Sermons and the Lectionary
As a member congregation of the ELCA, the sermons each week are based on the lessons assigned for that Sunday by the Revised Common Lectionary. The lectionary is a set of assigned readings used by many denominations, including Lutherans, for public reading each week during worship. Using the assigned readings offers a broad-based approach to such a large book as the Bible. Sermons then are reflections on how one or more of these biblical lessons relates to our everyday lives.
The cycle of readings repeats every three years. Each week we read one lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures, one lesson from the letters of the New Testament, and one lesson from the Gospel stories of the life of Jesus. The lessons often follow a sequential pattern. For example, for several weeks we will read passages as we move through Matthew or Romans. Sometimes the lessons reflect the season of the church year such as Easter or Christmas. Often the lesson from the Hebrew Scripture and the lesson from the Gospel story of the life of Jesus have a similar theme.
If you are interested in more about how the lessons are developed, check out the lectionary material at the Library of the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University.
Recent Sermons
April 29, 2012: God's Love is Greater Than Our Hearts
April 15, 2012: Theory and Practice
April 5, 2012: Maundy Thursday
March 25, 2012: Brave New Worlds
March 18, 2012: Grumbling in the Desert
March 11, 2012: The Meaning of Life
February 26, 2012: We All Need Hope
February 12, 2012: A Compassionate Congregation
February 5, 2012: An Urban Reading of Mark's Story
January 29, 2012: And So It Begins
January 22, 2012: The Details of Discipleship
January 15, 2012: The Role of Doubt in Faith
January 8, 2012: Sensing a New Spirit
January 1, 2012: A Lutheran Discussion
December 25, 2011: Who Is this Child?
December 24, 2011: The Story May Change Us
December 11, 2011: Who Are You?
December 4, 2011: My Old Friend, Isaiah 40
November 20, 2011: Sheep and Goats
November 13, 2011: Use It or Loose It
November 6, 2011: All of the Saints
October 23, 2011: Loving Ourselves, Others, and God
October 16, 2011: How Does God Get Things Done?
October 9, 2011: Taking Things Too Lightly
October 2, 2011: Fruit in the Vineyard
September 25, 2011: Two Voices
September 4, 2011: Love Based Economics
August 28, 21011: A Spiritual Journey
August 21, 2011: It's Harder Than It Looks
August 14, 2011: Hospitable Challenges
July 17, 2011: Suspending Judgment
July 10, 2011: Abby and Old John
July 3, 2011: Falling Short of Our Intentions
June 12, 2011: A Passionate Pentecost
June 5, 2011: Pastor Al's Ministry with Us
May 8, 2011: Disciples Along the Way
May 1, 2011: The First Resurrection Christians
April 21, 2011: Maundy Thursday
April 10, 2011: The Enlivened Community (Ezekiel)
April 3, 2011: Healing Insight
March 20, 2011: Building A Faith for These Times
March 6, 2011: The Defining Moment
February 27, 2011: Do Not Worry
February 20, 2011: Employment Law and Other Matters in Leviticus
February 13, 2011: Matters of the Heart
February 6, 2011: Salt Underfoot
January 23, 2011: 155 Anniversary Sermon, Pastor Al Wahl
January 16, 2011:Corinthian Conflict and Unity
January 9, 2011: Challenges for Jews and Christians
January 2, 2011: Life In Christ(mas)
December 26, 2010: The Difficult Christmas in Matthew
December 24, 2010: Following the Crumbs
December 5, 2010: Advent Matrix
November 28, 2010: Advent I, Walking in the Light
November 24, 2010: Thanksgiving
November 7, 2010: Stories of Heaven
Octobdr 31, 2010: Who Do You Want to Be?
October 17, 2010: Wrestling with God
October 3, 2010: Four Blocks to Faith, Joy, and Happiness
September 26, 2010: Seeing Those in Need
September 12, 2010: That Moment of Forgiveness
September 5, 2010: Mother and Daughter
August 29:2010: New Guests at an Old Banquet
June 13, 2010: The Great Presumption
May 30, 2010: The Festival of the Holy Trinity
May 23, 2010: Pentecost: The Clarity of the Spirit
May 16, 2010: Unexpected Chain of Events
May 2, 2010: A Christian Spring
April 25, 2010: Pastor Al Wahl: The Good Shepherd
April 18, 2010: Sermon for Earth Day
April 11, 2010: Easter's Power for the First Christians
April 4, 2010: Luke's Story of the Resurrection
March 21, 2010: Something New is Happening
March 7, 2010: Why Does God Allow Natural and Human Disasters?
February 28, 2010: Keep Your Eyes on the Stars
February 21, 2010: Pastor Al on Facing Temptation
February 14, 2010: Transparency
January 31, 2010: Called for Ministry
January 24, 2010: Find Yourself in the Word
January 17, 2010: Craig Collin's Message
January 10, 2010: Walking on Frozen Water
January 3, 2010: Destiny, Forgiveness, Wisdom, and Reunion