Editor’s note: David Schmitt provides this homiletical help as the fourth and final in a sermon series on the lectionary’s successive readings from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. By David Schmitt, Textual Connection In Paul’s closing exhortations, he encourages the Philippians in their devotion to Christ, in their support of one another, and in their engagement ..
By Dale A. Meyer This text speaks to our faith within the context of a changed America, a churched nation in our youth but now a country that gives the church no special privilege. This sermon can probe, perhaps uncomfortably, parishioners’ faith, and do so with an eye toward more faithful community outreach. About the text: ..
By Joel Biermann This text hardly ranks among the most popular or familiar of those gathered in the pericopes; but with its stern warnings, emphasis on Christian responsibility, and explicit OT imagery, it serves nicely as a representative of the entire book, and offers some interesting opportunities for the preacher. These vital points can be ..
By David L. Adams The Text as Text Several significant translational issues arise near the beginning of this reading. First, the imperative ἐνδυναμοῦ (be empowered), is a present rather than an aorist passive imperative, indicating an on-going feature of the life of faith rather than a one-time action. In addition, the phrase immediately following, ἐν ..
By Reed Lessing Historical Context Early in his rule Jeroboam ben Joash (793–753 BC) changed the political map of Israel. Through military conquests the territories east of the Jordan were recovered and annexed (Am 6:13), the northern border was extended to Lebo-Hamath, and the southern border was enlarged all the way to the Dead Sea ..
By Timothy Dost The Parable of the Great Banquet This text can be challenging because it not only presents the issues of the place of God’s work and our own works in the lives of believers, and the right and wrong ways of attempting to enter the kingdom, but also because the text has been frequently ..
by William W. Schumacher Perhaps the first, obvious thing to say about this text from Ruth is that if we read it in its context it is not exactly a wedding text. The best known part of this peri- cope is, no doubt, the climax of the story in the beautiful words of verse 16: ..
By Dale Meyer W.I.I.F.M.? That’s the question we always asked when we were preparing scripts for Lutheran Hour Ministries’ TV show, “On Main Street.” What’s in it for me? What’s in this program for the viewer—or in crafting a sermon, what’s in it for the hearer? The question isn’t intended to cater to the selfishness of ..