Gospel: John 10:11-18 (Easter 4: Series B)
He continues to gather other sheep in, and He does it through the selfless serving and the gracious speaking of His people.
Contributors
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger (Ph.D. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO) is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He is the author of "These Are Written: Toward a Cruciform Theology of Scripture."
Craft of Preaching
Most Recent
Gospel: Luke 24:36-49 (Easter 3: Series B)
After more than a year of facing our collective mortality as a species, the promise of a physical resurrection is welcome news.
Gospel: John 20:19-21 (Easter 2: Series B)
The promise you will make, which brings about the presence of Christ and creates rejoicing, is the peace Jesus brought to the disciples that night behind locked doors.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8 (Easter Sunday: Series B)
Like the women who came despite their questions, your hearers will gather despite their uncertainties, and they will be looking for a word of honest hope.
Gospel: Mark 8:27-38 (Lent 2: Series B)
Make no mistake, the life to which Jesus is calling His disciples is radically other than what our world preaches.
Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 (Lent 1: Series B)
This forty-day season of preparation for Easter is an opportunity for the people of God to rededicate themselves to hearing and responding to Jesus’ call to repent.
Gospel: Mark 9:2-9 (Transfiguration: Series B)
It is hard to see clearly these days. While we have never been able to see as much as we would like, today we are more aware of our inability to perceive things as they really are.
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 (Epiphany 5: Series B)
What is Jesus' conception of, “How is God’s kingship made effective?” It would happen through preaching.
Gospel: Luke 2:40-52 (Christmas 2: Series B)
We begin in ignorance and we end in ignorance. But, in the midst of our ignorance, Jesus is walking with us.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 (Christmas 1: Series B)
As Simeon sang, you might lead your hearers in a song of defiant and hopeful confidence to close out a year characterized by death and despair.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 (Advent 4: Series B)
At the center of this gospel reading is a conversation. It was of the memorable variety. It involved a peasant girl from a small town and a mighty messenger from God.
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-20 (Advent 3: Series B)
Whatever else may come, however worse it may get, the light has come and will come again.
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 (Advent 2: Series B)
Mark makes no effort to impress listeners or win votes. His voice aims only to prepare those who hear it for the coming of the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46 (Pentecost 21: Series A)
The command to love those nearby is as challenging as it is simple. Jesus took the initiative to come near to us in loving sacrifice.
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22 (Pentecost 20: Series A)
In other words, preachers need to help Christians navigate election season faithfully. This text can help.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 (Pentecost 19: Series A)
Jesus is making it crystal clear that the master, the king, God Himself decides who is and who is not welcome in His Kingdom.
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46 (Pentecost 18: Series A)
Contrary to common American Christian thinking, you would emphasize the individual is not the center of the biblical narrative. Christianity is not primarily about me and my relationship with Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28 (Pentecost 13: Series A)
Peter stands again this week as a model Christian. He is not the type of model to emulate, however.
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20 (Pentecost 12: Series A)
Two things are ultimately certain in life, and they are not death and taxes. It is Jesus’ return and the preservation of His people until that day.
Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28 (Pentecost 11: Series A)
This week’s miracle invites you to engage in an honest consideration of something pressing for every believer at some time in their lives: God’s silence.
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 (Pentecost 10: Series A)
If the feeding of the 5000 invited an emphasis on Jesus’ COMPASSION, this week’s miracle invites a sermon focused on Jesus’ AUTHORITY.
Gospel: Matthew 14:14-21 (Pentecost 9: Series A)
Jesus’ miracle in this sermon, then, is a type of the compassion He has for your hearers. While they certainly have many physical needs, your hearers also (more fundamentally) need Jesus’ mercy and forgiveness.
Gospel: Matthew 10:34-42 (Pentecost 4: Series A)
If your congregation promotes and supports “family values,” you should be prepared to take this text head-on.
Gospel: Matthew 10:5a, 21-33 (Pentecost 2: Series A)
The Father in Heaven is the only one we have legitimate reason to fear. But in Christ, we learn that the Father knows His children intimately and values His children exceedingly.
Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-20) (Pentecost 2: Series A)
Before the sending is the gathering. Before the gathering is the compassion. Before the compassion is the seeing. And it all starts with a gracious God.