Sermons

Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness: Jesus’s Radical Call to Love Our Enemies Jesus presents an incredibly challenging command in Luke 6:27-38 – to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. This radical teaching goes against our natural instincts for revenge and justice, yet holds the key to our own freedom and healing.…

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.   Today is the 50th day after Easter, Pentecost, the day in which we celebrate the birthday of the church and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the crowd gathered to hear Peter witness to the truth of…

Neal and I spent nine years in the Upstate New York Synod. Bishop Jerge, who was bishop for most of that time made sure every congregation knew the synod’s mission statement. “We are a resurrection people, who pray first, walk together and change lives.” It’s a fabulous mission statement. It’s short, and easy to remember…

Our Gospel lesson begins in the middle of a conversation between the  Pharisee Nicodemus and Jesus.  Now why we are reading a story starting in the middle is beyond me, but there you go. Recall that Nicodemus has come to Jesus under the cover of night.    “Rabbi,” Nicodemus said, “we all know that God has…

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.   Paul wrote his essay in the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored,…

Grace to you and peace form God  our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Are you familiar with the term “simul Justus et peccator?” It is phrase coined by Martin Luther in the 16th century to describe the human condition. Translated from the Latin into English it reads “simultaneously saint and sinner.”  Or,…