A Topical Index To Luther’s Sermons

by on August 30, 2014

Trans. J. N. Lenker et al. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001) prepared by Shane Lems, M.Div
© 2007 Shane Lems. All Rights Reserved.

Usage: You may link to this index but it may not be copied wholesale without the permission of the author of the index.

Note: The first four volumes have two parts. Thus, I & II below are parts I and II of volume one, III and IV are parts I and II of volume two, V and VI are parts I and II of volume three, parts VII & VIII are parts I & II of volume four.

Gospel is my “catch-all” category, one where you’ll see Luther at his gospel-best. “Works” is negative, but “good works” is positive, or truly good works. “Papism” or “Pope” are general terms for all of Rome and her teaching, while “Monasticism” is general for monks, nuns, orders, etc. “Word” means Bible or preached word, a theme Luther trumpets often. Luther also used personal/autobiographical illustrations in his sermons, which are quite telling concerning his early days as a monk. Be sure to note the following pages (ff) of some citations.

Also note that this index is a bit subjective. Of course I have not listed every reference of every topic and some emphases may even be stilted, I admit. I advise the reader not to make any theological conclusions on Luther’s emphasis in preaching from this list alone. Yet for all the shortcomings of the index, I hope it is helpful. Please inform me (at lems at att.net) of any errors or significant additions.

Two Kingdoms……IV.212, 217, 220ff; VII.200, 209, 234ff, 274ff, 280ff; IX.100ff, 246, 279, 283; VIII.132, 350; XI.132ff, 162ff, 225, 281ff

