Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song And Praise

This is a special musical performance of Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven by the Faith Bells at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Today's sermon is based on Luke 20: 27-38 where Jesus is being tested and questioned by the Sadduccees. We explore how Jesus' trial is also our own as we grapple with the fact that we may not know all of the answers to the questions that we or others have.

This is a special musical presentation of My Lord What a Morning by soloist Bob Nelson at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical performance of Shall we Gather at the River by soloist Victoria Walker.

This is a special musical performance of City Called Heaven by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan with soloist Victoria Walker.

I have some mind-blowing, earth-shaking, breaking news for you today!  On this day, cutting into the mix of all the drama that we are witnessing in our daily lives, Jesus has something to tell us as he lays before us THE major policy statement of his reign in the form of a powerful, prophetic, proclamatory address to his followers.  And, his proclamation to us is rather bewildering as he again turns things upside down and drives home the topsy-turvy news regarding the order of things in God’s kingdom and rule.  On this All Saints Sunday, Jesus is speaking directly to us as he invites us into his holy venture to live out our faith. Jesus is not describing an ideological agenda or a political platform.  He does not provide us with an abstract or empty definition of discipleship or sainthood.  He is not listing for us qualifications describing some “how to” method to get into heaven.   Jesus is describing a vision of God’s reign which he totally and completely embodies.  What he is doing is calling all of us to

This is a special musical performance of Find us Faithful by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

It seems that we are daily bombarded with news about issues that pertain to truth and freedom.  In fact, questions regarding truth-telling and freedom are at the center of debates surrounding voting rights, freedom of speech, gun laws, racism, immigration and a whole plethora of other issues.  Well, today, Jesus is speaking to us about truth and freedom.  However, Jesus’ words regarding truth and freedom could not be more different from the way these concepts are discussed in our present culture. Today’s passage from John takes place within the context of a dialogue between Jesus and his opponents.  Jesus’ opponents are trapped in their sin, trapped in a dead-end life, and they do not believe in him.  They do not believe Jesus is the new revelation of God, the truth.  The focus of the dialogue is all about Jesus’ identity, it is all about who Jesus is.  And, it is a dialogue of faith that centers around two words – truth and freedom.  Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and yo

This is a special musical presentation of I Lift Up Mine Eyes by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Sometimes in our lives we come across people who are so persistent and preoccupied with a single, specific issue that they focus on nothing else.  Their entire being is consumed by hammering away on one topic or problem.  One of my dear friends often describes such a person’s persistent actions by saying, “They are like a dog on a bone.”  They simply cannot stop chewing on an issue or pet peeve.  Now, this can be a very harmful type of behavior, especially when the focus is something that is totally irrelevant and one’s action is used to manipulate, create discord and division, attack others, or stir up destruction within an organization or community.  However, such persistence can also be a good thing if the dogged person is tirelessly working to bring about change for the common good, change that is necessary, is healthy, and brings forth reconciliation, peace and justice. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells the story of a persistent, stubborn woman who simply does not give up.  She is like a dog on a bo

This is a special musical performance of Holy Manna by the chancel choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

We have heard a great deal about boundaries over the past few years.   And, while I believe some boundaries are necessary, very needed, and extremely healthy, I also believe that far too often we impose boundaries and build walls that not only keep others out of our lives, but also fence us in, isolating us from others and the world.  And, quite frankly, too often, as we have seen in our current political climate, we simply draw a line in the sand, create unreasonable boundaries and then refuse to cross those lines to seek common ground.  When we meet up with Jesus today, he is continuing his journey to Jerusalem, his journey toward the cross.  As he and his disciples continue that cross-bound journey, they move into a border area, the boundary between Samaria and Galilee.  This boundary was a scary and uncomfortable place.  It was a boundary the Jewish people did not like to cross because it took you into that place where those hated and despised Samaritans lived.  And, look who Jesus meets at that border –

This is a special musical performance of Jubilate Deo by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Last week we received one of Jesus’ most bizarre and perplexing stories.  Today, we receive one of his harshest stories.  And, I find it interesting that we are given this reading just days after leaders of the world gathered in New York City where they spent a great deal of time focusing on climate justice.  Climate change is THE greatest threat the world currently faces, and I, along with the majority of faith leaders in this denomination, in mainline protestant churches and in catholic church leadership, believe scripture and the teachings of Jesus call us to act in response to this crisis.  As we look to scripture and respond to Jesus’ message, some may say his teachings are just for our private lives, not for our public behavior, or he is irrelevant to our times.  But, as the Rev. Jim Wallis writes in his new book, Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus, he says, “That is hard to do for those who call themselves Christians, if God so loved the world.”  You see, if the gospel has no meaning for ou

This is a special musical presentation of I will Awaken the Dawn by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

I have to say that, today, Jesus shares with us one whopper of a story.  This is one of the most bizarre, most perplexing and challenging parables in scripture. The root of the problem in trying to understand this story lies in the fact that the “hero” in this tale is so sleazy and crooked.  Theologian, Rudolf Bultmann, even said this particular parable has nothing edifying in it!  I tend to agree with him.  Yet, I find it interesting that, even though I am deeply puzzled by this tale, I am drawn into the world of this sleazy manager whose world has just crumbled.    As theologian, Robert Capon suggests, there are basically just two ways of interpreting this parable: you can make the steward out to be a hero or you can make him out to be a villain, and my initial reaction is to choose the latter.  But, let’s dig deeper as we attempt to understand this weird story.  The manager in this peculiar tale is experiencing a crisis-situation as he faces great loss.  This slimy, disgusting fellow has been taking advant

This is a special musical performance of Bless His Holy Name by the Chancel Choir and Faith Bells of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

I don’t know about you, but I am increasingly appalled by some of the public rhetoric we hear these days.  I find it disconcerting the way name calling has become a mainstream component of public discourse.  In fact, every day brings a new barrage of verbal bullets that dominate the headlines and take this vocal warfare to a new, unprecedented level.  And, quite frankly, I don’t see it getting better over the next year.  Such a war of words does nothing but categorize and diminish others, and at the same time create increased brokenness in our culture and society.  This brokenness spreads like a virulent virus into other facets of life, into our communities, organizations, our schools, our local governments and even our families.  Such name calling and verbal assault only breed violence, hatred, fear and contempt.   One word that has been used all too frequently is the word “loser.”  In a culture which places high value on winning and succeeding, a culture in which being on top and gaining first place are wha

The Cost of Discipleship is the title of a book by German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  In it, Bonhoeffer spells out what he believes it means to follow Christ, what discipleship really is all about.    Bonhoeffer understood that following Jesus is not always easy.  He wanted to honestly communicate the message that, if you live into a life of discipleship, there will be costs to living such a life.  And, ultimately, toward the end of World War II, Bonhoeffer was killed because of his commitment to following Jesus. In our gospel reading for today, we find Jesus bluntly teaching about the costs involved if we are to live a life of discipleship and faithfully follow him.  And, I have to say, his words about discipleship are daunting and uncomfortable to hear.  Today, we find Jesus speaking to a large crowd of people.  Among the throng, there were some who were contemplating the possibility of becoming disciples.  Jesus’ response to them communicates the seriousness of discipleship and his words make it clea

This is a special musical performance of Holy Thy Name by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan