Volume 17, Number 2.
Preaching to the Choir
Lutheran preachers are, generally-speaking, preaching to believers who are gathered for worship – they are, in essence, “preaching to the choir.” What does the “choir” need to hear? About the discord of sin and the daily battle with the sinful nature. About the restoration of harmony in Christ. About the paradox of the gospel and the cross that all believers bear. Lutheran sermons are not preached primarily to change behavior, but to emphasize how God has changed the heart.
The Preparation Process
The article is a compilation of responses from colleagues on the Martin Luther College faculty about the sermon preparation process. This is Part II of the survey. The responses relate insights about the use of commentaries, the treatment of law & gospel, and keeping the audience in mind.
God’s Treasure… From a Clay Jar: Sermon Excerpt of Matthew 3:1-12
This is the second in a series of sermon excerpts with comment. The sermon theme for this Advent gospel text: John’s Voice is Still Calling. John the Baptist preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” His message still calls out to believers to repent and believe. Repentance is God’s work in human hearts through his Word and Spirit. It is a call to personal spiritual self-evaluation. God also then provides the power to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”