Media Archives

When You Pray (Psalm 86) - Everyone prays. People pray when they are at their wit's end, when they're frightened, when their relieved. Left to ourselves, however, our prayers tend to spring from self-righteousness or self-interest. The disciples knew that Jesus could teach a better way to pray because they saw in him someone who was uniquely connected to God. 

Jesus Breaks Through in Pictures (John 17:20-26) - In the Gospel lesson, Jesus attempts to use human language to express the divine relationship between God the Father and God the Son. We catch glimpses of the eternal truth, but, on this side of heaven, we will never understand all of it. Pictures provide for us other glimpses of God through the creation. Today we will take a look at the pictures you have provided and use them as witnesses of God’s love and mercy through Jesus.

Go Where You Got To Go (Acts 16:9-15) - Paul responded to a vision which compelled him to take his ministry in a new direction, literally.  This text is a vivid account filled with names and places not very familiar to us.  So it was the case with Paul.  God calls us to new ventures and mission work, even calling us to go outside traditional places where church is found, to places where spiritual seekers are to be found. 

Immanuel Forever! (Revelation 21:1-6) When Jesus is born in Bethlehem, angels come to tell us that his name will be Immanuel, God with us. Similarly, we are provided a vision through St. John, showing us that Jesus will live with His creation, with people, when we are all taken into heaven, the New Jerusalem. The concept of the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, becomes a reality in Christ who will be with us forever. Today we will consider how the one who takes away the sin of the world is also going to take away death, pain, and any kind of suffering.

Peter Who Loves Jesus (John 21:1-19) - St. Peter seems like the kind of person who is brash, bold, and a little out of control. However, after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter seems to be a different person. Peter has the opportunity to say three times that he loves Jesus, in a reversal of the time when three times he denied knowing Jesus. While this was not necessary for Peter’s salvation, apparently it was necessary for some reason. Today we will consider how Jesus calls us to share love. We will think about how “feeding his sheep” means more than just what we say or know, but is also what we do to make that love more than just an intellectual concept.

Jesus Changes Our Perspective (Acts 5:27-32) - The disciples of Jesus changed in many ways over a very brief period of time. One week they were celebrating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. They hoped and believed that Jesus would be the King of Israel who would raise up an army to remove the Romans. The next week they are cowering together, in one home, knowing that Jesus is dead and worried they will be next. A few weeks after that, the disciples are being questioned and threatened by the leaders of the church, but their perspective has changed. Today we will consider what this means in our lives.

Love Wins (1 Corinthians 15:19-28) But in the minds of the first Christians, Jesus' resurrection meant a new way of living - one free of fear and funded by love- was possible each and every day. It means the same thing today. It means that fear loses... and love wins.

History or His Story? (Luke 23:1-49) - Last week we considered the fact that Jesus’ life was focused on the gift of his life which would be achieved in his death. We began to see that Jesus saw the day of his burial long before others who were near and dear to him. As we consider what Jesus knew, and look at his betrayal and death, we are faced with this question: Did Jesus know about his death because he could foresee history which had not yet happened, or did Jesus understand His Story in the context of understanding our fallen human nature and the gift that comes from the humble Son of God.

The Point of Pain in the Parable of the Prodigal - (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32) - In our rush to interpret everything in the Bible in a “positive” way, we sometimes miss the depth of what Jesus teaches in his parables. That's often the case with the Parable of the Prodigal. It's important to remember that Jesus told this story to some Pharisees who were "muttering" against him. He told it to apply some pressure to their accepted way of understanding God. When we find the point of pain, we're closer to the heart of the parable . . . and to a deeper understanding of what Jesus' Message means.

The Lenten Invitation to Grow…Offered Once Again (Luke 13:1-9) - Today we welcome Pastor David A. Mueller. Pastor Mueller is a pastor in the LCMS and a representative from Food For The Poor. He will bring a message based upon the Parable of the Fig Tree, relating our calling to care for the poor and needy. We welcome Pastor David Mueller and Food For The Poor, appreciating their work in the Kingdom.

Dual Citizenship, or Just Passing Through? (Philippians 3:17-4:1) An old hymn began with the words, “I am but a stranger here, heaven is my home. Earth is a desert drear, heaven is my home…Therefore I murmur not…whatever my earthly lot.” Does this accurately reflect the meaning of our text that our citizenship is in heaven (3:20)? What does that mean for our attitude toward our daily work and life God has given us here? How does our faith in Jesus and what he has done motivate us to be with and for the world, rather than giving us a motivation to live at a distance from it? Today, we will consider these things and the joy it brings us as we continue our journey into Lent.

A Message for All People (Luke 4:1-13) - Much of society is built on competition. We honor the people who run the fastest, play games the best, or excel at any kind of physical, intellectual, or financial pursuit. Recently we have seen how this pursuit of winning has reached a point where cheating is acceptable . . . at least until you are caught. Many people reach the pinnacle of success only to have their lives crushed by the very decisions which brought them to that success. In our message today, we will have the opportunity to see that God has made us winners of the greatest competition by sending Jesus to save us. In that reality, we find the peace that passes understanding. We do not need to compete in this world because we are “more than conquerors” in Jesus Christ.

