Preaching The Text
Preaching The Text examines the weekly Bible Readings from the three-year lectionary. Dr. Steven Paulson and pastor John Hoyum present these Scripture readings with a particular emphasis on how the Gospel is proclaimed and heard in weekly preaching.
John 10:22-33 – Easter 4 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson discuss the great saying of Jesus that he is the Good Shepherd. We learn from Christ that his choice of us is irrevocable, but those apart from him are to be lost due to their unfaith. Should anyone doubt their salvation and Christ's assurance, they must be directed back to this great promise of the Shepherd that no one will be lost from his hand.
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John 21:1-19 – Easter 3 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story of Christ and Peter going fishing with the disciples and having breakfast. Peter displays his ongoing misunderstanding of the ministry of Jesus for an earthly kingdom rather than a spiritual kingdom. John's account delights in Peter's misapprehension, given that he is the beloved disciple for no merit or reason at all.
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John 20:19-31 – Easter 2 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the charter of all evangelical proclamation: Christ's appearance to the disciples on Easter according to John's telling. Here we learn that the purpose of the church is the forgiveness of sins, and that Christ's work of giving peace to troubled consciences convinces us of the truth that he has taken our sins and defeated them in his suffering and death.
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Luke 24:1-12 – Easter Sunday (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the empty tomb. What we learn from this story is that the prospect of Christ's absence from the tomb is initially perplexing and frightening for both the women and the apostles. This is because the law remains in their consciences, threatening them with punishment for their betrayal. Resurrection will only become good news when Christ appears and applies his word of forgiveness.
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John 19:17-30 – Good Friday (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the main reading from John's gospel concerning the death of Christ. Here we see that Christ's death brings to an end the punishment for sin in the work of the law, which is why Christ says, "It is finished," and dies.
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Luke 22:7-20 – Maundy Thursday
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the institution of the Lord's Supper. Here we learn that Christ's testament for us is not simply a remembrance of a past act brought to mind by merely symbolic gestures, but the real presence of Christ's body and blood, given and shed for us to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins.
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Luke 22:39-46 – Palm Sunday
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of Christ's prayer in Gethsemane. Here we see Christ's obedience to the Father outside of and apart from the law. Though Christ is under the law and its punishment on the cross, the power of his forgiveness comes from the mercy, not the judgment, of God.
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Luke 20:9-20 – Lent 5 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson take up Christ's parable of the wicked tenants. We see in this text a reference to Isaiah's image of Israel as a vineyard planted by the Lord which is taken over by wicked tenants. The heart of this passage is the ground of our election: though sinners are tempted to believe that their obedience to the law is the source of election, Christ teaches that his mercy for sinners is the basis of his choice.
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Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 – Lent 4 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son. As with all parables, our task is to place ourselves in them and learn something. This episode goes through the story Jesus tells to reveal how law and gospel should be distinguished, and how this parable can be applied to you for the sake of gospel comfort.
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Luke 13:1-9 – Lent 3 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss a story of Jesus in which he speaks of a tree not bearing fruit. In this parable, the fruitless tree is threatened with being cut down. But the vinedresser intercedes for the tree, asking to dig around it and put manure on the tree. This is the gospel, which bears fruit in us by faith apart from the law.
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Luke 13:31-35 – Lent 2 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's encounter with some disingenuous Pharisees who warn him that Herod intends to kill him. Jesus then describes how he must eventually go to Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, because his death is coming soon. But we also hear from Jesus a clear teaching about repentance, in which the law and the gospel work together on the sinner who repents passively before God.
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Luke 4:1-13 – Lent 1 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the temptation of Christ in the wilderness according to Luke's narrative. As Luke's story indicates, Jesus exemplifies how the devil misunderstands the distinction of law and gospel, since he thinks he can use the law to tempt Christ to hand over his divinity. Christ counters the devil at each turn with God's word, which is the encouragement that we require when dealing with temptation ourselves – especially during the Lenten season.
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...Luke 4:1-13 – Lent 1 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the temptation of Christ in the wilderness according to Luke's narrative. As Luke's story indicates, Jesus exemplifies how the devil misunderstands the distinction of law and gospel, since he thinks he can use the law to tempt Christ to hand over his divinity. Christ counters the devil at each turn with God's word, which is the encouragement that we require when dealing with temptation ourselves – especially during the Lenten season.
