Sermons on Equality in Christ

Fishing for People – Luke 5:1-11

Fishing for People – Luke 5:1-11 Let’s look at Peter in the Gospel story. The divine touches down in his boat and makes him throw out his fishing nets. And under Jesus’ guidance, the bounty of the lake is bestowed upon them. God’s plan for God’s people is that they have life in abundance. It is God’s will that they do not suffer hunger and want. But as soon as God shows them love, Peter falls on his knees and…

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,…

Nicodemus

Nicodemus – John 3:1-21 I have often discovered in myself and others the tendency to view fallible biblical figures like Nicodemus, or Peter or Judas, as foils against which we contrast ourselves to our advantage! “Nicodemus walked away from Jesus, I would have asked to be baptized then and there! Peter denied Jesus, I would have courageously stood up for my Lord! Judas betrayed Jesus, never ever would I be tempted by my own disappointed hopes, or money, or fame…

Do not be afraid of ambitious visions!

Do not be afraid of ambitious visions! – Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12 Today’s Isaiah text expresses the vision of a perfect community that resides in the kingdom of God. It is a community that is at peace with each other. Conflicts that govern contemporary life have been resolved. Don’t be discouraged because the envisioned state of being seems unlikely. Ambitious visions take time. Our time on this world is relatively short. God’s exists on an entirely different time scale. But…

The Common Chest

The Common Chest – Romans 3:28 Reformation Theology and the Welfare State Confronted with injustices connected to emerging capitalism, Luther and the reformers partnered with the government on all levels to build a reliable welfare system. The Common Chest, implemented in the law of Wittenberg in 1522 provided, for example, interest free loans to artisans and newcomers, and re-financing of high-interest loans for burdened citizens; shelter, clothing, nourishment and food for poor orphans and the children of poor people; it…

Does Jesus Really Call Us To Set the Oppressed Free?

Does Jesus Really Call Us To Set the Oppressed Free? – Paul’s Letter to Philemon Paul’s letter to Philemon had been used throughout the times of slavery in America to justify the institution of slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law, which required that slaves who managed to escape needed to be returned to their ‘owners’ even if they had made it to a non-slaveholding state. However, in close examination we will see that it is not even clear that the…

Is not my word like fire?

Is not my word like fire? – Luke 12:49-56 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29) Jesus’ compassion is like fire, like a hammer which shatters our comfortable lives and makes us question our preconceived notions. Are people’s lives worth enough to heal on the Sabbath? To shelter the persecuted? To welcome the poor in our midst? Jesus’ call for compassion stands out in an unequal…

Eager to Learn

Eager to Learn – Luke 10:38-45 Martha and Mary – for the longest time, these sisters have been viewed as allegories for two ways of serving Christ – the way of service and the way of contemplation. People who follow this allegorical view have underemphasized the fact that Martha and Mary are women, real people, and instead transformed them into symbols, which stand for something else. Today, I am suggesting to have Martha and Mary stand in their own right,…

All are one in Christ Jesus

All are one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:23-29 The society of the Roman Empire is an honor – shame society. That means in contrast to our capitalist society to be honorable is more important than being rich. For Roman senators it is honorable to get rich by farming. It is NOT honorable to get rich by trading. What we call entrepreneurs, people who have bread factories, produce pottery, cloth, iron products or conduct trade, no matter how much money…

Let’s Talk about Women Pastors

Let’s Talk about Women Pastors Considering the role of women in society, we need to keep in mind that different historical sources will produce different information for future generations. If you search for “Women Pastor” on youtube today, you will almost exclusively find voices passionately condemning such a thing. Nevertheless, here I stand, and as you know, I am not alone. Future historians though, might only be able to access those voices on youtube and conclude that pastoring women in…

Holy Women: The Midwives Shifrah and Puah and Doing What is Right

Holy Women: The Midwives Shifrah and Puah and Doing What is Right In Genesis 1 we read that God created us male and female. It says nothing about one gender ruling over the other. However, that was the reality of most of human history. It is time to rethink a woman’s place in society and religion. The scriptures prove that at all times and places, women have followed God’s call to be Agents of God’s grace. Like the midwives Shifrah…
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