Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Sermon Audio 9/8/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

16th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 14:25-33

Cranky Jesus has some harsh words today for those who would follow him, that is, for us. “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.... So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." Yikes! Nobody said it would be easy to follow Jesus, but there is good news here that makes this a whole lot more manageable. Also, in this sermon I talk about my at-times-unhealthy dependence on fabulous shoes.


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Sermon Audio 9/1/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

15th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 14:1, 7-14

In the Gospels we hear a lot about Jesus eating meals. In most cases, who he shared those meals with seems to have been more important than what they ate. What does this tell us about the meals we share, as a church and with others?


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Sermon Audio 8/18/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

13th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 12:49-56

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America held our biennial (becoming triennial) Churchwide Assembly last week, in which 1000 voting members from all over the country came together in Pittsburgh, PA to do the work of the church. Today I provided a summary of the work we did at CWA (as it is known to insiders), including electing a new Presiding Bishop, approving a new Social Statement on Criminal Justice, resolutions on various public issues, and an effort to increase the church's commitment to youth and young adults. The Gospel lesson for today is a frightening one, Jesus bringing fire and division instead of the oft-expected hugs and kumbayas. It's still the Good News for us, if you know what to listen for.

Below the sermon audio I'll include a summary and links to the major work done at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, much of which I described in this sermon.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sermon Audio 8/11/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

12th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C
 
Genesis 15:1-6

At our annual outdoor worship service, we talked about how God called Abram outside to count the stars, so that Abram would believe and understand God's promise. How much does it matter where we hear God's word for us? And will you be watching the Perseid meteor shower tonight?

Sermon Audio 7/28/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Genesis 18:20-32

This one is up a bit late, as I went on vacation after worship that day for over a week. I don't remember what this sermon was about. Something about Abraham arguing with God's decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, which is a funnier scene than you might expect when the context is the height of God's judge-y / smite-y phase. Anyway, I recall that people liked this sermon, for whatever that's worth.


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Sermon Audio 7/21/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 10:38-42

In the story of Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary, how did Mary chose the "better part?" After Jesus sassed her, did Martha fling a frying pan at his head and/or chase him out of her house with a broom? What's the hardest part of offering hospitality to people?

Monday, July 15, 2013

Sermon Audio 7/14/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 10:25-37

Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most famous and instructive stories in all of scripture or Christian history. The lawyer's question, "And who is my neighbor?" really sticks with me, because it mirrors my own impulse for self-justification.