Following Self or Following Jesus

Audio Version Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16 Psalm 22:23–31 Romans 4:13–25 Mark 8:31–38 Control is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? When we are in control, we get to decide how things will be. We are no longer subject to the will of others. We decide when we want to get up, go to work or maybe not … [Read more…]

Into the Wilderness

Audio Version Sunday, February 22, 2015 First Sunday of Lent Genesis 9:8–17 Psalm 25:1–10 1 Peter 3:18–22 Mark 1:9–15 I read the gospel this week and it struck me very starkly about Jesus being driven into the wilderness. When I read this, I had a sense of relief. That may seem a little strange; so … [Read more…]

Transfiguration: Truth, Miracle, Belief, Spread the Good News

Transfiguration Sunday, 2015 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9   Peter is scared at what he witness upon the mountain. He speaks but the others say nothing. I wish I could say with all certainty that I would not be scared, if I were in the disciples’ shoes. Well maybe I … [Read more…]

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Audio Version 1 Corinthians 9:16–23 Mark 1:29–39 Sickness, not being whole, comes in all forms. Our sins, keep us from being whole, as God intended. We cannot make ourselves whole. We are a broken people in need of healing. The greatest story every told, the gospel of Jesus Christ, tells us of how to be … [Read more…]

Sloth or Caterpillar?

 Audio Version Jonah 3:1–5, 10 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 Mark 1:14–20 How do we respond to the calling for change? Many people do not like change and often, put up a fight or flight response to change. When God is calling us to change, do we look for the change to be a change in the … [Read more…]

What about Christmas Anyway?

Audio Version Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 When I first went to write this sermon, I wondered how I was to write a Christmas sermon, after Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Today, technically in the church year, is the first Sunday after Christmas but it is also the season of Christmas in the church year. I … [Read more…]

Witness to the Light

Audio Version 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 John 1:6–10, 19–29 Our days seem to be shorter during the winter months and in reality they are. For myself, this can make the days actually seem like darkness. We getup in darkness, often arrive home after work in darkness and go to bed in darkness. Some people, they function … [Read more…]

Shepherd King

Audio Version Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Psalm 100:1-5 Ephesians 1:15-23 Matthew 25:31-46   I think for many of us, but I can really only speak for myself, when I hear the word King it brings all sorts of images to my mind. We don’t live in a monarchy society and I suspect most of us have not … [Read more…]

Be Prepared

Audio Version Wisdom of Solomon 6:17–20 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 Put off today, what you can do tomorrow. Isn’t that what we do sometimes? Maybe some of us do this, a little more often than others. I am guilty of that, especially when it comes to school work or projects I just don’t have … [Read more…]

Death in Law – Life in Jesus

Sermon at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Cassville WI Audio Version Micah 3:4-12 Psalm 43:1-5 1 Thessalonians 2:9–13 Matthew 23:1–12 The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 23rd Chapter Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat (for us today this would be parallel to … [Read more…]