Sunday 3/29/2015 Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday, Lectionary Year B

Philippians 2:5-11

This year, instead of again being annoyed that Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion are forced to share a single stage, I decided to embrace the paradox, and remembered the helpful guideline that Jesus is both.

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Sermon Audio 3/22/2015, Lent 5B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B

John 12:20-33

"[U]nless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." Jesus brings the wisdom to those who wish to see him. With cameos from Obi-Wan Kenobi and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson.

As always, listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 3/15/2015, Lent 4B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Ephesians 2:1-10

On the day of our big Shots for Shots fundraiser, a basketball event for the ELCA Malaria Campaign, we ran into a bit of adversity. God's grace is greater than this, or any, adversity. 

Listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." 

Sermon Audio 3/8/2015, Lent 3B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Exodus 20:1-17

I've long found the Ten Commandments to be quite vexing, especially since learning that Lutherans count the Ten differently than any other Christian or Jewish group. (It's true. I looked it up on Wikipedia. And in the Book of Concord.) When we talk about God's Law, what are we really talking about? 

I admit, I really like this sermon, and hope you do too.

Listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 3/1/2015, Lent 2B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Mark 8:27-38

Peter is a great biblical example of God using failure to accomplish God's intentions. Society teaches us to avoid failure at all costs, but Jesus shows us another way.

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Sermon for 2/22/2015, Lent 1B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Mark 1:9-15

Each year on the first Sunday of Lent we hear about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Some temptations are not the straightforward ones about money, sex or power, but instead are unexpected and can more easily worm their way into our hearts. Watch out for these temptations that seek to keep us from the reign of God. 

Listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." 

Sermon Audio for Ash Wednesday, 2/18/2015

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Joel 2:1-18

Ash Wednesday reminds us that God comes to us through mysteries. The rite of ashes and repentance has a sacramental quality that draws us into deeper relatoinship with God and into deeper knowledge of ourselves. 

Here is the link to the full text of T.S. Eliot's poem "Ash Wednesday," partially quoted in the sermon. 

Listen here or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."