Editor’s note: the following homiletical help is taken from David Schmitt’s sermon series “God’s Greater Story: A Sermon Series on Romans 6–14,” which is available for download here. By David Schmitt Consider Paul’s vision. You know how sometimes when you look at the sun and then look away, your vision is touched by an afterimage of ..
In a special excerpt from his online D.Min. course on Mark, Prof. Jim Voelz discusses the Gospel pericopes for both the 13th and 14th Sundays after Pentecost (Proper 16 [Mk 7:1-13] and 17 [Mk 7:14-23]), in the context of the Year B lectionary
By William Wrede Marriage. A man and a woman united. The standard for this union has been established by God and is fully rooted in his love for us in Jesus Christ. A quick review of the readings from Ephesians for the prior two Sundays will frame our reading for today; we are imitators of ..
By Thomas Manteufel The letter to the Hebrews was written to exhort Jewish Christians in the first century to remain steadfast in faith and dedication rooted in Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel, resisting all temptations to live in impenitent disobedience, or forsake their confession of his claims to be their Prophet, Priest, and ..
By Arthur F. Graudin Textual Considerations The text—God’s word to his people through the prophet Isaiah—contains a number of key words that point to significant concepts in Israel’s history. The Hebrew word יצר (v. 16) is used in our text to refer to the activity of a potter. In Genesis 2:7 the verb describes the ..
By Kyle Castens Who? What? Have you ever tried to work yourself into a story? In this morning’s Gospel text, Jesus asks the disciples a very powerful question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples offer a variety of answers heard from the people. Some say John the Baptist. Some ..
By Kyle Castens The House Restored It looked like something no one gave much thought to anymore. It was old and worn, ugly, in fact. Yet, somehow, also beautiful, reflecting a former glory. Faded, splintered pieces of plywood replaced window panes. However, its form still stood brilliant. Tall and majestic, red brick with white trim. ..
By Travis J. Scholl This week and next week (Proper 17) make up a continuous reading of Mark 7. (Technically, Proper 18 brings the reading of Mark 7 to a close, but there is a thematic and geographic shift that separates it from Propers 16 and 17.) If we were to treat these two readings ..