Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church

Text: Luke 3:7-18

Description:  John the Baptizer is the kind of coach who yells. But his instructions are completely doable for the average follower. Sometimes we really CAN do more by doing less.

Text: Luke 3:1-6

Description: John the Baptist was not powerful in the same way that Rome was powerful. However, God chose John to prepare the way of Jesus by calling people to turn their hearts and minds towards God in preparation for Jesus.  God’s message for all comes through an unexpected person and place.   

Text:  Luke 21:25-36

Description: God’s kingdom is coming--DOES come at times--and we can see it, if we’re watching for clues.

Text: John 18:33-37

Description: God’s coming reign is the good news Jesus and his disciples proclaimed when they walked on earth. But sometimes that kingdom of peace seems so far removed from our reality as we walk on earth. How do we avoid despair and share our hope with a broken world?

To view the Facebook video Pastor Beth Ann shared during this sermon, go to: https://www.facebook.com/jrous92/videos/10156190732035487

Video transcript below:

Interviewer: Do you understand what happened? Do you understand why those people did that?

Boy: Yes, because they’re really really mean. Bad guys are not very nice. And we have to be really careful because we have change houses.

Father: Oh no, don’t worry. We don’t have to move out. France is our home.

Boy: But there are bad guys, Daddy.

Father: Yes, but there’s bad guys everywhere.

Boy: They have guns. They can shoot us because they’re really really mean, Daddy.

Father: It’s okay. They might have guns, but we have flowers.

Boy: But flowers don’t do anything, they’re for…

Father: Of course they do. Look, everyone is putting flowers. It’s to fight against guns.

Boy: It’s to protect?

Father: Exactly.

Boy: And the candles, too?

Father: It’s to remember the people who are gone yesterday.

Boy: The flowers and the candles are here to protect us.

Father: Yes. (Both smile.)

Interviewer: Do you feel better now?

Boy: Yes, I feel better.

Texts: 1 Kings 17:8-16 & Mark 12: 28-44

Description:  Because we give....we become God's partners in God's mission in the world.  What could be more exciting than being a partner with God?

Texts: John 8:31-36. & Romans 8:28-37

Description:  There are many things in life that can seemingly separate us from the love of God in Christ but we....are FREE!  

Text: John 11:32-44

Description: Many of us have been living with grief this year that we don’t know what to do with. But in Jesus God does something life-altering and death-shattering that gives us hope in God’s promises.

Text: Mark 12:28-34

Description: Phyllis Tickle said that every 500 years of our 2000 year Christian history, the church changes significantly.  Just like having a rummage sale, it’s about getting rid of some things to make space for the new.  As we commemorate the beginning of the Protestant Reformation 504 years ago, it seems we are in another big shift now.  It’s a good time to remember that there is no greater commandments than to love God, love neighbor and love self.  Whatever may come, Jesus loves us. 

Text: Mark 10:46-52

Description: It’s a “choose your own adventure” sermon this week! How does God speak to you through the story of Bartimaeus?