Peace Lutheran Sermon Podcast

Have you ever wondered how much shipping is going to be, and then relaxed when you get to checkout and shipping is free? Or maybe you’ve wondered how much parking costs somewhere, only to heave a sigh of relief when you find that free parking spot? We all love to get something free of charge, but sometimes we’re too focused on being free from commitment as well. Sometimes we even think being free...

The marks we carry on our bodies – scars, wrinkles, even freckles – tell a story. This week’s sermon focuses on today’s first reading, Genesis 32:22-3, in which Jacob wrestles with and is marked by God. Listen in for a powerful reflection on how meeting God changes us all. Tags Jacob, Israel, Genesis, Christian living, progressive theology, Southwest Michigan, Berrien County, faithfulness, Jesus,...

Have you ever called a top-notch tech support line—but then, after waiting on hold, finally getting through, and detailing your complicated tech crisis, you’re asked “have you tried turning it off and on again?” Today, our first reading is 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, in which Namaan, a powerful Syrian general, receives the spiritual version of this tech support message. Listen to the end of today’s epis...

You’re scrolling through your phone, minding your own business, when suddenly—ding, ding, ding—your family group text explodes. Family group texts are messy, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming, but they’re also where identity gets passed down. Now, what if I told you that you’re already part of a spiritual group text that’s been going on for thousands of years? Part of that spiritual traditio...

You spend your whole life thinking about thresholds. The threshold to your home, the gate to your estate, the line between you and everyone else. You believe these lines protect you and keep everyone else at bay. But what falls to the wayside when we care about our thresholds more than our community? In today’s episode, Pastor Travis illuminates the regrets of the nameless rich man from Luke 16:19...

Have you ever sacrificed something at work or school to help someone else? Today we are reflecting on Luke 16:1-13, where Jesus tells the curious story of a dishonest manager who cheats his employer and then is commended by that same employer for having acted so shrewdly. Join us as Pastor Travis explains the valuable messages this passage conveys about our relationships with each other and with G...

This week, Peace Lutheran celebrates our Rally Day! That means Sunday School, adult book club, and Coffee Hour are all starting back up. Join us this week to reflect on Luke 15:1-10, and celebrate our Rally Day with us as Jesus reminds us that being found means being gathered into community, into joy, and into the life we share together as the body of Christ in the world.  Tags Lost sheep, shepher...

You know that hour, don’t you? That still, quiet hour after two AM when your family is asleep, but your mind is wide awake. This is the time when your internal accountant takes over, calculating the costs of bills you have to pay and choices you have to make. Jesus knew that human beings are natural calculators, and in today’s Luke 14:25-33 reading, he asks his followers to consider the true costs...

Do you remember middle school lunch tables? Everyone knew exactly where they were allowed to sit. If you ever tried to sit in the “wrong” spot, it didn’t take long for you to be reminded, even with just a look. Today, Pastor Travis guides us to reflect on Luke 14 verses one and verses seven through fourteen, in which Jesus attends a dinner party and has some valuable lessons to provide along the w...

Imagine your back being permanently bent, so that you are completely unable to stand straight. It might hurt; you would certainly struggle to complete the tasks of daily life. Today, we discuss Luke 13:10-17, in which Jesus heals a woman facing exactly this challenge. Tune in to find out the surprising answers this story holds to some of life’s questions, including how it can help us deal with the...

Wildfire ecologists sometimes have a crazy job to do: they burn the forest… on purpose. It’s called a controlled burn, and it actually benefits the forest. This week, Pastor Travis guides us to reflect on Luke 12:49-56, where Jesus tells followers that he has come not to bring peace to Earth, but division. Tune in to hear how, similar to a controlled burn, Jesus’s divisive fire purifies and transf...

You know that moment at the grocery store when the cashier asks, “Would you like to round up to support…?” It’s really awkward sometimes, isn’t it? You might have just come in for milk, and now you’re being asked to fund global change. But those tiny choices can change us. This week, Pastor Travis guides us through reflection on Luke 12:32-40, in which Jesus encourages disciples to invest our hear...

In a world full of advertisements vying to turn our precious attention towards material goods, how do we tune in to the one voice that really matters? This week, tune is as Pastor Wayne Shearier guides us to reflect on Luke 12:13-21, which Jesus uses to warn us about the dangers of valuing material possessions over our relationships with God. Plus, continue listening to the podcast to discover the...

