Matthew 1:18-25 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
We don’t know much about Joseph but what we do know is of pretty good quality. Even in our passage this week—where Joseph doesn’t even utter a word—we are given a number of positive characteristics to understand what kind of person Joseph is. Joseph is righteous; he also is not one to bear a grudge….
Isaiah 7:10-16 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Backs Against the Wall The text of Isaiah 7:10-16 (well, really, verse 14) is embedded in the Christian imagination as a prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary. But, before it served that purpose, it had another. Taking in the context of the first 9 verses of chapter 7, here’s the…
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
Since I have been writing the Psalm sermon commentary for quite a few years now, I find that it seems like I have to write something for Psalm 80 every year. There’s a reason for that feeling: I have been writing on Psalm 80 every year during Advent because the Lectionary assigns it in Years…
Romans 1:1-7 Sermon Commentary
Advent 4A
When I read this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson, I think of the English Standard Version’s translation of John 1:16: “From [Christ’s) fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (italics mine). Since Paul layers Romans 1 with grace upon grace in both obvious and subtle ways, it offers preachers an opportunity to explore how God’s grace…
Matthew 11:2-11 Sermon Commentary
Advent 3A
Even the stalwart in faith wonder during times of difficulty. Of course, we know this to be true even for Jesus, who prays to have the cup of suffering taken from him in the Garden. But in our passage today, we see it on full display in the strong-in-faith-and-purpose John. John was the one who…
Isaiah 35:1-10 Sermon Commentary
Advent 3A
Lectionary Connection On the third Sunday in Advent, we often hear John the Baptist’s story. A strange guy out in the wilderness, dressed in camel hair and eating honey-dipped locust. He arrives on the scene announcing (in the language of The Message translation) “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”People aren’t sure what to make…
James 5:7-10 Sermon Commentary
Advent 3A
Except in response to various crises, I don’t hear many Christians express impatience for Jesus’ return. Most of Jesus’ friends who I know (including, candidly, me) would just as soon Jesus wait a while to come again. After all, for many of us life on this side of the new creation can, at its best,…
Psalm 146:5-10 Sermon Commentary
Advent 3A
However it was that the Virgin Mary composed her Magnificat song as recorded in Luke 1, one thing that is certain is that she had a lot of Old Testament material at her disposal to work from. Particularly she had many apt psalms to draw upon, and Psalm 146 is surely one of them. No…
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Sermon Commentary
Advent 2A
In too many places all over the world it has long been the case that some who come into power as kings, presidents, prime ministers, and the like seem to see their power as principally an avenue by which to enrich themselves. Power corrupts, they say, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And all too often…
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.