COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5
Though this passage may have been written by Isaiah, it appears to be out of context. It seems to better reflect the theology and mood of second or third Isaiah. Isaiah 1 is an indictment concerning the sinfulness of the people. The verses following our pericope pick up the theme of judgment. However, our text is a triumphant vision of the distant future whe...
1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: The return of the Lord. In Isaiah 64:1 the writer earnestly hopes that God will rend or tear the heavens and come down to restore his people and subdue their foes. In Paul's introduction to 1 Corinthians he prays that the Lord would sustain them until the revealing of the Lord Jesus. The Gospel has Jesus warning his disciples to watch closely for his return.
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Isaiah 64...
Matthew 3:1-12, Isaiah 11:1-16, Romans 14:1--15:13
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10
This text is related to Isaiah 9:1-6. "The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:3a). In their original context, both passages are believed to be coronation Psalms for God's Anointed One, the king. It is possible that Isaiah composed today's lesson for the coronation of King Hezekiah. Though a king was held to be a direct li...
Theme: Christ as our Shepherd King. Isaiah 40 has the Lord coming to save and comfort his dispossessed people. He comes as a mighty king who will rule his people in justice. At the same time, he is a loving shepherd, caring for his wounded sheep. The Old Testament held up the ideal of the king of Israel as a shepherd. In so doing the emphasis shifts from the desires of the king to the needs of the...
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10
A message of promise and hope comes to the captive children of Israel. Yahweh is going to free them from their oppression and open a road through the parched desert to the holy city of Jerusalem. The writer (not Isaiah) poetically pictures the entire creation participating in the redemption of God's people as the desert springs to luxuriant life, free of r...
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Isaiah 61:1-11, John 1:19-28, John 1:1-18
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme For The Day: Joy and anticipation concerning what God was about to do. Isaiah promises the oil of gladness (Isaiah 61:3) as God brings the captives of Israel back to their homeland. In Thessalonians, Paul charges the church always to rejoice (v. 16). In the Gospel, John delineates his message as pointing to the One who was to follow him: the One who would be much greater than he. All of thes...
THIS WEEK'S TEXT
Revised Common: Is 7:10-16 · Rom 1:1-7 · Mt 1:18-25
Roman Catholic: Is 7:10-14 · Rom 1:1-7 · Mt 1:18-24
Episcopal: Is 7:10-17 · Rom 1:1-7 · Mt 1:18-25
Lutheran: Is 7:10-14 (15-17) · Rom 1:1-7 · Mt 1:18-25
Seasonal Theme: Attitude of Obedience
Suggested Text For Preaching: Matthew 1:24 and Romans 1:5
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10-17
This selection contains a verse (v. 14) t...
Theme: Both Old Testament and Gospel portray the theme of God building a house, a kingdom or a people. In the Old Testament text, King David desires to build a temple for God but finds out that God is going to be the One building a house (dynasty) of David's descendents. In the Gospel, Angel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary that God is going to build up his Kingdom through the son she was to concei...
COMMENTARY
Epistle: Revelation 7:9-17
This is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals. The saints are marked with the seal of God which affords protection from the plagues and coming judgment. During this period of great persecution under the Roman Emperor, Domitian, about 96 A.D., John encourages the struggling church with a heavenly vision of light and glory. A great throng of believer...
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9
Through his prophet, the Lord promises to make a joyous feast for his people on Mt. Zion, replete with rich food and wine. God will remove the pall of gloom and sorrow by destroying death and personally wiping away the tears from the eyes of his people.
Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6a
John's vision of the new heaven and new earth, predicted by Isaiah (65:17; 6...
Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, Matthew 28:16-20
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: The risen, ascended and exalted Christ. Both Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53 relate the story of the Ascension, according to Luke. The account from Ephesians 1 exalts Christ as having all things put under his authority.
COMMENTARY
Epistle: Acts 1:1-11
In introducing his book, Luke notes to Theophilus that he is taking up where he left off with his gospel. The gospel ends with the witness to...
Acts 1:1-11, Luke 24:36-49, Luke 24:50-53, Mark 16:1-20, Ephesians 1:15-23
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: The crucified and risen Jesus has ascended to the Father. His disciples are to wait for empowerment from the promised Holy Spirit.
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1-11 (C, RC, E)
The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are the only two books in the Bible addressed to an individual (Theophilus). In this introduction, Luke informs Theophilus that he is taking up where his gospel ended. The Gosp...
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Joel 2:1-2, 12-19
The prophet Joel receives a word from the Lord. The ram's horn is to be sounded so that the people might assemble before the Lord. It is a time of crisis but the source of the trouble is not clear. Scholars differ greatly as to when the book was written anywhere from 800 B.C. to 350 B.C. Nevertheless, the situation calls for swift and forthright action....
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2
Bulletin Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: A call to repentance and renewal. The people are called to return to the Lord with acts of worship, giving and devotion that spring from the heart.