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...Luke 9:28-36 – Transfiguration (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the Transfiguration. We see here the culmination of the Epiphany season, because this is the greatest revelation of Christ's identity to the disciples prior to Holy Week. The voice of the Father directs us to find the revelation of God – fully and finally – in Christ alone, and nowhere else.
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...Luke 6:27-38 – Epiphany 7 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson continue their discussion of the Sermon on the Plain. Christ preaches the law so as to show its limit. That limit gestures toward the gospel which gives a new obedience apart from the law according to faith.
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Luke 6:17-26 – Epiphany 6 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Plain. However, we caution our hearers not to take this sermon as the manifestation, or epiphany, of Christ because it is not a revelation of the gospel, but rather a revelation of the law. If these beatitudes aren't properly identified, then Christ becomes a higher and better lawgiver than Moses, instead of our savior from sin, death, and the law's condemnation.
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Luke 5:1-11 – Epiphany 5 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the calling of Peter and the other disciples. Christ's calling to Peter is now to take leave of fishing and instead to preach. Peter's faith is on display in this text, since he must ignore what his experience as a fisherman tells him and instead believe all things according to the word of Jesus Christ.
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<...Luke 2:22-40 – Presentation of Our Lord (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the song of Simeon from Luke 2. The main point of Simeon's song is that the promise of the Messiah's coming is now fulfilled in his sight, such that he can be free to die in the knowledge of the Savior. However, Simeon also identifies the response to the gospel, which is often bitter.
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Luke 4:16-30 – Epiphany 3 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the first sermon of Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth. This story inaugurates the ministry of Jesus as preacher and healer. Here we see that Christ's preaching begins with a different word from the law. In fact, Christ preaches the gospel which is received by the congregation as a gracious word.
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<...John 2:1-11 – Epiphany 2 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson take up the story of the wedding feast at Cana. In this story, we see Christ's transformation of purity. By taking up the water used for rites of purification and turning it into wine, he shows the end of purification according to the law, and the new kind of purification that comes through the gospel.
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Luke 3:15-22 – Baptism of Our Lord (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the baptism of Jesus according to Luke's retelling. We see the connection to Epiphany in this text because of a revelation of what forgiveness of sins means. Before Christ's coming, forgiveness was given and people were baptized by John in anticipation of Christ's coming. Now being baptized, Jesus has revealed himself as savior from sin – not as one to be anticipated, but as one who has presently arrived.
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Luke 2:40-52 – Christmas 2 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's adolescent visit at the temple where his parents leave him behind by accident. In his questioning of the rabbis at the temple, and the relationship of Jesus to the temple, we see his twofold and contradictory relationship with the law of God. As God, he is Lord of the law, capable of judging it and setting it aside; but as man, he willingly goes beneath it to be our sacrifice and atonement for sin.
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Luke 2:22-40 – Christmas 1 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the dedication of Christ at the temple. Here the law of primogeniture – the birthright of the firstborn – is bestowed upon Christ – but not, in this case, as a blessing but as his curse. Here, we see Christ going under the law as our substitute and sacrifice, such that he promises a salvation which comes apart from the law.
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Luke 1:39-45 – Advent 4 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth while both are pregnant – Mary with Jesus, and Elizabeth with John. We see here the greeting of Mary is an effective word which creates faith in Elizabeth, and faithful joy in the baby, John, who resides in her womb. Not only is this text a story about infant faith, but it's also about God's word which creates that faith when and where God pleases.
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...Luke 7:18-35 – Advent 3 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson discusses the story of John the Baptist in prison. By all evidence of experience, John's ministry has ended in failure. So he sends word to Jesus asking whether Jesus is the messiah, or if he should wait for another. This episode shows how we must not rely on the evidence of experience, but trust the word which accomplishes salvation in a way that's for now hidden from our reason.
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Luke 3:1-20 – Advent 2 (B)
In this episode of Preaching the Text, Steven Paulson discusses the significance of John's baptism for repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Here we see that the power of baptism is not that of preparation for a future coming of Christ, but a being made an inheritor of Christ's promise given at Christmas. When Christ arrives, he never goes away again.
