Preaching The Text

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson pull out some stories of preaching to illustrate an important point: what is a sermon? There are many bad ideas about what constitutes good preaching, and they are all too influential. This episode uses some amusing moments from Paulson's career as a preacher to show how a sermon must give the two words of God, law and gospel, in the proper form: to you, and for you. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss preaching on Ash Wednesday. The normal temptation with preaching Ash Wednesday is to focus on penitence as a habit of the mind rather than something God brings to us through the law. Nor should preachers forget that the best preparation for Easter isn't simply to preach judgment, but also to give the good news of Christ's forgiving promise. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson talk about the end of times according to Jesus in the gospel of Luke. Much of the problem with the end times revolves around the issue of preparation, which the legalist assumes means preparation of the self through holiness which will be vindicated in the end times. But Christ warns against this, since he alone as giver of grace and forgiveness stands at the end of history itself. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Coming Home for Christmas: 1517 Advent Devotional Face to Face: A Novel of the Reformation by Amy Mantravadi Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson suggest taking the readings for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost to preach All Saints. They go through the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector who goes out to see Jesus. In return, Zacchaeus finds out that Christ was coming out to find him and bring salvation to his house. This is how Christ makes saints: by justifying the sinner by his grace. The Virgil Thompson essay mentioned can be found here. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the nature of prayer in connection to the parable of the unjust judge. Here we see what it means to pray in faith that God will grant what we ask, since we ask on the basis of what he has already promised. The lesson of the parable isn't the insistence of prayer or the reluctance of God, but rather speed and generosity of God's answers to prayer. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the unworthy servants. Given this text's place in the history of theology and in the Lutheran understanding of law and gospel, they go into some detail on the fact that the law is a system of merit, debt, and duty. Under its rule, all things are owed. Under the gospel, there is no system of merit and duty, and its gifts are given without compulsion or requirement. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the dishonest manager in Luke's gospel, which they rename it as the parable of the "wiley pastor." The commendable manager uses the absolution – the forgiveness of debt – as generously as he can, in order to gain friends for himself. Likewise, preachers ought to give the absolution as frequently as possible, since it is the best thing in life. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss taking up one's cross, hating father and mother, and being a disciple of Christ. What we find in Christ's preaching of the law is that the law will eventually bring sinners to the point of hating parents, hating self, and hating God himself. Once the law has worked this despair of all works and their righteousness, only then can we hear the gospel come in and testify to a different kind of righteousness given in Jesus Christ. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss divine election. From this text – where Jesus gets a question about the number of people who will be saved – we see that sinners approach God's choice in terms of the law, the only thing they know. But those who come to God with no works or law-keeping to offer know in faith that God chooses by giving a promise to those who do not deserve it. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson take up Christ's teaching on anxiety. Jesus tells the disciples, first of all, not to be afraid about their life day by day. This doesn't take away the anxiety, but intensifies it. But it's his concluding, direct statement which casts out all anxiety: fear not, little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of Christ's teaching of the Lord's Prayer. With each of these petitions, we see how Christ teaches us to pray for all the good gifts that God promises. In this way, we can see how true holiness in prayer is not according to law and merit but gospel and grace. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of Christ's conversation with the lawyer and the parable of the Good Samaritan. Though we normally think of this parable as an example to us in serving the neighbor, we see that Jesus is in fact indicting this man for his sin and his own failure before the law's judgment. Then we can see that Christ is the true Good Samaritan who rescues people from their sins. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the two words the preacher is called to give: the binding word, and the loosing word. Though it is not always the time to bind up the sins of the dead, the main word of the gospel is that of resurrection. The righteousness of the dead is the forgiveness of sins into the life of Christ's kingdom which does not operate according to the law. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: John Hoyum Steven Paulson