The Gottesdienst Crowd – Ep. 377 — Thinking Out Loud (Easter 5/Cantate)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fifth Sunday of Easter, John 16:5-15.

Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Fifth Sunday of Easter (Cantate) (2024-04-28)

Isaiah 12:1-6
Ps. 66:1-8
James 1:16-21
John 16:5-15

Jesus Promises to Send His Holy Spirit, the Helper

Though Jesus has departed from us visibly to the right hand of the Father who sent Him, yet this is to our advantage. For Jesus-who is Lord over all creation, who intercedes for us before the Father, who is preparing a place for us in heaven-has sent the Helper, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:5-15). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” through Jesus Christ (James 1:17). The Holy Spirit helps us by taking what is Christ’s and declaring it to us. In the Word of truth, the Spirit works repentance and delivers to us the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness of Christ, and victory over the devil. For the ruler of this world is judged and defeated by the cross. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have been brought forth to new life in Him who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Confident of our resurrection with Christ we confess, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I thank God for what He has done according to the text.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Soft Antinomianism: The Problem in Lutheran Preaching by the Rev. Mark P. Surburg

N.B. Listen at 0.75x as Pr. Surburg speaks very quickly.

Faith of Our Fathers Conference 2024
The Law of God Is Good and Wise
April 12-13-2024
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Collinsville, IL

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What Preaching Is Not by the Rev. Dr. Burnell Eckardt (Gottesblog)

In our current (Easter) print issue, my Liturgical Observation column provided an analysis of preaching, and some common preaching practices that cannot even legitimately be classified as preaching. The article is posted here, in hopes that a wider discussion of these matters can be generated, toward the hope that in the end, better preaching might be result.

It’s not a malady of our times only that so much of what passes for preaching is nothing like what preaching is meant to be. Martin Luther lamented the dearth of good preaching so much that he wrote his Postil as a remedy,

…in order that the Christian people may hear, instead of fables and dreams, the Words of their God, unadulterated by human filth. For I promise nothing except the pure, unalloyed sense of the Gospel suitable for the low, humble people. But whether I am able to accomplish this, I shall let others judge. Empty opinions and foolish questions, which are of no value, no one can learn from use.[1]

It is nonetheless lamentable that, in spite of the superior access preachers of our day have to good homiletical training and books, there remains a heavy dose in our pulpits of fables and dreams, at least if we are to believe the abundance of anecdotal evidence hear reported from others on a regular basis, which tends to agree with what we ourselves have seen. Sermons, alas, have as their standard fare an abundance of extended stories and vignettes from the personal life of the preacher or from other equally banal sources, all of which are said to be somehow in service to the Gospel they are employed to portray. The sermon routinely begins with such a story, and sometimes the opening story consumes several minutes of the preacher’s time. The Biblical reading on which the sermon is said to be based might not come up until he’s well into the time given to the entire sermon. Preaching should not consist in extrabiblical stories and casual banter, but should be reverent and filled with Scripture. It should be crafted in a way that can rightly be called preaching the Gospel.

(continued on Gottesblog)

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How My Preaching Has Changed by the Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen

How My Preaching Has Changed
Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen

Faith of Our Fathers Conference 2024
The Law of God Is Good and Wise
April 12-13-2024
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Collinsville, IL

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The Gottesdienst Crowd – Ep. 375 — Thinking Out Loud (Easter 4/Jubilate)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fourth Sunday of Easter, John 16:16–22.

Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.

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Fourth Sunday of Easter (Jubilate) (2024-04-21)

Isaiah 40:25-31 or Lamentations 3:22-33
Ps. 147:1-11
1 Peter 2:11-20 or 1 John 3:1-3
John 16:16-22

Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice

The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11-20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1-3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I thank God for what He has done according to the text.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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The Gottesdienst Crowd – Ep. 373 — Thinking Out Loud (Easter 3)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Third Sunday of Easter, John 10:11–16.

Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.

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Third Sunday of Easter (Misericordias Domini) (2024-04-14)

Ezekiel 34:11-16
Ps. 23:1-6
1 Peter 2:21-25
John 10:11-16

The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep

Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11-16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I thank God for what He has done according to the text.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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The Gottesdienst Crowd – Ep. 371 — Thinking Out Loud (Easter 2)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Second Sunday of Easter, John 20:19-31.

Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

Become a Patron!

You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.

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