Preaching The Text

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Netwo...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 P...

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.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Po...

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 s...

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 asid...

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...

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 G...

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 th...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 151...

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. Show Notes:...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podca...

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, th...

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 v...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Po...

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. S...

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 apa...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podc...

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 childr...

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 wh...

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. Show...

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 d...

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. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podca...

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. Show Not...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the relationship of Jesus and the law. In a dispute with the Pharisees, we learn how the law always leads to interpretation and traditions of interpretation. Jesus teaches us how the attempts to keep the law often force us to break it, showing that there must be a different source of righteousness outside of our law-keepin...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson continue their discussion of Jesus' sermon in John 6. Here we see Jesus turn to the matter of faith and unfaith, trust and betrayal. To feed on Christ, we learn, is to put faith in him, hearing the words of eternal life.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts...