Sermons
March 14, 2021 – Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-21
Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21 Contemplating Human Sinfulness and Divine Love Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 17, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB The wages of sin is death, Paul famously says in Romans 6:23. And that is pretty clearly true. When we hurt one another, when we hurt ourselves, when we engage in […]
March 7, 2021- John 2:13-22
John 2:13-22 Angry King 3rd Sunday in Lent – March 7, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB The title comes from a recent Burger King advertising campaign promoting their burger, “The Angry King” Presumably, the burger has some heat to it – kind of like Jesus in John’s Gospel today. All four Gospels […]
February 28, 2020 – Mark 8:31-88
Mark 8:31-38 God’s Ongoing Mission, Our Ongoing Participation: Another Sermotion 2nd Sunday in Lent – February 28, 2021 – Devotion Moment #149 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB A couple of verses previous to this one, Jesus acknowledges that he is, indeed, the Messiah, that is, the long-awaited king like David who would restore the […]
February 21, 2021 – Mark 1: 9-15
Mark 1:9-15 Binding the Strong Man: Struggle in the Wilderness First Sunday in Lent – February 21, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Satan, literally, means “adversary.” In the biblical imagination, Satan – who tempts or, better, tests Jesus today – is that force which opposes God’s kingdom – which Jesus announces in […]
February 14, 2021 – Mark 9:2-9
Mark 9:2-9 God’s Valentine Transfiguration of Our Lord – February 14, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB How perfect that today – the day we hear God name Jesus “beloved” – is Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Valentine is, of course, a Christian saint, and Lutherans have long commemorated him on February […]
February 7, 2021 – Mark 1:29-39
Mark 1:29-39 Making a Home for Divine Love Lectionary 5B – 5th Sunday after the Epiphany – February 7, 2021 – Devotion Moment #141 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Some of Jesus’ most memorable ministry events take place in homes. Today, he heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law while he spends the day with his friends […]
January 31, 2021
Mark 1:21-28 One Little Victory Lectionary 4B – 4th Sunday after the Epiphany – January 31, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Well, my cruelest month has come to an end. January 31st marks something of a milestone for me every year, and for many others who suffer from mental illness. As I […]
January 24, 2021 – Mark 1:14-20
Mark 1:14-20 Catching the Big One! Lectionary 3B – 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany – January 24, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Mark starts his Gospel in such a fascinating way. No angels, no Mary and Joseph, no shepherds, no wise guys: just a breathless hitting the road running. Which sounds pretty straightforward […]
January 17, 2021 – Psalm 139, John 1:43-51, Ecclesiastes
Psalm 139; John 1:43-51; Ecclesiastes [non-lectionary text] Knowing God 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany – January 17, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Dedicated to my colleagues, Melinda and Carolyn.“A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” When the calendar flipped over to 2021 this year, I felt a sense of tremendous relief. 2020 with […]
January 10, 2020 (Baptism of Our Lord) – Mark 1:4-11
Mark 1:4-11 Raining Blessing Baptism of Our Lord – January 10, 2021 First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB Once upon a time when I was in seminary, I was sitting at chapel next to my Old Testament teacher Terry Fretheim. The text for the day was this passage from Mark’s Gospel about the baptism of […]
