Sermons with Reverend Killjoy

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A Matthew 18:21-35 We dig deeper into forgiveness, as Matthew's Gospel leads us beyond simple understandings into the real, complicated experience of forgiveness in our lives.

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus' famous method for dealing with conflict ends with one of his most comforting promises. When we dig deeper, what is Jesus promising to us?

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A Matthew 16:21-28 The cross is the symbol of Christianity. Sometimes I forget what that means, but today's Gospel story reminds us that following Jesus leads us where we do not want to go.

12th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A Matthew 16:13-20 In Jesus your sins are forgiven. In Jesus you are set free.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A Matthew 15:10-28 Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman is among the most striking occurrences in the Gospels. In light of recent public conflict regarding white supremacy, we can learn from the expansion of God's grace that comes from this confrontation.

10th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year A 1 Kings 19:9-18 After a two-month hiatus, LCS sermon audio is back! And what a time to return: a country rocked by white supremacist violence, a church wondering how to live out the gospel in the face of evil, and God's presence in a sound of sheer silence.

Holy Trinity Sunday, Lectionary Year A Matthew 28:16-20 In our Gospel reading today, Jesus tells his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. Today's sermon is shared with Pastor Joshua Kibezi of African Christian Fellowship, the new church meeting in our building on Sunday afternoons. Pastor Joshua tells of his life in Democratic Republic of Congo, his time starting a church in a refuge...

Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 John 7:37-39 Today's guest preacher, Rev. Craig A. Satterlee, serves as Bishop of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the ELCA. He joined us to help us celebrate our Pentecost, 50 years of ministry at Lutheran Church of the Savior. We are grateful for his presence and his proclamation of the gospel on this joyous occasion.

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A Acts 1:6-14 Before Jesus ascended he left his disciples with a map to follow: Jerusalem, the surrounding region, and to the ends of the earth. He also promised them a guide: the Holy Spirit. As Lutheran Church of the Savior prepares for our big Pentecost celebration next weekend, how have Jesus' final words guided us?

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A John 14:15-21 On the night he washed his disciples feet, Jesus' words of comfort to them set forth a model for their future ministry.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A Acts 7:55-60 The stoning of Stephen raises disturbing questions about the nature of religious violence, and unfortunately those questions are still relevant today.

Fourth Sunday after Easter, Lectionary Year A John 10:1-10 Jesus came to bring abundant life to the man born blind and to all who others define by their history instead of by their future.

Easter Sunday, Lectionary Year A John 20:1-18 "Why are you weeping?" The question posed to Mary Magdalene, first by the angels and then by Jesus himself, seems almost to mock her situation. She has ever reason to weep. And this is the time when Jesus comes to her, and sends her to tell the Good News.

Great Vigil of Easter Daniel 3:1-29 For the third year in a row, Pastor Andrew's dramatic reading of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, with full audience participation. Enjoy! This is but one reason you should come to the Vigil, the best church of the year.

Great Vigil of Easter Romans 6:3-11 God brings life from death. We celebrate the Vigil with fire and stories and songs and fun to show this core truth. God brings life from death.

Maundy Thursday John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Jesus' new commandment to love one another comes with an example that shows love to be much more than just a feeling or an idea.

Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion John 12:12-19 John 18:1-19:42 The juxtaposition of Palm Sunday's raucous proclamation of Jesus as king and the Passion's stark abandonment of Jesus to the authorities shows us much about who we are as people and as followers of Jesus.

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A John 11:1-45 As we approach the end of our Lenten journey, Jesus jumps ahead of our schedule with the resurrection of Lazarus.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A John 9:1-41 The story of Jesus healing the man born blind is long enough to cover just about everything we know about Jesus and how people responded to his ministry. "Who sinned?" is a question we still find ourselves asking today, and Jesus' answer makes all the difference.

Matthew 5:1-12 Over 200 people joined us to celebrate and remember the life of Glenora Perez on Saturday, and many more who wanted to be here were unable to attend. Here is what I had to say.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A Lutheran Church of the Savior History Sunday, part of our Pentecost Celebration of 50 years of ministry. Exodus 17:1-7 Our guest preacher today is Rev. Mike Kemper, who served as the fourth called pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior from 1994 to 2008. Our celebration of LCS history is the first part of our Pentecost Celebration of 50 years of ministry h...

Third Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A Genesis 12:1-4a In today's first reading, God begins a relationship with Abram that will forever shape God's relationship with all of humanity. God's command to become an immigrant comes with some of the most important promises God has ever made.

First Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A Matthew 4:1-11 Which of Jesus' three temptations is most tempting to you? In this season of Lent, are we tempted to avoid the cross?

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A Matthew 5:21-37 Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is filled with challenging instructions for how we should live together.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A Isaiah 58:1-9a God challenges God's people to move beyond religious ritual into relationship with God and neighbor. How do we respond to this challenge?