Old Testament: Isaiah 66:18-23 (Pentecost 11: Series C)
As is often the case in Scripture, creation is about a renewed, restored, and redeemed relationship with the Creator.
Contributors
Jeffrey Pulse
Jeffrey Pulse (STM, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN; PhD, University of Durham, England) is Professor of Exegetical Theology, director of Certification and Placement, and Director of Continuing Education at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. He is also the author of "Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death and Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism" from Lexham Press.
Craft of Preaching
Most Recent
Old Testament: Jeremiah 23: 16-29 (Pentecost 10: Series C)
The real presence of the LORD does not pop-up unannounced when Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper—it has been a theme from the days in the Garden of Eden when He walked and talked with His people.
Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-6 (Pentecost 9: Series C)
We want to control things and we desire to partner with God in all manner of things, but of course, the LORD is in control. He takes care of things and He does not need our help in these matters.
Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 1:2,12–14; 2:18–26 (Pentecost 8: Series C)
There is no meaning, life is all vanity, if one is not in relationship with God. Keep life simple: trust in God and enjoy the life He has given.
Old Testament: Genesis 18: (17-19) 20-33 (Pentecost 7: Series C)
God is in control, but God is also in relationship with His children and asks us to pray, to lament, and to ask Him to change His mind as we participate as the Bride with our Bridegroom.
Old Testament: Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) (Pentecost 6: Series C)
We can see this as a foreshadowing of how the LORD always comes to His people—the people do not come to Him. So, it is God who sent His Son to us, His Promised One, up close and personal.
Old Testament: Leviticus 19:9-18 (Pentecost 5: Series C)
[Because] of the relationship of presence the LORD has with His people, His holiness ‘gets on them,’ and, as a result, this is what their life now looks like because the holy LORD is their God.
Old Testament: Isaiah 66:10-14 (Pentecost 4:Series C)
At first, one might think bones would strictly be associated with death, but in the Old Testament the most significant references to “bones” are associated with life and even resurrection from death.
Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:9b-21 (Pentecost 3: Series C)
In our text for today, here is the great prophet, Elijah, the same guy who God used in miraculous ways, hiding in a cave, scared to death.
Old Testament: Isaiah 65:1-9 (Pentecost 2: Series C)
The LORD God is seeking after those who have not sought Him! He calls out to those who have not been called by His name.
Old Testament: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (Holy Trinity: Series C)
These are not exclusive words for Israel, but for all the people of the Lord God’s creation.
Old Testament: Genesis 11:1-9 (Pentecost Sunday: Series C)
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured out and the language of man is united again for the Gospel to be preached to the ends of the earth.
New Testament: Acts 1:12-26 (Easter 7: Series C)
Now, in the New Testament, the number for the Church remains twelve as Jesus calls twelve Apostles to be trained by Him to carry out the ministry following His ascension.
New Testament: Acts 16:9-15 (Easter 6: Series C)
There were no discussions, no committee meetings, no master planning, he and his group simply went to Macedonia.
New Testament: Acts 11:1-18 (Easter 5: Series C)
In the Old Testament all the world is narrowed down to the people of Israel, which is eventually narrowed down to One—Jesus! Jesus is Israel reduced to one in order that all the world might be saved through Him.
New Testament: Acts 20: 17-35 (Easter 4: Series C)
Perhaps the question that needs answering is, “How?” How can we run the race? How can we be good shepherds of the flock? How can we live and walk as part of the flock?
New Testament: Acts 9:1-22 (Easter 3: Series C)
Paul’s training in the wilderness qualifies him to be an Apostle, an eyewitness of the risen Christ, and the LORD uses him greatly!
New Testament: Acts 5:12-32 (Easter 2: Series C)
To be barred from the Temple was like being ostracized from society as a whole. It was a powerful card to hold, and the Sadducees were not shy about using it.
Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17-25 (Easter Sunday: Series C)
Obviously, the LORD has no intention of slapping a bandage on creation. He will completely restore—it will be made new.
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 32:36-39 (Palm Sunday: Series C)
The LORD vindicates His people in the midst of their misery and despair—for this He has come.
Old Testament: Isaiah 43:16-21 (Lent 5: Series C)
The Exodus always remains a continual and present reality for the people of Israel—it is always on their mind. It was and remained the big salvific event of the Old Testament, yet at the same time it points forward to what God will yet/continue to do to save His people.
Old Testament: Isaiah 12:1-6 (Lent 4: Series C)
In our preaching it is important to decide how to understand this. Are we going to preach the “now” or the “not yet”? As the people of Israel are living in their “now,” are they hearing the words of Isaiah as the “not yet” or, the “not yet of the not yet”?
Old Testament: Ezekiel 33:7-20 (Lent 3: Series C)
This is a difficult time, but Ezekiel is giving great hope in our text for today. In spite of the circumstances, the Gospel predominates.
Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:8-15 (Lent 2: Series C)
God is still faithful. There are still the covenantal promises. There is still the preservation of the Messianic line because He who promised, He who covenanted, must be faithful.
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (Lent 1: Series C)
The Promise Land's true value is in the gift of Jesus who will provide His blood and very life to endow all people with forgiveness and everlasting life for His children.