The First and the Last
Occasion: Pentecost 16, Year B Text: Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a This sermon was prepared for services at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL on September 16 and 20. “What were you arguing about on the way?” It’s a funny story this week, or at least tragically funny. The disciples are trailing behind Jesus. Jesus [...]
The Body of Christ, Given for You
Occasion: Pentecost 11, Year B Text: John 6.51-58 This sermon was prepared for services at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL on August 12 and 16 and for services at three local nursing homes. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been hearing in our Gospel readings about Jesus being the “bread of life.” Last week, [...]
Something Isn’t Kosher
Occasion: Pentecost 2, Year B Text: Ezekiel 17.22-24, Mark 4.26-34 This sermon was preached at Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Columbia, MO on 13-14 June 2009. For the last couple of years, Jennifer and I have been dreaming about having a house of our own. We dream about what it would be like to build our [...]
Born Again
Occasion: Pentecost 1, Holy Trinity Sunday, Year B Text: John 3.1-17 This sermon was preached at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Manchester, MO on 7 June 2009. About a year and a half ago, I had the opportunity of a lifetime – I got to travel with a group of students from Wartburg Seminary on a [...]
The True Vine
Occasion: Easter 5, Year B Text: John 15.1-8 This sermon was preached at East Iron Hill Community Church, Maquoketa, IA, on 10 May 2009. Mother’s Day isn’t easy for some people – it wasn’t easy for Jennifer and I for a long time. We were married at the end of 2004, and after about a [...]