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1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5B
Motivation is an immensely complex and mysterious force. The Psychology Today website identifies two sources of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. So 1 Corinthians 9:16-23’s preachers might fruitfully ask whether Paul’s motivation is intrinsic. Does it come purely from within himself? Or is his apostolic work’s motivation extrinsic? Is Paul, in other words, compelled by his…
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5B
A pastor friend of mine who is very dapper and proper in all things, including his attire, once observed another pastor show up for a summertime seminar dinner wearing a pair of shorts. My friend saw this and I noticed the muscles in his jaw tighten slightly before he wryly said, “I believe it is…
Isaiah 40:21-31 Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5B
Psalm 103 promises that God will satisfy our desire for good things, using words that will sound familiar from the reading of Isaiah 40: “so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” The parallels between these texts are instructive. Psalm 103 does not begin with God’s promise of satisfaction but with forgiveness, healing, liberation…
Mark 1:29-39 Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5B
SO MUCH IS HAPPENING HERE! Welcome to the Gospel of Mark. Last week felt like it was quite the scene, but look what the rest of the day brought! Jesus and the disciples leave the synagogue and go to Peter (still being called Simon) and Andrew’s house, where Jesus performs a private healing of Peter’s…
Commentary posted on January 29, 2024
Epiphany 5B Sermon Commentary
The Epiphany 5B Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Mark 1:29-39 from the Lectionary Gospel; Isaiah 40:21-31 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c from the Lectionary Psalms; and 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 from the Lectionary Epistle.
Related Reformed confession: OT Lectionary: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 96 (Lord’s Day 35)