Commentary posted on November 28, 2016

Advent 2A Sermon Commentary

 

Home » November 28, 2016 - Advent 2A

Matthew 3:1-12 Sermon Commentary

Advent 2A

Across the United States in recent weeks, there have been tidal waves of accusation and blame, counter-accusations and blame, judgments and more judgments from the left and from the right and from all points in between.   Political parties are said to have been judged by the voters.   Individual politicians are said to have been repudiated…

Explore Commentary

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Sermon Commentary

Advent 2A

I have given invocations at many events over the years—civic dinners with important speakers, the dedication of public and private buildings, the launching of significant social justice initiatives, even the inauguration of a local judge.  But I’ve never given the invocation at the swearing in of a President.  That is essentially what we have in…

Explore Commentary

Romans 15:4-13 Sermon Commentary

Advent 2A

Acoustics are everything when it comes to how a text is heard but in these days of political turmoil—a roiling pot of many feelings that is bubbling up in also the church—Paul’s call to “accept one another” for the sake of God’s greater glory is bracing.  Right now a lot of people I know—including the…

Explore Commentary

Isaiah 11:1-10 Sermon Commentary

Advent 2A

Some people claim the theologian Karl Barth said that modern Christians should always have an open Bible in one hand and the daily newspaper in the other.  It’s advice that remains as good today as when Barth first offered it.  So those who preach and teach this Sunday’s Old Testament text the Lectionary appoints might…

Explore Commentary