The Lord of Life Lutheran Church Sermon Podcast

The Holy Spirit comes to the disciples and pokes, nudges, and prods them into sharing the Good News of Jesus with the crowd. Today, the same Spirit pokes and prods us, but do we listen? In this week's sermon, Pastor Paul talks about what can happen when we allow ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit. Over 6900 downloads of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church Sermon Podcast with Pastor Paul. Wow! Thank you to everyone who listens each week! This week's sermon will be the final episode in Pastor Paul's time with Lord of Life. Pastor Paul has accepted a new call as pastor at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Cocoa Beach, FL. Please stay tuned and subscribed as when a new pastor begins, the Podcast may ramp back up again. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Jesus prays for his disciples in the gospel reading for the day, and in the reading from the Book of Acts we hear the story of the beginnings of what will become the church. Those first disciples pointed to Jesus with everything they had, but what will people looking back at US have to say about how we did?   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Jesus continues his pastoral message for the disciples. Jesus promises a Helper and Guide assures them they won't be alone. We, too, are promised this same Helper and Guide. Pastor Paul talks about the gift, and receiving it, in the context of change for students and parents.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

The heart is critical for our survival, beating at a rate of some 100,000 times per day. Jesus tells the disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” in today's gospel reading. Pastor Paul explores the heart through music and we spend time understanding what Jesus meant then and for us today.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

It's Good Shepherd Sunday and our readings for the day have connections to God's identity as our Shepherd. In today's message, Pastor Paul talks about sheep, shepherds, gates, and what it all means for us. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, alleluia! This week's message focuses on the resurrection and God's great love and mercy for us.   Music provided by and licensed by www.pond5.com

On Maundy Thursday we remember the command from Jesus to love one another, and we also remember the Last Supper and the institution of Holy Communion as a way of tasting and seeing God's grace and forgiveness in Christ. In this message, Pastor Paul invites us to received the bread and the cup anew, as if for the first time, and to remember God's great love. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

We're almost through the season of Lent, next week is Palm Sunday, what can we learn about Jesus through the raising of Lazarus?     Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

The woman at the well is a familiar story from John's Gospel. In today's message, Pastor Paul welcomes Lord of Life member Bri Ensign to read a poem that captures the important theme that to be known is to be loved, to be accepted by Christ is to be known and loved and we ALL need this for our own.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

How do we hear this story of restoration of sight for the blind man in John's Gospel? In today's message, guest preacher, The Rev. Dr. Winston Persaud, talks about the humor in the story, but also invites us to ponder the meaning.     Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dark, drawn to the light that emanates from Jesus, a light for the whole world. Nicodemus is changed by the encounter. How are we changed by our encounter with Jesus, even as we bring our own questions and doubts from the shadows.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

It's the first Sunday in Lent, now what? Each year on this Sunday we hear about Jesus' time in the wilderness after he is baptized by John in the Jordan River. Tested by Satan, Jesus uses faith and knowledge of scripture to turn away. How does that help us today? Pastor Paul talks about it in this week's sermon podcast. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Don't "Lent" it happen to you this year! Enter into Lent with intention. Pastor Paul talks about what this looks like in this special edition episode from Ash Wednesday. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Transfiguration Sunday means a trip up the mountain for three disciples, with Jesus, for a profoundly spiritual event. Pastor Paul talks about experiencing the Holy and making time for the thin spaces between who we are and who we are becoming because of Christ.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

In part three of our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Paul talks about the tough standards that Jesus places around some of the 10 Commandments. In the end, it's about relationship and about what we hold inside.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What does Jesus mean by telling his disciples to be “light” and why does it matter for us today? Pastor Paul talks about being light for the world in this week's message.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What it comes down to is Jesus who gives us the greatest honor because of the cross. So what does it mean for us as we live out our faith each day? Pastor Paul talks about honor and shame and what we bring to the table.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

We all have worries in our lives, we live with stress every day. We are not alone. The Bible shares stories of people who are worried, stressed, and overwhelmed. In this week's sermon, Pastor Paul talks about Psalm 27 and how people have turned to the Psalms for thousands of years. So what happens when worry becomes prayer? Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What if what we really need is someone to remind us that Jesus loves us. God is with us. Look, here is the Lamb of God. Guest preacher, Pastor Brian Spahr, delivers a powerful message using the text from John's Gospel and John the Baptist's claims about Jesus. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

On Baptism of Our Lord Sunday we are tasked with not only recalling the story of Jesus' baptism, but also what God has done for us in our own baptism. How does it change things?   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

In John's Gospel we find a different way to talk about the Christ of Christmas. John writes about the Word that was with God, Jesus Christ, and how the world receives the Word. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Merry Christmas! In this message recording at our Christmas Eve services, Pastor Paul talks about selfless love, about what it meant that Jesus was born and how the example of hair and watch chains can point us to selflessness this Christmas. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Joseph deserves a better spot in the Christmas pageant next year. His faith is remarkable and his role in story of Jesus' birth at Christmas is more important than we realize. Pastor Paul talks about why Joseph should get a speaking part next year. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