Transfigured Like Jesus (Luke 9:28-36) - A small group of followers were able to see the glory of Jesus for just a moment. When this happens, they are not ready for the appearance of God’s glory and they are do not respond with much insight. In fact, they seem to be focused on earthly things rather than the amazing sight in front of them. However, God wants us to understand even when we are lost, God wants us to know Jesus and the work Jesus will do for us. Most of all, God wants us to know that when we are seen as people in Christ, we are seen with the glory God has given to us.

Too Much Good News (Luke 4:21-30) - Do we really want a gracious God? For ourselves, undoubtedly. The difficulty, as we see in today’s Gospel lesson, is in believing that God would be flagrantly gracious to those we are afraid of . . . or we despise.

Following Jesus in Ministry (Luke 4:14-21) - We often talk about following the footsteps of Jesus and following the call of Jesus in ministry. The words of scripture from the Old Testament are affirmed by the message of Christ Himself when He reads to the people of His own home town from the Old Testament. Today we will consider the words of Jesus which end with, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

A Superfluous Sign (John 2:1-11) - “Waste not, want not,” we say; or, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine.” We live with the sense that the good things in life are scarce and should be stewarded with care. But against this myth of scarcity, Jesus enacts a liturgy of abundance.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22) - Since God the Father is the most prominent person of the Trinity in the Old Testament and Jesus, God the Son is the most prominent in the New Testament, it is easy to miss the importance of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us when he ascends into heaven that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. This clearly happens at Pentecost and we see this again in one of our lessons today. However, the Spirit has been present through the Old Testament and the New Testament, continuing to lead us to faith and nurture our faith today. We will consider some of the ways we see the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

The Ego of People, The Grace of God (Matthew 2:1-12) - It is easy to make King Herod into the biggest villain of history, or at least one of the Top 10. Clearly his slaughter of the children in Bethlehem stands out as one of more infamous atrocities of all time, or at least one of the best known. However, the underlying behavior of Herod is one of protecting his kingdom and his power. The underlying goal of Herod is to be a strong leader and a famous man of his time. Today we have many people who are praised for living by these same goals and who in some ways are responsible for similar actions. Underlying these goals and actions we find our own sinful desire for power and fame. Our God of Grace and Mercy sends Jesus into the world, knowing that we have these desires, and willingly sacrificing to save us from our evil ways.

Growing Up (Luke 2:41-52) - At 12 years old, Jesus knew he had a lot to learn about the Scriptures and the God they proclaimed. What do you need to know to grow in faith and “in favor with God and man?”

Brood of Vipers?! (Luke 3:7-18) - Last week we considered the fact that John the Baptist was making impossible proclamations about Jesus who had not yet appeared. Considering how people might have reacted to his proclamations, we are surprised to see that people came out to hear John. However, it is shocking to see that when people actually come to hear John he greets them with these words, “You brood of vipers!” I cannot remember a time when I was willing to be called names and then decided to continue listening a person who had called me those names. However, John is sharing the truth and has a point which leads to Jesus in amazing ways.

Straightening Crooked Roads (Luke 3:1-6) If I were listening to John the Baptist when he was proclaiming that the Lord was near, I probably would have discounted him as a madman just like most people of that time. If we only consider the idea that John states that Jesus will make the crooked roads straight, we are left with an image which does not work. Roads were hard to build and could only be built around the natural obstacles of the world like rivers, lakes, mountains, and hills. How could anyone make a crooked road straight? However, as Isaiah notes and as John proclaims, it is the road to heaven which Jesus will make straight.

The Signs of the Times (Luke 21:25-36) - Politicians and pundits clamor for our attention so that they can explain to us what’s really happening in this crazy world. Jesus has a different interpretation.

Listening to the Voice of Truth (John 18:33-37) - Our lives are filled with voices, most of which are claiming to tell us the truth. How do you know the voice of truth? Pilate even wants to know “what is truth?” As we listen to the questions of Pilate, asked of Jesus, it is easy to miss the importance of Pilate’s position and how he relates to Jesus because of his position. Pilate is an important person because of his powerful position, but he is also trapped in this position with people he does not understand and who in many ways have caused him to worry about his life. Today we will consider why Jesus is the voice of truth and how we can focus on his voice in our lives.

And That’s Just the Beginning (Mark 13:1-8) The world frequently seems to be in great turmoil and some wonder how much more we can endure. Will our systems and governments weather these storms or are we on our way to Armageddon? Today’s Gospel lesson gives us a better perspective . . . and a real hope.

Eagerly Waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:24-28) - Are we eagerly waiting for Jesus? Perhaps we are willing to say this when we are thinking about Jesus coming back to earth in the second coming. Since the writer to the Hebrews mentions this second coming, we have every reason to consider that this is the important part of the statement. However, we can also consider how we are eagerly awaiting the time when we as individuals will meet our Savior, Jesus. Should we eagerly await our Savior? Will we live our lives as people who eagerly await the Savior? Today we will consider these questions and more.

Forgiven Children, Forgiving Children (Mark 9:33-37, Mark 2:1-5, Mark 11:20-25) - One of the hardest things for us to do is to forgive the sins of other people. We actually think it is easy, but in fact this action is filled with complexity. When we forgive will we be able to forget, or at least stop ourselves from showing people their sins after we have forgiven them? Do we understand the fact that we have the power from God to forgive? Will we forgive our children as forgiven children of God? Today we will explore these and other questions that will help us lead a more peaceful and productive life.

