Lessons                                                                       Bread of Life                                                      20 December 2025

Isaiah 7:10–17

         ₁₀Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ₁₁"Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." ₁₂But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." ₁₃And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ₁₄Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ₁₅He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ₁₆For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. ₁₇The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria."

Psalm 24

₁The earth is the Lord's and the full- | ness thereof,*

         the world and those who | dwell therein,

₂for he has founded it up- | on the seas*

         and established it upon the | rivers.

₃Who shall ascend the hill | of the Lord?*

         And who shall stand in his | holy place?

₄He who has clean hands and a | pure heart,*

         who does not lift up his soul to what is false

         and does not swear de- | ceitfully.

₅He will receive blessing | from the Lord*

         and righteousness from the God of his sal- | vation.

₆Such is the generation of those who | seek him,*

         who seek the face of the God of | Jacob.

₇Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O | ancient doors,*

         that the King of glory | may come in.

₈Who is this King of | glory?*

         The Lord, strong and mighty,

         the Lord, mighty in | battle!

₉Lift up your heads, O gates!

And lift them up, O | ancient doors,*

         that the King of glory | may come in.

₁₀Who is this King of | glory?*

         The Lord of hosts,

         he is the King of | glory!

Romans 1:1–7

         ₁Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ₂which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, ₃concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ₄and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ₅through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ₆including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

         ₇To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

         Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:18–25

         ₁₈Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ₁₉And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ₂₀But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ₂₁She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ₂₂All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

₂₃"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

         and they shall call his name Immanuel"

(which means, God with us). ₂₄When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ₂₅but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.