Sermons with Reverend Killjoy

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 4:26-34

The reign of God - or kingdom of God - grows out of the ruins of our efforts to build a world of human justice. Will we allow the reign of God to grow in us, transforming our lives to radical care for one another?

Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 3:20-35

In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus' own family sides with the religious authorities in believing Jesus to be out of his mind. What does it mean to be a family? What holds a family together? This question is particularly relevant to our congregation right now, between this weekend's celebration at Kalamazoo Pride and this week's news that I will be leaving Lutheran Church of the Savior this summer. It's a good thing for us that Jesus has something grace-filled to say about family.

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 2:23--3:6

The religious authorities challenge Jesus for breaking the law on the Sabbath. What is the purpose of Sabbath? Who is it for?

Pentecost Sunday, Lectionary Year B

We trust in the Holy Spirit, just as the church did in its creation at Pentecost. What has the Holy Spirit done with Lutheran Church of the Savior in the past year? Where will it lead us next?

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B

John 17:16-19

Sometimes the spiraling and repetitive writing style of John's Gospel leaves me cross-eyed with confusion. This week I tried a different tactic to make sense of John's words. I think it helped.

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B

Acts 10:44-48

Today's Acts lesson tells how the Holy Spirit descended upon the gentiles of Cornelius' household during Peter's great sermon. God has shown Peter a new thing, and even gentiles receive God's Spirit and thus are full members of Christ's church.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B

1 John 4:7-21
Acts 8:26-40

This passage in the first letter of John summarizes the teaching of John's Gospel in such powerful phrases as "Love one another" and "God is love." What does this love look like? Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch show us on the road.

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B

Psalm 23

Why is this Psalm among the most famous and popular in scripture? It expresses the good news of God's love for us in clear, beautiful, timeless images.

Third Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year B
Luke 24:36b-48

The church is Christ's body in the world, and we are members of that body. Baptism and eucharist lead us into the work of being Christ's body.

Easter Sunday

John 20:1-18

Christ is risen! What does this mean for us today?