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Romans 10:5-15 Sermon Commentary
Proper 14A
One form of an old adage summons preachers to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” While Paul almost certainly wasn’t familiar with that invitation, this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson suggests he was familiar with its underlying principle. He, after all, fills Romans 10 with both rich comfort and implied warnings. We might argue that Paul…
I Kings 19:9-18 Sermon Commentary
Proper 14A
This week, I am mixing it up—because the Lectionary does—by switching to an alternative reading from Hebrew Scripture: The story of Elijah meeting God in a still, small voice. If you are still tracking the story of Genesis, you might see my previous commentary on Joseph here. Commentary The placement of this Elijah narrative matters…
Matthew 14:22-33 Sermon Commentary
Proper 14A
Jesus finally gets that alone time he yearned for when hearing about John the Baptist’s death (see verse 13). He first sends the disciples away, presumably so that they will not dutifully follow him up the hill later, but perhaps also because he wants to give them a rest too. After all, they just catered…
Psalm 85:8-13 Sermon Commentary
Proper 14A
Here is another Lectionary example of a relatively short psalm that for some reason is not recommended in its entirety. Since there is nothing in verses 1-7 that say anything different than the assigned verses here, there’s no harm in just doing the final six verses but equally there’d be no harm in reading the…
Commentary posted on August 3, 2026
Proper 14A Sermon Commentary
The Proper 14A Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Matthew 14:22-33 from the Lectionary Gospel; 1 Kings 19:9-18 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 85:8-13 from the Lectionary Psalms; and Romans 10:5-15 from the Lectionary Epistle.
Related Reformed confession: Lectionary Epistle: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 128 (Lord’s Day 52)