"Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" 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…

Continue the Mission – Luke 24:44-53

Continue the Mission – Luke 24:44-53 Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47) In Jesus’ name, repentance and forgiveness are to be proclaimed to all nations. All nations mean everybody. Not just Jews. Start in Jerusalem, but then continue with everybody who is left. Proclaiming God’s grace to everybody created the church. Jesus gave us a gift. He reconciled us with God. And he gave us a…

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…

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.…

Could the World be About to Turn?

Could the World be About to Turn? Nothing is impossible with God. Mary changed the world, because she trusted God’s promise for justice, and she persistently followed the call God entrusted her with. Don’t say; ‘I am to small, to insignificant, to broken, I cannot do anything of importance’. That is not true; you are not; Mary, an unmarried teen, was worthy of being the mother of our Lord and Savior. You are worthy of your calling just as she…

The US Military and the 10 Bridesmaids (5 bright & 5 foolish)

The US Military and the 10 Bridesmaids (5 bright & 5 foolish) It is Veterans day Sunday and we think about our military. We do that by reflecting on a story that seems to have very little to do with the military. 5 foolish bridesmaids don’t have their lamp oil ready when they are called to light the way of the bridegroom to the house of the bride. We have to be ready to take care of our soldiers like…