Sermon Audio 12/15/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Third Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A

Matthew 11:2-11

²When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ⁴Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. ⁶And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
⁷As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. ⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ¹¹Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

John the Baptist asks Jesus an impatient question: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" But does John know what he is waiting for? Do we?

Sermon Audio 12/1/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

First Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A

Romans 13:8-14

The new church year starts off with a bang, as we wait for Jesus to return by acting as if he's already here. I talk a lot about the reign of Christ, but it occurs to me that people might just as reasonably think I'm saying "rain of Christ." R-E-I-G-N, reign. Got that? OK, good.

Sermon Audio 11/27/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Thanksgiving Eve Worship, Lectionary Year C

John 6:24-35

Eucharist is the fancy church word that means "thanksgiving," so when we celebrate the sacrament at our Thanksgiving Eve worship, the sermon practically writes itself!

December 2013 Newsletter Article

My LCS newsletter article for December 2013. I think it's fair so say in this article I've bitten off more than I can chew, and I hope that's a good thing.

Come Now, O Prince of Peace,

make us one body.

Come, O Lord Jesus,

Reconcile your people.

-          Geonyong Lee, tr. Marion Pope, “Come Now, O Prince of Peace,” ELW 247

Bodies. Everybody’s got one, or maybe everybody is one? Our bodies grow old and fall ill; they limit us physically as well as bringing us joy in work and in play.  The human body is vastly complex, yet so often simple and beautiful in its function and movement. I don’t exercise enough, I eat more junk food than I should, and my sleep habits are irregular at best – like some of you, I’m not always a good steward of my body, which is to say, of myself.

The church, widely speaking, has generally been bad at making sense of human bodies.

Sermon Audio 11/24/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

Reign of Christ Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Luke 23:33-43

Doctor Who, Thor, and Jesus. What does it look like when Jesus is king? Hint: he's not saving the world by being clever or wielding a hammer.


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 11/17/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo

26th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C

Luke 21:5-19

It's stewardship season, and what better way to recognize that than by hearing Jesus talk about the end of the world? Seriously, though I love stewardship, and even though Jesus is talking about some scary things in this lesson, I find his words comforting. We know the world will be a mess, but in every challenge we face, we have the opportunity to testify that God's love is for us and for all.


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall."

Sermon Audio 11/3/2013

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo MI

All Saints Sunday, Lectionary Year C

Luke 6:20-31

Blessings and woes and some of Jesus' most famous words on how people ought to get along, plus the dedication of Lutheran Church of the Savior's new Memorial Recognition Tree. Do you know that you are blessed?


As always, you can also listen to these sermons or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching "Tengwall." I know the embedded link below does not work on iPhones, so iTunes is the way to go for that.