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The sermon

Jesus entered into synagogues and proclaimed the Word of God by declaring himself to be the fulfillment of the Word. He went up on a mountaintop and addressed the gathered crowd with the Sermon on the Mount. The apostle Paul visited many Jewish synagogues and preached about Jesus being the crucified and risen Christ. The apostle Peter addressed a crowd after Pentecost and explained the fulfillment of Scriptures, and three thousand “who accepted his message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).

The preacher is the appointed representative who has been granted the privilege of enhancing the dialogue between the triune God and the congregation in the liturgy. Following the reading of God’s Word, the sermon is normally based on one of the assigned readings. Together with Holy Communion, the sermon is one of the two vital components of our Lutheran worship.

The sermon is an interpretation and expansion of God’s Word. The sermon proclaims the living voice of the gospel to God’s redeemed people. The preacher clarifies the Holy Scriptures for the hearers and applies God’s Word to current life situations. He is not a lecturer or an entertainer but an important link through whom the Holy Spirit brings law and gospel into the hearts and minds of the worshipers.

The history of the sermon goes back to Judaism before the time of Jesus, when commentaries followed the readings of the Mosaic Law. A sermon based on Scripture lessons was a part of every worship service of the early Christian church. During the medieval period, sermons were increasingly left out of the service and were practically eliminated. One of the most important of Luther’s reforms was the restoration of the sermon to its ancient place of importance and its complete reliance on the Holy Scriptures.

When the pastor enters the pulpit, he may begin with the Apostolic Greeting: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:2). When the sermon is finished, the pastor may invite the congregation to stand as he speaks the words of the Votum: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The pastor invokes the promised blessing of peace upon all who stand fast in the Lord and worship him.

It is very easy to be judgmental or critical of a pastor’s style, delivery, or content. We should say to ourselves, “This is God’s Word, and I should be open to hearing it.” This reminder replaces pride with humility, opening our minds to the instruction, conviction, and assurance of God’s Word in our lives. What a wonderful opportunity for us all!

The sermon proclaims the living voice of the gospel to God’s redeemed people.