Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 99
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Preaching That Leads To Transformation, Curtis Barbarick
Preaching That Leads To Transformation, Curtis Barbarick
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
This article presents the results of a project to develop a process whereby the sermon would be enhanced for listeners at the North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas, so that preaching would be more effective in leading to transformation. The theology and methodology of John Wesley were utilized as a lens by which to think about and implement this practice.
The intervention involved a six-week session with a focus group that represented a cross-section of the congregation. Participants in this group were asked to engage in a lectio divina exercise on a particular text daily, journal about the …
All Saints’ Day • 1 John 3:1–3 • November 1, 2015, Francis Rossow
All Saints’ Day • 1 John 3:1–3 • November 1, 2015, Francis Rossow
Concordia Journal
Well, the Christian life, in some respects at least, resembles a multiple-phase rocket: the first phase is from conception to birth; the second phase is from birth to death; and the third phase is from death into eternity.
Reformation Sunday • Romans 3:19–28 • October 25, 2015, Robert Rosin
Reformation Sunday • Romans 3:19–28 • October 25, 2015, Robert Rosin
Concordia Journal
The gospel flies in the face of logic, which is why Luther (in his 1517 “Disputation against Scholastic Theology”) said Aristotle is to theology as darkness is to light.
Proper 23 • Hebrews 3:12–19 • October 11, 2015, Joel Okamoto
Proper 23 • Hebrews 3:12–19 • October 11, 2015, Joel Okamoto
Concordia Journal
The promise is eschatological, a promise of life with God and all his people in the new creation, enjoying the life of the age to come.
Proper 23 • Hebrews 3:12–19, Joel Biermann
Proper 23 • Hebrews 3:12–19, Joel Biermann
Concordia Journal
Sin becomes altogether too common and familiar and so “safe.” The writer to the Hebrews screams the contrary alert: Sin kills.
Proper 22 • Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18), Charles Arand
Proper 22 • Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18), Charles Arand
Concordia Journal
Not only did God honor us with the role of being responsible over creation, he now honors us by becoming a human creature so that in him, that right dominion would be restored.
Proper 21 • James 5:(1–12) 13–20, Tony Cook
Proper 21 • James 5:(1–12) 13–20, Tony Cook
Concordia Journal
Regardless of which section of the pericope one selects, all three share the following themes: we are to live out our identity in Christ even in the face of suffering, we are to assist our brothers and sisters in staying true to the faith.
Proper 20 • James 3:13–4:10, Jeffrey Kloha
Proper 20 • James 3:13–4:10, Jeffrey Kloha
Concordia Journal
James 3 and 4 stand among the harshest condemnations found in the NT.
Proper 19 • James 3:1–12, William Schumacher
Proper 19 • James 3:1–12, William Schumacher
Concordia Journal
Christians are absolutely forbidden to speak evil of other people—even if what they say is technically “true.”
Proper 18 • James 2:1–10, 14–18, Joel Fritsche
Proper 18 • James 2:1–10, 14–18, Joel Fritsche
Concordia Journal
For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbor and supply The proof that faith is living.
Proper 17 • Ephesians 6:10–20, Jason Broge
Proper 17 • Ephesians 6:10–20, Jason Broge
Concordia Journal
The armor these soldiers are wearing is not gained by their own merit, but spiritual gifts they are blessed with.
Proper 16 • Ephesians 5:22–33, William Wrede
Proper 16 • Ephesians 5:22–33, William Wrede
Concordia Journal
The bulk of this passage has as its focus the role of husbands and how they are to love.
Proper 15 • Ephesians 5:6–21, Joel Fritsche
Proper 15 • Ephesians 5:6–21, Joel Fritsche
Concordia Journal
The Christian Life, A Wake up Call.
Proper 14 • Ephesians 4:17–5:2, James Voelz
Proper 14 • Ephesians 4:17–5:2, James Voelz
Concordia Journal
This pericope is typical of the latter portion of Paul’s letters, that is, it deals with everyday matters of the Christian life
Proper 13 • Ephesians 4:1–16 • August 2, 2015, Richard Marrs
Proper 13 • Ephesians 4:1–16 • August 2, 2015, Richard Marrs
Concordia Journal
Just as your hands and your knees are gifts to you, gifts from God, so are the people around you gifts from God.
Proper 12 • Ephesians 3:14–21 • July 26, 2015, Benjamin Haupt
Proper 12 • Ephesians 3:14–21 • July 26, 2015, Benjamin Haupt
Concordia Journal
Paul is praying that the Ephesian Christians will be able to see the blueprints, so to speak, for the new church construction project, that is the building project of the church of God, the body of Christ.
1proper 11 • Ephesians 3:14–21 • July 26, 2015, Jeff Gibbs
1proper 11 • Ephesians 3:14–21 • July 26, 2015, Jeff Gibbs
Concordia Journal
The good news is that the Gentile believers now fully belong as household members (3:19) to the God of Israel, the Father of Jesus (Eph 1:3).
