Proverbs 11:24

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

Proverbs 11:12-13

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Luke 2:28-32 NIV

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:11-14

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:1, 4-5 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Luke 1:76-78 NIV

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.

Luke 1:68-70 NIV

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago).

Matthew 1:20-21 NIV

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 1:46-47, 49 NIV

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

Matthew 1:24-25

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

From Background Notes [BN] for December 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Hearing the words of the messenger, Joseph is now called upon to acknowledge his sins and to trust that Mary’s child will come to take them away.

Daniel 9:24

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

From Background Notes [BN] for December 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Three different Hebrew words for “sin” appear in successive phrases at the beginning of the passage. What must happen before God’s purpose for Israel and the world reach their climax? Sin must be dealt with.

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Joseph is not left wondering about the name, but hears its meaning: “For he will save his people from their sins.” The name Jesus is the Greek transliteration (“letter-for letter”) of the Hebrew word Yēšûa‘ or Yēšû‘.

Matthew 1:20

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

From Background Notes [BN] for December 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In the opening chapters of Matthew is risky territory that catches one man off guard. He stumbles into the chaos of a messy life, and then meets a messenger with Good News of a Savior about to be born and placed into his care.

Matthew 1:18

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

From Background Notes [BN] for December 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This week’s reading from Matthew 1 presents the astonishing idea that flawed human beings can actually contribute to the plan of salvation, and that fearful human beings can actually yield themselves to that plan when everything around them suggests otherwise.

Luke 1:42

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

From Background Notes [BN] for December 7^th & 8^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Each line that begins with “blessed” focuses on a different person: In the first, Mary is blessed; in the second Jesus is blessed;

Luke 1:19-20

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 7^th & 8^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Be still and know that I am God,” wrote the psalmist (Psalm 46:10). God is saying to this man, “Give your fears a rest. Take Sabbath and reflect on the wondrous thing I am doing for you. Take time to be holy, Zechariah.

Luke 1:16-17

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 7^th& 8^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

If these hopeful evidences for John’s future weren’t enough, the angel reached into the closing verses of the prophetic canon to quote Malachi 4:5-6 in Luke 1:16-17. From there he finds a direct connection between Elijah and John such that John fulfills the role predicted for Elijah in the last days.

Luke 1:5

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

From Background Notes [BN] for December 7^th & 8^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Then Luke shows his literary skill by contrasting Herod the Great with Zechariah the Very Small. He was a mere priest, one among many assigned to perform ordinary Temple service. Herod the Great built the Temple; Zechariah the small served in the Temple.