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Luke 21:25-36 – Advent 1 (C)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson discusses the signs of the end times that Christ gives in the parable of the fig tree. We learn that Christ's coming is not in our typical theories of glory, but in the cross of Christ which destroys all human and earthly righteousness. The word which never passes away is the gospel which is righteousness apart from works of the law.
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Mark 13:24-37 – Christ the King (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Jesus' prediction of the end times. We find the gospel in Christ's words about the doorkeepr. The watchman will keep awake to open the door to the elect – and the way he does so is with the word of forgiveness itself.
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Mark 13:1-13 – Pentecost 26 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the admiration for the temple expressed by the disciples to Jesus – as well as his response. We learn that the disciples are prone to use their eyes rather than their ears to apprehend the truth. But what Jesus promises is that false messiahs will come to deceive them, but that his people will not believe them. Instead, they will hear and trust the word of Christ which never passes away – even in the face of great persecution.
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...Mark 12:38-44 – Pentecost 25 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story of the widow's offering from Mark's gospel. Here we see Jesus observing a woman who gives all that she has, which isn't much, into the temple offering plate. Usually this story is taken as an encouragement to give as much as you can. But we see here that what God requires is absolutely everything, including our very lives. But in death, there is also resurrection – since Christ has gone before us, giving all he has and being raised again on the third day.
Mark 12:28-34 – Pentecost 24 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss what it means to be near to the kingdom of God, and what it means to be in the kingdom of God. They take this text from Mark 12 as an occasion by which to proclaim the kingdom such that people hear that they are in the kingdom, not just near it.
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<...Romans 3:19-28 – Reformation (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Paul's proclamation of justification by faith alone without works of the law as it comes to us in the third chapter of Romans. We see here the difference between law and gospel and the assurance that faith alone justifies. This is the bedrock text of the Reformation, and an appropriate subject for the sermon on that day.
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Mark 10:23-31 – Pentecost 22 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson continue their discussion of the rich young man and the impossibility of inheriting eternal life through riches. Here Christ teaches that we cannot inherit eternal life through anything that we do, nor should we put our trust in money to secure us on the last day. Instead, salvation is a gift of God bestowed in Christ for free apart from our merits.
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Mark 10:17-22 – Pentecost 21 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story of the rich young man. Here we see that inheritance can be understood both in terms of the law and the gospel. This man trusts his earthly goods in times of trouble, instead of God. But faith trusts God alone in the gospel for all things, especially eternal life.
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<...Mark 10:2-16 – Pentecost 20 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Jesus' teaching on divorce. Divorce threatens all of us because it isn't a theoretical matter for most people. The law was given to afflict, not to set free, and so the law's teaching on divorce is meant to get inside the conscience of the sinner. But Jesus, as we see, turns at last to the fruit of marriage – namely children – which does set people free, along with the gospel's word of forgiveness.
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Mark 9:38-50 – Pentecost 19 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story in which a rogue preacher has been casting out demons in the name of Jesus – much to the dismay of the disciples. Jesus teaches them that they should let him go free. This episode talks about the text's implications for the office of preaching, the place of bishops, and the need for discipline of bad preachers who don't give the gospel.
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...Mark 9:30-37 – Pentecost 18 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson discuss the story in which the disciples argue with each other about who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus responds to all this by placing before them a child, saying that whoever wants to be the greatest must be last and servant of all. Here we see the theology of the cross at work in the preaching of Jesus.
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<...Pentecost 17 (B) – Mark 9:14-29
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson discuss a failed instance of the disciples trying to heal someone. Here, their lack of faith is found, but the power of the gospel is found even more in the person of Christ. Here we see that when faith is weak, even pleading with Christ to dispel unbelief, we find the working of the Holy Spirit who makes the mute speak and the deaf hear.
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Mark 7:24-37 – Pentecost 16 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's encounter with the Syrophoenecian woman. Here we see how faith can twist a promise out of a word from God which seems like a judgment. Thus we see how faith holds God to his promise, which he is always pleased to give and to fulfill.
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Mark 7:14-23 – Pentecost 15 (B)
On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss what makes a person clean or unclean. Jesus teaches that it's not what's outside a person that defiles them, but what's on the inside. The heart makes one unclean, but the only thing that can take hold of the heart and cleanse it is an external word that comes from the outside, through the ears, and make you holy.
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