3rd use of the law…..IX.65

Absolution…..I.391; II.174, 198, 235ff, 349; XI.251
Accommodation……..I.231
Anabaptists…..III.435; IV.254, 283; VIII.201; XI.147
Aquinas…..IV.183
Aristotle…..I.331, 344; 2.43; III.397
Arius……VIII.79, 93
Assurance……VIII.295
Autobiographical ……I. 377; II.201, 254, 263, 271, 376, 406ff; III.147ff; VII.293, 349;
VIII.20, 73, 92, 203, 242, 296, 298, 322ff, 342, 349; IX.77, 149, 162;
XI.75, 135ff
Baptism…..II.80ff; III.188ff, 203ff; III.228, 234,426; VII.242ff; VIII.143ff;
IX.153,179, 221ff, 307
Bondage of the will…….XI.109
Christ alone…….III.252ff; VII.197ff; X.82
Christ as judge (not)……I.30, 33, 78, 99, 110; II.325ff; III.344; IX.51, 106
Christ in the OT…..I.150ff, 174, 283ff, 373, 450; II.29, 125, 180ff, 292ff,
Christ the King…..I.24; III.333, 117, 125
Christ, ubiquity of…..I.383ff
Christ’s merits……III.115, 126;
Church……III.64ff, 67ff, 319ff; IV.327, 367; VII.324ff; VIII.193, 290, 300ff;
IX.300; X.62; XI.234
Civil government…….III.35ff, 381; IV.149, 175ff, 193;
Confession …..II.195ff
Covenant……..VII.215ff
Death…..II.125ff, 178, 228;
Devil……I.263, 286, 320, 344ff, II.94, 103, 160, 263, 280, 313, 320ff, 343;
III.56, 58, 120, 149, 242, 247, 263, 301ff, 327ff, IV.30ff, 33ff, 128ff,
251, 257, 329; 368ff; VII.304ff; VIII.76ff, 85ff, 89ff, 98, 123ff, 198,
219, 327, 363; IX.107, 111ff, 134, 143, 169, 265, 323, 342, 395, 482,
488; X.14ff, 34, 106ff; XI.59, 200ff, 219, 232, 239ff, 242, 296ff,
345,378ff;
Election…..VII.167
Faith alone…..III.360ff; VII.122ff, 125; IX.88, 265; X.71, 80, 95, 99,
Faith…….I.143, 233, 408; II.270, 354; III.69, 202, 245ff, 454; IV.207, 303ff,
373, 378; VII.239, VIII.52, 167, 281; IX.244, 257, 235, 308, 331;
XI.22, 81, 127, 140, 185ff, 218, 298
Faith/works…..I.109, 280; II.72ff, 92ff, 108; III.187, 225ff, 388; IV.102, 340ff;
VII.125, 157, VIII.57; IX.193
Free will…..I.25; II.159ff, 236; III.76, 80ff
Good works…….VIII.168; XI.37, 56, 77
Gospel…..I.443ff; IV.184, 236; VII.179, 197, 207, 249; VIII.43ff, 48, 293, 377;
IX.68, 162, 361, 370, 388, 430, 439; X.11, 39, 68; XI.31, 109
Grace…..I.27-30, 409-410; III.357
Gratitude……..I.318, 413; III.232; IV.287, 289; VII.347; VIII.158, 332
Holy Spirit, the…..II.292ff; III.134ff, 156ff, 278ff, 299ff, 322, 328ff, 433; VII.122, 332;
VIII.173, 177, 209; IX.330; X.31, 97
Imputation…..VII.346, 352; VIII.346, 352; IX.89
Indulgences…..I.390
Introspection……II.189, 242
Justification…….IX.450ff; X.71, 101
Kingdom, the…..II.332, 360, 408; III.28ff, 134ff , 222, 306,
Law …….II.366ff; III.115, 139, 232, 283, 377, 390ff, 425, 428, 432; IV.37, 73,
157ff, 170, 183, 346; VII.331; VIII.235ff, 245, 251ff; IX.61, 183;
X.79; XI.66ff, 250, 276ff
Law & preaching…….I.385; II.236, 365, 370;
Law and gospel…..I.96ff, 100, II.67, 177, 350; III.18ff, 147, 277, 361; IV.158ff;
VIII.174ff, 236ff; IX.184ff, 350
Lord’s Supper…..II.202ff, 224ff, 269ff;
Marriage……..I.427ff
Mass, the……..I.440; II.197, 229, 254; IV.39ff
Medieval darkness…..I.63, 2.46, 254, 260, 286, 312ff, 348; III.53ff
Merit……II.344, 372; III.447
Monasticism……I.423; III. 114ff, 127ff, 150ff, 186, 250; IV.60, 105, 241, 328;
VII.229, 312; VIII.63, 82, 267ff, 285; IX.149ff; XI.61, 75
Muntzer…..VIII.60, 79, 92
Original sin…..I.410
Papism……I.68; III.47, 122, 325, 331, 384, IV.122, 173ff, 285ff, 332; VII.155,
246ff, 254, VIII.60, 65, 80, 204, 208, 295, 297, 368; IX.145ff, 376;
X.69, 87, 103; XI.205, 215, 248, 280, 349ff;
Perfectionism…..VIII.280
Pilgrim……VII.275, VIII.192
Pope…….III.241, 347; IV.236ff, 241, 275, 281, 284, 390;
Prayer…..III.168ff, 176ff; VII.314; VIII.339ff
Preaching/Preacher……..I.44ff, 62, 94, 130ff, 146, 235, 260, 270, 371ff; II.97, 342, 355, 363,
376; III.161, 184ff, 400; IV.87, 160, 238; VII.241; VIII.241; IX.340,
463, 338ff, 463; X.35, 37, 81, 114, 238, 240; XI.371;
Preaching; lack of gospel……I.78-79, 105, 153ff;
Priesthood of all believers…..II.376;
Providence…..I.410;
Purgatory…….I.347;
Reason……I.22-23, 183, 192ff 210-215, 219, 225, 263, 279, 309, 360ff; II.33, 49,
244, 293; III.116, 119, 191, 249, 411ff, 437; IV.24, 205, 225; VII.311,
VIII.15, 27, 79, 81ff, 89, 162ff, 229, 270, 296, 309, 371; IX.198, 201,
304; X.29; XI.189, 210, 285, 288
Repentance…..II.314, 340ff
Resurrection……II.216ff
Righteousness…..III.144, 149; IV.74; IX.90, 124, 182, 184, 369; XI.135, 231, 282, 322
Roman superstitions……I.37-39, 243, 358, 397ff, 414, 408; II.333ff;
Sanctification…..II.315; VII.84
Scripture……..I.305ff, 337, 347;
Simul iustus et peccator. Saint/sinner……..III.281; VII.83, 187ff, 334ff; VIII.148ff, 171; X.39
Sola Gratia…..VIII.13, 51
Sola Scriptura…..VII.325ff
Suffering……..II.39, 44; III.79ff; VIII.90ff, 101
Theology of glory ¹……..III.111, 316, 342, 438; VIII.178; IX.124
Theology of the cross…..I.14ff, 264, 375, 309; II.33, 150, 190, 308ff; III.26ff, 213, 316, 453;
VII.106, VIII.381ff
Theosis (anti)…..III.316
Trinity…..I.175ff
Vocation……..I.249, 281ff; VII.276ff; IX.319; XI.10ff, 48, 174ff,
Word, the…….II.149ff; III.268; IV.92; VII.89, 207ff, VIII.31, 83ff, 320; IX.146ff,
198ff, 304, 332ff, 363; XI.39ff, 120ff, 241ff, 360
Works…..I.35, 145, 277, 408, 296; III.80ff, 225ff, 252ff, 348, 384ff, 416, 421;
IV.257; VIII.239; IX.428; X.70; XI.111, 129
Worship…..I.412;