Proper 10 • Ephesians 1:3–16 • July 12, 2015, Timothy Dost
Proper 10 • Ephesians 1:3–16 • July 12, 2015, Timothy Dost
Concordia Journal
It is through the durability of these promises applied to us that we find both the faithfulness and strength to love our neighbors, marking us as those distinctive people God has chosen from the beginning.
Proper 9 • 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 • July 5, 2015 Exegetical Notes, Andrew Bartelt
Proper 9 • 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 • July 5, 2015 Exegetical Notes, Andrew Bartelt
Concordia Journal
Beyond conflict resolution lies a whole new way of defining reality, not by might or by power, or even by spiritual gifts or by healings, or by how God answered my prayer my way, but by the cross and resurrection.
Proper 8 • 2 Corinthians 8:1–9; 13–15 • June 28, 2015, Glenn Nielsen
Proper 8 • 2 Corinthians 8:1–9; 13–15 • June 28, 2015, Glenn Nielsen
Concordia Journal
In the sermon, besides the gospel motivation, appeals are made to the positive examples of other believers, and the call is to excel in generosity.
Proper 7 • 2 Corinthians 6:1–13 • June 21, 2015 Servants Of God As A Study In Contrasts, Joel Elowsky
Proper 7 • 2 Corinthians 6:1–13 • June 21, 2015 Servants Of God As A Study In Contrasts, Joel Elowsky
Concordia Journal
The one who was himself a study in contrasts, contradictions, and paradoxes asks no less of his servants and gives no less than his Spirit to make it happen.
Proper 6 • 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (11–17) • June 14, 2015, Daniel Eggold
Proper 6 • 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (11–17) • June 14, 2015, Daniel Eggold
Concordia Journal
This God-given, Spirit-driven longing to have our perishable bodies replaced by something permanent is evidence that full communion with the Father is possible through Jesus Christ who died for all.
Proper 5 • 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 • June 7, 2015, Michael Redeker
Proper 5 • 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 • June 7, 2015, Michael Redeker
Concordia Journal
Today’s epistle focuses on the Spirit as he works in the life of the believer to keep the Christian in the faith by giving a new set of glasses through which to live out life in dual realities.
Holy Trinity • Acts 2:14a, 22–36 • May 31, 2015, Erik Herrmann
Holy Trinity • Acts 2:14a, 22–36 • May 31, 2015, Erik Herrmann
Concordia Journal
For Peter, gifted now with the Holy Spirit, all that has taken place was promised long ago and has unfolded according to God’s “definite plan and foreknowledge.” In spite of all appearances, the death of Jesus does not negate the “mighty works, wonders and signs” of God.
Pentecost • Acts 2:1–21 • May 24, 2015, Kent Burreson
Pentecost • Acts 2:1–21 • May 24, 2015, Kent Burreson
Concordia Journal
The gift of the resurrection comes to fruition in the Gentile Pentecost as peoples of all the nations die and rise in the baptismal bath of the Holy Spirit.
Easter 7 • 1 John 5:9–15 • May 17, 2015 Testifying In The Courtroom, Leopoldo Sánchez
Easter 7 • 1 John 5:9–15 • May 17, 2015 Testifying In The Courtroom, Leopoldo Sánchez
Concordia Journal
In true Johannine fashion, the apostle offers us a contrast between two opposing principles at war with each other, namely, the way of the Son that leads to life and the way of the world that leads to death.
Homiletical Helps On Lsb Series B—Epistles Easter 6 • 1 John 5:1–8 • May 10, 2015, Thomas Egger
Homiletical Helps On Lsb Series B—Epistles Easter 6 • 1 John 5:1–8 • May 10, 2015, Thomas Egger
Concordia Journal
Homiletical Helps on LSB Series B—Epistles Easter 6 • 1 John 5:1–8 • May 10, 2015
More Lively Participation, Dale Meyer
More Lively Participation, Dale Meyer
Concordia Journal
The present impartial judgment of God should drive us to fear God during our sojourn to heaven because our conduct and being is sinful, but we are awed because God is the Father who gives us our only hope of salvation, Jesus.
Epiphany 4 • Micah 6:1–8 • February 2, 2014, William Carr Jr.
Epiphany 4 • Micah 6:1–8 • February 2, 2014, William Carr Jr.
Concordia Journal
We are the beneficiaries of God’s new and, indeed, greater paradigm, Christ.
Epiphany 3 • Isaiah 9:1–4 • January 26, 2014, Quentin Wesselschmidt
Epiphany 3 • Isaiah 9:1–4 • January 26, 2014, Quentin Wesselschmidt
Concordia Journal
The unrepented sins of Israel received their due; so the sins of our age will not go unpunished by God unless people confess their sins and cast themselves upon the mercy of God that is offered in Christ Jesus.