"ELCA" Tagged Sermons

Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm Have you ever been in a thunderstorm that was so bad that you thought this could be the day that your journey on this world ends? The weather in Germany is usually quite moderate, but sometimes the weather makes up for the usually good behavior. And then it feels like an angry deity is throwing around thunderbolts. They often hit old trees and split them apart with a force that was unknown to medieval people before humans started experimenting…

Some Things Never Change – Mark 10: 2-16

Some Things Never Change – Mark 10: 2-16 We are living in times of great changes. But God put us here now for a reason. When major change leads to major confusion, we are here to proclaim God’s everlasting word and truth. God gave us the great commandment to love God and neighbor as ourselves. This was true for our ancestors, it is true for ourselves, and it will be true for our grandchildren as well. Rev. Olaf Baumann, sermon,…

Heaven and Stuff – John 18:33-37

Heaven and Stuff – John 18:33-37 The church year ends and Jesus’ kingdom is not from this world. It’s all about heaven and stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the here and now. So I will fill my sermon with enjoyable Jesus Bla Bla that will be entirely inoffensive, easy to hear, uplifting, unpolitical, and entertaining. In short, wellness for the soul. And then we’ll play our fabulous pipe organ, – followed by prayers, communion and coffee. Or…

Miracles: Humans need Hope

Miracles: Humans need Hope Jesus miracle stories are a rejection of the theology that believes that God readily kills you with sickness when you fail to keep the law. Jesus miraculous healings bring people into the community that ancient society has cast out, because their suffering was seen as God’s punishment. God in Christ loves people no matter what, and Jesus expresses that with everything he does. Rev. Olaf Baumann, sermon, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Port Angeles WA. Please visit…

Pentecost – and what it does to the guys with the big sticks.

Pentecost – and what it does to the guys with the big sticks. Jesus is dead and the apostles are in panic mode. They have barricaded the door because they are afraid that talking about God’s love and grace would anger the neighbours. Many neighbours, way back then as well as today like God to be as angry as they are. And because most neighbours don’t like to be told that they’re wrong, and because God will send you to hell…

Christian Love, – what does that even mean?

Christian Love, – what does that even mean? Jesus gave us a new commandment. To love each other. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it. We know what love is, don’t we? The funny thing is that in general evil deeds are never done, because the perps consider themselves to be evil. NO, they think they are usually convinced they are acting out of love. Even Private Schicklgruber, – you might want to google that name, did what he did out of…

Doubt is the eternal twin of faith.

Doubt is the eternal twin of faith. Many People want to have prove for the existence of God, like in a science lab where peer reviewed numbers can quantify what we know about the physical universe. This is not gonna happen. Every theologian and philosopher who set out to prove the existence of God, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the exercise is futile. Faith cannot be proven, faith can only be experienced. Faith is about living it,…

Passion Sunday; Christ’s Death is an Act of Love

Passion Sunday; Christ’s Death is an Act of Love The Palm Sunday sermon is about the passion of Christ, his suffering and his dying, which resulted in his resurrection of Easter. As everything that God does, Jesus death is an act of love. Jesus descends to the dead as the Apostle’s Creed says, not to have a well-deserved day off until the resurrection, but to throw open the Gates of the underworld and to free all people from their graves…

What is really important in life?

What is really important in life? Recently a person I met said; we’re so bugged down by the stress of life that we should every once in a while slow down to figure out what’s really important. Maybe also pick a month and give up something. Take a step back from consumerism. I think that is a great idea. Christians do that for the last 2000 years. It’s called Lent, the 40 days before Easter. This Sunday is the first…

Three Wise Men and a German Joke

The Magi are three wise men from the East who come to pay homage to baby Jesus. They are leader of their communities and maybe even kings. They bring presents to the Christ child, Myrrh, Frankincense and Gold. Those gifts are not just symbols of how the world is ordered, but they are also trade good on which the wealth of nations is built. They are the tools of power. And those tools of power they three kings lay bat…

Do not be afraid!!!

Do not be afraid!!! The church year comes to a close this Sunday as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. Again we have completed another cycle in the life of the church. And my message for this day is simple. No matter what life throws at you, sickness, loss, catastrophes, IRS agents, or Zombie apocalypse, – Do Not Be Afraid! True peace and happiness is found in your relationship with God in Christ.   That is why Christ is King.…