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Matthew 4:1-11 Sermon Commentary
Comments, Questions, and Observations What sort of place is the biblical motif of “wilderness” to you? I added biblical intentionally there because I live in a beautiful part of the world where wilderness is part of enjoying recreation and everyday life. If you’ve ever visited Egypt, Jordan, Israel or Palestine, and retraced the steps of…
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Sermon Commentary
Illustration One of the most compelling recent apologetics for sin comes, ironically, from Francis Spufford’s book, Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense. Emerging from a long line of once-skeptical British intellectuals returning to Christian faith and finding that it does, in fact, “make surprising emotional sense.” In his second chapter,…
Psalm 32 Sermon Commentary
Although like most Woody Allen films the movie Crimes and Misdemeanors has more than a few comedic moments, in the end the movie is also quite chilling. The more comedic moments in the film involve a hapless documentary filmmaker named Cliff Stern (played by Allen). Cliff’s life is in some ways falling apart. His marriage…
Romans 5:12-19 Sermon Commentary
This first Sunday in Lent offers those who preach on the Revised Common Lectionary’s Epistolary Lesson a chance to proclaim the gospel through some theology about what Jesus came to do. By the power of the Holy Spirit it may even offer a chance to humbly present a corrective to several narrow emphases about the…
Sermon Commentary From Other Lectionary Cycles
Matthew 4:1-11 Sermon Commentary
Lent 1A
Many of us have seen the bumper sticker, “Lead Me Not into Temptation: I Can Find It Myself.” Cheeky humor aside, we know that God never actively leads us to sin and probably does not actively lead us to temptation (though this need not rule out God’s ability to test our faith). God is not…
Matthew 4:1-11 Sermon Commentary
Lent 1A
Many of us have seen the bumper sticker, “Lead Me Not into Temptation: I Can Find It By Myself.” Cheeky humor aside, we know that God never actively leads us to sin and probably does not actively lead us to temptation (though this need not rule out God’s ability to test our faith). God is…
Psalm 32 Sermon Commentary
Lent 1A
It is no wonder that the Lectionary takes us to Psalm 32 on this first Sunday of Lent; its somber focus on sin, confession, and forgiveness is perfect for this season. But it is also a bit tiresome, because this is the third time in a little over a year that Psalm 32 is the…
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This Week's Commentary
Lent 1A
The Lent 1A Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Matthew 4:1-11 from the Lectionary Gospel; Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 32 from the Lectionary Psalms; and Romans 5:12-19 from the Lectionary Epistle.
Related Reformed confession: OT Lectionary Epistle: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 9 (Lord’s Day 4)