Free in Jesus, Slaves to Love (Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 8:31-36) Jesus clarifies for his followers that sin will always enslave us. We are trapped by our guilt and shame, hurt by our failures, enticed by temptation, and fooled by our own imaginations of what we should and should not do. However, Jesus also shows us that He, the one who is love, truth and forgiveness, will free us from this slavery. In similar fashion, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of this freedom we have in Christ, stating that we will “Know the Lord” in ways we did not before the time of Jesus. Today we will discuss how we know the Lord and how that changes our lives.

Understanding a Life of Service (Mark 10:35-45) - The problem we have in our spiritual lives might best be defined and solved in this one piece of understanding Jesus…we are free to serve. We tend to think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want to do, and in some ways that is correct. Unfortunately, our sinful nature tells us that what we want to do is serve ourselves, which is really self-centered greed rather than freedom. Freedom from sin means that we are not controlled by sin, not controlled by our own desires. Instead we are free to do what is best for ourselves and for others. What is that? God tells us it is to love ourselves, love others, and love God. Today we will consider the loves of our lives.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:17-31) - In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus tells a man to sell everything he has (and he apparently has a lot) and give the money to the poor before he can come and follow Jesus. Is your wealth getting in the way of a vital faith in Jesus?

Testing Jesus – Faith Wins (Mark 10:2-16) The context of our reading from the Gospel of Mark is integral to the story and the message from Jesus. The Pharisees considered themselves to be important people and were treated as important people in the Jewish society. These important people saw Jesus as a threat to their position in society and came to test him with a question they felt was unanswerable. In contrast, little children came to Jesus in faith and were at first rejected by the adults who know that children were unimportant, especially in comparison to Pharisees. Guess what? Faith Wins!

If Any Can Artistically Witness to Jesus… (James 5:13-20) Today we take a moment to look at the pictures you have taken over the summer where you were able to see God’s creation. While that may have been the task, many of you also found ways to show how you see God working in creation, people who share God’s creation with you, and the beauty of God’s creation. I hear from lots of people that “the quality of the photograph is nothing special,” but the content truly was special in many ways. God speaks to us in words of Love, Faith, and Forgiveness every day, but today we will see it in pictures.

Servant of All (Mark 9:30-37) - In the highly competitive world of 21st century America, getting ahead and fending off adversaries is the way the game is played. How do you live - even thrive - as a Christian who seeks to be a servant of all?

Just Like Peter (Mark 8:27-38) How is it possible that Peter can have the profound and solid faith necessary to say, “You are the Messiah,” but cannot understand that as the Messiah, Jesus must follow a path of suffering, rejection, death and resurrection? We would all prefer that our lives did NOT reflect this kind of faith coupled with a lack of understanding. We do NOT want to be like Peter. However, our lives are often more than a passing reflection of Peter’s reality. More often we are fully like Peter, confessing the faith God has given us, while rejecting the path Jesus has for us and for other Christians.

Keeping Quiet? (Mark 7:24-37) - Mark uses a tiny number of words to share the truth about two people Jesus heals and his attempts to keep these events personal and private. One question that arises for me is, “How did Jesus think these things would stay quiet?” The answer is…He didn’t! Jesus knew that he could do everything humanly possible to keep his Godly abilities quiet, but people would see, and proclaim the truth. This is the truth that Isaiah once shared would be the sign of salvation. After Jesus ascended into heaven, people became quiet, but James shows us a way in which we should continue to proclaim the truth of our salvation.

Devoted (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23) What comes to mind when you hear the word “devoted”? In Jesus’ day, many pictured priests and pharisees, or people who spent their lives trying to be the best Jews possible. Unfortunately, that meant keeping themselves separate from many of the rest of the people in their communities. In today's lesson, Jesus proclaims a better way of devotion . . . a way that the prophets before him also proclaimed.

Why Bother with Communion? (John 6:56-69) - We call it "Holy Communion," "The Lord's Supper," "A Sacrament." It looks like 1/2 oz. of cheap wine in a tiny plastic cup and a few grams of pressed bread.  What in the world does it mean and why should we bother?

True Hope, Not Despair (Ephesians 5:15-20 and John 6:51-58) - Most of the time the lessons for a particular Sunday are selected to match an idea, and therefore they affirm a common theme. However, at first glance, the lessons for this Sunday seem to be mismatched. In the Gospel, Jesus continues to define how he is the Bread of Life and who we need to eat his body and drink his blood in the bread and wine he offers. St. Paul seems to be intent on making a comparison between drunkenness and worship. In many ways these two lessons do NOT seem to fit together. Today we will consider how they do work as a unit to help us remember that in Christ we have a hope which dispels are fear and any cause for desperation.

Members of One Another (John 6:35, 41-51 and Ephesians 4:25-5:2) - Jesus tells the people that he is the Bread of Life, which explains that he was sent by God from heaven, he brings forgiveness, which is life, and he also comes to make us one in his body. Much like the people who ate their fill and then looked for more, we can turn the Lord’s Table into a kind of spiritual food for forgiveness without thinking much about our response. If we have really been made one in Christ, it changes how we treat one another. St. Paul tells us some of the things we should not do, but more importantly helps us understand that we will want to imitate the love of Jesus toward one another.

