Preaching The Text

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Matthew 28:16-20 – Holy Trinity (A) May 29, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson discuss the so-called Great Commission at the conclusion of Matthew's gospel. They correct some of the abuses of this text, which often make Christ's words into a program for missional theology or discipleship programs. They show how to teach the Trinity from baptism, where the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is given to sinners.

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John 7:37-39 – Pentecost (A) May 23, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the texts for Pentecost. On Pentecost, the church receives the gift of the Holy Spirit with tongues of fire, enabling the apostles to preach in many languages. Though many interpreters focus on the way in which Pentecost connects to the giving of the law at Sinai, or the reversal of Babel's confusion of tongues, this episode emphasizes how Pentecost marks a transition. Before, the coming of Christ was always future-tense: he's coming. But at Pentecost, the word changes: now Christ is here. At Pentecost we receive a present Christ, not an absent one.

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John 17:1-11 – Easter 7 (A) May 16, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss church unity. In John 17, Jesus prays to the Father that his saints would be one. Normally, this text is used as evidence for the ecumenical idea that church unity is something we must achieve through mutual reconciliation between divided churches. But as we learn today, this prayer of Christ to the Father pledges that the church will be one according to the promise and work of Christ who gathers his church through the word of forgiveness. The unity of the church isn't a fact of the visible church, but a promise held in faith.

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John 14:15-21 – Easter 6 (A) May 09, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine Christ's teaching in John 14 that if someone loves him, that person will keep Christ's commandments. Though usually heard as a warning to keep the commandments of Christ, lest one fall from grace, in this episode we reverse the order of things. Christ gives his love to us, and that love gives us obedience to his commandments as a gift.

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John 14:1-14 – East 5 (A) May 01, 2023

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In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss an important story from the gospel of John that is often used for funerals. John 14 is sometimes called a farewell discourse, but this episode explores how Christ gives and bestows peace to his hearers. Christ isn't just an example to us, but is a sacrament – meaning he delivers salvation and the hope of eternal life. Therefore, Christ isn't absent from us, but very much present for us.

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John 10:1-10 – Easter 4 (A) Apr 24, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the conversation of Jesus with the Pharisees in which Jesus identifies himself as the shepherd of the sheep. In contrast, he identifies the Pharisees as wolves who attack the sheep. Since there is no word of gospel in this text, we show the difference between a parable and a promise: a parable will kill you, but a promise will give you life.

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Luke 24:13-35 – Easter 3 (A) Apr 17, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the story of the road to Emmaus. We learn how the risen Christ must reveal himself to the two disciples on the road, because they cannot recognize him on their own. They need the word and promise of the risen Christ to believe in him. The same is true for us, since the risen Christ isn't absent, but present wherever he gives his word.

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John 20:19-31 – Easter 2 (A) Apr 09, 2023

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In this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine John's account of Christ's appearance to the apostles after his resurrection. We learn that the resurrection isn't good news for them until they have the word of peace and forgiveness that Christ speaks. This story isn't about celebrating our doubts, but about the worde of promise that expels doubt from the human heart.

Matthew 28:1-10 – Easter Sunday (A) Apr 03, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the Easter Sunday gospel from Matthew. Here, we learn that the gospel isn't just in the empty tomb, but the proclamation of Christ as risen from the dead. We don't just want an absent Christ who's left the tomb, but a present Christ who promises resurrection. So we learn today how to proclaim a resurrected Christ to our hearers.

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John 18:1-19:42 – Good Friday (A) Apr 01, 2023

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine the passion reading for Good Friday. Here we read John's account of the death of Christ and stress the need to emphasize not only Christ's atonement of our sins, but also the promise of forgiveness delivered at Easter.

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