Sermons with Reverend Killjoy

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A John 14:15-21 Today's lectionary gives me a chance to talk about some of my favorite choral music, as an example of the comfort Jesus' promises can bring in this time of pandemic and uncertainty.

Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 Well, this week our community and then our entire country exploded in civic unrest after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. In the middle of an ongoing pandemic. What does it mean for us to cry, "Come, Holy Spirit!" on Pentecost on a time like this?

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A Psalm 23 Amidst a global pandemic, I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend a week focusing on Psalm 23, one of the great biblical texts of comfort and grace.

Third Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A Luke 24:13-35 In the iconic story of the resurrected Jesus' walk to Emmaus, we find so many images that shape our life of faith and our worship even today. What can this familiar story teach us about how to follow Jesus in these unprecedented times?

Second Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year A John 20:19-31 In Jesus' appearance to the disciples in the upper room, he uses very few words to say an enormous amount about what it will mean to follow him after he has gone.

Matthew 28:1-10 As a steady snow fell in Saint Paul, an unexpected group gathered online to celebrate a resurrection unlike any other, on an Easter Sunday unlike any other. What comes next, after death and resurrection, and after the current crisis of pandemic subsides? Where do we go from here?

John 13:1-35 I absolutely should know better than to preach over 17 minutes in an online Zoom live worship, but here we are. Because we're missing so much these days - foot washing and Eucharist tonight, at least - I decided to look at the part of our Gospel story that is usually omitted (missing) from our lectionary reading for Maundy Thursday.

First Sunday of Lent, Lectionary Year A Matthew 4:1-11 Psalm 32 A tour through the day's scriptures until we find good news in the Psalm.

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A Matthew 5:21-37 A sermon for this day.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A Isaiah 58:1-12 A sermon for this day.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A A sermon for this day.

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A In our Gospel lesson from today, Matthew references the Kingdom of Heaven, aka the Kingdom of God, the Kin-dom of God, the Reign of God, the Realm of God, the Beloved Community, etc. What's that?

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Year A Isaiah 49:1-7 I... did not write anything down for this sermon, at all, anywhere. I stuck to this great reading from Isaiah, and the Holy Spirit brought us through.

Baptism of Our Lord, Lectionary Year A Matthew 3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus, and our own baptisms, give us identity and send us into the world.

Epiphany of Our Lord Matthew 2:1-12 No reflections of current American politics in this story, nope, none at all, nothing to see here, move along. This is one of those that might have made more sense the day of than weeks later now that I'm getting around to posting it.

Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve Luke 2:1-20 In this sermon we explored incarnation and mercy and the innocence of a baby in a violent world. Yes, there was a reference to Baby Yoda, which was timely then. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Third Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A Matthew 11:2-11 John the Baptist asks some serious questions of Jesus, and we can learn from his questions and the answers he receives.

Second Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year C Romans 15:4-13 I'm finally getting around to posting a couple of months' worth of sermons, so I don't remember what this one was about. Was it really about Romans 15? You tell me!

First Sunday of Advent, Lectionary Year A Matthew 24:36-44 Our guest preacher today is Deanna Bassett, candidate for ordination in the ELCA and recent graduate of Luther Seminary.

Reign of Christ Sunday, Lectionary Year C Luke 23:33-43 Jesus is not the king people were expecting.

23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C Luke 21:5-19 In today's Gospel lesson Jesus says even the Temple will not stand. But even then you will have the opportunity to testify.

23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year C Luke 20:27-38 Jesus doesn't have time for your cleverness, because he's busy with the real lives of actual people.

All Saints Sunday, Lectionary Year C Luke 6:20-31 Expectations shape our experience of reality. What do we expect from God? What does God do when our expectations are broken?

Reformation Sunday John 8:31-36 This sermon got reformed pretty late in the game, so we talked about what Jesus means when he talks about freedom.

Reformation Sunday John 8:31-36 This sermon got reformed pretty late in the game, so we talked about what Jesus means when he talks about freedom.