What’s the correct way to pray? How often should we pray? Is it better if our eyes are open, or closed? This week’s Gospel is Luke 11:1-13, wherein Jesus responds to one of his disciples asking how to pray. In today’s sermon, Pastor Wayne Shearier reflects upon how this gospel reading can guide us to look beyond surface level questions about prayer. Tune in to discover the power and the purpose of...

What do a broom-wielding Martha, a monastery-leading Mary, and a jealous pastor in a church parking lot all have in common? They’ve all met the same dragon—the one that whispers, "Lord, don’t you care?" In this inspiring and imaginative sermon, Pastor Travis weaves together legend, scripture, and modern-day ministry to explore the story of Mary and Martha in Luke’s Gospel—and how their l...

Hijacked by Mercy: A Good Samaritan Story for Today After a week of singing road trip songs and guiding kids through faith adventures as “Navigator Travis,” Pastor Travis brings us a sermon that flips the map. In this fresh and deeply relatable take on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we’re reminded that eternal life isn’t about staying on schedule—it’s about pulling over. Jesus reroutes the que...

What if the most radical act of faith isn't having all the answers—but showing up empty-handed? In a world of Ring cameras and deadbolts, where we'll order DoorDash but won't borrow sugar from neighbors, Jesus sends seventy trainees into enemy territory with the worst packing list ever: no wallet, no backpack, not even extra sandals. Their only weapon? "Peace to this house."...

Feeling stuck waiting for perfect clarity?  Join Pastor [Your Name/Title] as they get real about the struggle to plan their upcoming sabbatical – and how it mirrors a pivotal moment in Jesus' journey. Diving into Luke 9:51-62, we see Jesus "set his face toward Jerusalem," showing us what radical, unwavering discipleship looks like. This isn't about having all the answers. It'...

Chains Are Cheaper Than Change This sermon dives into the uncomfortable truth: we often choose control over compassion, and safety over transformation. From the tombs of Gerasa to the streets of Jackson, Michigan, Pastor Travis unpacks what happens when grace dares to show up in our broken systems. What if the healed one becomes the witness? What if you are the detour? Join us for this timely and...

Feeling overwhelmed trying to "figure out" the Trinity? You're not alone! This week, we ditch the theological toolbox and discover God not as a static diagram, but as a  joyful, unstoppable dance . Imagine unboxing the divine like a YouTube video… only to find wild, untamable mystery. We’ll meet  galaxy-spinning Wisdom (Sophia)  shouting at city gates, laugh with her as oceans burst...

In a world bursting with noise—opinions, arguments, and constant distractions—how do we tune in to the one voice that really matters? This Pentecost sermon from Pastor Travis is both personal and powerful, inviting us to consider how the Holy Spirit speaks into our lives today—not always with fire and wind, but often with a quiet, faithful whisper. Drawing from his own experience preaching with a...

Ever scratch your head reading Jesus' prayer in John 17:"I want them all to be one"? Churches split, families feud overpolitics, and social media often highlights our divisions, not our connections. It can feel like Jesus' prayer for unity just... didn't work. Sound familiar? This week, we're unpacking Jesus' powerful "HighPriestly Prayer" – spoken in his mo...

Scrolling. Searching. Starving. Sound familiar? In a world where loneliness is declared a public health crisis, Jesus offers something no algorithm can: a  home . This powerful sermon unpacks John 14’s game-changing truth—the Holy Spirit isn’t just a “like” from heaven, but a  dweller  in your heart. Through real stories (like the teen with 500 followers who felt unseen and the mom who traded foru...

What do  The Lion King ,  Titanic , and  It’s a WonderfulLife  have in common? They all point to the greatest story evertold—the one where God declares, “I’m making ALL THINGS new!” In this electrifying sermon, we dive into Revelation 21 and discover how Scripture’s ultimate “denouement” isn’t just a future hope—it’s a present reality. Through pop-culture parallels and bold biblical truth, you’ll...

Feeling stuck in a season of empty nets—where hard work, prayers, or dreams seem to go unanswered? This week’s sermon meets you right there. Drawing from the disciples’ all-night fishing fail (and Jesus’ surprising shoreline intervention), we explore how God meets us  not  in our triumphs but in our weariness. When the nets of life sag with disappointment, Jesus invites us to ‘cast again’—not with...