Sermons

Easter Sunday April 20, 2025 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 Because He Lives— Death Has Lost Its Sting!   Dear fellow worshipers of our living Lord and Savior,   He is risen!  He is risen indeed!   There are certain things that we experience in life that “sting” us— sometimes deeply.  If a young person does poorly on a very important test— that “stings.”  If we get fired from our dream job— that “stings.”  If someone we love ends up rejecting us—…

Palm Sunday April 13, 2025 Luke 19:28-40 God’s Surprising Strategies— His Humility is Our Hope!   28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.  Untie it and…

The Fifth Sunday in Lent April 6, 2025 Philippians 3:4b-14 God’s Surprising Strategies— Hiding Treasure in the Trash!   4If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised the eighth day; of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for…

The Fourth Sunday in Lent March 30, 2025 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 God’s Surprising Strategies— Grace Instead of Condemnation!   1Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.  2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  3Then Jesus told them this parable: 11“There was a man who had two sons.  12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’  So…

The Third Sunday in Lent March 23, 2025 Luke 13:1-9 God’s Surprising Strategies— Always Present: Always Patient!   1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in…

The Second Sunday in Lent March 16, 2025 Philippians 3:17-4:1 God’s Surprising Strategies— No Detours Allowed!   17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is…

The First Sunday in Lent March 9, 2025 Luke 4:1-13 God’s Surprising Strategies— One Stands; Everyone Else Sits!     1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become…

Transfiguration Sunday March 2, 2025 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Epiphany Moments— Glory is Hidden In Order to Be Revealed!   7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the…

The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany February 23, 2025 Luke 6:27-38 Epiphany Moments— Love Your Enemies; Overcoming Evil with Good!   27“But tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes…

The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany February 16, 2025 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Epiphany Moments— Blessings are Cursed; Curses are Blessed!   To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I…