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The Philosophy of Lutheran Sermons

February 15th, 2012 | 1 Comment

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Lutheran sermons don’t just teach you what the Bible means. Lutheran sermons are not intended to give you simple information. They are not for instruction purposes. Oh sure, we do instruct and explain the word of God. We tell you what the parables mean, and who the central players are, and what some of the background of the text is. But this isn’t the primary purpose of the Lutheran sermon, just like the primary purpose of Scripture is not to give information*. The primary purpose of the Lutheran sermon is to confront you with the word of God. The Lutheran sermon is experiential–or existential of that other word gives you heartburn. The Lutheran sermon is an experience of being shown, or exposed to, or receiving the Spirit of Christ. It is hearing that word of God and the law of God striking your heart and showing you your sins. It is also hearing that gospel– that great good news of Jesus Christ and knowing and receiving the forgiveness of sins which only comes through his merciful blood shed for you.

The Lutheran sermon is the application of law and gospel to your heart. It is more the work of prophecy or of a prophet than it is the work of the teacher. It is the work of a prophet in revealing the word of God to you and for your eternal salvation. Revealing the law of God, and showing you your sins. Revealing the gospel of God, and showing you your Savior Jesus Christ. When you hear a Lutheran sermon, your salvation is being worked out.

This is why sometimes you walk away and wonder what the sermons “was about.” It’s often not about anything other than calling your to repentance and faith in the mercy of Jesus Christ. It is about salvation, about repenting for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

*More on this in the next post.

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Written by Christopher Hall

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Filed under: Theology · Tags: Law and Gospel, Lutheranism, preaching, sermons, what I do and what you think I do

One Response to "The Philosophy of Lutheran Sermons"

Benjamin Harju says:

February 15, 2012 at 4:04 pm

When you hear a Lutheran sermon, your salvation is being worked out.

This is because the Lutheran sermon is aimed at sanctifying the human will, so that it is changed from unbelieving to believing, or in the converted is strengthened in order to remain in faith. There is no salvation for the individual (according to Lutheranism) apart from God changing a person’s will from unbelieving into believing. This is part of the Lutheran belief that God has pre-determined who shall be saved out of all the condemned sinners.

I point it out because you said, It is hearing that word of God and the law of God striking your heart and showing you your sins. It is also hearing that gospel– that great good news of Jesus Christ and knowing and receiving the forgiveness of sins which only comes through his merciful blood shed for you. These are good things in and of themselves, but this goodness is used toward a more manipulative end, in my opinion. I say manipulative, because the goal is to override a person’s will, making it into something it is not through sheer power (i.e. monergism).

It is interesting that we eschew this sort of mind-control in all other aspects of life, but Lutherans and Calvinists find it theologically consistent and righteous to ascribe it to God.

Fwiw, I think you have described well the Lutheran practice of preaching. It is something, having once been a Lutheran preacher, that I think about frequently. I am glad you preach Christ and Him crucified for our sins.

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