The weekly sermons from Epiphany Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio.
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss the risks of identifying yourself based more on what you're against than what you're for.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 5/25/25: "Church Fights (week 4)" Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21
Pastor Dave and Preacher Michelle discuss our responsibility to those who are different from us or marginalized, as well as the value of learning from them.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 5/18/25: "Church Fights (week 3)" Scripture Reading: Acts 15:1-18
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss what the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch says to us today.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 5/11/25: "Church Fights (week 2)" Scripture Reading: Acts 15:1-18
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss the story of Stephen, who advocated for change and refused to be bound to the traditions of his time.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 4/27/25: "Church Fights (week 1)" Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-7:2a, 44-60
Pastor Steve and Michelle discuss the road to Emmaus, noticing Jesus' presence in our lives, and the journey ahead.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 4/27/25: "Cliffs Notes" Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-35
Pastor Dave's Sermon from Easter Sunday, 4/20/25: "Looking Again" Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss how a perspective of optimism and joy versus pessimism and defensiveness helps us to live the life God wishes and intends for us.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 4/13/25: "Searching through the Crowds" Scripture Reading: Luke 19:29-44
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss the story of Zacchaeus, and the challenges and responsibilities that come with having abundant resources.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 4/6/25: "Straining to See Jesus" Scripture Reading: Luke 18:31-19:10
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 3/30/25: "Storytime with Jesus (week 4)" Scripture Reading: Luke 16:19-31
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 3/23/25: "Storytime with Jesus (week 3)" Scripture Reading: Luke 15: 1-32
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 3/16/25: "Storytime with Jesus (week 2)" Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave dig into the parable of the Good Samaritan, and how we are meant to live out Jesus' message.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 3/9/25: "Storytime with Jesus (week 1)" Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-42
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 3/2/25: "Campin' wit' Jesus'" Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-45
Pastor Steve and Pastor Dave discuss how love and forgiveness belong together - in the way God loves and forgives us, and in the way we should, in turn, love and forgive one another.
Pastor Steve's Sermon from 2/23/25: "Expect the Unexpected (week 3)'" Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36-50
Pastor Dave welcomes Pastor Steve back to Faith Talk, and they discuss how our own judgment and misunderstanding of holiness can sometimes stand in the way of God's will for us and for the world.
Guest Preacher Pat Weygand's Sermon from 2/16/25: "Expect the Unexpected (week 2)'" Scripture Reading: Luke 7:18-35
Pastor Dave and special guest Jerry Silveous discuss how God calls upon us and uses us to be his instrument in the world.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 2/9/25: "Expect the Unexpected (week 1)'" Scripture Reading: Luke 7:1-17
Pastor Dave and SAM Michelle talk about the importance of prayer and listening in the midst of our busy lives and hectic world.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 2/2/25: "Praying through Choices'" Scripture Reading: Luke 6:1-16
Pastor Dave and special guest Kim Reno discuss how we can share the love of Christ and build community by being open, authentic, and vulnerable.
Guest Preacher Kim Reno's Sermon from 1/26/25: "Growing the Church Series: Meeting People Where They Are'" Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-11
Pastor Dave and SAM Michelle discuss how seeking God and empathizing with one another helps us to combat our own cynicism in a challenging world.
SAM Michelle's Sermon from 1/19/25: "Growing the Church Series: Believing in a Cynical Time'" Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-30
Pastor Dave and special guest, Bishop Daniel Beaudoin, discuss some ways to bear witness and share the love of Christ with those outside of our faith community.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 1/12/25: "Growing the Church Series: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!'" Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-22
Pastor Dave and guest preacher Jerry Silveous discuss how Jesus lives in each of us, and it's our responsibility to live up to our role as the Body of Christ by sharing the love of Jesus with the world around us.
Guest Preacher Jerry Silveous' Sermon from 1/5/25: "Runaway Jesus'" Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-52
SAM Michelle's Sermon from 12/29/24: "Not for Naught'" Scripture Reading: Luke 2:21-38
Pastor Dave and SAM Michelle discuss the hope that Christ brings into our lives in Christmas, and our powerful responsibility to share the hope of Christ with others.
SAM Michelle's Sermon from 12/22/24: "The Power of Hope: The Coming of Christ'" Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-45
Pastor Dave and special guest Steve Detmer discuss the importance of showing up and making yourself available for relationship and community - inside our church and parish, and in the broader world around us.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 12/15/24: "The Power of Hope: For the Future'" Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-11
Pastor Dave and guest preacher Pam Hesselbart discuss the positive and negative effects guilt can have on our lives.
Guest Preacher Pam Hesselbart's Sermon from 12/8/24: "The Power of Hope: In Guilt'" Scripture Reading: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29
Pastor Dave and SAM Michelle Detmer discuss the example Daniel sets for us in how to persevere through challenging times, and the importance of hope in times of darkness.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 12/1/24: "The Power of Hope: In trouble'" Scripture Reading: Daniel 6:6-27
Pastor Dave and Synodically Authorized Minister Michelle Detmer discuss how we can use the silence and darkness of Advent to find the light Christ, despite the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
Synodically Authorized Minister Michelle Detmer's Sermon from 11/24/24: "Christ the King'" Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 36:1-8, 21-23, 27-28; 31:31- 34
Pastor Dave and special guest Shawn Isaacs discuss the wealth of need in our world and God's call for us to step up and do what we can to make a positive change.
Pastor Dave's Sermon from 11/24/24: "Pucker Up!'" Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8