Who are you? How would other people describe you? In my small town, where everybody knew me, I had labels that people gave me. Some were good, some not. My dad called me “Trouble.” I knew how to make my sister cry by being on the opposite end of the house and not making a […]
In the modern world, we experience light and darkness in a different way. Today we talk in terms of light skin and dark skin instead of day and night. This sermon was presented by Pastor Tyler Rasmussen on 2/23/2020. Watch the video
What happens when the plans for your life don’t work out as expected? Our readings today offer examples of people in the Bible whose lives ended differently than they thought. What is Mt Zion’s calling (fancy word for God’s dream for us)? Children’s Sermon What do you want to be/do when you grow up? Why? […]
What does it mean to repent? What does it mean to forgive? In baptism we’re washed clean and today’s Gospel tells the story of when Jesus was baptized. Children’s Sermon Setup Chair with sign that says “DO NOT TOUCH” and a tray of colored chalk powder A bucket with warm water and a towel to […]
Our Gospel text is a story that almost all of you have probably heard before. It is one of the most well-known stories of the Bible. Because of that, it is a story that sometimes keeps us in a ditch of interpretation. What I mean by that is that we think to ourselves, “I’ve heard […]
The image in Jeremiah, of a tree planted by water sending its roots down to the stream, is an image that is also used in Psalms. The sermon Jesus is giving in the gospel of Luke sounds a lot like the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gives in Matthew. Our texts today have images […]
What would your excuse be? Prophets always have excuses for why they are not up to the task. Do you remember what Moses said? (I have never been eloquent.) What does Jeremiah say? He’s too young! He hasn’t gotten his PhD in prophecy yet? What would your excuse be? The role of prophet was a […]
Are you saved? Do you believe in the rapture? These are questions that are incredibly common in some part of the Christian experience. Known as decision theology, this way of thinking about faith involved us making a choice and sometimes saying the correct words of allegiance to the gospel message in order to insure our […]
At 4:38 am the wail of my emergency phone wakes me from sleep. Ugh. Oh. It’s not going to be a “good” morning today. A dispatcher from the Milwaukee Police Department is on the line. “Good morning, pastor. We are in need of some chaplains to respond to a fire.” Groggily trying to wake myself […]
Zeal for the Father’s House? What was Jesus doing with a whip in his hand? And, why was he tipping over tables, and stampeding the cattle and the goats? Look at them run! Why was he freeing the doves? Look at them fly! And, why was he overturning the cash drawers, spilling money all over […]