Sermon Audio October 17, 2021, Lectionary 29B

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul (in person and live on Zoom)

21st Sunday after Pentecost / Lectionary 29, Revised Common Lectionary Year B

 

Mark 10:35-45

After Jesus again tells of his impending arrest, suffering, death, and resurrection, James and John ask a stupid question of Jesus. Jesus talks about leadership as servanthood and about points us toward the truth of freedom in Christ.

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall," or find it on Spotify by searching "Reverend Killjoy."

Sermon Audio 10/25/2020, Reformation Sunday

 Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Reformation Sunday, Lectionary Year A

 

John 8:31-36

 

The freedom we receive in Christ is freedom to love and serve our neighbors. 

 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall," or find it on Spotify by searching "Reverend Killjoy."

Sermon Audio 5/24/2020, Seventh Sunday of Easter A

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Jesus' baptism teaches us about the grace of God in our own baptisms and throughout our lives.

(This sermon post comes out of order; I will publish four sermons on May 31st, and did today's first before returning to the previous three.)

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall," or find it on Spotify by searching "Reverend Killjoy."

Sermon Audio 10/27/2019, Reformation Sunday

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36

What does Jesus mean when he talks about freedom? 

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall," or find it on Spotify by searching "Reverend Killjoy."

Sermon Audio 10/28/2018, Reformation Sunday

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36

To hear this podcast: listen here, use this link, or use iTunes or Google Play Music to subscribe or listen by searching "Tengwall." 

Hello! I haven't been posting my sermons - or anything else - since I came to Saint Paul. I will probably start to do so again soon. Right now I'm still trying to figure out how best to balance my time between pastoring Hope, starting a new congregation, and keeping my home and family life together. Pro tip: don't move across the country, start new jobs, buy a house and two cars, and start new schools and daycares all at the same time unless you really, really need to do so.

Anyway, on to this week's sermon. Other pastors - even Lutheran ones - undoubtedly preached better sermons against Christian anti-Semitism this weekend in response to the murders of eleven people at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Still, this is my sermon attempting to grapple with Lutheran history and biblical interpretation in light of the current moment. The congregation seemed to appreciate it (if not exactly "like" it), and a number inquired about the book I recommended, Mary Solberg's A Church Undone.

For what has God in Christ set us free? This is the question we followers of Jesus wrestle with on days like this, when we are keenly aware of our Lutheran heritage and the effects of bad theology and biblical interpretation upon innocent people in today's world.