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
We know little about the writer of this book and there are no historical markers by which to judge the period in which it was composed. Many scholars believe that Joel lived in the Persian period (55...
THIS WEEK'S TEXT
Revised Common: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-43 · Mt 3:13-17
Roman Catholic: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17
Episcopal: Is 42:1-9 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17
Lutheran: Is 42:1-7 · Acts 10:34-38 · Mt 3:13-17
Seasonal Theme: The Holy Spirit is prominently featured in the Epiphany Season pericopes. The Spirit does not act in isolation but works to create and sustain the spir...
Ephesians 1:15-23, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Ezekiel 34:1-31, Matthew 25:31-46
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: Christ our king. In the Ezekiel lesson, God is the loving Shepherd-King of Israel, gathering the lost, comforting the injured. In the 1 Corinthians text, Christ triumphs over his enemies, especially the power of death. In the Gospel, Christ judges and separates those who are his sheep from those who are not. The key determinant consists of attitudes and actions toward the weak and needy one...
John 18:28-40, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Daniel 7:1-14, Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 1:4-8
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: At this end of the Church year we pay homage to Christ as our king through his cross.
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
These words are purported to be the last words of King David, though some scholars think that it comes from a much later era. The introduction identifies him as: "King David, the son of Jesse ...a man raised on high." Like Jesus, he had a lowly beginning and exal...
Galatians 3:26--4:7, Galatians 3:15-25, Colossians 3:1-17, Hebrews 2:5-18, Isaiah 61:1-11, Isaiah 63:7--64:12, Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 2:13-18
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Isaiah 63:7-9
The prophet recalls the goodness of God when the nation was being born. He harkens back to the covenant God made with his people at Sinai and his guiding them through the wilderness. Though God punishes his people for their sins, he continues to love them, care for them, and guide them. God carries on his gracious work of salvation.
Lesson 1: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-1...
Isaiah 61:10–62:3, Luke 2:21-40, Galatians 3:23–4:7, Colossians 3:12-21
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
Theme: Hope for the future. Simeon and Anna viewed Jesus as the fulfillment of their people's hopes and dreams. In a similar manner we see our hopes being fulfilled in our children and youth. We can be advanced in years and still live in hope.
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10--62:3
The prophet of the third portion of Isaiah (circa 530 B.C.) holds up a brilliant hope for the discouraged Isr...
Mt 2:13-23 · Jn 1:1-18 · Eph 1:3-14 · Jer 31:7-14 · Is 61:10--62:3 · Ps 147
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
God proclaims through his prophet a message of hope, comfort, and national revival. The time of the Babylonian captivity would come to an end and the people would come back to Zion rejoicing. God lavishes comfort on this people, whom he allowed to be punished.
Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3
The prophet exalts in the restoration of the nation and the...
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14
This passage derives from the "book of consolation" portion of Jeremiah, compiled by Baruch, and covers the 622 B.C. to 609 B.C. period. God promises to redeem the remnant from captivity. They will return with tears of joy welling in their eyes. The earth will participate in the restoration by bountifully yielding her produce; it will be a well-watered g...
THIS WEEK'S TEXT
Revised Common: Isaiah 9:2-7 · Titus 2:11-14 · Luke 2:1-20
Roman Catholic: Isaiah 9:1-7 · Titus 2:11-14 · Luke 2:1-14
Episcopal: Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7 · Titus 2:11-14 · Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:2-7
This lovely poem was composed at a time of historical darkness. The Assyrians had defeated Zebulon and Naphtali, taking them captive in 734 B.C. The threat of na...
COMMENTARY
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16
Deuteronomy came to light in the seventh century, during the reign of King Josiah, who instituted a religious revival. It comes in the form of discourses from the mouth of Moses, which bring to mind the goodness of the Lord in leading them through the wilderness and into the promised land. The people are called to respond to God's goodness by rat...
Mk 4:12-16, 22-26 · Heb 9:11-15 · Ex 24:3-8 · Ps 126
Sermon Aid
Russell F. Anderson
COMMENTARY
Lesson 1: Exodus 24:3-8
After Moses and the elders commune with the Lord on the mountain, Moses builds an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars of stone, representing the twelve tribes. He assembles the people for a covenant ceremony. The people agreed to obey the Lord's commands as delivered by Moses. In witness to the covenant between God and the people, Moses ordered...
THIS WEEK'S TEXT
Revised Common: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 · 1 Pet 1:3-9 · Jn 20:19-31
Roman Catholic: Acts 2:42-47 · 1 Pet 1:3-9 · Jn 20:19-31
Episcopal: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 or 1 Pet 1:3-9 or Jn 20:19-31 · Gen 8:6-16; 9:8-16 · Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Lutheran: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 · 1 Pet 1:3-9 · Jn 20:19-31
Theme For The Day: The theme of faith and doubt runs through the lessons for today. In the First Lesson, P...