Preaching in the
Context of the Liturgy
The sermon as part
of the Proper of the Day
The sermon can have various settings
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A seeker service
Part of a sermon series
Based on a lectio continua epistle
In the Daily Office
In the liturgy
Assumptions of the Liturgy
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A focus on the words and works of Jesus
The Word and the Sacrament
The priority of the Gospel and the Verba
The life of Christ in the calendar
The Proper in the liturgy of the Word
The centrality of the Gospel
 Theologically
 Ceremonially
 Structurally
 Historically
The changing paradigm
 Calendar and Proper in WELS
 Efforts to connect sermon and Proper
seemed contrived
 The Roman lectionary
Gospels – Epistles – Old Testament
 The ILCW and CW lectionary
Common Lectionary
 The CWS lectionary
CW Pentecost 17B
 Mark 8:27-35 – Peter’s confession and Jesus’
predictions of his death
 James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 – Faith and deeds
 Isaiah 50:4-10 – The Suffering Servant
CWS Pentecost 17B
 Mark 8:27-35 – Peter’s confession and Jesus’
predictions of his death
 1 Peter 4:12-19 – Suffering for being a
Christian
 Jeremiah 38:1-13 – Jeremiah in the cistern
The relationship of the lessons
 The Gospel is the focus
 The First and Second Lessons complement,
supplement, expand, and apply the Gospel
 Not an imposed but a natural relationship;
the connection is in the lesson
Implications for the preacher
 Study the focus of the Gospel
 Note the relationship
 Accentuate and focus on the relationship
 Let the First and Second Lessons point to
Christ in the Gospel
 Preach the text!
Note the relationship
Epiphany 2B
Gospel
John 1:43-51
The Call of Philip and Nathanael
First Lesson
I Samuel 3:1-10
The Call of Samuel
(accentuates a facet of the Gospel: confusing call)
End Time 1B (Reformation)
Gospel
Mark 13:5-11
Power to Speak Boldly
First Lesson
Daniel 3:16-28
Three Men in the Furnace
(illustrates the reality of the Gospel)
Easter 5A
Gospel
John 14:1-12
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
First Lesson
1 Kings 18:16-45 The Challenge at Mt. Carmel
(Concrete dramatization of the Gospel)
Accentuate the relationship
The Lord’s Call to Service
1. Often confusing
2. Always compelling
We Can Face the Furnace, Too
1. We’ll be fired to speak by God’s love.
2. We’ll be saved from fire by God’s power
Only God Can Build a Fire
1. That anyone else can is laughable
2. That only God can is laudable
Focus on the relationship
1 Kings 18:16-45 and John 14:1-11
God Claims the Loyalty of His People
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He shows them the futility of their false trust
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He demonstrates the power of his own love
Whom Will We Serve?
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The idols of pleasure who cannot help us?
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The God of grace who will save us?
Only God Can Build a Fire
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That anyone else can is laughable
2.
That only God can is laudable
Find the connection
Easter 4A
 1 Samuel 17:34-37
 John 10:1-10
David and Jesus: Qualified Kings
This Is a Shepherd We Can Count On
1. One who trusts in the promises of God
2. One who wins triumphs for the people of God
Find the connection
 Luke 14:1,7-14
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, and you will be blessed.
 Isaiah 1:10-20
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead
the case of the widow.
Put down self; seek the cause of others
Learn to Love the Losers
1. Put away the pride that loves self first
2. Put your faith in him who loved you first
Build on the relationship
Proverbs 9:1-6 and John 6:51-59
Here’s an Invitation We’d be Wise to Accept
1. It’s issued in love
A. The richness and compelling nature of the invitation
B. To the simple and those who lack judgment (describe)
C. We see Jesus offering such an invitation to the Jews in the Gospel
D. We have characteristics of this simpleness, too
E. The invitation comes to us because we have such a great need
2. It offers us life
A. Food and wine offering life and the way of understanding
B. Jesus explains this food: my flesh and blood; the Bread of life
C. Life through faith in Christ
D. Life leads us to understand to ways of God (maturity)
Additional Issues
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Sermon length
Reading the lessons and the text
Preaching to the sacraments
Point to other facets of the liturgy
Preaching the law in the context of the
Absolution
Benefits of liturgical preaching
 The Lutheran standard
 Unites sermon and service
 Text development becomes more important
than text selection
 Offers texts chosen for homiletical treatment
 Unites the preacher to other preachers
Other concepts
 Free texts (including barrel sermons)
 Sermon Series
 The so-called “expositional” methods:
preaching on an entire book of the Bible in
succession
Preach the Word
 Volume 13:2 – Preaching with Partners
 Volume 13:4 – The Influence of the
Gospel
 Volume 13:6 – Liturgical Preaching