“News”week on the Bible
Is it a Sin?
Is it a Sin?
By Jeffrey A. Oschwald This pericope has all the dangers of a familiar text: we recall parts of it perfectly but may not remember how those parts all fit together. The themes of this passage are, no doubt, regular themes within our preaching. This day, however, can provide us with an opportunity to present this passage as something ..
By Joel P. Okamoto Notes on the Pericope The Old Testament people knew that God had promised life and salvation to all nations (e.g., see Genesis 12:3 and Isaiah 60:1–6, the appointed OT lesson), but they did not know how he would do that. God made this clear through his Son and in the witness of the apostles. Paul’s ..
December 23 READER O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of All Nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God. PREACHER Is there anyone here whose life has left him afraid to hope, afraid to dream, afraid to wish for anything? Is there anyone here whose Christmas list is ..
December 22 READER O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save mankind whom You formed out of clay. PREACHER Is there anyone here who feels that she has never, in all her life, had a ?rm foundation? Who feels that ..
December 21 READER O Dayspring, Splendor of Light Everlasting and Sun of Righteousness: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. PREACHER Is there anyone here who thought he could hide his wickedness in the darkness but now realizes that the darkness possesses him? And even ..
December 20 READER O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death. PREACHER Is there anyone here who feels that he has been ..
Paul Raabe continues the discussion of the Old Testament pericopies in Advent Year B
Tom Egger continues his discussion of the Old Testament pericopies in Advent Year B
December 19 READER O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come to deliver us, and delay not. PREACHER Is there anyone here who feels that she simply has no life left in her? Is there anyone ..
Today in chapel we had a service that prayed, preached, and sung the O Antiphons of Advent. Traditionally, the O Antiphons were sung consecutively beginning on December 17 and ending on December 23. For our students, we experienced them all at once, but for you our readers, we offer them one at a time (albeit ..
By Glenn A. Nielsen The celebration of Christmas begins, in stores and media, months before December 25. Advent has led up to the church’s celebrations of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Now, three days later, the season of Christmas continues. But what is left to say? What is left now that the children’s program has brought the trip to ..
By Ben Haupt On the final Sunday of Advent, just a few days before the glorious celebration of Christmas, these three verses at the end of the Epistle to the Romans are full of homiletical possibility. In just a few days, the people of God will join in countless hymns which all use the word “glory” (“Angels from the ..
Prof. Tom Egger presents the first Lectionary at Lunch Live on Isaiah 40:1-11 (Advent 2B)
By Jeff Gibbs It would be tempting to regard this text, a series of short imperative clauses, as a random series of “inspired one-liners” that exhort the Thessalonian believers (and us) to general Christian behaviors and attitudes. To be sure, there’s some truth in such a description, for there is no complex argument involved and the hardest structural ..
Go here to see the original: The un-countable life: waiting for an Advent in Ferguson