Sermons with Reverend Killjoy

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C Luke 6:27-38 Some of Jesus' most famous words - "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you... Do not judge, and you will not be judged," make for one of his most challenging lessons in Luke's Gospel.

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C Luke 6:17-26 Jesus' blessings and woes in Luke's Gospel catch us by surprise, just as they did Jesus' original audience.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C Luke 5:1-11 Today's lectionary readings give us stories of three people called to share God's word. Peter, Paul, and Isaiah all believe God could (and maybe should!) have chosen someone more worthy to do God's work. Yet here they are, a few of the most famous figures in the Bible. What if God is calling us too?

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C Luke 4:14-21 Jesus announces his mission at the start of his public ministry in Luke's Gospel using the words of the prophet Isaiah. What can we learn from Jesus about our own public ministry?

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year C John 2:1-11 In which we talk about the abundant grace of God, in Jesus' miracle of wine at Cana and in our practice of the Eucharist.

Baptism of Our Lord, Lectionary Year C Luke 3:15-17,21-22 Jesus' baptism teaches us about the grace of God in our own baptisms and throughout our lives.

Epiphany of Our Lord Matthew 2:1-15 The magi came to worship Jesus under the most unexpected circumstances. Their search for a true king, and the political backlash it inspired, had life-or-death consequences. What God experienced in Jesus during and after this time can have profound meaning for our faith.

Christmas Eve Luke 2:1-20 Better late than never! On a bustling Christmas Eve, we heard about how Jesus' birth tells us that God is truly with us.

First Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year C Luke 21:25-36 A new church year, and it's time for me to resume posting audio of my sermons. I've been recording them, just not posting, so I may also add some from previous weeks, out of chronological order. This week's sermon begins a new church year with an introduction to Advent and the idea that in the coming church year we will look ahead to what God...

Reformation Sunday John 8:31-36 In light of yesterday's murders at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, it is important to address Christian anti-Semitism and its place in Lutheran history. For what has God in Jesus set us free?

This sermon from August 26th, 2018, was my first as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B John 6:56-69 My time with Hope Lutheran Church begins with the end of Jesus'speech known as the bread of life discourse. What better place to begin a ministry relationship than with Jesus who offends, disappoints, and even drives away man...

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 On my last Sunday as pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior, we reflected on the changes LCS has experienced since I arrived in 2009, and on the nature of strength. What is it that makes people strong? What is it that made Jesus strong?

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B This week we hosted Day Camp with Living Water Ministries, so our Gospel lesson came from the camp program rather than from the lectionary. Luke 10:1-9 In today's sermon we get to hear from a set of kids who attended day camp this week. What did they enjoy? What did they learn? Is this what the reign of God looks like?

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B Mark 4:35-41 Special worship, special sermon: today Lutheran Church of the Savior joined with African Christian Fellowship, our morning and afternoon churches sharing one worship experience after a year of sharing a building. This sermon was translated to French in real time! And it's about Jesus.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B Mark 4:26-34 The reign of God - or kingdom of God - grows out of the ruins of our efforts to build a world of human justice. Will we allow the reign of God to grow in us, transforming our lives to radical care for one another?

Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B Mark 3:20-35 In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus' own family sides with the religious authorities in believing Jesus to be out of his mind. What does it mean to be a family? What holds a family together? This question is particularly relevant to our congregation right now, between this weekend's celebration at Kalamazoo Pride and this week's news that I...

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B Mark 2:23--3:6 The religious authorities challenge Jesus for breaking the law on the Sabbath. What is the purpose of Sabbath? Who is it for?

Pentecost Sunday, Lectionary Year B We trust in the Holy Spirit, just as the church did in its creation at Pentecost. What has the Holy Spirit done with Lutheran Church of the Savior in the past year? Where will it lead us next?

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B John 17:16-19 Sometimes the spiraling and repetitive writing style of John's Gospel leaves me cross-eyed with confusion. This week I tried a different tactic to make sense of John's words. I think it helped.

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B Acts 10:44-48 Today's Acts lesson tells how the Holy Spirit descended upon the gentiles of Cornelius' household during Peter's great sermon. God has shown Peter a new thing, and even gentiles receive God's Spirit and thus are full members of Christ's church.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B 1 John 4:7-21 Acts 8:26-40 This passage in the first letter of John summarizes the teaching of John's Gospel in such powerful phrases as "Love one another" and "God is love." What does this love look like? Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch show us on the road.

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B Psalm 23 Why is this Psalm among the most famous and popular in scripture? It expresses the good news of God's love for us in clear, beautiful, timeless images.

Third Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B Luke 24:36b-48 The church is Christ's body in the world, and we are members of that body. Baptism and eucharist lead us into the work of being Christ's body.

Easter Sunday John 20:1-18 Christ is risen! What does this mean for us today?

Maundy Thursday John 13:1-35 We begin our celebration of the Three Days with a sermon from guest preacher Rev. Sarah Friesen-Carper, Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational and Leadership Excellence in the North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the ELCA.