Upcoming Sermon Topics

A Next Step in a Conversation about Worship

Last spring's study and visitation program lifted up the importance of our ongoing engagement around the topic of changes in Worship happening all over the church today. There is obviously much interest all around the congregation. There are different opinions. There are many questions. There is push to moving forward, and concern about it as well.

To move us along the way, we will spend three Sundays in August talking and listening to God's Word as it teaches us about worship, what it is, how it works, what's new and what's old and how it all works. Or if it does. These sermons will both answer questions as well as raise them. That's ok. That's how progress works. This is not simple, but is important; not for our sake but for the sake of the mission with which we have been entrusted, and so we must endeavor to do our very best.

Sunday, August 15th The State of Controversy A noted church consultant once said that the easiest way to break a church apart was to change its hymnal. How true! For some time now, congregations have been struggling to come to terms with new trends in worship styles. We are not sure what's the "right" thing; is it evangelism or just entertainment? Jesus tells us he comes to "bring division" (Luke 12:49-56) in the world, but what does that mean for the work of the church?

Sunday, August 22nd Sacred Cows The challenge of being a church is separating symbol from tradition, distinguishing what is necessary from what we are just "used to." Rite and ritual are vital to worship, but if they become the end in themselves they become idols and barriers to real worship. As Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, he challenges his opponents to a larger vision of the work of faith. (Luke 13:10-17) As a special treat, our own youth, under the direction of Tyler Rohlfson, will lead both worship service this Sunday in a contemporary format.

Sunday, August 29th Worship as Welcoming Strangers The great impetus behind the new trends in worship today is an important desire to make worship more accessible to people without a background or appreciation of traditional forms of worship. Many ask, can a traditional congregation be a welcoming congregation? It is a hard question. Jesus' parable about humility and hospitality (Luke 14:1, 7-14) invites us to look closely at our own habits and practices and weigh them against our mission in the world.

The Things That You Do

beginning September 12th, 2010

September 12 At Work How many hours a week do you spend at work? 40? 50? Do you find work thrilling, fulfilling, or just boring and agonizing? God's grace has the power to change the way you feel about work, to fill the simplest tasks with meaning and purpose, and to give you a better reward than the paycheck that comes at the end of the week.

September 19 At Home It is our most important place, our refuge from the world, it is where our days begin and end. Yet the home also often is also a place of frustration and disappointment. Marriage is hard, parenting is harder, relationships are complex, especially when they are occupied by human beings. Yet God brings us all into the world with a home, and we all know how much we need one.

September 26 At Church The church is a house of prayer and worship, but it is also an institution and an organization of human beings. No wonder it has so many problems! This Sunday we witness our young people affirming the faith of their baptism and taking their place as adults in our congregation, and we wonder, what will church be like for them? We explore why we have a church at all, and ask how the church can best fulfill God's plan for it.

October 3 Citizens The relationships between the church and state is a delicate one, it has the potential to infuse public life with values and morals, but also to create hatred, oppression and violence. We have all witnessed bloodshed in the name of religion, but we have also seen God's people lead the work for civil rights and a more humane government. What does it mean to take your faith with you into the voting booth? What does it mean to live in a nation "under God?"

October 10 Commerce We earn money. We spend money. We sell things. We buy things. And the world goes 'round and 'round. The leading news every day is the health of the economy, we watch the Stock Market numbers carefully, even if we don't understand them. God desires to be a part of this important part of our life, our producing and consuming, the practices of our business and our shopping habits.

October 17 Students Education is a key component of faith. Living in God's Word means knowing about the Scriptures and traditions of our faith. We are implored to teach the faith to our children, but more, we are commanded to provide for all that they need to grow as good and productive people. The Lutheran reformers invented something that we now take for granted: Public Education. How great can our schools be if we could fulfill God's promises in the practice of teaching our children?

October 24 Creatures Genesis tells us that all that exists came from the hand of our creating Father. As we pollute and destroy that creation, we dishonor and disobey the God who placed us in it. Every day we become more aware of the harm that we are doing to the planet, and it is time now for people of faith to lead the world to a healthier and happier relationship with God's creation. Faith reminds us that as part of God's creation, we have important responsibilities for its care.

Share in the Home Bible Study about the Things That You Do! Click here for more information.