John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

To summarize a bit, the Word (Logos) becomes "flesh" so that all might "see his glory", that is, his Father's glory, "full of grace and truth (Greek: alētheia).”

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

From Background Notes [BN] for Jan 2nd & 3rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The writer of John’s Gospel is the philosopher of the four Gospels.

Luke 2:15

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

During the Feast of Tabernacles (that is, Sukkot) Jewish people have a tradition of imagining the arrival of seven shepherds, one each night, ancient worthies like Abraham, Moses, and David. In so doing...

Luke 2:8-9

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In contrast to rabbinical contempt for shepherds, however, Jesus distinguishes between the good shepherd and the hireling (John 10:11-13).

 

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In this way, she leaves for us the incomparable example of taking the Word of God into our hearts and allowing its mystery to become our treasure and its message our trust.

Luke 1:36

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In a single clarifying statement, the Gabriel declares: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This language comes directly from Genesis 18:14...

Luke 1:34

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

From Background Notes [BN] for Dec 19th & 20th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What does it mean for God to do big things through little people? What happens when those little people turn out to be you and me?