Explore past sermons from Peace Lutheran Church. Read a summary, find the scripture references, and download the original sermon manuscript.
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Going with the Spirit
On Confirmation Sunday the sermon begins with a story about canoeing on the Confirmation retreat, and the role of the wind in making the trip either challenging or easy. Today’s texts are all about the Spirit. And the Bible’s word for SPIRIT also means WIND and BREATH. In today’s story from ACTS, that Wind and…
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Saying Good-bye
In my family, growing up, goodbyes were—as a rule—short and sweet, not the long, lingering affairs of some. A handshake and a quick hug and we were soon in the car and heading down the road. Kindems don’t linger. It wasn’t until marriage exposed me to very different ways of saying goodbye that I realized…
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Troubled Water
What does it mean, wading in “troubled water”? Beginning with the story of Harriet Tubman and her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, this sermon goes on to explore the story of John 5 of the man you has been waiting for 38 years for the opportunity to enter the “troubled waters” of…
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Raising Tabitha
The ministry of Tabitha with the widows of Joppa gave them a sense of belonging. How bereft they were at her dying! But through the ministry of Peter she is given back to them. What is this story about? It’s a miracle story, for sure, which Luke has collected and included here because of its…
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Are you all in?
Today’s sermon asks what it means to be “ALL IN” on serving our God. A youth weekend at Holden Village, Saul’s conversion on the road, breakfast on the beach, and an infant baptism in our congregation become occasions for reflecting on how Christ is ALL IN on loving us and calling us be his presence…
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Failure Turns to Faith
Like a good teacher or parent, the risen Jesus, who was extremely demanding of his followers before his crucifixion, was extremely forgiving of them afterward. Thomas, whose faith was rocked by the news of his risen Master, became a powerful witness after his forgiving encounter with him. Is it possible for Christ to turn the…
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From Fear to Faith
FEAR is in the air these days and was present, too, for the women who had watched Jesus’ life ebb out on the cross and had come to anoint his body. But something new, something unpredictable happened–the tomb was empty. This sermon points to the hypothetical discovery of Planet Nine as a fitting analogy for…
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Body as Community
Just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong at Corinth. The problems were many. There were factions based on personalities and factions based on pedigree. There were disagreements over marriage, sexual mores, and dress codes. Skirmishes were breaking out over the proper Christian diet. Members were taking each other to court. And a…
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Lavish Love
Each of the gospel writers tells the story of Jesus being anointed in one form or another. Luke places it earlier in his gospel while Jesus is still in Galilee. Mark and Matthew set it at the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany, and speak of her anointing Jesus’ head—not his feet. In every…
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Where do you Stand?
The story is told in a series of scenes, each of which opens a whole world for us to enter. ? The younger son’s demand, his journey, his fall; ? his coming to himself and his turn toward home; ? the unexpected welcome by the father, the feast; ? the older son’s complaint, the father’s…