Sermons

October 17, 2021- Mark 10:35-45; Psalm 91

Mark 10:35-45; Psalm 91 God as God Is Lectionary 29B – October 17, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB One of the very first sermons I preached was on this passage in Mark exactly 21 years ago. Then – I never preached on it again! Hahahah! Avoided it like the plague. I have no […]

Sermons

October 10, 2021

Mark 10:17-31 A Prescription for Generosity Lectionary 28B – Thanksgiving Sunday – October 10, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB I have known lots of people who look like the man who comes to Jesus this morning. The person whose life looks great on the outside. The person who looks like they’ve got it […]

Sermons

October 3, 2021 – Genesis 2:18-24

Genesis 2:18-24 Equal Helpers/Fitting Partners Lectionary 27B –  October 3, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB The story from Genesis tells us what it means to be human.   As I often say, it’s important to understand a few basic things about this story. First: the “man,” sometimes called “Adam.” In Hebrew, this is ha-adam – literally, the […]

Sermons

September 26, 2021 – Psalm 19

Psalm 19 Staying Grounded in Creation and the Bible Lectionary 26B – September 26, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Apparently, God speaks to us. Many people ask me if God is still speaking as God spoke to God’s people long ago. My text-book response is that yes: God is always speaking to us! […]

Sermons

September 19, 2021- Psalm 54

Psalm 54 God is Our Helper Lectionary 25B – September 19, 2021 First Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, MB Psalm 54, like many of the Psalms, has a very passionate tone. This is a passionate cry to God. The cry is passionate because, as the Psalmist says, his very life is threatened. Older translations used the word […]

Sermons

June 27, 2021 – Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43 Jesus Saves in Many Ways from Many Things Lectionary 13B – June 27, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB If you want to know what “salvation” looks like, all you need to do is have a look at the stories in the Gospel reading today. In one, a synagogue leader named Jairus […]

Sermons

June 20, 2021 – Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-41 With Us in the Boat Lectionary 12B – June 20, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Jesus is always pushing boundaries.He has a sense of the power of God at work in him – the loving energy we call the Holy Spirit.We have seen in Mark’s Gospel how Jesus is at work […]

Sermons

June 13, 2021 – Mark 4:26-34

Mark 4:26-34 Mustard Bush Home Lectionary 11B – June 13, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Melinda reminded us in her devotion on Wednesday that one image for God’s work in the world    is of mighty cedar tree, as in Ezekiel’s prophecy.  This cedar tree was a metaphor for a member of Judah’s royal […]

Sermons

June 6, 2021 – Mark 3:20-35

Mark 3:20-35 Binding the Adversary Lectionary 10B – June 6, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB From Mark’s point of view, our world has been invaded. It’s been invaded by what he calls in the Gospel today a “strong man.” By this, he means “Satan,” or – literally translated – “the Adversary.” In other […]

Sermons

May 30, 2021 – John 3:1-17

John 3:1-17 Prioritizing Relationship The Holy Trinity – May 30, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB For many of us, the past year and a half has been a time to re-evaluate our lives,             and re-evaluate what is important. Some of us feel like we have been cut off from relationships that have […]

Sermons