Sermons with Reverend Killjoy

Second Sunday after Pentecost / Lectionary 10, Lectionary Year B Mark 3:20-35 As demonstrated in today's challenging scriptures from Mark's Gospel and from Genesis, evil and division and mutual enmity break our relationships with each other and with God. But that's not the whole of our story in Jesus.

Holy Trinity Sunday, Lectionary Year B Isaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah's ministry was formed and informed by the trauma of a king's death, war, and a terrifying holy vision. This famous call of Isaiah looks different in light of the collective trauma we have experienced over the past year, and we may be able to see ourselves in this story in a new way.

Pentecost, Lectionary Year B Romans 8:22-27 The Holy Spirit brings us hope, binds us together, and intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B 1 John 4:7-21 God is love. What does this mean for us? How do we love one another?

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B 1 John 3:16-24 Our second lesson from First John gives us a powerful vision of what it can look like to live out the love of God we have received in Jesus. How can the lessons of that community so long ago shape our church's faithful response today?

Third Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B Luke 24:36b-48 "You are witnesses of these things." Jesus' words to his disciples look different after all we have witnessed in our community and our nation this week.

Easter Sunday, Lectionary Year B John 20:1-18 Death is real, and so is resurrection. You are not alone.

Maundy Thursday John 13:1-35 Jesus' last evening with his disciples is filled with important moments. It is a night that weighs heavily on followers of Jesus, but we are not alone in carrying that weight.

Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion Mark 15:1-39 As we enter this Holy Week with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the story of his death, we can leave our expectations behind.

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B John 12:20-33 Jesus' heart is grieved in today's lesson as he tries again to explain his impending death and resurrection, this time only days before it occurs. As we lament anti-Asian racism and violence, we recognize this story of grief, death, and resurrection.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B Ephesians 2:1-10 Today's lesson from Ephesians gives us a clear and concise description of the power of God's grace in our lives.

Second Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B Mark 8:31-38 Just as Jesus died and rose again, his body on earth - the church - lives into God's future through death and resurrection.

Hope, Our Redeemer, Grace, and Arlington Hills Lutheran Churches in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Mark 1:9-15 This four-minute reflection on Jesus' time in the wilderness focuses on the curious detail that "he was with the wild beasts." What was that about?

First Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year B Genesis 9:8-17 God's covenant with Noah and all animals serves as an early indication of God's unending grace.

Ash Wednesday Mark 6:1-6, 16-21 Ash Wednesday feels different on Zoom. This year we incorporated the imposition of ashes and also an anointing into a unique two-part sermon-and-ritual.

Transfiguration Sunday, Lectionary Year B Mark 9:2-9 No matter how far we have felt from the mountaintop this past year, Jesus is here with us. He came down from the mountain for us.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year B Mark 1:29-39 In our Gospel story today, after Jesus heals many and casts out demons at Peter's house, Peter tells Jesus "everyone is searching for you." Today, again, everyone is searching for something. How can we be the body of Christ for one another in times like these?

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year B Mark 1:21-28 Paul says don't eat meat! I haven't had meat since 2001. Ha! Just kidding. The decisions we make do affect others, and our faith calls us to act with responsibility toward our neighbors.

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year B Mark 1:14-20 Jesus begins his public ministry in Mark's Gospel with the bold declaration that the time has been fulfilled. In the 100th year of our congregation, Hope Lutheran, we will be looking to God's fulfillment of time and what God will be doing next.

Baptism of Our Lord, Lectionary Year B Mark 1:4-11 In light of the cross and the noose erected on the grounds of our nation's Capitol building this week, we looked into Dr. James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree to help us make sense of Christianity in America today before diving back into the baptism and repentance of our scripture for today.

Second Sunday of Christmas, Lectionary Year B John 1:10-18 We begin a new year with the Word made flesh and all that it means for us.

Christmas Eve Luke 2:1-20 Is this the best Christmas ever?

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A Luke 1:26-55 Mary's conversation with the angel and the song she sings in response to her conversation with her cousin Elizabeth are among the most powerful witnesses of what it means when God intervenes in our world.

Second Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year B Isaiah 40:1-11 God's word of comfort to the people exiled to Babylon can be a powerful word to us today.

First Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year B Isaiah 64:1-9 A new church year starts with a bang, as Isaiah begs, challenges, reminds, wheedles, cajoles, and otherwise engages God in conversation about what God can do for God's people in their time of need.