Preaching The Text

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More from the hosts

John Hoyum

Steven Paulson

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Matthew 26:17-30 – Maundy Thursday (A) Apr 01, 2023

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the institution of the Lord's Supper as told by Matthew. Here, we learn that Christ institutes a meal not for friends, but for sinners and betrayers. Christ delivers his body and blood to those who have sin for the forgiveness of sin. The one who is worthy to recieve is the sinner believing the words of Christ, "given and shed for you."

John 12:12-19 – Palm Sunday (A) Mar 28, 2023

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.

John 11:1-53 – Lent 5 (A) Mar 20, 2023

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 of the resurrection itself.

John 9:1-41 – Lent 4 (A) Mar 13, 2023

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 hearing.

John 4:5-26, 27-30, 39-42 – Lent 3 (A) Mar 06, 2023

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 fail to understand the true nature of worship in Christ's kingdom – which is not sacrifice to God, but the gifts of God given to us.

John 3:1-17 – Lent 2 (A) Feb 28, 2023

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 him about the gospel, but on this particular occasion, Jesus doesn't actually give him the gospel.

Matthew 4:1-11 – Lent 1 (A) Feb 20, 2023

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, not the devil, and therefore gives Christians the promise of deliverance from temptation by the power of sin, death, and the devil.

Matthew 17:1-9 – Transfiguration of Our Lord (A) Feb 13, 2023

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 son is a word different from the law – but in a strange mystery comes to Christians as well in the word given in baptism.

Matthew 5:21-37 – Epiphany 6 (A) Feb 07, 2023

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.

Matthew 5:13-20 – Epiphany 5 (A) Jan 31, 2023

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.

Matthew 5:1-12 – Epiphany 4 (A) Jan 24, 2023

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.

Matthew 4:12-25 – Epiphany 3 (A) Jan 16, 2023

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.

John 1:19-42a – Epiphany 2 (A) Jan 09, 2023

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.

Matthew 3:13-17 – Baptism of Our Lord (A) Jan 03, 2023

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.

Matthew 2:1-12 – Epiphany (A) Jan 02, 2023

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.

Matthew 2:13-23 – Christmas 1 (A) Dec 26, 2022

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 finally overcome.

John 1:1–19 – Christmas Day (A) Dec 19, 2022

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 share the news of Christ in the flesh with others.

Matthew 1:18-25 – Advent 4 (A) Dec 13, 2022

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.

Matthew 11:2-15 – Advent 3 (A) Dec 06, 2022

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.

Matthew 3:1-12 – Advent 2 (A) Nov 28, 2022

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.

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Matthew 24:36-44 – Advent 1 (A) Nov 23, 2022

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 arrives.