Zion Lutheran Sioux Falls

First Sunday of Advent

Advent is the season of holy anticipation. Christ arrives in three ways: He came in humility at Bethlehem, He comes now in Word and Sacrament, and He will come again in glory. Each week we live in eager expectation, moved to sing with the shepherds and the saints: Behold your King’s arrival, rich with grace on grace! Today, ANTICIPATION: PREPARING FOR THE KING: Advent begins in longing. God stirs our anticipation with promises of comfort, a voice crying in the wilderness, and the pledge of a coming King.

November 23, 2025

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Exodus 7.  God guides Moses to release His people from their slavery in Egypt, but Pharaoh proves less than cooperative.  A series of plagues—foretold by Moses and sent by God—brings destruction and pain upon the Egyptians but only serves to harden Pharaoh’s heart against Moses and the Israelites.  We make idols when we put our trust in creation and not the Creator.  Jesus is true God, and He has delivered us from our bondage to sin, death, and the devil through the cross.

All Saints' Day

The Reading of the Day is from Genesis 39:20–23; 41:9–49. Falsely accused, Joseph finds himself in prison interpreting dreams for Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer. When the Egyptian pharaoh has troubling dreams, God empowers Joseph to explain the visions. Pharaoh appoints him to the second highest position in the land, and Joseph manages the harvest to endure the coming famine. God reversed the fortunes of Joseph, turning his bad situation into a good one. Christ humbled Himself for us, dying on a cross and rising again to new life, and in doing so has turned our bad situation of being slaves to sin and death into the good situation of being adopted children of God.

Reformation Sunday

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Genesis 29:1-30. Jacob experiences love at first sight when he meets Rachel at the well. Welcomed into his uncle Laban’s household, Jacob agrees to work seven years in order to marry Rachel. When the wedding celebration finally arrives, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel’s older sister, Leah. Realizing the deception, Jacob confronts his uncle, who gives him Rachel’s hand for another seven years of service. Christ came into the world through this broken family of liars and deceivers. He, however, is sinless and perfect, and has come to restore us to a perfect relationship with the heavenly Father.

19th Sunday After Pentecost

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Genesis 25:19–34; 27:1–45. When Isaac is sixty years old, Rebekah gives birth to very different twin boys—Esau and Jacob. Isaac ignores God’s promise to Jacob and favors Esau. Esau’s hunger gets the best of him as he sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. Rebekah enables further deception as she plots with Jacob, her favored son, so that he receives Isaac’s blessing. When Esau vows to kill Jacob, Rebekah sends Jacob away for his own safety. Isaac and Rebekah’s family was unfaithful to God and to one another. Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of the promised line of Isaac, was faithful to God in ways His ancestors were not.