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 4/28/2019, Second Sunday of Easter C

Hope Lutheran Church, Saint Paul

Second Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year C

John 20:19-31

Anti-Semitism has a long history among white Christians, as white Christians we must do more to stop anti-Semitism long before it leads to violence and death, as it did near San Diego on Saturday. What can our Gospel story of Jesus' appearances to the disciples tell us about how to face this situation?

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

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.

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

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 9/24/2017, 16th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

Matthew 20:1-16 

Jesus tells a relatable parable about jealousy and generosity. Where do we find ourselves in this story? 

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

Sermon Audio 8/20/2017 11th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

Matthew 15:10-28 

Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman is among the most striking occurrences in the Gospels. In light of recent public conflict regarding white supremacy, we can learn from the expansion of God's grace that comes from this confrontation.

Sermon Audio 8/13/2017, 10th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

1 Kings 19:9-18 

After a two-month hiatus, LCS sermon audio is back! And what a time to return: a country rocked by white supremacist violence, a church wondering how to live out the gospel in the face of evil, and God's presence in a sound of sheer silence.

Sermon Audio 3/12/2017, Third Sunday of Lent A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

Genesis 12:1-4a 

In today's first reading, God begins a  relationship with Abram and Sarai that will forever shape God's relationship with all of humanity. God's command to become an immigrant comes with some of the most important promises God has ever made.

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

Sermon Audio 2/12/2017, Sixth Sunday after Epiphany A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A

Matthew 5:21-37 

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is filled with challenging instructions for how we are to live together. What can we do with the law Jesus brings, and where is the good news here? 

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

Sermon Audio 12/4/2016, Second Sunday of Advent A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Second Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A

Isaiah 11:1-10 

John the Baptist helps us see how repentance leads to Advent hope, and Isaiah shows us just what it is we are hoping for. 

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Sermon Audio 3/13/2016

This week I "swapped pulpits" with Rev. Christin Fawcett of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Holland, MI. It was a fun experience, and I'm wondering why I haven't done this sort of thing more often over the years.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Holland MI

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C

John 12:1-8 

This famous story sets up a stark contrast between Judas and Mary, with much more at stake than a question of how to spend money to follow Jesus. The nature of the Good News itself is in question here, and true to form, Jesus surprises everyone. 

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

Sermon Audio 2/14/2016, First Sunday of Lent C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

First Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year C

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 

Today's lesson from Deuteronomy is basically "How to Be God's People 101," and provides a good basis for how to be the church even today. 

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Sermon Audio 1/31/2016 4th Sunday after Epiphany C

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo [Link to https://www.facebook.com/LutheranChurchOfTheSavior]

4th Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30 

Presidential election season is upon us. Lord have mercy! In some ways this process brings out the worst in us, so we turn to Jesus (and Jeremiah, and Paul) to help us figure out how to engage in a helpful way. 

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

Sermon Audio 8/2/2015, Acts Series Week Nine

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Acts 8:1b, 4-8, 14-17

The crisis that scattered the first church from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria became an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel. Recent news that the Lutheran tradition is the whitest religious tradition in the US presents a very different kind of crisis. Will we be open to how the Holy Spirit can use our weakness as means to share the gospel?

As always, 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.

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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 9/28/2014, 16th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Philippians 2:1-13 

Today's beautiful lesson from Philippians reminds us that God is at work in us, and God is at work through us. 

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Sermon 7/20/2014 6th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo


What's the difference between the gospel and the Gospels? Comparing today's Gospel lesson from Matthew with our first reading from Wisdom of Solomon (not even in the Lutheran version of the Bible!) can help. Confusing? Probably. Worthwhile? I hope so.

As always, listen here or on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 7/6/2014 4th Sunday after Pentecost A

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

4th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A

Jesus' words today bring to mind the old saying, "You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't." Can I say that in a sermon? Based on the reactions I heard to this sermon, apparently I can, so long as that's not the content of my actual message. Law and gospel is the word today.


Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

¹⁶“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ ¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; ¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”


²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
 

Sermon Audio 2/9/2014

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A

Isaiah 58:1-12

As Lutheran Church of the Savior prepared to hold our Annual Meeting after worship today, this sermon reflects on what faithfulness looks like. For those listening to Isaiah in today's lesson, their traditional practices of fasting had ceased to be a faithful life in response to God's law. What can we learn from the hard lesson Isaiah had for them?

Isaiah 58:1-12

58Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. ²Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.

³“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. ⁴Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. ⁵Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? ⁶Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

⁸Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ⁹Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, ¹⁰if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. ¹¹The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. ¹²Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.