Sermon for Exaudi, 2025

God, the Holy Spirit, does not work outside of or in contradiction to the Scriptures. He does not reveal new or hidden things by novel methods or through different means. For consider what Christ says here concerning the Spirit, “He will testify of Me.” “Of Me,” says Jesus, which is His way of saying, “And not of anything else.” So, if what passes for the preaching of the Gospel is not focused on Christ; if, instead, it’s focus is on you—on your life, how you might live, what you might do, and how you might build on your relationships, especially with God—then that is not the Spirit’s working because that so-called preaching is drawing people away from Christ Jesus. Furthermore, if the emphasis is on others and how one ought to interact with them, and if those interactions run contrary to Scripture, or if the message of Christ and Him crucified is sidelined, at best, or unmentioned, at worst, then that, again, is not the Gospel nor the testimony of the Spirit. For, again, Jesus says of the Spirit, “He will testify of Me.”

Readings:

• Old Testament: Ezekiel 36:22-28

• Epistle: 1 Peter 4:7-14

• Holy Gospel: John 15:26–16:4

Sermon: