Advent

Isaiah for Advent: A Primer from Martin Luther on Afflicted Faith

11/25/23

31 mins

By John T. Pless

God did not rend the heavens and come down to collect the righteous for Himself. He came from a lineage of sinners to be their Savior.
Preaching Advent: Some Insights from Hermann Sasse

12/04/22

27 mins

By John T. Pless

Advent is something of a liturgical speed bump that slows us down lest we rush to Christmas but forget that the baby born in Bethlehem will return with glory and power to judge the living and the dead.
Heads Up: A Primer from Luther for Advent Preaching

11/20/22

26 mins

By John T. Pless

Whatever else may be said of Advent, it is above all devoted to making Christ known as the Lord who condescends to come as Brother to and Savior of sinners.
Holy Scripture for the Advent Preacher: Part 1

12/14/21

21 mins

By John T. Pless

Lutheran theology begins not with God in His terrifying majesty but with God in the flesh, God crucified for sinners. Advent is about this trajectory.
Holy Scripture for the Advent Preacher: Part 2

12/14/21

24 mins

By John T. Pless

The Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles to put God’s Word into human language has guided and guarded their transmission in the course of human history preserving them for the sake of the Gospel.
Bright Valley of Love: A Story for Preachers as Advent Turns Toward Christmas

12/09/21

12 mins

By John T. Pless

This is an excerpt from Chapter 27 in “Pastor Craft: Essays and Sermons” written by John T. Pless (1517 Publishing, 2021). Now Available for Preorder
Impulses for Advent Preaching from Bonhoeffer

12/06/20

14 mins

By John T. Pless

Bonhoeffer’s Advent preaching was carried out under the dark shadow of war yet within that night the word of promise sounds forth with radiant clarity. There is much in his preaching to inspire, deepen, and sharpen our proclamation in Advent 2020.
John the Baptist: Witness in the Wilderness

11/29/20

11 mins

By John T. Pless

John is not the Light; he is the servant sent to bear witness to the light.
Preaching Advent: Some Insights from Hermann Sasse

11/22/20

17 mins

By John T. Pless

Advent is something of a liturgical speed bump that slows us down lest we rush to Christmas but forget that the baby born in Bethlehem will return with glory and power to judge the living and the dead.
Bright Valley of Love: A Story for Preachers as Advent Turns Toward Christmas

12/23/19

11 mins

By John T. Pless

‘What’s so great about Christmas?” That is the question which the preacher must answer!
Advent Midweek Sermon 2: The Second Article of the Apostles' Creed

12/02/19

13 mins

By John T. Pless

Under the lordship of the crucified and risen Emmanuel, our existence is one of blessedness. Blessedness means we are not under the condemnation of the Law, but the benediction of God’s favor here in time and, hereafter, in eternity.
Advent Midweek Sermon 1: The First Article of the Apostles' Creed

11/25/19

10 mins

By John T. Pless

Advent draws us to the Lord who comes. We might even say that Advent really does begin in creation as the Father through His Eternal Word breathes His Spirit over the depths of darkness and calls into existence that the culmination of things that are not.

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