Preaching The Text

In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson discuss the Palm Sunday gospel reading from John 12. This is the processional gospel usually read at the beginning of the service. We learn how to preach this text – and how to teach our listeners to welcome their Lord and demand his word of promise and forgiveness. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine the story of the raising of Lazarus. A particular mystery of this text is that Jesus waits for Lazarus to die even though he's heard of his sickness. We find that Jesus intends to perform a bigger miracle: to give life to the dead with the power of his word. This word belongs in the pulpit, where preachers give the promise...

On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson and John Hoyum discuss the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. This healing elicits suspicion and disbelief from many of the Pharisees who question Jesus' authority to do such things. We conclude by showing how preachers can give the gospel to those who are spiritually both blind and deaf, because it is the gospel that gives sight and heari...

In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson study the story of the woman at the well. This conversation involves a long dispute between the Samaritans and the Jews about the proper location of worship. Jesus reveals that true worship of God will take place neither in Samaria nor in Jerusalem only, but that true worship is in Spirit and truth. We also learn how the disciples...

In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story of Nicodemus and his visit to Jesus in the middle of the night. This passage not only contains Christ's teaching about the new birth of baptism, but also the famous John 3:16 verse. Nicodemus identifies Jesus as a teacher, but doesn't quite get that he's more than a teacher – but Israel's messiah. Jesus teaches h...

In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson explore the temptation of Christ in the wilderness right after his baptism. The contrast is between the Father's word of favor announced at Christ's baptism and the devil's word of temptation. While the Father gives a gospel word of favor, the devil gives a law word of temptation and sin. Christ the savior trusts in the Father, no...

In this episode of Preaching the Text, Steven Paulson and John Hoyum examine the story of Christ's transfiguration before three of his apostles on the mount of Transfiguration. In this text, like the baptism of Christ, we learn of both the Trinity and the two natures of Christ, divine and human. Christ is both God and man, having taken flesh for our sake. The Father's declaration of favor over his...

Continuing with the Sermon on the Mount, this episode of Preaching the Text examines Jesus' teaching of the law. Christ doesn't change the law of Moses or introduce a new law, but teaches the law to his hearers that had been in force since the beginning.  Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In today's episode of Preaching the Text we talk again about the distinction between law and gospel. Christ comes not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. And in fulfilling the law, he puts in it in its proper place as the thing that keeps order in the world. But only through the gospel promise does true righteousness come. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In this episode of Preaching the Text, we discuss the beatitudes – what Luther once described as the devil's favorite text of scripture to distort. We learn how to preach the beatitudes by dividing law and gospel so that hearers will receive a promise from Christ. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In this episode of Preaching the Text, we talk about Matthew's account of the beginning of Christ's ministry, especially his first sermon. He also calls his disciples here, and we also talk a bit about what discipleship – following Jesus – really means. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In this episode of Preaching the Text, we explore John's ministry of pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. From John's ministry, we learn not only the difference between law and gospel – the ministries of Moses and Christ – but also the purpose of preaching, which is to give Christ and his death to our hearers. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

In this episode of Preaching the Text, we discuss Christ's baptism by John in the Jordan River. Here we learn how Christ enters into his ministry by taking sin upon himself and receiving a promise from the Father. Christ takes our sins and proclaims that same promise to us in our own baptisms. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

This episode explores Matthew's account of the wise men visiting Herod having seen the star signaling the birth of Christ. They come to Bethlehem and present their gifts to Christ. Dr. Paulson shows how Luther preached this text: to indicate how the wise men are the first of the gentiles to be drawn to Christ. The ministry of Jesus isn't only to the Israelites, but to the entire world. Support thi...

In this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson and John Hoyum discuss Matthew's account of the slaughter of infant boys by Herod at Bethlehem, along with the flight of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to Egypt. We learn about Joseph's faithfulness to his family and his protection of the infant Christ. All this points toward the faithfulness of God in supplying a messiah, and the way that evil is fina...

Today we learn of the mystery of Christ become flesh. Our normal inclination is to think of God beyond our comprehension in holy majesty – too far above for us to imagine. The truth of Christmas is that God has not only looked upon us graciously, but has sent God the Son into our flesh to take our sin and be our savior. With John, we learn how it is we are to become witnesses of this truth and sha...

On this episode of preaching the text we study Matthew's story of Christ's conception and birth. We learn that Joseph finds his righteousness in the promise of God that Mary's son is not a disgrace to them, but will be the savior who takes away the sins of his people.  Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

Today we talk about John's imprisonment and his doubts about Christ as the messiah. We learn about how Christ sends preachers to John to reassure him about the truth of the gospel. We also learn how all preachers overcome their doubts and hand over the goods of Christ crucified. Support this show 1517 Podcasts Craft of Preaching

Today, we talk about the first encounter of Jesus with John the Baptist. John's preaching of the kingdom shows us the true meaning of repentance – not as something we must do to prepare for the gospel promise, but something God does to us with the word of judgment. We also talk about the meaning of John's baptism, and its relationship to the Christian sacrament of baptism. This week is Giving Tues...

The first episode of Preaching the Text introduces the hosts, Dr. Steven Paulson and Pr. John Hoyum, as they start this new study of the Sunday lectionary texts. Today, we begin with special attention on the gospel reading from Matthew. This text is about the return of Christ in judgment. Though usually something people fear, Dr. Paulson shows that their is surprising good news of when Christ arri...