Sermon 01/27/08

"Transformation is an Epiphany Wake Up Call" By Rev. Darius Larsen

Preached 01/27/08

Texts: Isaiah 9:1-4, Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 (Click to read)

Our visiting preacher this week was Rev. Darius Larsen, who serves a call to the ELCA in the areas of Congregational Mission (including Transformation) as well as in stewardship. Pastor Larsen has been (and contunues to be) a part of Bethlehem's Transformation process.

Click to listen: BLC_2008_01_27.mp3

Sermon 1/20/08

"Pointing to Jesus--a first look at our Guiding Principles" By Rev. Erik Samuelson

Preached 01/20/08

Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 (Click to read)

Oops! The recorder cut out early on in the sermon. But, thankfully I was actually preaching off of some printed material (which I rarely do) so you can get the sense of the rest of it. There's a link to the printed parts after the link to the MP3 at the bottom of this post. But there are some other interactive bits to talk about first.

At the beginning of the sermon I show some art on the screen. These are the paintings I show:

“The Crucifixion,” central panel of the Isenheim Altarpiece (ca 1512), by Matthias Grünewald, on display at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France.

Lower Panel of “Memorial of the Reformation” Altarpiece, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, (1547) from St. Mary's Church (Townchurch) Wittenberg, Germany.

During the sermon I pass out a sheet of paper which contains the following:

Bethlehem Lutheran's Guiding Principles

• Jesus is Lord and Savior

• Everyone is welcome

• Love changes people

• We are called to work in God’s world

• God uses ordinary people like us

• God shows the way

Click to Listen: BLC_2008_01_20.mp3

After you listen to the recorded part, click here. The tie between the recored part (where I talk about John the Baptist's purpose of "pointing to Jesus") and the part I preached from the printed text was that this "pointing to Jesus" is also our job as Christians. In the transformation process we have come up with some Guiding Principles that are intended to help us focus on this task. You'll have to come up with your own conclusion to the sermon--it has to do with John the Baptist, purpose, and pointing to Jesus.

Sermon 01/13/08

"What does God want our neighbors to know is true about God?" By Rev. Erik Samuelson

Preached 01/13/08

Texts: Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 (Click to read)

This is an interactive sermon, so you will need to prepare a bit to play along at home. You will need: a piece of paper, a writing implement, and 5 sticky notes.

On the paper, write "Identity Statements" across the top, then write the following (each on a separate line, with some space in between): We follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, We are welcoming and friendly to all people, We study, hear, and teach God’s Word, We are an active part of the whole community, We care for each other and we care for others, We grow and sustain faith by encountering and worshipping God, We are rooted in tradition and open to God’s dream for us

Please email what you come up with to pastor@bethlehemspokane.org and we will include them in the process (whoever and wherever you are!) The list and what we do with it will be posted on the "Transformation" link on our main webpage (http://www.bethlehemspokane.org/)

Click to listen: BLC_2008_01_13.mp3

Sermon 01/06/07

"Christe, lux mundi, qui sequitur te, habebit lumen vitae" By Rev. Erik Samuelson

Translation: Christ, the light of the world, whoever follows you will have the light of life

Preached 01/06/08

Texts: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 (Click to read)

This sermon is largely the reading of various stories in the life of Jesus that are depicted in the windows in our sanctuary. If you would like to read the Bible stories I read, click here. We intend to make a brochure with this information (with photos of the windows) and also to post it on our website. Stay tuned.

Click to listen: BLC_2008_01_06.mp3

Sermon 12/30/07

"The Season of Christmas" By Rev. Albin Fogelquist

Preached 12/30/07

Texts: Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-23 (click to read)

Unfortunately there was a problem with the recorder and so there is no sermon to download this week.