John the Baptist is one guy who should have had enough signs to believe that Jesus is the Messiah he's been talking about, preparing the way for, yet he has doubts and questions for Jesus. What do we do with our doubts and questions? How do we experience Jesus present with us through faith? Pastor Paul talks about this in this week's sermon. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Why does John the Baptist's message have to happen now? It's almost Christmas. “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!” What do we need to hear this week in response to this call to repent? Pastor Paul suggests that we need to remember that each day we are invited anew into relationship with God as we repent and remember our baptism.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Advent begins and we are called to lean into awe, to spend time reflecting on our need for a savior, and to consider how we respond to the greatest gift of all in the coming of Jesus Christ.    Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Christ the King Sunday seems to come a strange time of the year. We can just about smell the turnkey of Thanksgiving and Christmas has already surrounded at the front of our minds. What do we need to hear today? What do we need to learn as we prepare the way for Christ once more? Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What will be a sign? When will it happen? We'd love to know when things will happen. It gives us a sense of control, right? In today's message, Pastor Paul suggests It's not about knowing when, but about what we do while we wait. Plant apple trees.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

You are FREE! No, really, you are FREE! What will you do with your freedom? Guest preacher, Bishop Kevin Jones of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA asks us to align ourselves with Christ at work in our world on Reformation Sunday at Lord of Life. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com.

Pray without giving up. Jesus is nearing Jerusalem and along the way is teaching his disciples to pray without giving up. What can we learn from Jesus' teaching for our own lives? If Jesus needed to pray all the time, how much more do we need to pray?   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

How often are you aware of the ways that you are blessed? How often do you, in that moment, say thanks to God? In today's reading from Luke's Gospel, we hear about the one leper who turned back to thank Jesus. It's a startling reminder that, all too often, we forget to say thanks. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Paul writes to Timothy and tells him to have faith. Jesus speaks to the disciples and tells them that a tiny amount of faith goes a long way. Pastor Paul talks about passing on the faith and why it matters so much in today's sermon.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

A challenging parable leads to a challenging sermon. Are we shrewd about living out our faith? Should we be?      Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

God gives us room to fail spectacularly, then holds us in God's hands filled with grace. Guest preacher, Pastor Liz Bell from the Northeaster Iowa Synod, ELCA, invites us to get lost this week. Listen and find out what she means! Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com   https://www.lordoflife.online/

What choices do you make each day? Pastor Paul talks about the choices we face, why we struggle to follow through, and the cost of discipleship. Learn more about us at www.lordoflife.online Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What does it mean to be welcomed at the table? Pastor Paul tells a couple of stories about being welcomed at the table and shares some pretty good news for us about Christ's love and welcome. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

What does God desire for us? Wholeness. Shalom. For all of God's people. Pastor Paul is back from sabbatical and talks about rules and Jesus' healing of a woman on the sabbath day to help us understand this wholeness and shalom. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Guest preacher, The Rev. Dr. Troy Troftgruben, invites you to think about whether it is easy or hard to be a Christ follower today. What do you think? The reading and Jesus' words are difficult to hear, but Pastor Troy assures us that Christ is with us.    Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Holy Trinity Sunday, for all that we know this is still a mystery for us. How do we lean into the mystery of faith and understanding of who God is? Pastor Paul suggests that we double down on discipleship by practicing our faith. Our sermon Podcast will be on summer break while Pastor Paul is on sabbatical. We'll be back in late August. Thanks for listening!   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

It's the Day of Pentecost. Now what?  The Holy Spirit is at work in and through our lives if we will but take time to notice, to pay attention. Pastor Paul talks about the Spirit's movement throughout scripture and in our lives today. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

It's been a tough week for many of us in the wake of the shootings in Uvalde. How can we respond as followers of Christ? Pastor Paul invites you to think about care and love as your first response. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Are visions only for the Bible, or should we be on the lookout for them today? Paul takes the ministry to northern Greece in response to a vision and amazing things happen. Pastor Paul reminds us that visions are not just historical events. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

It's hard to think that God could be at work in and through those we judge as unworthy. But God is up to something and we can join the work if we pay attention.  Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

God is still speaking. Guest preacher, The Rev. Dr. Troy Troftgruben offers this message on how we hear Jesus speaking and the power of these words for our lives. You are loved. Your are forgiven. You are safe. You are mine. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

We welcome guest preacher The Rev. Dr. Nate Frambach to the pulpit. This message was recorded on Sunday, May 1, 2022. We retreat to the things we know when we are uncertain or when things turn upside down. In the reading from John's Gospel, Peter and the disciples went fishing because that's what they knew. Jesus meets them where they are and Jesus forgives Peter and gives the disciples what they need to go out into the world to share God's love. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Later that day… Jesus shows up because relationships matter to God. Jesus' visit to the apostles behind locked doors brings a gift of peace and the Holy Spirit. Jesus' encounters post-resurrection are personal, intimate events where Jesus offers peace, the Holy Spirit, and a charge to spread the good news to others. We, too, are invited to be a part of this relationship with Jesus.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Remember! Memory plays a key part in the gospel reading for Easter. Pastor Paul talks about remembering and about pancakes. Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Guest preacher, Pastor Liz Albertson, assistant to the Bishop for the Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA, shares a message about being at the middle of the beginning of something BIG! How does Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday meet with us where we are today?   *We apologize for the sound quality issue in this live recording that may be a distraction.   Music provided by and licensed vis www.pond5.com

Praying for a change looks like this, that we pray in gratitude for all of our lives, even those parts that we'd rather forget. God welcomes our prayers offered in gratitude.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Where do you turn when you have no place else to turn? In this week's installment of our “Praying for a Change” sermon series, Pastor Paul talks about turning to God, even when we might be too stubborn to do so. God welcomes our prayers.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com

Praying for a change is our theme for Lent in 2022. The double meaning points us to changing things around us but it also points to how we are changed in our praying. In today's message, Pastor Paul speaks to why we need prayer to be changed.   Music provided by and licensed via www.pond5.com