Romans 13:11-14 Sermon Commentary
Advent 1A
Preachers might consider opening a message on this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson with an anecdote that’s similar to mine. As I write this, my wife and I have just returned from a two-week vacation in Hawaii. While both the scenery and people were lovely, we’re exhausted. The current five-hour time difference between Hawaii and the US’s…
Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon Commentary
Advent 1A
Advent begins with the humbling reminder that though we can be confident in Christ’s return, and there is plenty “knowing” and “unknowing” to go around. Jesus’s opening words in our passage this week make rather clear that “no one knows” the day of judgment that will usher in the new heaven and new earth—not even…
Psalm 122 Sermon Commentary
Advent 1A
It may be difficult for us in the modern world and in the era of Christ’s Church to understand Ancient Israel’s attachment to Jerusalem. This city still exists today of course and visiting it is probably always a key destination for all tourists who want to visit “The Holy Land.” There is no denying the…
Isaiah 2:1-5 Sermon Commentary
Advent 1A
Illustration Beginning in 1939, Operation Pied Piper relocated 1.5 million Britons inland, North and to the country from cities and coastal towns. Nearly 830,000 of these evacuees were unaccompanied children. When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, thousands were evacuated within the first 4 days. Children bundled onto trains, marshalled by teachers and government officials….
Psalm 46 Sermon Commentary
Proper 29C
Many of us are old enough to remember that whatever preachers around the world and particularly in the United States had planned to preach on for Sunday September 16, 2001, all that changed after that fateful Tuesday now referred to by the shorthand of 9/11. And so very many of us who preach switched to…
Colossians 1:11-20 Sermon Commentary
Proper 29C
The contrast between the images of the Son of God presented by this Sunday’s Epistolary and Gospel lessons could hardly seem starker. Preachers might find fertile homiletical ground in that space – perhaps especially on this Christ the King Sunday that falls so close to the beginning of the Christmas season. Preachers might follow the…
Luke 23:33-43 Sermon Commentary
Proper 29C
On this the last Sunday of the year, we remember Christ as the one who reigns, or, Christ the King. In the upside-down kingdom of the gospel of Luke, it seems so fitting for us to be here at the cross of death, even as the hope of Advent is about to begin. At every…
Jeremiah 23:1-6 Sermon Commentary
Proper 29C
Commentary: This text thrives on a couple of significant contrasts: negligence vs. diligence and shepherd vs. king. Negligence and Diligence The first image this text offers us is of a shepherd who has become derelict in his responsibilities. Some texts translate the Hebrew to say he destroyed the flock. Robert Alter is content with a…
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Sermon Commentary
Proper 28C
“Doing what is good [kalopoiountes*]” (13) can be very hard work. It can be “tiring” [enkakesete]. Doing good can, in fact, be downright exhausting. Especially when the Scriptures appear to summon Jesus’ friends to do things those Scriptures call “good” but seem to us to be at least somewhat harmful. Preachers prompted by the Holy…
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.
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