Bread of Life (John 6:24-35) - What’s your favorite food?  Chances are, it is a kind of “comfort food” that makes you feel not just full, but satisfied.  In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus tells us that he is the “Bread of Life,” the food that can fully and finally satisfy.

First Fruits Giving Provides Enough (2 Kings 4:42-44 & John 6:1-13) There are two important concepts in the Old Testament lesson for the day which are replayed in the Gospel lesson. The first concept we wrestle with is first fruits giving. While this concept is a little muddied by the fact that most of us no longer grow our own food, the concept is still important in our lives. The second concept is an understanding of what God does with our first fruits giving and how it is enough.

Do the Walls Still Come Tumbling Down? (Ephesians 2:11-22) - In the Epistle Lesson for today, St. Paul insists that God has torn down the wall that kept Gentiles from the God of Israel. This was very difficult for some early Jewish Christians to accept. How about today in God's kingdom? Do the walls still come tumbling down?

The Gospel for Downer Sunday (Ephesians 1:1-14) - Two of the three lessons appointed for today are tragic. In the Old Testament lesson, Uzzah dies because he touches the Arc of the Covenant, and David's first wife begins to despise him. In the Gospel lesson, John the Baptist is decapitated by a despicable ruler at the behest of his vicious wife and a heartless daughter. Nestled in between these, in the Epistle lesson are St. Paul's words of hope to an infant church in an imperial city.

Stopping Jesus (Mark 6:1-13) - Critics of God have always tried to use the inadequacies of language to create unsolvable problems. The age old question, “Can God create a rock so big He cannot lift it?” is just one variant of this sad attempt to define power in human terms. It should not surprise us that other short-sighted people were able to stop the work of Jesus when he was in their midst. God has provided free will and has never stopped providing free will. The real question we should consider and will consider today is this…Why would you want to stop Jesus?

Desperation Leads to Jesus (Mark 5:21-43) Most of the time we believe in evolution far more than we want to admit to others. We compare our lives to the lives of other people from other times in history and we feel more civilized, more educated, and more empowered to control our world. However, some things have never changed. When we face desperate times, when we are out of control: those are the moments when we search for God and find that Jesus is waiting to embrace us. The stories we will consider today are stories of desperation and healing. They are also stories where people do not believe in God until they see a sign (miracle) and have to consider the presence of God. Some things do not.

The Living Dead (Mark 4:35-41) It is summer, which means amusement parks and carnivals are in the peak time of their business. Thrill rides dominate the landscape for most of these places which draw millions of paying customers each year. The basic premise for most of these rides is to make the riders feel the sensation of falling, or moving very quickly, while taking the rider to the place where fear is real, but they know they are actually safe in the ride. The disciples did not feel so safe on their thrill ride in the boat, but with Jesus along they were very safe. Today we will consider that reality in our lives.

Scattered Seeds (Mark 4:26-34) - We'd like important things to happen in one fell swoop, but it's different with a God who works patiently and lovingly. In today's lesson, Jesus tells us that God's kingdom works like a tiny mustard seed that slowly and quietly grows into a large bush.

The Price to Crush (Genesis 3:8-15) - We tend to struggle with the guilt and shame that comes from reading about the first sin in the Garden. Just last week we were able to think about the fact that God has removed all sin from our lives and has taken away our guilt. Yet, somehow this story always brings forward that guilt and shame. The final verse in this passage is the one that brings us back to the understanding of God, who loves us and who wins the battle for us. Jesus crushes Satan – but there is a cost, which is pain, suffering and ultimately a painful and humiliating death. Seeing through the cross means that we can see past all of this to the ultimate victory Jesus has in crushing Satan.

God Cleans and Sends. Will You Go? (Isaiah 6:1-8) - The prophet Isaiah has a vision of God that is so real he knows he is in the presence of God and he knows his sin makes it impossible to be in there. God sends angels to “clean the lips” of Isaiah, saying “your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Isaiah’s response is one of willingness to go wherever God will send him. Today we will consider what this means in our lives. Jesus has cleansed us. Do we recognize that our guilt is gone and our sin blotted out? Do we experience that powerful calling to say we are ready to be sent? Finally, what does it really mean to be sent and how will we do this?

Everything You Need to Know (John 15:26-16:15) - Too often God's people think that if they had greater knowledge, they would have greater faith. However, in today's Gospel lesson, Jesus teaches that the Spirit will guide his people into everything they need to know to live faithfully - even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Guest Speaker: Rich Robinson presents “Jewish Roots of Pentecost” Today we are blessed to have Rich Robinson as a special presenter from Jews for Jesus. Today Rich will be sharing The Jewish Roots of Pentecost. Pentecost is the day when the disciples of Jesus were blessed with the Holy Spirit and began to witness in many languages to the people. We are thankful for Rich and for the work of Jews for Jesus as we continue the work of Pentecost, bringing the message of Jesus to all people.

Radical Love (1 John 5:1-6) “We are born children of a fallen humanity.” These words from the baptism liturgy remind us of the fact that we are born under the law and need to learn about God’s radical love. Because of our birth into a broken world, we tend to focus on the commandments as a burden. Today we will consider the rest of the words of our baptism liturgy, “Through the waters of Holy Baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life.” We will also consider the words of the Nicene Creed, “I believe in the Holy Christian Church.” We will look at how all of these words are expressions of a radical love which God showers on us and gives us to share with the world.