§

¹ The actual terms “theology of glory” and “theology of the cross” are not used by Luther in his sermons though the concepts clearly come through.

Detailed Index of Luther’s Sermons (Volumes 5-7)

The following is a topical title index of Luther’s Hauspostille (house-sermons), which were preached between the years 1530 and 1534.  Since Luther followed the church calendar of his day, the titles of the sermons in the contents of the Baker edition are usually not specific enough to serve as a topical guide.

Although each sermon could be properly summarized in two words, namely, Jesus Christ, I find it helpful to use the following index as way to see what Luther had to say about different topics (especially these topics preached).

  1. The King and the Gospel p.17
  2. The King, Christ p.25
  3. The King, Christ p.31
  4. Judgment Day p.37
  5. Judgment Day p.44
  6. Coming Judgment and Our Conduct p.52
  7. Law, Gospel, and Two Kingdoms p. 59
  8. Christ Alone p.69
  9. Christ Alone p.76
  10. Faith, Works, and Imputation p.84
  11. John the Baptist Meets Christ p.92
  12. Good News: Christ is not a Judge for Believers p.99
  13. Christ, Sin, and Satan p.109
  14. Find God in Christ, an Exhortation p.121
  15. Christ’s Lowly Birth p.132
  16. Gospel-Hymn of the Angels p.138
  17. Believe With Your Heart p.144
  18. Hatred for the Gospel p.153
  19. The Gospel Reveals Wickedness: Antithesis p.165
  20. Christ’s Circumcision “Under the Law&” p.177
  21. Christ Alone p.188
  22. The Word and Satan p.196
  23. The Person of Christ p.208
  24. Christ’s Baptism p.216
  25. Christ as a Boy p.224
  26. Marriage p.233
  27. Faith p.242
  28. Faith and Its Object p.253
  29. Tares and Wheat p.264
  30. Christ’s Kingdom and Its Citizens p.278
  31. Christ’s Word p.285
  32. Christ Under the Law and Humility p.294
  33. God’s Word, Reason, and Faith p.302
  34. The Word and Prayer p. 312
  35. Prayer p.321
  36. The Devil and the Preaching of the Gospel p.329
  37. God’s Provisions for Us p.344
  38. God’s Word and His Provision p.351
  39. Christ’s Word p.354
  40. Christ’s Word and the I Am p.362
  41. Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom p.366
  42. Christ’s Suffering p.372
  43. Christ in Caiaphas’ House p.387
  44. Christ Before Pilate p.404
  45. Christ’s Mission and Suffering p.420
  46. The Gospel and Justification p.435
  47. The Sacrament of the Supper p.452
  48. Christ’s Suffering and Death p.466
  49. Christ’s Suffering and Death p. 476

