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Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Comments, Observations, and Questions A week before Christmas this year, the Lectionary via Psalm 80 takes us out of any setting we might ordinarily associate with the holidays and settles us instead into a very bleak landscape. There can be no missing in Psalm 80—despite the Lectionary’s attempted leap-frog over the starker verses in the…
Isaiah 7:10-16 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Comments, Observations, and Questions As an inspired apostle and evangelist, Matthew may make any biblical connection he wishes and no one else can call him or question him on it. He can unearth any nugget he wants from anywhere across the Hebrew Scriptures and if, having dug it out, Matthew then claims this verse was…
Matthew 1:18-25 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Comments, Questions, and Observations Oddly, we close out Advent this year with the birthing story. Matthew’s birth narrative doesn’t usually get much attention on Christmas day because it’s rather anti-climactic in comparison to the Luke’s—our tried and true Christmas story. As I discuss in the textual points section below, we don’t even get the actual…
Romans 1:1-7 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Comments, Observations, and Questions Paul basically frames this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson with references to calling (1, 7a). What lies between those references forms the basis for those calls, both for the apostle and all of God’s dearly beloved people to whom the Spirit speaks through him. However, preachers who wish to talk about calling need…
Commentary posted on December 12, 2022
Advent 4A Sermon Commentary
The Advent 4A Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Matthew 1:18-25 from the Lectionary Gospel; Isaiah 7:10-16 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 80:1-7,17-19 from the Lectionary Psalms; and Romans 1:1-7 from the Lectionary Epistle.
Related Reformed confession: Old Testament Lectionary: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29 (Lord’s Day 11)