Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 17, 2019 (1 Corinthians 15:12-20) – “A Futile Faith? By No Means!”

"The Resurrection" (1886-1894) by James Tissot (1836-1902), Brooklyn Museum. Originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. In the name of Jesus, amen. If you have spent as much time in the bowels of religious internet discussion pages as I have (a fact about which I am not proud), you will have often come across members of the New Atheist set— those disciples of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, among … Continue reading Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 17, 2019 (1 Corinthians 15:12-20) – “A Futile Faith? By No Means!”

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, February 10, 2019 – “We’re Not Worthy!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

"Isaiah's Vision" from Luther's Bible, 1534 (Lucas Cranach) This sermon was originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. In the name of Jesus, amen. When it comes to comedies, I personally enjoy films that have a good degree of absurdist humor mixed into them, and one of the weirder ones in my list of favorites is 1992’s Wayne’s World starring Mike Meyers and Dana … Continue reading Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, February 10, 2019 – “We’re Not Worthy!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 20, 2019 (John 2:1-11), “Master of the Feast”

"The Wedding at Cana: Jesus Blesses the Water" (1641-1660), by Jan Cossiers (1600-1671), Saint Waldetrudis Church, Herentals, Belgium Originally preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. In the name of Jesus.  Amen. The party had been going on for hours.  After fulfilling a number of formalities required to end their betrothal and finalize their marriage, the bridegroom had brought his bride into … Continue reading Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 20, 2019 (John 2:1-11), “Master of the Feast”

Sermon for the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019 (Matthew 2:1-12), “The Gift to the Magi”

"The Journey of the Magi" (1894), by James Tissot (1836-1902), Minneapolis Museum of Art Originally Preached at Living Savior Lutheran Church, Fairfax Station, Virginia. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Epiphany is here!  Do you know what that means?  Not only does it mean that we’re now in a new season of the … Continue reading Sermon for the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019 (Matthew 2:1-12), “The Gift to the Magi”

Sermon for the First Sunday of Christmas, December 30, 2018 (Luke 2:41-52)

This sermon was originally delivered at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Herndon, Virginia. In the name of Jesus, amen. Have you ever had someone make an assumption about your identity, or assume they knew something about you while being drastically wrong?  Have you ever made such assumptions about someone else?  Our Gospel reading this morning in many ways has to do with an inability to understand … Continue reading Sermon for the First Sunday of Christmas, December 30, 2018 (Luke 2:41-52)