Volume 6

  1. The Word and Genesis 3.15 p.7
  2. The Beautiful Gospel p.18
  3. Faith, Grace, Sin, and Forgiveness p. 32
  4. The Holy Supper p.41
  5. Christ, the Church, and the Gospel p.54
  6. Sin and Faith p.60
  7. Christ’s Sheep p.73
  8. Preaching and the Preacher p.79
  9. The Gospel and Suffering p.85
  10. Prayer p.104
  11. The Ascension of Christ p.112
  12. Faith and Works p.126
  13. The Holy Spirit and Comfort in Trials p.144
  14. Law and Gospel p.151
  15. The Holy Trinity p.166
  16. Faith, Love, and Works p.177
  17. The Gospel of Jesus Christ p.185
  18. The Golden Letters of the Gospel p.195
  19. Born From Above p.206
  20. Born From the Gospel p.217
  21. The Rich and Poor Man (Coveting) p.223
  22. The Gospel Feast p.241
  23. Christ: Not an Angry Judge for Christians p.250
  24. Kindness to Enemies p.258
  25. Good Works p.269
  26. Genuine Christianity p.276
  27. Sin and Grace p.283
  28. God’s Grace in Forgiveness and Salvation p.295
  29. Vocation/Calling p.302
  30. LoveOne Another p.311
  31. Sins and Forgiveness p.320
  32. God’s Provisions for Us p.327
  33. The Devil’s Hatred for the Word p.335
  34. The Word and the Devil p.342
  35. Stewardship p.350
  36. Money and Serving Others p.358
  37. God’s Patience and Punishment p.365
  38. Punishment for the Contempt of the Word p.375
  39. Humility and Serving p.380
  40. The Pharisees and Humility p.387
  41. The External Word p.395
  42. The Gospel and Love p.401
  43. Law and Gospel p.412
  44. Gratitude and Ingratitude p.422

Volume 7

  1. Serving Freely and Calling/Vocation p.7
  2. Trust and Reliance on God p.16
  3. Faith and Charity p.24
  4. Hope in Christ (in Death) p.30
  5. Sabbath and Serving p.36
  6. Vocation p.44
  7. Loving and Serving God p.51
  8. Great Blackout: Law and Gospel p.61
  9. Love Your Neighbor p.70
  10. Forgiveness, Faith, and Word p.79
  11. Opposition to the Word p.91
  12. Judgment Day p.100
  13. Sin, Bondage, and the Gospel p.107
  14. Word p.117
  15. Faith, Gospel, and Human Inventions p.122
  16. Sin, Forgiveness, and Two Kingdoms p.130
  17. Christians in the World p.146
  18. Church and State p.157
  19. Calling/Vocation p.169
  20. Gospel and Our Rescue p.176
  21. Gospel and Faith p.184
  22. God and the Devil p.192
  23. The Child Jesus (The Nativity) (Is. 9) p.209
  24. The Child Jesus (The Nativity) (Is. 9) p.221
  25. The Child Jesus (The Nativity) (Is. 9) p.229
  26. The Child Jesus (The Nativity) (Is. 9) p.237
  27. The Child Jesus (The Nativity) (Is. 9) p.246
  28. Christ the Child p.255
  29. Saul’s Conversion p.265
  30. Law and Light p.274
  31. The Incarnation p.284
  32. The Gospel of Grace p.294
  33. The Trinity p.299
  34. Saved From Sin and John the Baptist p.310
  35. John the Baptist and Christ p.324
  36. John the Baptist and Christ p.327
  37. Humility p.341
  38. Mary and the Gospel p.357
  39. Repentance and Forgiveness p.365
  40. God and the Devil p.374
  41. God’s Angels p.386

    Post authored by:

  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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