Everyday Lutherans

http://lutheranforum.org/blogs/linus-van-pelt-apostle-and-heretic This article is an interesting read that brings forth the dynamics that are displayed within the Peanuts Christmas special and the Peanuts Halloween Special.  Linus does display the fact that we can easily fall into false beliefs (Halloween, when he preaches the Law that no doubt can be seen, heard, or spoken) and also speak a truth to people (Christmas, when he preaches the Gospel to Charlie Brown and tells all the true meaning of Christmas).  We as individuals can easily be led astray but we should also be able to hear and understand the true calling that God is calling us to live out. We can do this by engaging in God's Word that has been shared to those who have gone before us.  We can read through the Bible and be reminded of the bigger picture.  We can also engage these Words within a community, to learn from one another and share the insights that echo from the whole message of God's Word.  As we reflect u

This is a good children sermon for Veterans Day, Independence Day or Memorial Day.  Or really if you are willing to talk about Today, we gather to remember that we are human, we are creatures part of God's creation.  In this creation, we are part of the country the United States of America.  Within the church, we have this flag.  (Take the kids over to the flag) What do the red and white strips represent?  The thirteen colonies that stood against the King of Britain, and those people who fought for our freedom and independence. What do the stars represent?  The fifty states that we are currently apart of.  The country that we have been given but also the country that we continue to help one another in. (Go over to the Christian flag that is also in the church.)  What flag is this?  This is the Christian flag, we have this flag to remind us that we are part of a large community of believers that gather in the name of Jesus Christ.  We gather because of what God has done for us, to l

The Sadducees come forth and present a case before Jesus.  A case that seems highly far fetched and out there.  Of the seven brothers, who would be married to the woman on the day of the Lord’s return?  Yes, a student is trying to catch the teacher within a logical trap yet ultimately they are the ones who look the fool. We should discuss who were the Sadducees.  Why they would be asking Jesus about the resurrection.  The Sadducees were made up of very wealthy and very educated people.  They were a strong minority within the time of Jesus because of their wealth.  They were leaders within the community and were willing to do anything so that they could maintain their wealth and power within this world.  Because of this, they did not like being told that they were wrong.  They were a group of people who did not believe in the resurrection.  They did not believe that there was any life after you lived your life here in this world. It was here in this world that you enjoyed the blessing o

John 8:31-36 31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. Reformation Sunday, this is the one Sunday in the year in which we recall that we are Lutherans and different from other divisions of other forms of Christianity. So to coin the popular phrase that Martin Luther asks within his Catechisms, What does this mean? Today I wish to talk about what we as Lutherans believe and where we came from. It all started on the cross some 2000 years ago. Here we have Christ dying for

Today we are reminded of the determination and struggle that we shall face within the world.  Remember the gift of faith is something that is given to us within our life every single day, yet the challenges that we face become a distraction and is directly in front of us.  Especially over the days, weeks and years of our lives. Those distractions can become our focus.   Years ago, horses were used to do the work on the farm.  The horses were used to do everything like plowing, hauling, and so many other jobs.  The farmers placed blinders on the horses so that they could focus on what was right in front of them.  They would be led and guided by the farmer to do the task that was needed.  These blinders help the horse to do the work.  We do the same thing with our smart phones.  It helps you focus on a particular conversation and keep track of all the things that you need to take care of.  It helps you focus.  However, there is a down side to having too much focus on some things.  There

Have you ever noticed that small words can have a big impact upon a person’s life? Some of these words that Jesus shares with others are: “You are loved.  You are healed, your faith has made you well.”  These are some of the words that Jesus speaks within people’s lives that change their life.   Think about it when a person says that you are healed, they are freeing you from the ailment and struggles that have been holding you back within your life. When a person says that You are loved, they are saying that they approve of all that you are, all that you are going to be, and they want to share life with you.  They want you to know you are treasured.  Above all, when a person reminds another person that their faith has made them well, we are reminded that it is the work of God that has truly done the work that you could not do.   These words are spoken to you when you least expect it. When they are spoken to you, you can truly believe them and don’t have to wonder if they are actually t

Faith is something that we hear a lot about, but it is a hard word and concept to really understand.  What is faith?  Where does it come from?  It is a word that we talk about a lot within the church.  It is the very thing that we are told we need more of, that we need to have and wish we could share with others.  Faith is a word, a concept, an understanding, but most of all it is a gift.   So what could faith look like?   A husband and wife had been going to church for 45 years together.  Each Sunday they sat in their pew.  They sat in the same pew Sunday after Sunday. She attended Bible studies and would often share insight and remind people of other stories that made connections for everyone there.  People thought that they were the most faithful people within the church.  One day the wife simply would not wake up.  She had passed away in her sleep.   Her husband became angry, didn’t want to see anyone.  He stopped coming to church.  Everyone in the congregation could feel the loss

When a child is growing up, we often give a child a piggy bank.  A place to put all their quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.  Here through the collecting of coins, the smallest amounts of money, the children begin to learn the importance and value of each of them.  Over the course of time, they learn that without the penny, the smallest measure of money, the rest would not have any value.  We teach our children that the smallest part of something is also the most important and should be regarded as such.   By teaching this lesson to our children with money, they will be able to apply it when they get older and have even more money.  Whoever can be trusted with a little, can be trusted with much.  Whoever can not be trusted with a little, can not be trusted with much. For within every aspect of life, we use money.  We use money for the house in which we live, the clothes we wear, the shoes we have, and even the food that we eat.  Every single day of your life, you use money, but it w

Today is a day of new beginnings and celebrations. Today we begin the Fall as we start another year of Sunday School, we begin a new chapter within this church, the ministry that God is calling you to and we begin our time together. Today we gather as the whole church, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ELCA. Yes today is truly a day to celebrate. Since today is my first day with you, I would like to share a little about myself. Who I am. Where I have come from. Even within the time of Jesus, people wanted to know about him. Where he had come from. Who his parents were. It didn’t matter  who he was until Jesus began performing the works that only God could do among them.  Even though I cannot do those miracles Jesus did, you may be curious about who I am.   I was born and raised in Fremont NE, a town of about 25,000 people. My parents were my Sunday School teachers, they helped me with school, and even supported me when I wanted to try a sport. I played the trumpet and eve

Isaiah 58:9b-14 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. 13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your