Keep the Main Thing

“Profiles of Courage”. A sermon from Pastor Leland Evenson, first given on Sunday February 19, 1989. Pastor Lee gives a passionate talk on courage. It is intended to inspire all of us to be more courageous. As he states in this lesson if there is one thing that Christians have demonstrated throughout history, it is courage. And that deep down every person, even those who may not like you, who trea...

Pastor Leland Evenson’s first sermon he gave in 1989. Pastor Lee addresses the difficult and sometimes controversial topic on the role of the Holy Spirit.

A message from Pastor Leland Evenson given during Advent 1988, Titled, “Signs of Pregnancy”. Using Mother Mary’s, and Pastor Lee’s daughter Shanna’s pregnancy as a backdrop, Pastor Lee asks the question: What are we giving birth to in our lives? He reminds us that spiritually we are all pregnant carrying maybe a sense of joy given to us by our Savior. Or perhaps a spirit of strife or other trouble...

It is June 19, 1988, and it is Father’s Day. The title of this sermon is “Exasperation to Exaltation”. Pastor Lee uses Ephesians 6:4 as his basis for this sermon. Pastor Lee asks a very simple, fundamental question, “do you exasperate your children?” Or are you bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Pastor Lee explains why those parenting behaviours are so different. And w...

Podcast 34 is titled “Moving out of Misery”. From the title, you would not think it was a sermon on repentance. However, Pastor Lee makes it clear that if we produce changes in our hearts and mind – which is the definition of repentance – we may be able to rid ourselves of a lot of misery. Pastor Lee uses an interesting juxtaposition of  our obsession with changes to our outwardly appearance, to t...

Pastor Leland Evenson presents a marvelous message based on Hebrews 4. His gift for creating meaningful metaphors, impactful analogies, and fun play on words, makes all of what the Apostle Paul shares in Hebrews, applicable and inspiring.

Pastor Lee gives a great motivational sermon on marriage. This is a great message for all married couples. But pastor Lee makes it clear that this message is also for those who are single. This sermon is filled with encouragement and inspiration. It is a call for Christian couples to think of their marriage as a Christian witness and an opportunity to demonstrate and reflect Jesus’ love and grace....

Pastor Lee uses Bible passages from Psalms 116, Isaiah 50, and Mark 9, to make his point about listening for the Lord’s voice. Emphasizing that if we are not in tune with the Lord, we are out of tune with everything else. Pastor Lee encourages us to persevere. That life is not always easy and simple. He reassures us and explains how not to give up. Imploring us to be strong and courageous. Salt an...

This Easter message from Pastor Leland Evenson is one you for sure want to listen to. It is an inspirational message that will stay with you for a very long time. We certainly encourage you to share this sermon with others who could use a good dose of hope in their lives. Pastor Lee’s 1988 Easter message is timeless and timely as well.

This message titled “Top of the Line” was first given on September 11, 1988. Once again Pastor Lee delivers a sermon that spans generations. This message from 1988 is as relevant, if not more relevant today, as he speaks to parents and teachers about raising our children. He knew the important role and responsibility that particularly parents had for bringing up children the right way. He gives us...

We live in a world with plenty of alternative lifestyles. But did you ever consider there are alternative death styles? That is the title of today’s sermon from Pastor Evenson. Pastor Lee uses John 6:53-70 and Joshua 23 along with marriage metaphors, to bring home the idea that we face choices every single day. And a wrong choice will usually lead to another wrong choice. Pastor Lee leaves us with...

Celebrating Pastor Leland Evenson’s 20th anniversary at his then parish, Vision of Glory Church, he presents “Christ’s Say-So”.  From June 26, 1988. Pastor Lee starts out his message by naming practically every possible fear we could have. But then playing off the old cliché, “who says so?” he reminds us that we have nothing to fear because Jesus says so. Pastor Lee has packed this message with an...

Pastor Leland Evenson delivers a Mother’s Day sermon in 1988. It is a wonderful message especially encouraging mothers, but there is something in it for all of us. It is the first Mother’s Day sermon Pastor Lee delivers after the passing of his wife in July 1987. He uses John 15 and notes from his three children as a way to help us raise the standard of living in our homes and in our lives.

In April 1988 Pastor Evenson’s parish, Vision of Glory Lutheran Church was faced with the decision of building an addition to their church facility. Pastor Lee spent that Sunday teaching them the best way to make this type of important decision. And it is 100% applicable in each and everyone’s life, no matter what the circumstance.

Who’s in charge here?” A sermon behind it on who is really in charge of our lives. We hope this sermon has you thinking about who really is in charge. And perhaps who should be in charge. We are going to bet that every time you see a thermostat you may be reminded of this message after listening to it.

Our first sermon in 2024 continues Pastor Lee’s lesson on Second Corinthians. In this message, Pastor Lee is teaching from the sixth chapter in second Corinthians. The title is “Blanket Coverage”. This is a wonderful message on faith. A great reminder of how God’s grace not only has opened the doors to heaven for us. It is available to us today. Today, every day. Here is Blanket Coverage by Pastor...

Are you homesick? Homesick for heaven? Podcast number 22 is titled homesick for heaven. Pastor Leland Evenson is continuing his study in the book of Second Corinthians. It was communion Sunday at Vision of Glory, the church he was pastoring. Pastor Lee effectively uses the communion sacrament as a basis for his talk, Homesick for Heaven.

A sermon from Pastor Lee Evenson from Sunday February 21, 1988. Another message from Pastor Lee using II Corinthians 4: 1-12 as his basis for the sermon. Pastor Lee was teaching a class on II Cor. at North Heights Lutheran Church, the winter of 1988. The title for today’s message is “Is Your Heart in it?” In II Corinthians Chapter 4, versus 1-12, Paul gives us clues why he did not lose heart in sp...

Podcast number 20 is a sermon that Pastor Lee gave on January 24, 1988. He was in the middle of teaching a class on Second Corinthians at North Heights Church in Arden Hills. In his sermon, Stand Firm, Pastor Lee uses Second Corinthians 1:3-7, 8-11, and verse 18; emphasizing how Paul experienced trouble not as a punishment for something he had done. But for the preparation for something he was goi...

This was Pastor Lee’s first sermon in 1988. It was delivered on January 3. Pastor Lee uses the epistle lesson found in Ephesians 1: 3-9. It was an inspirational message for his listeners to move into the new year, back in 1988. It is a message for all of us, any time of the year.

We wrap up our conversation with Pastor Jedidiah Scharmer, who has shared some great insight and thoughts from working with Pastor Evenson. This sermon from Pastor Lee is a great message he delivered on Christmas Eve 1987.

The third podcast of our conversation with Pastor Jedidiah Scharmer from Resurrection Church in Monticello. Pastor Lee’s sermon is from December 1987. Titled, “Who, Me?”.

Enjoy the second of a four part conversation with Pastor Jedidiah Scharmer, from Resurrection Church in Monticello. Pastor Jedidiah shares more thoughts and memories of his time working with Pastor Lee. Followed by two sermons by Pastor Lee that he gave over the Thanksgiving Holiday in 1987.

The first of a four-part conversation with Pastor Jedidiah Scharmer from Resurrection Church. Jedidiah and Pastor Leland Evenson worked together right up to the end of Pastor Lee’s ministry. Pastor Jedidiah shares some memories and thoughts working with Pastor Lee.

Pastor Lee’s sermon titled, “Learning to Live in Debt” is not about financial planning. Rather it is about the debt we have to love one another as God loved us first. Using the Epistle lesson from that particular Sunday, Romans 13:1-10, Pastor Lee’s central focus is found in verse 8 where Paul urges the early Christians to “let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one anot...