Preachers Studio: Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt discuss the craft of preaching topical sermons, with Ash Wednesday as the case study
Is the Pen Really Mightier Than…the Sausage?
Will Schumacher on Mardi Gras, Lent…and Christian freedom
Pre-Lenten Workshop 2019 Videos
Reed Lessing rolls out his new Lenten sermon series on the Exodus
Lent 5 • Luke 20:9–20 • March 13, 2016
Editor’s note: The following homiletical help is adapted from Concordia Journal, January 1980. By William J. Schmelder The preacher needs to resist mightily the temptation to use this text as the occasion for letting the congregation have it. It would be easy to become a stern preacher of the law, and to use this text ..
Lent 4 • Luke 15:1–3, 11–32 • March 6, 2016
By Michael J. Redeker The fourth Sunday in Lent is known as Laetare (rejoice) Sunday. It is the midway point in Lent and has been viewed as a day of celebration as the mood of Lent is briefly lessened. Luke 15 is filled with parables of rejoicing; the shepherd rejoices over finding the one lost sheep, ..
Lent 2 • Luke 13:31–35 • February 21, 2016
By Paul Sieveking This week’s lessons are confrontational. The Old Testament lesson is a confrontation between Jeremiah and the people of Judah. In the Gospel we hear of the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. They confront us with a “prophetic word” that our people and maybe we, ourselves, may not want to hear. In Luke ..
Lent 1 • Luke 4:1–13 • February 14, 2016
By Kou Seying Confessing the truth means renouncing the false at the same time, “Do you renounce the devil, and all his works, and all his ways?” Often, the latter is ignored due to various theological lapses or cultural and individualistic reasons. In this text, we have a glimpse of the nature of truth and ..
Pre-Lenten Workshop set for Jan. 15, 2016
Dr. Reed Lessing to lead discussion of Job’s teaching on suffering
Hope Rising: Preaching Luke
David Schmitt on preaching Luke from Advent to Easter in Year C. Need we say more?
Palm Sunday • Philippians 2:5–11 • March 29, 2015
By Todd Jones With its meaty theological content and rich poetic imagery, it is no surprise that the lectionary lifts this portion of Philippians from its context. Exegetical Notes Verse 6: Our English too often comes off sounding like Jesus was something less than God, as if he merely appeared to be God. However, a distinction between μορφή and ..
Lectionary@Lunch Live – Jeremiah 31:31-34
Prof. Bill Carr discusses the Old Testament pericope for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, in the Year B lectionary
Lent 5 • Hebrews 5:1–10 • March 22, 2015
Editor’s note: The following homiletical help is adapted from Concordia Journal, September 1979. by Andrew H. Bartelt Sermon Notes 1. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews continues his discussion of the “high priesthood” of Christ (and his commentary on Psalm 110) in 4:14. The importance of the office of high priest was obvious to a ..
Lent 4 • Ephesians 2:1–10 • March 15, 2015
by Wally Becker We are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Christ Jesus, for the purpose of living as God’s people to this world which he loves (Jn 3:16). This passage gives us a picture of “the two kinds of righteousness.” The first portion of the text focuses on the grace of God: dead in sin, ..
Lent 3 • 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 • March 8, 2015
by Wayne Knolhoff The Word of the Cross We are no strangers to scandal, and we know a scandal when we see it. Whether it involves a politician, a Hollywood star, a sports figure, or even a church leader scandals are, unfortunately, rather common occurrences. Scandals involve shameful, distasteful, offensive behavior. A scandal is an action or event ..
The Labyrinth and the Gospel
Travis Scholl, editor of our own Concordia Journal, has recently published a new book that takes us on the winding path of Mark’s Gospel. Travis’ rediscovery of the ancient labyrinth one Lenten season led him to reflect on the pilgrimage of faith, especially as one follows Him whose path leads to the cross. A devotion, a spiritual auto-biography, an ..
Innocent Suffering: A Lenten Thought
In the piety of Lenten self-reflection, the confession of our sin holds a prominent place. Especially for Lutherans who recognize that, as simul iustus et peccator, our confession of sin is comprehensive. The words of Isaiah 64 quickly become our own: “we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like ..