Grace Lutheran Church Sermons

Monsters in the Closet

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:36:40 GMT

“Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is scary to us because we can't see it. Like a child who imagines monsters in the closet, the unseen and unknown can be scary. But we have to trust that God wants to give us the best and that even though we can't see God, God has better things prepared for us than we can see or imagine.

The Power of a Name

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:36:21 GMT

College grads, how it the job hunting going? How about those of you who lost jobs due to economic cutbacks? You remain in our prayers. Looking for a job is harder now than ever. I continue to hear stories which show that one of the biggest advantages in job hunting comes from knowing the right person/people and being able to use their name/names to get at least some initial notice. When it comes to a job, there is power in a name. That was true even back in the time of Jesus. Whose name have you been dropping?

Three Strikes and You’re Out? Not with God!

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:02:14 GMT

We live in a judgmental world. People are always looking at us with a judgmental eye and often we do the same to them. Judging others in a critical way seems to be a human condition, but it doesn’t have to be so. When Jesus met the man who was possessed by demons, a man who lived in a cemetery, he met a man who was judged harshly by the world. Yet, Jesus did not judge this man. He freed him from his demonic captivity. This powerful story in Mark 5 is teamed up with the Apostle Paul’s words about how God united and does not divide us through baptism (Galatians 3) to help us all see how God’s grace frees us from the power of critical judgment. God works to bring all people together. That’s what Jesus was all about.

A Congregational Check Up

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:09:45 GMT

Every once and a while it is important to take time to assess where we have come from, where we are, and where we are going as a congregation. That’s what I plan to do with this week’s message to you. “A Congregational Check Up” will take a look back at our 2006-2007 SWAMP Report (and if you’re new to Grace you probably don’t have a clue what that is!) and all we have accomplished at Grace these past few years.

I’ll also talk about the current health of our congregation; what’s going well (and fortunately many things are), where we need to work and improve, and how we need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ remembering that it is his church and not ours.

Finally, I’ll talk about what the future may hold for us and where God may lead us.

We are all fortunate to be part of a healthy and alive congregation in a time when many churches are struggling. However, this doesn’t mean we can just sit back and not consider these important topics.

I Am With You Always

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:22:01 GMT

The apostle Paul encouraged us to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, and pleasing- and to make our requests to God through prayer and thanksgiving. Jesus told his disciples “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” These are good reminders for our graduates and for us all. We will give thanks for how God has been with us so far, and that God sends us out into the world but also goes with us.

A God to Boast About

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:49:44 GMT

Too many people believe in a “little god”. This god is nice and friendly, doesn’t do a whole lot or ask much of us. This is a god you can put away and not think about much. It’s safe and convenient; even convenient to ignore.

But that’s not the God of the Bible. Holy Trinity Sunday, the Sunday each year where we devote our worship to pondering the majesty of the Triune God, calls us to stand in awe before the truly magnificent nature of our God. The Trinity is a tough concept to comprehend. That’s a good thing. God is a tough concept to comprehend. We Christians do not ever say where our God came from, exactly what our God is. “God is spirit” is the closest Jesus ever came to it
(John 4:24).

But we do know one thing about our God; our God loves. The Apostle Paul boasts (in a good way) that, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). This boasting is an amazing thing for us, as Paul lets us know when he tells us, “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:4)

The Able Spirit

Mon, 24 May 2010 22:46:29 GMT

It was on the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came upon the gathered followers of Jesus Christ. Filled with the Spirit, Luke tells us that the disciples “began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” They went out and for the first time, publicly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was a rowdy and tumultuous beginning for the church, but at the end of the day 3,000 people were baptized in the name of Jesus and they too received the Holy Spirit and “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

We live in a time far removed from the Day of Pentecost, but the work of Pentecost continues. We have all been baptized in Christ’s name. We have all received the power of the Holy Spirit in our baptisms and we too, are called to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the ability the Spirit gives to us.

Knowing God's Name

Mon, 24 May 2010 22:44:25 GMT

In John 17, Jesus says a prayer for his disciples that they would be united in God's love. In Revelation 22, we are given an invitation- “Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” As we celebrate Affirmation of Baptism for 22 of our members, we remember and rejoice that when we are baptized, we are given a wonderful gift. We are invited into God's mission. We know God's love through Jesus Christ, and through the gift of baptism, God knows our names, too

Words that Rebuild Relationships

Tue, 11 May 2010 02:51:31 GMT

This is the final week of the “Divine Manners” sermon series and our theme is forgiveness. Forgiving someone may be the hardest thing we ever do, depending on what they have done. It can be a life-long process. And yet it is one of the best things that we can do for our relationships with others and with God. We will hear about what forgiveness means in the Bible and how we can work to apply it to our lives in many situations.

Coming to Ourselves – "I’m Sorry"

Thu, 06 May 2010 23:31:41 GMT

“I’m sorry” is a phrase too many people think they don’t have to say. This is either because they don’t think they ever do anything wrong or because they just assume that others will overlook the wrong they commit. These people are usually very good about letting others know what they do wrong, but don’t see any fault in themselves.

That is obviously not a Christian way to think or act. We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. If we can’t admit that then we are in for a real mess in our lives. When we sin we need to realize that all of our sins, even those committed against others, are, in fact, against God.

As stubborn as we are we need to be able to truly say, “I’m sorry” – not be forced to do so – “Now you say you’re sorry or else!” Once again, the ability to say, “I’m sorry” ties into a proper understanding of our relationship with God and with others. Jesus’ parable of the “Prodigal Son” and a story about King Hezekiah of Judah will illustrate the importance of “I’m sorry.”