Hosea 11:1-11 Sermon Commentary
Proper 13C
In Context The book of Hosea levels charges of infidelity against God’s people through an allegory in which Hosea is married to an unfaithful woman. This is compared to Israel’s idolatry, folly, foolishness and unfaithfulness and the bulk of the book is taking up with God’s judgment, punishment and condemnation. Hosea 11 stands out within…
Psalm 49:1-12 Sermon Commentary
Proper 13C
There are a number of psalms in the Hebrew Psalter that stray a bit into the biblical genre of Wisdom Literature. And a couple of those psalms in particular work the same Wisdom territory you can find in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Psalm 39 most closely resembles Qoheleth right down to that most-oft used word…
Colossians 3:1-11 Sermon Commentary
Proper 13C
Two of our grandchildren transferred to a different school at the beginning of this past academic year. While their adjustment was, by God’s grace, quite smooth, it was also quite large. Among other things, our grandchildren had to put on different clothing. They had to swap the uniforms of their previous school for their new…
Luke 12:13-21 Sermon Commentary
Proper 13C
Jesus is speaking to a rather large crowd that is eager to hear from him—according to 12.1, they are even trampling one another to get close. Somehow, a voice from that crowd rises above the rest and the question asked and sparks Jesus’s warning about greed. What Jesus says about greed relates to what he…
Psalm 138 Sermon Commentary
Proper 12C
The 138th psalm covers a lot of ground. It also reflects both high aspirations and hopes and also notes of utter realism from the hardscrabble reality of life in a broken world. On the one hand we encounter here the opening sentiments of full-throated, full-hearted praise of Israel’s wonderful and faithful and gracious God. God…
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) Sermon Commentary
Proper 12C
At the time my wife and I knew Missy, she was the delightful 6 year-old daughter of our wonderful friends. She had an age-appropriate faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But while other Old Testament stories fascinated other children, Genesis’ account of Abraham’s circumcision especially fascinated Missy. She even retold the story in…
Luke 11:1-13 Sermon Commentary
Proper 12C
This rich collection of Jesus’s teaching on prayer is made all the more significant given the passage that we looked at last Sunday. At Martha and Mary’s house, Jesus encouraged the women to sit at his feet and choose the better portion, being with God. Now, Jesus describes a practice of being with God in…
Genesis 18:20-32 Sermon Commentary
Proper 12C
Lectionary Connection: This week’s Hebrew Scripture text pairs well as an example of Jesus’ teaching about prayer in Luke 11. Abraham’s brash intervention on behalf of Lot and, by extension, to Sodom is the personification of Jesus’ teaching: “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened…
Psalm 15 Sermon Commentary
Proper 11C
It’s quite the list. Is blameless (so commits no sin presumably) Does what is righteous Speaks the truth and so never lies Never slanders a neighbor or utters any kind of slur against anyone Despises the vile but honors the good Keeps promises no matter what it costs Gives interest-free money to the poor and…
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.