Sermon Commentary Library

Our weekly sermon commentaries are Lectionary-based, which across its three-year cycle, encompass a vast array of biblical texts. Filter the Sermon Commentary Library to search Scripture texts by book and chapter to find commentary, illustrations, and reflections to spark ideas.

Looking for something else? View our Heidelberg Catechism sermon resources and our Reformed Connections to the RCL section that traces Lectionary texts to specific parts of the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession.

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Psalm 146 Sermon Commentary

Proper 27B

Psalm 146 is the Year B psalm appointed for November 10, 2024, which in the United States will be the first Sunday following the Presidential election.  No doubt even those of you reading this commentary who do not live in the U.S. have been aware of this election and maybe you have even paid some…

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Mark 12:38-44 Sermon Commentary

Proper 27B

We go from a scribe who is “not far from the kingdom of God” to those who are living as though they have no interest in God’s kingdom at all. And that’s saying something for a group of people whose role is to guide others in understanding God’s intent. Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes…”…

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Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Sermon Commentary

Proper 27B

Commentary on Ruth 3: Sunday School may not have given us exactly the right idea about what is going on in Ruth chapter 3. In our Sunday School imaginings, Ruth may seem to have more in common with a Disney princess than a desperate and resourceful Moabite widow in Israel. Her first day in the…

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Hebrews 9:24-28 Sermon Commentary

Proper 27B

This Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson addresses an issue that western citizens of the 21st century would prefer not to talk about: death. We are, Hebrews 9:27 announces, “destined [apokeitai*] to die [apothanein] once [hapax].” In other words, from the moment our parents conceive us, each one of us is on a one-way road to death that…

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Hebrews 9:11-14 Sermon Commentary

Proper 26B

This week’s Epistolary Lesson is a bloody one.  In fact, it’s so bloody that citizens of the already figuratively blood-soaked 21st century may be uncomfortable with it.  Even its preachers and teachers may wonder how to apply Hebrews 9’s truths to a world that’s already in some ways soaked in the blood of war, ethnic…

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Ruth 1:1-18 Sermon Commentary

Proper 26B

The next two Sundays create a wonderful opportunity for reflection on harvest, on reliance on God in the hard times and gratitude to God who provides — wonderful themes for the Thanksgiving season. Illustration The Bechdel Test is a way of evaluating film content named for its creator, Alison Bechdel. It is an informal way…

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Mark 12:28-34 Sermon Commentary

Proper 26B

Prior to our lectionary text, Jesus has been engaging in debates with the temple leaders—most recently with the Sadducees about the resurrection. Now, Mark says, a scribe who’s been listening in decides to ask Jesus his own question. However, unlike the leaders who have gone before him, this scribe isn’t trying to debate, catch Jesus…

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Psalm 119:1-8 Sermon Commentary

Proper 26B

The Aleph section of Psalm 119 is a little all over the place in some ways.  As many of us know, the longest of all the Psalms is divided up into 8-verse units that follow the ordering of the Hebrew alphabet with each line of each segment beginning with the same letter of the alphabet. …

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Job 38:1-6, 10-17 Sermon Commentary

Proper 25B

In one way, this sequence of lectionary readings have been helpful: setting up a premise — unjust suffering that God’s people throughout history and geography will relate to, Job’s honest response, God showing up and putting the present moment in context and, finally, this week, Job’s acceptance of God’s power and wisdom.  On the other…

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