The Vine and His Branches (John 15:1-8) We live in a short-term world where we're led to believe that there's a quick fix to just about any problem.  We want to think that way about ourselves as well: that God (or we, if we're really faithful) can fix our problems so that we can make the changes we want all in one quick move. In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus presents us with a frustrating image of what life in him is really like. But . . . it's one that better addresses our lives and demonstrates more deeply his love.

Lay Down Our Lives (1 John 3:16-24) Jesus literally laid down his life for all people. He died so that we could be freed from the power of sin, death, and the devil. He died so that we could be made righteous with God and be reunited with our Creator. John states that we ought to lay down our lives for others. Certainly “the one whom Jesus loved” was not suggesting that we should die for others. What did he mean by this statement? Today we will consider how we have been called to love in a way that truly is a life sacrifice, but follows the way of Jesus.

In Christ the Law is Kept (1 John 3:1-7) Since the Law always shows us our sin and drives us to the knowledge that we need forgiveness in Jesus, it is easy to stay stuck in the thought process that we do not like the Law. However, in our text today, John states that when we sin, we are guilty of lawlessness. He goes on to state that when we abide in Christ, we do not sin. The important concept here is that through faith in Christ, which is a gift from God, we are like Christ who fulfilled the Law. We are not only without sin, but we are also people who keep the Law because of the gift we receive. Today we will discuss how this truth empowers us to share this truth with other people.

Darkness and Lies, Light and Truth (1 John 1:1 – 2:2) The struggle we have in this lifetime is a struggle between our creation as holy beings in the image of God, the sin-filled world into which we were born and in which we have participated in the sins against God, and finally the recreation we have in Jesus Christ. It is very easy to become confused, discouraged, or even disinterested. The devil wants us to leave the struggle by rejecting the love of God, which can happen in many ways. Jesus wants us to live in the love and forgiveness that God provided in the gift of his Son. Today we will consider how that gift of forgiveness impacts our lives.

Who Is It You Are Looking For? (John 20:1-18) The belief that there is someone who will help us when we're in need seems built into nearly every human being. We want a rescuer who will overthrow whatever (or whoever) burdens us in order to set us free.  In today's message, Jesus demonstrates to Mary Magdalene that he's even more of a rescuer than she ever hoped for.

A Shocking Confirmation and Holy Week Reality (Mark 14:27-31) When I was confirmed on a Palm Sunday many years ago, I was asked a standard question from the liturgy: “Will you suffer even death rather than fall away from your confession?” Like all of my peers, I answered “Yes, with the help of God.”, while my mind quickly raced to say, “Are you kidding!” The shocking truth is that all of us have a little bit of St. Peter inside of us. God’s amazing gift of faith grants us the desire to be courageous. We want to defend Christ and our faith. However, Jesus tells Peter that he WILL fall away under pressure. Why does Jesus tell Peter? How does this help Peter? What should we learn from Peter’s example and the words of Jesus?

The Parable of the Lighthouse (John 12:20-33) Today we will consider a modern day parable focused on the role of churches and the disciples of Jesus who are active participants in those churches. The parable will also bring into focus the concepts that Jesus shared about the role of wheat. We will discover that only in death can we share eternal life. This was true when Jesus died on the cross for our salvation. It is also true when we are willing to sacrifice our lives for the sake of bringing people the message of Jesus. As we move back into the sanctuary, will our renovated home be a club house or a light house?

A Very Dangerous People (John 3:14-21) - We live every day under the threat of judgment of one kind or another.  Today's Gospel lesson's good news is that it doesn't have to rule our lives or direct our actions. Because of Jesus, we get to live free from judgment.  Today's sermon examines how this makes us a very dangerous people.

Wise Fools of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) Living in Silicon Valley we certainly have our share of people who are considered to be wise people by the standards of our world. In many ways this is simply a statement of fact, but in other ways it provides us with an interesting view of problems faced by St. Paul which are similar to our own. The more we believe in our own wisdom to control our world, the easier it is to discount the importance of God. However, this is not a problem unique to our age or geographic area. This is a problem which St. Paul faced as he helped the people of Corinth. There people were exposed to many different cultures and were wise by the standards of their time. Today we will consider how the foolishness of God does make us wise.

Be Blameless (Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16) When God calls Abram to be “the father of many nations” he tells Abram, “be blameless.” In each of us resides the desire to be blameless, or to “go and sin no more,” but our real behavior is much different. Therefore, we often find ourselves with an unresolved tension between our desire to live a sin free life and the reality of our sin filled existence. A life focused on this tension is a life that loses focus on Jesus. Why is this important? God wants us to know that we are made blameless and sin free through the work of Jesus. This allows us to be fearless in our life and fearless in our witness to God’s love.

Repent (Mark 1:9-15) - What comes to your mind when you think “repentance”?  It was one of Jesus major themes but do we understand what he meant? On this first Sunday in Lent, we hear again the words of Jesus’ first sermon and try to get a grasp on what he meant when he said, “The kingdom of God has come near, repent and believe the good news.”

Chasing Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-12) Elijah was a super star of the Old Testament - a Hall of Famer, if you will. There were many prophets at the time of Elijah, but he was the one who heard from God and spoke as the mouth piece of God. In some ways it should not surprise us that many prophets come out to see Elijah, particularly during this time when they know God is calling him to heaven. However, Elisha is even more willing to follow Elijah and make sure that he stays with the prophet until the end. Today we will consider how people still chase superstars, but the real superstar, Jesus comes to us.

