That was easy

Audio only link Sunday, October 11, 2015 Pentecost Amos 5:6–7, 10–15 Hebrews 4:12–16 Mark 10:17–31 Two weeks in a row, we are given a tough text from Mark.  Last week Jesus speak to divorce and adultery.  Now Jesus is telling the rich man to give everything up and come follow him.  There you go, now … [Read more…]

Broken but made whole in Jesus

A note to the reader.  This is my first sermon at Calvary Lutheran, Minong WI. After just moving in, I was not  able to find my video camera or voice recorder.  However, it was found this week and future sermons will be recorded. Sunday, October 4, 2015 | After Pentecost Old Testament Genesis 2:18–24 New … [Read more…]

A Changed Reality

Audio Version Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello IA Sunday, July 19, 2015 Jeremiah 23:1–6 Psalm 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:11–22 Mark 6:30–34, 53–56             There is so much in all of our texts today.  Often, I do not see a relation in the readings, but throughout these, there is a relation in all … [Read more…]

Good-Evil Pressures and Decisions

Audio Link Sunday, July 12, 2015 2 Samuel 6:1–5, 12b–19 Mark 6:14–29   On the surface, the story of John the Baptist’s beheading can be seen as a tragic consequence of good versus evil.  We might even be naive enough to believe that this cannot happen today.  The pressures and decisions surrounding the event, cannot … [Read more…]

Fear and Faith: Jesus Responds

  Sunday, June 21, 2015 | After Pentecost Proper 7 Year B Job 38:1–11 Psalm 107:1–3, 23–32 2 Corinthians 6:1–13 Mark 4:35–41[2] Prior to our Gospel from today, Jesus and His disciples spend the day at the seaside. When you hear that, did you think, wow, what a nice day at the beach? A mini … [Read more…]

Baptism Changes Our Reality

Audio Link Sunday, June 7, 2015 | After Pentecost Genesis 3:8-15 Psalm 130: 1-8 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 Mark 3:20–35 Isn’t it nice that we are in a different gospel today? Oh don’t get me wrong, John is great stuff, but it is nice to have another perspective of the gospel too. Last time I was … [Read more…]

God’s Power and Majesty Uses All: Even in our Ambiguity

Audio Version Sunday, May 31, 2015 Holy Trinity Old Testament       Isaiah 6:1–8 Psalm                    Psalm 29:1-11 New Testament      Romans 8:12–17 Gospel                   John 3:1–17[1]   I don’t know about you but for myself, in the texts for today, I hear ambiguity and reliance upon the Father, Son and Spirit in our lives and … [Read more…]

Love is Experienced in Faith in God, in God’s Love

This sermon was delivered at Wartburg Theological Seminary, on Monday May 10th, 2015.  The final year students have been preaching this semester from the previous Sunday New Testament text, for their Monday Chapel preaching.  As part of the sermon, just prior to giving the sermon, the song, They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love … [Read more…]

I Am the Vine: You are the Branches Made New in Baptism

Unfortunately the Video and Audio is not available for this particular sermon. Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3rd, 2015 Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22:25-31 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Jesus says that He is the Vine and we hear that we are the branches. In baptismal language, we have been grafted into Jesus’s family as branches … [Read more…]

The Light in the Darkness

Audio version Second Sunday of Easter  April 12, 2015 New Testament      1 John 1:1–2:2 Gospel                   John 20:19–31   The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is a story of hope for us. It is also a story that helps us to see God in a different light than in the past. We are … [Read more…]