Commentary posted on December 18, 2017

Advent 4B Sermon Commentary

The Advent 4B Sermon Starters include commentary and illustration ideas for Luke 1:26-38 from the Lectionary Gospel; 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-28 from the Lectionary Psalms; and Romans 16:25-27 from the Lectionary Epistle.

Related Reformed confession: Old Testament Lectionary: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 35 (Lord’s Day 14)

 

Home » December 18, 2017 - Advent 4B

Luke 1:26-38 Sermon Commentary

Advent 4B

Biblical scholars call passages like Luke 1 “type scenes.”  A modern kind of “type scene” might be something like this: one evening while channel-surfing, you run across a movie already in progress.  It’s obviously a Western with two cowboys standing about thirty yards apart in the middle of a dusty street.  Each man is glaring…

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Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 Sermon Commentary

Advent 4B

I have a suggestion for this Fourth Sunday of Advent.  Rather than singing with Mary about the Son she is about to have, let’s sing with ancient Israel about the God whose love and faithfulness will send this Son of David, in spite of the great sin of the sons of David.  Mary’s Magnificat is…

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Romans 16:25-27 Sermon Commentary

Advent 4B

How does one say goodbye?  Paul faced that in every letter he wrote but perhaps his most curious—and in its own way most moving—farewell comes at the end of Romans 16.  Actually all of chapter 16 is an extended farewell.  In fact, for this sermon commentary I am going to widen out the Lectionary text…

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2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Sermon Commentary

Advent 4B

2 Samuel 7’s David has been busy battling both Israel’s internal and external enemies.  He’s also just finished “battling” his wife, Michal.  So some who proclaim and hear 2 Samuel 7 feel a little like David.  We come from dealing with, sometimes even “battling” people in our neighborhoods, families (and even churches). So we some…

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