Preaching The Text

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson talk about John's account of Christ's cleansing of the temple, so called. This episode combats some misunderstandings of this text which think of Christ's message only in terms of economic reform or social justice. In truth, Christ's cleansing of the temple teaches us about the cross and sacrifice of Christ for the sin of the worl...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Mark's account of Peter's confession of Christ's identity. We find here that while Peter gives the correct answer to the question Jesus poses to him, Peter remains resistant to the coming event of salvation which is to come through the cross and the resurrection. To preach this text, the preacher has to recognize the resis...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Mark's account of the temptation of Christ by the devil in the wilderness. This episode talks at length about the nature of temptation, the way Satan accuses us, and how the Holy Spirit through God's word protects us from temptation.  Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the readings for Transfiguration Sunday. Here Christ appears with his disciples on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. Despite the fear of the disciples, the voice of the Father comes once again to pronounce his blessing upon Christ and the ministry of forgiveness that he has come to give. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Pod...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss some of Christ's early healings and exorcisms from the Gospel of Mark. Here we see that Christ comes to heal and cast out demons, but above all he comes to preach. With his preaching, Christ silences the demons and forgives sin, but he also brings to an end the law's oppressive voice. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss one of Christ's first acts in his ministry career. Taking his disciples with him, Jesus enters the synagogue and heals a man being tormented by an unclean spirit. From this text we see what happens when the gospel comes in contact with what is unclean and unholy: in the place of impurity according to the law, the gospel gi...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the calling of the disciples to become fishers of men. We learn how the calling of Christ involves the presence of the kingdom of God, not as something far away but something that is present in the preaching of the gospel. The kingdom isn't something that the gospel points to, but something the gospel gives. Show Notes: Su...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's calling of his disciples, Philip and Nathaniel. Here we see the distinction between the various ordinary callings of human life in the world and our calling by Christ to salvation. With the call of Christ, he is the one who sees, calls, and finds us – and so in Christ's call we find our election and predestination...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Mark's account of Christ's baptism by John in the Jordan. They talk not only about connection between Christ's baptism and his role as sin-bearer but also the doctrine of the Trinity. Here we see not only the saving work of Jesus but also his eternal relation with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Show Notes: Support 1517 15...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson and John Hoyum discuss Simeon's song – known to many as the canticle sung following the Lord's Supper. In this episode we talk about the tangible presence of salvation experienced by Simeon having held the infant Christ. We also discuss the nature of sacrifice, and the way in which sacrifice meets its destination in the death of Jesus. Show Note...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the annunciation where the angel Gabriel appears before Mary to announce that she will conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. Mary's first reaction to this good news is that of fear and skepticism. This indicates how the gospel when it is preached often elicits fear and doubt, but that it also creates faith...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss John the Baptist once again – this time his appearance at the beginning of John's gospel. They discuss the difference between a sign and a sacrament, with the prophets signifying Christ, but Christ being the thing itself when it comes to the gospel. This episode also examines what it means for John to hold the preaching of...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine the opening words of the Gospel of Mark. This introduces the rest of the gospel as well as the figure of John the Baptist. Among the things discussed include the nature of baptism, the role of John as the forerunner of Christ, and the identification of Jesus as true God and true man. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss one of the end times sayings of Christ from the Gospel of Mark. During Advent, the lectionary tries to fix our attention on the end times. This episode discusses some of the perils of end times fixations, and how to properly distinguish law and gospel when it comes to preaching the end of all things in Christ. Show Notes:...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the sheep and the goats. We learn how this often frightening parable describes the final judgment of the law and the gospel, with the law telling us to depart forever from Christ and the gospel welcoming sinners into his kingdom. The key point is to see how salvation isn't a transition from sinfulness to hol...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the talents. We learn the difference between law and gospel in the context of this parable. Now we can see how this parable should be preached: the talents God gives are not his commands, but his promises. And so God's promise isn't meager, but fruitful and abundant. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts Th...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the wise and foolish virgins – although Paulson has a suggestion about how we might rename it. We learn here how to trust in the promises of the gospel while we wait for Christ to return in his kingdom. For the waiting, we rely on the promise of Christ and his Holy Spirit instead of our good works. Only in t...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson talk about the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. We learn how these characteristics of the Christian aren't virtues to be conjured by hard work and devotion, but are descriptions of what happens to the Christian once faith in the promise has been given. We also learn how the Beatitudes link with the Lord's Prayer, and therefore learn how C...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the appointed readings for Reformation Sunday. At the center of the Reformation is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works of the law. Using all the texts given for Reformation, this episode examines how preachers can emphasize the difference between law and gospel, and how to give an unconditional p...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the famous conversation of Jesus with the Jewish authorities concerning taxation. We learn that there are two different kinds of authorities to which people submit, not just one. Caesar represents the law in its highest form: taxation, money owed to the state. But God takes from us not our taxes, but our faith, and so rule...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson and John Hoyum discuss Christ's parable of the wedding garment. Here, we learn that God invites all – both good and bad – to the wedding feast of the Son. But even more than just extending an invitation, God gives the clothing to wear for the banquet – which is the righteousness of Christ. All this we receive apart from our own merit or worthine...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the master and the vineyard. We learn from Luther that this parable really is about the unification of Jew and gentile in Christ on the basis of the gospel instead of the law. The parable picks up on the Old Testament image of Israel as a vineyard planted by God – but not at the expense of the Jews as many i...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine an encounter of Jesus with the authorities in Jerusalem who wonder where his authority comes from. Being in the position of skepticism regarding Jesus, we see how Christ reveals how they can think of authority in terms of the law alone. But the gospel has an authority to forgive sin, which is what we see in the preaching o...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the Parable of the Vineyard Workers. However, at the end of the parable, we find that the owner of the vineyard compensates the workers all the same – which means that their reward is based on the right choice of the owner instead of the labor of the workers. Here we see just how the kingdom of Christ is different from the...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson talk about forgiveness. Peter comes to Jesus with a question about how often he should forgive – just after hearing about the office of the keys from Jesus. Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness, which shows us that there can be no limits placed on the absolution. Instead, forgiveness must be given freely for the sake of sinner...