Touching Lepers (Mark 1:40-45) - Leprosy is one of the most preventable of diseases, but was an incredibly destructive and frightening disease during the time of Jesus. People who had leprosy were the worst of outcasts, relegated to lives of begging for help and attention outside the city limits. Leprosy is mentioned often in the Bible and is often used to show us an important part of God’s message of forgiveness and salvation. When Jesus cleans the leper, he ends up in the same position as the leper in many ways - Jesus is relegated to a place outside the city walls. Today we will consider the price Jesus has paid for our salvation and also consider how we can see and touch the lives of other people whom Jesus loves.

All Things to All People (1 Corinthians 9:16-23) - St. Paul seems to be saying that he changes his personality in whatever way is necessary to fit in with the people around him. When we know a person like this, we might be tempted to say they change their mind whichever way the wind blows. However, Paul has one thing in mind as he makes these changes. He has one purpose in mind for all of the ways in which he shapes his personality. St. Paul is willing to do whatever it takes to bring the message of Jesus to others. How do we feel about this?

Your Appointed Time (Jonah 3:1-5, 10 & Mark 1:14-20) - In each of the Bible readings for this Sunday we find a message about an appointed time. The appointed time is different for Jonah, the disciples of Jesus, and the people reading the words of St. Paul. However, the message is the same. We are called to share the message of Jesus with people who are not aware of God’s love and mercy. We are called to bring hope into situations where people feel hopeless. We are called to bring forgiveness to people who are struggling with sin. However, the call to our appointed time may also come with sacrifice: of where we live, where we work, what we do for work, or how we live our lives. Today we will consider our appointed times and the call of God to each of us.

Without Guile (John 1:43-51) - We all have a tendency to see things through our own unique perspective on life. We also have a tendency to believe the things we have often heard from others and the first thing we see or read about a subject. Nathanael is commenting on an old saying when he asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Jesus knows Nathanael and knows what he has said. Rather than confront Nathanael with his misstatement, Jesus decides to comment on Nathanael’s personality and good character. When we speak with people about the Savior, we also have two options. We can focus on the things we feel we need to confront (sins) or we can focus on the beauty of God’s creation in each person. What would Jesus do?

A New Approach (Ephesians 3:1-12) - People experience a range of emotions when they think about approaching God: guilt, fear, suspicion . . even anger.  In this morning's lesson, St. Paul describes how the coming of Jesus has made it possible to approach God with freedom and confidence.

Adopted (Galatians 4:4-7) - Paul uses a variety of metaphors to explain the meaning of the Father's work in and through his Son, Jesus.  In this morning's text he introduces a new way of describing God's work: adoption.

Christmas Day at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Eureka! (Luke 1:26-38) - One of the things lost in the Fall recorded in Genesis is the sense that we live in a world of grace.  Instead, we tend to believe that we live in a place of scarcity and want; a world in which things frequently don't work out for the best; a world in which we're always fighting off fearsome forces.  The Gospel lesson for this morning reminds us that because of Jesus, we can find real grace in unexpected times and places.

Why Baptize? Are You Dirty? (John 1:6-8, 19-28) The Pharisees send some people to speak with John the Baptist. It is clear from the conversation and from the questions asked that they are confused about his role, his purpose in life, and his relationship with the religion they practice in the Synagogue. They ask him more than once, who he is and finish by asking why he is baptizing, or washing people. The temple was the place for ritual washing and this washing was connected to the sacrifices made in the temple. Sadly, most people could not grasp that Jesus was the new temple of God and that Jesus would make the one sacrifice never made in the Synagogue. He would be the God/man sacrifice who would take away the sins of all people. This was the reason for John’s baptism as a preparation and participation in Jesus.

What are you waiting for? (2 Peter 3:8-15a) - Whether it is a child waiting for Christmas morning, a student waiting for graduation, or an adult waiting for retirement: what we are waiting for makes a huge difference in our lives.  St. Peter works with that same theme in the passage on which today's message is based.  As God's people, what are we waiting for?  And what difference does it make?

Giving Up for Christmas (Isaiah 64:1-9) - Perhaps it is bad timing to speak of giving up anything just after the feasts that are trademarks of a Happy Thanksgiving. Isaiah speaks during a time of great turmoil and consternation for God’s people. This is a time when they have not followed God and feel that they have not witnessed God’s power in many years. Are there times in your life when you feel the same? Are there times when you feel that you have lost touch with God and God’s plan for your life? Isaiah states, “We are the clay, and you are the potter…” Today we will consider what it means to be “clay” in the hands of our loving and merciful God who promises to remake us through mercy and forgiveness. Then we will begin to understand there are things we can easily give up for Christmas.

Eleven Key Stories in the Old Testament Bonus Story: Gideon (Judges 7:1-7, 17-21) - “Life could be so much better if I just had more _______.” (Fill in your own blank.)  It's the way we are conditioned to think.  We can't change, we can't progress, we can't escape because we just don't have enough!  In today’s message, we look to the account of Gideon and hear another message.  Maybe the real problem is that we have . . . too much?

