On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson take up Christ's parable of the wicked tenants. We see in this text a reference to Isaiah's image of Israel as a vineyard planted by the Lord which is taken over by wicked tenants. The heart of this passage is the ground of our election: though sinners are tempted to believe that their obedience to the law is the source of election, Christ teaches that his mercy for sinners is the basis of his choice.

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• Celebrate 2,000 Episodes of Christian History Almanac!

• 2025 North West Arkansas Regional Conference: Psalms of David (4/25-4/26)

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

• Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son. As with all parables, our task is to place ourselves in them and learn something. This episode goes through the story Jesus tells to reveal how law and gospel should be distinguished, and how this parable can be applied to you for the sake of gospel comfort.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Celebrate 2,000 Episodes of Christian History Almanac!

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

• Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss a story of Jesus in which he speaks of a tree not bearing fruit. In this parable, the fruitless tree is threatened with being cut down. But the vinedresser intercedes for the tree, asking to dig around it and put manure on the tree. This is the gospel, which bears fruit in us by faith apart from the law.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

• Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's encounter with some disingenuous Pharisees who warn him that Herod intends to kill him. Jesus then describes how he must eventually go to Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, because his death is coming soon. But we also hear from Jesus a clear teaching about repentance, in which the law and the gospel work together on the sinner who repents passively before God.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley

• Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the temptation of Christ in the wilderness according to Luke's narrative. As Luke's story indicates, Jesus exemplifies how the devil misunderstands the distinction of law and gospel, since he thinks he can use the law to tempt Christ to hand over his divinity. Christ counters the devil at each turn with God's word, which is the encouragement that we require when dealing with temptation ourselves – especially during the Lenten season.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi 

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

• Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th:

• The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional

• Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the temptation of Christ in the wilderness according to Luke's narrative. As Luke's story indicates, Jesus exemplifies how the devil misunderstands the distinction of law and gospel, since he thinks he can use the law to tempt Christ to hand over his divinity. Christ counters the devil at each turn with God's word, which is the encouragement that we require when dealing with temptation ourselves – especially during the Lenten season.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi 

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

• Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th:

• The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional

• Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the Transfiguration. We see here the culmination of the Epiphany season, because this is the greatest revelation of Christ's identity to the disciples prior to Holy Week. The voice of the Father directs us to find the revelation of God – fully and finally – in Christ alone, and nowhere else.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi 

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

• Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th:

• The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional

• Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson continue their discussion of the Sermon on the Plain. Christ preaches the law so as to show its limit. That limit gestures toward the gospel which gives a new obedience apart from the law according to faith.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi 

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

• Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th:

• The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional

• Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Plain. However, we caution our hearers not to take this sermon as the manifestation, or epiphany, of Christ because it is not a revelation of the gospel, but rather a revelation of the law. If these beatitudes aren't properly identified, then Christ becomes a higher and better lawgiver than Moses, instead of our savior from sin, death, and the law's condemnation.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Luke's account of the calling of Peter and the other disciples. Christ's calling to Peter is now to take leave of fishing and instead to preach. Peter's faith is on display in this text, since he must ignore what his experience as a fisherman tells him and instead believe all things according to the word of Jesus Christ.

Show Notes:

• Support 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

What’s New from 1517:

• Bible in One Year with Chad Bird

• Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi

• Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits

More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

• Steven Paulson