"Whoever Welcomes" sermon preached July 2, 2017

Matthew 10:40-42

The Supreme Court had just allowed parts of President Trump's travel ban to take affect thus making it difficult for refugees from six Muslim countries to immigrate to the United States.  On this Sunday before our nations birthday I address God's commandment to welcome the stranger in our midst.  Being the child of refugees from Poland after World War II, immigration reform is an issue that I am passionate about.

"The Sermon on the Mount - Discipleship in the World" Sermon preached 02/19/17

HEBREW LESSON     Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

GOSPEL LESSON       Matthew 5:38-48

Inspired by a documentary that I viewed on public television's POV, this sermon talks about the work of Daryl Davis.  He is an African American Man who went on the peculiar mission of meeting and befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan.  As a result of these conversations many of his conversation partners left the clan.  This exemplifies the Christlike way of resisting evil.

"The Sermon on the Mount - Discipleship in Community" Sermon preached 02/12/17

EPISTLE LESSON     1 Corinthians 3:1-9

GOSPEL LESSON      Matthew 5:21-37

During the season of Ephiphany I preached a several week sermon series on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  This week I talk about how Christians are to treat each other when they disagree with each other.  Conflict is normal in any community.  It is how we deal with conflict that makes it healthy or unhealthy.  Jesus provides a way for communities of faith to deal with conflict.

"Driving out Darkness" Sermon preached 01/15/17 on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. day.

EPISTLE LESSON     Romans 12:9-21

GOSPEL LESSON      Matthew 22:35-40, Matthew 5:43-48

On the cusp of the 2017 presidential inauguration where name calling and anger at the opposition is at an all time high, this sermon reminds the congregation to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  I lift up the example of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as the exemplar of loving the enemy.

"Sharing the Inheritance" Sermon Preached 11/20/16 on Reign of Christ Sunday

HEBREW TESTAMENT LESSON     Psalm 46

EPISTLE LESSON                                Colossians 1:11-20


With a congregation that was still processing the results of the 2016 presidential election, in this sermon I address the concerns of our hearts and give the assurance that God is present in all times and places.  "Be still and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10)    

"God's New Creation" Sermon Preached 11/13/16

HEBREW LESSON              Isaiah 65:17-25

GOSPEL LESSON               Luke 21:5-19

This sermon was preached on the Sunday after the election of Donald Trump.  Politically my congregation is split down the middle and this has been my church's greatest challenge.  I speak to both sides of the political continuum but bring it back to the gospel mandate of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  

“The Inevitability of Change” Sermon delivered 04/24/16

                         

Children's sermon with Jenga Blocks

New Testament Lesson      Acts 11:1-18

Gospel Lesson                   John 13:31-35

This sermon is about how beliefs can be tested in a constantly changing world.    To illustrate I used the game of Jenga for the children's sermon to demonstrate how deep seated beliefs can be tested and even broken but God is always there to put us back together again.  Then for the regular sermon I harken back to the Jenga blocks and talk about Peter's faith was tested and rebuilt by God.