Sermon Audio 9/4/2022, 13th Sunday after Pentecost C

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

First Sunday of Advent, Revised Common Lectionary Year C

Luke 14:25-33

When Jesus scares us with stark exhortations, we remember that the church moves forward by death and resurrection. 

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Sermon Audio 1/23/2022, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany C

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

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Revised Common Lectionary Year C

 

Luke 4:14-21

 

A sermon focused on "today" based on Jesus' proclamation that "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" takes a different direction when the day is dramatically changed by tragic news.  

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Sermon Audio 11/8/2020, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost A

 Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Twenty-ThirdSunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

 

Amos 5:18-24

 

What a week to hear Amos' prophetic cry that justice should roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 

Also, I failed to stop my recording at the end of the sermon this week, so it's not as long as listed here. My apologies. Running our entire Zoom worship off my laptop while leading it is not in any way a sustainable plan. 

 

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 10/18/2020, 20th Sunday after Pentecost A

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

 

Matthew 22:15-22 

Give to God what is God's. Easier said than done, because our relationship to government is complicated as followers of Jesus.

 

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 10/11/2020, 19th Sunday after Pentecost A

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

 

Mark 4:26-34

One of Jesus' most frightening parables, paired with one of Isaiah's most beautiful visions for the Reign of God: somehow this helps me understand why people in power may need not be afraid of those they oppress. 

 

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 10.4.2020, 18th Sunday after Pentecost A

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

(gathered via Zoom for live online worship)

 

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

 

Matthew 21:33-46

 

This time of year our Gospel lessons find Jesus in the temple, arguing with the religious authorities about the Kingdom of God during the final week before his death. Spicy! 

 

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 9/22/2019, 15th Sunday after Pentecost C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 16:1-13

Jesus follows his confusing parable about the "dishonest manager" with the much simpler declaration, "You cannot serve God and wealth." How can this clear instruction help us see the manager as a model for our own relationship with money?

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Sermon Audio 9/8/2019, 13th Sunday after Pentecost C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 14:25-33

How do we count the cost when following Jesus? 

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Sermon Audio 7/14/2019, 5th Sunday after Pentecost C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 10:25-37

How do you think we talked about the Good Samaritan story in the context of current news about separated families, ICE raids, and concentration camps?

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Sermon Audio 5/26/2019, 6th Sunday of Easter C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C

Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5

Revelation! Last week's sermon promised that this week's sermon would help dig us out of the mess of being people trying to follow Jesus in a world of violence and cruelty. No better place to find God's good news for us than these final chapters of Revelation.

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Sermon Audio 2/24/2019, 7th Sunday after Epiphany C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C

Luke 6:27-38

Some of Jesus' most famous words - "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you... Do not judge, and you will not be judged," make for one of his most challenging lessons in Luke's Gospel.

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Sermon Audio 2/10/2019, 5th Sunday after Epiphany C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C

Luke 5:1-11

Who does God call to share the good news? Today's lectionary gives us three stories of unlikely candidates for this work, but God made it work for Peter, Paul, and Isaiah. What if God calls us to do the same?

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Sermon Audio 7/8/2018, 7th Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

This is my last sermon as pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior. I decided to avoid my feelings by talking about spreadsheets, before coming back around to talk about Jesus. 

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Sermon Audio 6/3/2018 2nd Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 2:23--3:6 

The religious authorities challenge Jesus for breaking the law on the Sabbath. What is the purpose of Sabbath? Who is it for?

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If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

Sermon Audio 4/22/2018, Easter 4B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B 

Psalm 23 

This Psalm is enormously popular because it shares God's love for us in such clear, evocative images.

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If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

Sermon Audio 4/1/2018, Easter Sunday

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Easter Sunday

John 20:1-18 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!What does this mean for us following Jesus today?

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If you want to support this podcast and the ministry of Lutheran Church of the Savior, you can do so here, or text the amount you want to give to 269-331-2111 and follow the prompts on your phone. Thanks!

Sermon Audio 3/25/2018, Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion, Lectionary Year B

John 12:12-19

Mark 15 

Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion are a lot to process. On Saturday evening, after I'd gotten the baby to sleep, I sat down and saw that my social media feeds were filled with stories, images, and videos of that day's March for Our Lives. I knew I would need to scrap the sermon I had planned and write a new one to reflect the connection between Jesus' own procession into Jerusalem and the march of 800,000 people led by teens and children in Washington, DC. I opted for a fully scripted sermon, a practice I reserve for rare occasions.

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Sermon Audio 3/11/2018, 2nd Sunday of Lent B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Second Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B

Ephesians 2:1-10 

Today's lesson from Ephesians offers perhaps the Bible's clearest explanation of how Lutherans understand God's work in Jesus. In today's sermon we all talk about how we've seen God intervene in the places where people need God's grace the most. This sermon features audience participation, so I hope that doesn't mess up the experience of listening online too badly.

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Sermon Audio 3/4/2018, Third Sunday of Lent B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Third Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B

Exodus 20:1-17 

The Ten Commandments are one of the most famous and important writings in all of Christian or Jewish scripture. In such a rich and history-shaping text, there is always something new to learn about God and our relationship with God.

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Sermon Audio 2/18/2018, Lent 1B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Genesis 9:8-17 

God's promise to Noah and his family is the first of the covenants in which God attempts to build a healthy relationship between humans and God. What does it mean that God is the one who changes in this covenant? 

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