Samson Foreshadows John and Jesus (Judges 13:1-14) - When we think about Samson, our thoughts are usually amount his incredible strength, his long hair, the mistake of falling in love with Delilah and how she took both his hair and his strength. What we usually do not hear about is the struggle of God’s people, the announcement and promise of Samson, and the situation surrounding his birth. In order to fully understand the significance of his strength and battle against the Philistines, we need to also understand the beginning of his life and the plan of God to rescue the people of Israel once again.

Children of God - We struggle to see ourselves the way God sees us. We witness the mistakes of ourselves and others, both big and small mistakes, but God sees us as perfect in Jesus. We notice the flaws in our world and the conditions of our own creation bringing harm to others, but God sees us as compassionate and sacrificial beings, the way we will be in heaven. Most of all we see ourselves as rational, logical adults who make mature decisions, but God sees us as children. Today we will consider how we should perceive children in our lives and how God perceives us as children now and in eternity.

Be Careful What You Wish For (Malachi 3:1-5) - As Christians, we are comfortable with the idea of that Jesus is the Messiah.  We count on His coming to mean our present forgiveness and final resurrection.  Yet, the coming of the Messiah was about much more than personal forgiveness.  The promises that predate His first coming remind us that the Messiah was coming to bring justice as well as justification.

God Has A Plan (Jeremiah 33:10-26) - As sinful human beings one of our most effective and also troubling attributes is that we believe all people and even God works the way we do. Because we cannot see into the future, we often fail to have a plan and even when we have a plan we are anxious about the future. In contrast, God has a plan even before and especially in the midst of struggles and trials for God’s creation. Last week we considered how God provided for exiled people to bring witness to God’s glory. This week we will consider the fact that during the fall of Jerusalem, God already had a plan for the restoration and grandeur of Jerusalem. How much more will God provide for our restoration in heaven!

Daniel and the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6:1-28) When the two kingdoms of God’s people are taken into exile, it is a terrifying set of events followed by a lengthy time away from the land God had promised and delivered to his people. It is easy in times of trial to question the will of God and even to question the mercy of God when reading about these horrible events. In the midst of the exile, we are presented with numerous stories about Daniel, a servant of the Lord, who has many interactions with the kings and leaders of the nation. One of these stories, is common to Sunday School, but not nearly as common in Sunday worship. Today we will consider how this story shows the value of exile, both to the exiles and to their captors.

Hands and Feet (Matthew 20:20-34) - Whether or not they believe in Jesus, most people love his saying “Love your Neighbor as Yourself.” Loving our neighbors more than ourselves is a great idea, yet it is rarely seen in action.  Action is what it is all about.  We think of love as an emotion, but emotions don’t get things done.  When Jesus spoke about love, it was always about action.  In Matthew 20:20-34, Jesus says this about himself: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Can we use our hands and feet, not just our hearts, to follow Jesus?

Eleven Key Old Testament Stories: David (1 Samuel 17:1-11, 16, 32-50) - One of Jesus titles is "Son of David."  Who is David and why is he so important for the life of Jesus?  This Sunday's sermon examines this key Old Testament figure and how understanding him helps us better understand how Jesus is the Christ.

Abraham to Moses, God’s Covenant (Genesis 15:1-21) - The concept of a covenant is often misunderstood in our culture where it is assumed to be similar to the concept of a contract. Today we will consider the covenant God first makes with Abraham. We will look at the facts which show us how the covenant is God’s faithful promise, made by God in the full knowledge that God would pay the price for our breaking of the covenant. We will then consider the covenant with Moses and the establishment of the Law in relationship to this idea of covenant.

Abraham: The Father of Many Nations (Genesis 12:1-20) The 12th chapter of Genesis provides two important insights about Abraham, both of which are important for us today. The first insight is to realize that Abraham was chosen by God from a people who were sun worshippers. It is important to realize that God calls all people to salvation and that we have the opportunity to share the message of God’s love with all people. The second insight is realizing that Abraham, the Father of God’s people, was a flawed person just like all of us. He was willing to deceive others, put his wife at risk, and do things that were against God’s commands in order to save himself from a perceived threat. However, God still worked with Abraham and was faithful to His promise to Abraham.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) - This Old Testament story is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible for a number of reasons. First, this is a classic story in the literary structure of the story. The number if words used grow and then decline, as the story is told so that the original readers would be able to visualize that the tower was being built and was destroyed. Another amazing part of this story is the correlation between these events and the modern understanding of linguistic development. While we are often told that science and religion are incompatible, this is a place where we have enough information from each to see that they are telling us the same story – each from their own perspective.

The Call of Moses, The Name of God (Exodus 3:1-15) - In 1956, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to the film “Around the World in 80 Days.” On the short list of nominees was a much longer film, which spent many more years on television each Easter season, “The 10 Commandments”. Over the years I have heard some people talk about errors in the film and places where the writers and directors took artistic license to tell the story in film. In contrast, I would point to the fact that by making it to film, this is one of the best known stories of the Old Testament. Today we will consider the call to Moses at age 80 and the importance of God’s name for all generations.

Eleven Key Stories from the Old Testament: The Flood (Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-10) The story of the Flood is a tragic story that causes us to ask any number of questions.  Chief among them may be this:  why would a God who is good and gracious send such devastating destruction.  The story itself answers that question... and helps us to understand how deeply gracious God really is.

