Sermon for Palm Sunday

Today we look at our epistle Lesson, Philippians 2:5-11. There we see Jesus truly deserves to be addressed with the liturgical cry: "Hosanna! Lord, Save Us!" As true God whom the Father exalted he is able to answer those pleas. As true man who humbled himself even to death on the cross, he is willing to hear our pleas.

Faith Carthage Palm Sunday Sermon

6th Midweek Lenten Sermon

Sermon for the Final Midweek Lenten Service at Faith, Carthage.

Meet Simon of Cyrene as he tells his grand-kids the story of how he met Jesus one day, as he was forced into carrying his cross the moment he arrived in Jerusalem from North Africa to celebrate the Passover.

Sermon for Lent 5

The 5th Sunday in Lent brings us one more call to repentant faith before we enter Holy Week on Palm Sunday. Jesus was preaching in the temple, calling people to faith while intentionally provoking the authorities on the Tuesday of Holy Week (after all, he WANTED them to sacrifice him on the Passover.) The text is Luke 20:9-19, where Jesus tells the parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard of the Lord. "Give Jesus His Fruit" is our theme as we are reminded not only of the unfaithfulness of Jerusalem, but of Jesus' expectations of US, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Faith Carthage Sermon for the 5th Sunday in Lent

5th Midweek Lenten Sermon

The text is Matthew 27:27-31,39-44. We hear of the opportunity the Soldiers had to meet Jesus, and how they wasted the opportunity through their dullness, just as so many do today, who know of the cross, but take no time and make no effort to investigate.

Faith Carthage Sermon, 5th Lenten Wednesday

Sermon for Lent 4

In Swedish this 4th Sunday in Lent is called midfastosöndagen, or Mid-Fast-Sunday. Today we heard the parable of the Prodigal Son and his Prodigal Brother. The Father was filled with mercy toward both of them. Since the older brother never left home, he had a harder time appreciating the grace and love of his father. He thought he "deserved" better. In God's economy, the only place the word "deserved" comes in is in discussing death and hell, which we've all earned and deserved. Whatever has to do with forgiveness and eternal life fits under the designation "UNdeserved gift" or "GRACE."

Today's sermon, on Luke 15:1-3,11-32 is titled "The Prodigal SonS"

Sermon for the 4th Wednesday of Lent

In this sermon, based on Mark 15:1-15, we examine the Verdict of Pilate on Jesus, and Jesus' Verdict on Pilate and Us. Pilate releases a murderer and sentences Jesus to death, even though he knows he's innocent. God sentenced Jesus to death, knowing his innocence and lets us, like Barabbas go free.

4th Wednesday of Lent, Service

Sermon for the 3rd Suday in Lent

The readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent (ILCW series C) remind us that we may die at any time and that we should therefore always be prepared to meet our Judge, by living in repentant faith. That means we should recognize each day our many sins and ask Jesus for forgiveness, trusting that he always answers such a sincere prayer with a yes, since he paid for ALL our sins by his death on the cross for us. Living in repentant faith also means always seriously striving to put my saving faith into action: striving to remain faithful, to grow in faith and to love God and my neighbor in thought, word and action.

The sermon text is the appointed Gospel, Luke 13:1-9, which we consider under the theme "Two Tragedies and a Tree"

Sermon for the 3rd Wednesday in Lent

Here we meet Peter in the courtyard, warming himself at the fire, losing all courage and completely failing to fight fear and temptation. Here we see our Lord look at Jesus, calling him back to repentance and faith. Here we see ourselves, failing and falling, but being called back by Jesus.

Lenten Sermon on John 18:1-18,25-27