Claimed, gathered and sent

Let's talk. Here are some thoughts on this coming Sunday's second lesson. We're celebrating All Saints Sunday. This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . What are your thoughts? Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.   15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God

This is the sermon I preached on Reformation Sunday, 10/27/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text is John 8:31-36 .  As I was preparing for worship today, there was a song was going through my mind, one I don’t even like. It’s “Freedom” by Richie Havens. I guess it has stayed with me because of the repetition of the word “freedom.” Some of the other lyrics are haunting as well: “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child” and “ Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone.” But of course, what is remembered the most is the word “freedom” that echoes throughout. As Americans, freedom is a concept we’re very familiar with. We fought for freedom from the British to form our own nation. Throughout our history, we have fought on behalf of others for their freedom from oppression. We have parades on various patriotic holidays to help us celebrate our liberty from oppression.  We know a lot about freedom… or do we? Just what is the kind of freedom J

This is the reflection that was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . I would appreciate your thoughts and comments. Gospel: John 8:31-36 31Jesus 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.” Bondage is a problem all over our world: financial bondage, the bondage of refugees, bondage to sickness, bondage to grief and sadness and bondage to sin, death and the power of the devil as Martin Luther tells us in The Small Catechism. Sometimes we may feel like we ar

This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church l ast Sunday, 11/20/19. The text was 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.  Everything about our lives in Christ revolves around relationship: relationship with God, relationship with each other and relationship with our community. At the center of all of this we find scripture, holding it all together. We find two critical themes in 2 Timothy concerning scripture as 1. gift of God and 2. for the practical life of God’s people. As the gift of God, scripture was intended to be part of a lively dialogue, a life-giving and dynamic interpretation, with commentaries emerging to respond to changing times, rather than as an unchanging and infallible document. God-breathed scriptures are inspiring, not imprisoning. They guide our paths, but don’t determine exactly each and every step we take. Scripture energizes and motivates instead of imprisoning and suffocating us. The sacred writings of Timothy’s childhood were the Hebrew Scriptu

Here are some thoughts on the second lesson for this coming Sunday. This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . I'd like to know what you think. I need some feedback and want to hear what you are hearing from this passage.  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,  15  and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  16  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  17  so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 4  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:  2  proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince,

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 10/13/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The text was 2 Timothy 2:8-15. Paul tells Timothy to “Remember Jesus Christ” (v. 8). Paul’s gospel, his understanding and teaching about Jesus is what Timothy is to remember. Paul sums up the gist of that gospel: that Jesus is resurrected and that he’s a descendant of King David. In other words, he was part of the royal line, the king that was promised to Israel and he was truly human. Paul contrasts his own situation of being literally chained—experiencing the condition of suffering and death with the power of the living word of God, which is not chained. Paul does not downplay the fact that the gospel entails suffering. Did Paul sit back in prison, thinking about how he could possibly proclaim the gospel now? He was in jail. However, Paul does not allow his own circumstances to become an obstacle to the progress of the gospel. He suffers vicariously—for the sake of the elect, who have be

Here are some thoughts about this Sunday's second reading. What do you think? Let's talk about this. The reflection was sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;   12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;   13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.   14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present you