Lectionary@Lunch Live – Zechariah 9:9-12
Prof. Bill Carr discusses the Old Testament pericope for Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion, in the Year B lectionary
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 ..
Days of Theological Reflection to focus on digital age – May 5-6, 2015
Tom Boomershine and Matt Peeples, among others, will discuss the impact of technology on exegesis and preaching
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
Fred Craddock, In Memoriam
Remembering the life of a preacher, Fred Craddock (1928-2015)
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 ..
Lectionary@Lunch Live in the Spring
Prof. Bill Carr will host the weekly live-stream video chat on the Old Testament lectionary for the Spring quarter, beginning Tuesday, March 10
Lent 2 • Romans 5:1–11 • March 1, 2015
By Robert Kolb Sometimes it seems as if our lives have wandered into one of the survival shows on television and we are about to be eliminated, or at least have questions about lasting longer than a few more weeks or months. Too many false calculations, too many wrong-headed decisions. Paul tells us in this lesson that this ..
Lectionary@Lunch Live – 2 Kings 2:1-12
Prof. Tom Egger discusses the Old Testament pericope for Transfiguration Day, in the Year B lectionary
Lent 1 • James 1:12–18 • February 22, 2015
By William W. Carr “Blessed is the man (Μακαριος ανηρ; see, e.g., Ps 1:1, אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָאִ֗ישׁ) who remains steadfast under trial” (Jas 1:12, ESV). Preparing this homiletical help in September makes it difficult not to think about Christians in Iraq and in several areas of Africa, who are pursued, persecuted, kidnapped, and murdered because they are Christians. The stomach churns, the ..
Transfiguration • 2 Corinthians 3:12–13 (14–18); 4:1–6 • February 15, 2015
By David I. Lewis Literary Context The text is part of the section of 2 Corinthians where Paul is defending the integrity of his apostolic ministry and his past actions in dealing with the believers in Corinth (1:12–7:16). In the section immediately preceding today’s text, 3:7–11, Paul contrasts the ministry of Moses in mediating the Torah to Israel to ..
Epiphany 5 • 1 Corinthians 9:16–23 • February 8, 2015
Editor’s note: The following homiletical help is adapted from Concordia Journal, January 2006. By Arthur F. Graudin Textual Considerations For the Apostle Paul the proclamation of the gospel was not a basis for boasting on his part but ανάγκη, a matter of necessity, constraint, obligation. “He is under divine constraint which he cannot escape” (TDNT, I, 340). ..
Lectionary@Lunch Live – Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Tom Egger discusses the Old Testament pericopies in the Epiphany season, in the Year B lectionary
Epiphany 4 • 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 • February 1, 2015
By Bruce Schuchard The goal of the human person who wishes to achieve everything that there is to achieve in life is _____. How would each one of us fill in the blank? According to the Hellenistic philosophers of the apostle Paul’s day, the pinnacle of human experience, of human existence and achievement, was not faith, hope, and love ..