Preaching in the Context of the Liturgy The sermon as part of the Proper of the Day

The sermon can have various settings  A seeker service  Part of a sermon series  Based on a lectio continua epistle  In the Daily Office  In the liturgy

Assumptions of the Liturgy  A focus on the words and works of Jesus  The Word and the Sacrament  The priority of the Gospel and the Verba  The life of Christ in the calendar  The Proper in the liturgy of the Word

The centrality of the Gospel  Theologically  Structurally  Ceremonially  Historically

The changing paradigm  Calendar and Proper in WELS  Efforts to connect sermon and Proper seemed contrived  The Roman lectionary Gospels – Epistles – Old Testament  The ILCW and CW lectionary Common Lectionary  The CWS lectionary

CW Pentecost 17B  Mark 8:27-35 – Peter’s confession and Jesus’ predictions of his death  James 2:1-5, 8-10, – Faith and deeds  Isaiah 50:4-10 – The Suffering Servant

CWS Pentecost 17B  Mark 8:27-35 – Peter’s confession and Jesus’ predictions of his death  1 Peter 4:12-19 – Suffering for being a Christian  Jeremiah 38:1-13 – Jeremiah in the cistern

The relationship of the lessons  The Gospel is the focus  The First and Second Lessons complement, supplement, expand, and apply the Gospel  Not an imposed but a natural relationship; the connection is in the lesson

Implications for the preacher  Study the focus of the Gospel  Note the relationship  Accentuate and focus on the relationship  Let the First and Second Lessons point to Christ in the Gospel  Preach the text!

Note the relationship Epiphany 2B GospelJohn 1:43-51The Call of Philip and Nathanael First LessonI Samuel 3:1-10The Call of Samuel (accentuates a facet of the Gospel: confusing call) End Time 1B (Reformation) GospelMark 13:5-11Power to Speak Boldly First LessonDaniel 3:16-28Three Men in the Furnace (illustrates the reality of the Gospel) Easter 5A GospelJohn 14:1-12I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life First Lesson1 Kings 18:16-45 The Challenge at Mt. Carmel (Concrete dramatization of the Gospel)

Accentuate the relationship The Lord’s Call to Service 1. Often confusing 2. Always compelling We Can Face the Furnace, Too 1. We’ll be fired to speak by God’s love. 2. We’ll be saved from fire by God’s power Only God Can Build a Fire 1. That anyone else can is laughable 2. That only God can is laudable

Focus on the relationship Focus on the relationship 1 Kings 18:16-45 and John 14:1-11 God Claims the Loyalty of His People 1.He shows them the futility of their false trust 2.He demonstrates the power of his own love Whom Will We Serve? 1.The idols of pleasure who cannot help us? 2.The God of grace who will save us? Only God Can Build a Fire 1. That anyone else can is laughable 2. That only God can is laudable

Find the connection Easter 4A  1 Samuel 17:34-37  John 10:1-10

David and Jesus: Qualified Kings This Is a Shepherd We Can Count On 1. One who trusts in the promises of God 2. One who wins triumphs for the people of God

Find the connection  Luke 14:1,7-14 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Isaiah 1:10-20 Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Put down self; seek the cause of others Learn to Love the Losers 1. Put away the pride that loves self first 2. Put your faith in him who loved you first

Build on the relationship Proverbs 9:1-6 and John 6:51-59 Here’s an Invitation We’d be Wise to Accept 1. It’s issued in love A. The richness and compelling nature of the invitation B. To the simple and those who lack judgment (describe) C. We see Jesus offering such an invitation to the Jews in the Gospel D. We have characteristics of this simpleness, too E. The invitation comes to us because we have such a great need 2. It offers us life A. Food and wine offering life and the way of understanding B.Jesus explains this food: my flesh and blood; the Bread of life C.Life through faith in Christ D. Life leads us to understand to ways of God (maturity)

Additional Issues  Sermon length  Reading the lessons and the text  Preaching to the sacraments  Point to other facets of the liturgy  Preaching the law in the context of the Absolution

Benefits of liturgical preaching  The Lutheran standard  Unites sermon and service  Text development becomes more important than text selection  Offers texts chosen for homiletical treatment  Unites the preacher to other preachers

Other concepts  Free texts (including barrel sermons)  Sermon Series  The so-called “expositional” methods: preaching on an entire book of the Bible in succession

Preach the Word  Volume 13:2 – Preaching with Partners  Volume 13:4 – The Influence of the Gospel  Volume 13:6 – Liturgical Preaching