From Luther's Epistle Sermon for the Third Sunday after Easter (1 Peter 2:11–20): We have heard above that the two parts are to be together in a Christian and emphasized in Christan teaching. The first part is faith, that we are redeemed from sin through the blood of Christ and have forgiveness. The second part,…
The entire Gospel embodied and presented to us
Therefore also it is vain talk when they say that the body and blood of Christ are not given and shed for us in the Lord's Supper, hence we could not have forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. For although the work is accomplished and the forgiveness of sins acquired on the cross, yet it…
Beauty, not relevance
"Relevant" is another word to put in scare quotes when talking about sermons. For just as I think "practical" sermons do little practical good, I think the attempt to make the gospel "relevant" is irrelevant to someone who knows Christ. It's boring, because it's about an imaginary Christ designed for those who define themselves in…
What do you do?
Sermon on Reformation Sunday, preached at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on 30 October 2011 Text: Romans 3:19–28 To listen to the sermon, click here. We live in a world that is obsessed with doing. When forced to talk to new people, most people in Britain will first talk about the weather and, if the conversation…
The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church — Free Download
New Reformation Press has made the classic Rod Rosenbladt lecture, The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church, available as a free download (it used to be for sale only). You can get both the audio (mp3) and the text (pdf) from here. Later this year, the lecture will also become available as a HD…
A Tale of Two Sinners
Homily on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, 13 June 2010, at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Fareham (UK). Text: Luke 7:36—8:3
Knowing Jesus
This morning, the teacher of the Sunday school at my congregation reported the following conversation she had with one of the children, a 6-year-old boy: Teacher: Why do we read so many different stories about Jesus in Sunday school? Boy: So that we get to know Jesus. T: What do you mean? B: Not just…
Proclaiming and bringing
While reading Luke 8 with my wife last night, I noticed something that had passed me by before: Soon afterward he [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1) Proclaiming and bringing. That's a lovely summary of how the Gospel works: Jesus proclaims…
Preaching the Gospel without words
HT: Cyberbrethren Saying “Preach the gospel; if necessary use words” is like saying “Tell me your phone number; if necessary use digits.”
A Season of Receiving
I was planning to write a short post on why it is better to receive than to give at Christmas. However, a far more professional and prolific blogger beat me to it. Read it.
SimonPotamos 