Eleven Key Stories from the Old Testament: Fall and Promise (Genesis 3:1-14) Though written thousands of years ago, the story told in Genesis 3 of humankind’s rebellion and its consequences is filled with deep meaning for those who take the time to contemplate.  It helps us understand why humankind can progress technologically, but fail to do so morally and spiritually; and it helps us to make more sense of how Jesus is the fulfillment of the first promise God ever made — recorded in Genesis 3.

Creation: God’s Temple Work (Genesis 1:1–2:3): Creation is a topic that fills books and magazines, sparks debate between people of all ages and educational backgrounds, and often leaves people entrenched in positions without the ability to hear each other. Scientists have told religious leaders to stay out of the scientific arena and religious leaders have stated that scientists are wrong with their facts. A recent book and theory about the creation story suggests that this may all be a problem of perception. Satan wants us to fight and miss the most important part of creation. Today we will consider God’s beautiful creation from an ancient near eastern point of view.

William's Psalm (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) - They say that fear loves a good stampede.  Today, there are media outlets and political empires that seem bent on sowing fear and starting stampedes.  They plunge people into depression and whole societies into chaos.  As those who put their faith in, and live in Christ, we are blessed by no longer having to follow the herd's stampede of fear.  Instead, because we live in Christ, we get to live confident in God's provision and protection.

One Healthy, Growing Fear (Matthew 17:1-8) There used to be a saying on bumper stickers and billboards which asked, “How big is your God?” For all of us, caught in our trials and tribulations of a sin filled world, our God is usually only big enough to fit into our current perception. As finite people, it is impossible for us to imagine the infinite, our God who makes all things work in our lives. Today we will consider how Jesus’ closest disciples had an image of Jesus that was too small. We will consider how that changed and how God works in our lives with a healthy, growing fear of the Lord.

"What If Things Get Worse?" - Matthew 24:1-14: Natural disasters, financial collapse, international terrorism, nuclear Armageddon... and those are just the ones that grab the headlines. Those threats worry most of us and terrify some. In today's sermon, we hear words of promise from Jesus that help us live fearlessly in the face of the world's worst possible threats.

Fear God Does Not Exist (Luke 24:9-49) - Most of the time we would prefer to never admit to our fears about the existence of God. Yet Satan and our own sinful nature are often at work, attempting to replace faith with doubt and replace hope with fear. In the Bible there are many examples of this fear and doubt in the lives of the people who are called as God’s servants and leaders. However, there is one amazing set of stories that show us how Jesus is the answer to our fears and the solution to all of our doubt. Today we will talk about how we continue to see Jesus and live a fearless life.

Fear of What’s Next (John 14:1-6; 26-27): When Jesus tells his disciples that he is going away, they are surprised and he needs to spend more time explaining to them that they will be fine when he is gone. The surprise is mostly lost on us because we know how the story ends and we know that Thomas is full of doubts. However, when we look at the sequence of events, it becomes clear that this is a HUGE surprise and the disciples have every right to be shocked and worried about their future. Jesus has turned their world upside down with the change he announces. It also seems ironic that as Christians we still fear change, when Jesus is the biggest “change agent” ever to rock our world. Today we will consider how we do not need to fear what comes next in our lives.

Scared to Death (John 14:1-14): Death has concerned and confounded humans since Genesis 3.  It has provoked depression and despair and great fear.  Yet, for those who put their faith in Christ there is an option to seeing death as disaster.  If it has become for us the gate through which we enter eternal life, then its reality also helps us to live with a better-- even a purer-- perspective through each day of this life.  This morning's sermon focuses on words from Jesus that give us hope as we think about and face our own death.

Make-Believe Money (Luke 12:22-34): As this economic downturn continues on... and on, many are wondering whether they're going to survive financially.  Will I get laid off?  Will I lose my health care?  Will the bank foreclose on my home?  The frightened questions also continue on... and on.  In today's Message, we hear Jesus reminding us that our solution to our fears (hoard more for ourselves) is quite simply foolish.  And he shows us a better way.

This Brutal Planet (Matthew 10:17-28): History is clear and the reports from our news channels are equally compelling…people on this earth are willing to harm each other in ways that are shameful and hard to believe. We are blessed to live in a country where we do not often face the kinds of violence that most people in the world and throughout history have faced. However, the threat of physical violence is never really gone. Today we will consider the fears we have and how our faith in Jesus removes those fears. We will look at the reality of violence without the sugar coating we would like, and see that Christ is still the answer and helps us become fearless even in the midst of violence.

There's a Dragon in My Closet (Mark 14:32-42): Sometimes our fears run a way with us.  For some reason, human beings have a distressing tendency to not only imagine worst case scenarios, but even to begin to be overwhelmed by them.  Maybe it's because there's a chance, even if only remote, that the worst case scenario could come to be.  Today's sermon helps us to put our fears in the perspective of our faith so that we live courageously and fearlessly.

I’m Sinking Fast (Matthew 14:22-36): The storms in our lives seem to last forever. In fact, any time I am frightened, it seems as though time stands still and I must endure forever, the situation causing my fear. There are lots and lots of storms in our lives. There are financial storms, family storms, emotional storms, health related storms and then real weather storms. All of these will last for a period of time, then pass. Yet when we are in the midst of the storm it is easy to lose our focus and spend time looking at the storm when we should be looking to Jesus. Today we will talk about how to focus on Jesus when we have that sinking feeling.