God is being spoken again after centuries of silence. And whenever God speaks, the point inevitably arises: Who is this really about? John’s answer is striking in its clarity and humility. “I am not the Christ.” He doesn't hesitate or soften the denial. He doesn’t allow even a moment of confusion. “I am not Elijah.” “I am not the Prophet.” John refuses every title that would place the focus on him. He strips away every false expectation. He empties himself of all significance so that Another can be seen. This is deep Advent preaching. Because Advent isn’t ultimately about worldly preparations or seasonal celebrations. Advent is about learning where not to look, so that we may learn who to focus on. John’s entire ministry is summarized in one sentence from Isaiah: “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” A messenger, not the Incarnate Word Himself. A prophetic finger pointing to the Son of God. This is where Confessional Lutheran theology hears the Gospel clearly. John embodies the distinction between Law and Gospel — the two primary ways God gives us His Word. The Law speaks through John’s preaching of repentance. The Law clears the way. It exposes sin, pride, self reliance, and false messiahs. But the Gospel is not John the Baptist. The Gospel is the One who comes after him. John knows his place, and that place is beneath the sandals of Christ. “I am not worthy to untie those straps,” he explains. These words are not false humility. They are theological truth. John understands the infinite distance between sinner and Saviour. Between creature and Creator. Between the voice and the Word made flesh. Here, Deuteronomy 18 quietly echoes in the background. Moses speaks of a Prophet whom the Lord Himself will raise up — one to whom the people must listen, one whose words are God’s own words. John explicitly denies that he’s the Prophet. Why? Because that Prophet is already standing among them, though they do not yet know Him. “There stands One among you whom you do not know.” That sentence should unsettle us. Christ can be present, active, speaking, and still unrecognized. Not because He’s hidden, but because human expectations are misaligned. They were looking for glory. He came in humility. They were looking for power. He came in weakness. They were looking for signs. He came with water and Word. This is why Psalm 111 matters today. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Not curiosity. Not speculation. Not secular enthusiasm or pride. But fear, reverence, faith that listens where God has promised to speak. John teaches us that wisdom begins with knowing who we are not. We are not the Christ. We are not the Saviour. We are not the solution. And that’s Good News. Because if salvation depended on us, Advent would be a season of anxiety, not joy. Here, the Apostle Paul’s words from Philippians become clear: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Not rejoice in progress. Nor in success. Or even in spiritual achievement. But rejoice in the Lord. Why? “The Lord is at hand.” That is not sentiment. It is proclamation. The Lord is near. He is standing among us. He is coming to you in concrete, earthly, objective ways. And therefore, “do not be anxious about anything.” Anxiety thrives when Christ is misunderstood or misplaced. Peace comes when Christ is received as He actually promised. John doesn’t baptize to impress. He baptizes to prepare. His water doesn’t save by itself… but points forward to the One whose baptism will be with the Holy Spirit. John’s ministry is temporary, but necessary. It must decrease so that Christ may increase. Martin Luther once wrote, speaking of John the Baptist: “John is a preacher of repentance, but Christ is a preacher of grace and forgiveness. John terrifies, Christ comforts.” That distinction remains vital for the Church today. The Law must still be preached. Repentance must still be called for. But the Church is never allowed to stop with John. If we conclude with John — with the Law — we leave people in the wilderness. If we stop with repentance, we deny the coming of Christ. John himself would protest such preaching. His entire purpose is to deliver us to Jesus. This Gospel text ends without Jesus speaking a single word. And yet He dominates every sentence. He is the center even when unnamed. The Lamb of God is already present, even before being revealed. That is how Advent works. Christ is coming. Christ is present. Christ is hidden under humility and ordinary means. And faith learns to recognize Him not by sight, but by Word. Dear brothers and sisters, the question asked of John is ultimately asked of the Church: “Who are you?” We are not the Christ. We are not the Saviour. But we are witnesses to Him. We are voices that confess. We are forgiven sinners who point to grace. We prepare the way of the Lord not by spectacle, but by faithful proclamation. By preaching the Law of God to its fullest, and the Gospel to its sweetest.. By administering Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper properly.. By confessing Christ crucified and risen. As Christmas approaches, the temptation is to rush past John. But the Church lingers here one more Sunday, because we still need him. We still need to hear, “He, Christ, stands among you.” And when Christmas dawns, the joy will be deeper because the way has been made straight. The peace promised in Philippians will guard hearts not through sentiment, but through Jesus Christ. The wisdom praised in Psalm 111 will be known not as information, but as faith. And the Prophet promised in Deuteronomy will be recognized not as an idea, but as the incarnate Son of God. Advent ends where John points. Not to himself. But to Jesus. And there, finally, our waiting is fulfilled. To Him alone be all glory and honour, now and forever. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 198 Post-Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201 OUR CLOSING HYMN: 820 “My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker”

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