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Pastor Ralph’s Audio Sermons ————————————————————— October 4, 2026 Proper 22a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Commitment, Commitment, Commitment” We commit ourselves to bearing fruits of grace, kindness, peace, forgiveness, service, compassion, love. TEXT: Matthew 21:33-46 ——————————————— September 27, 2026 Proper 21a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “There is Grace for You” This is the message we all need to hear, receive, and tell: THERE IS GRACE FOR YOU! TEXT: Matthew 21:23-32
September 13, 2026 Proper 19a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Never-ending Forgiveness” Forgiveness is good for your soul. TEXT: Matthew 18:21-35
September 6, 2026 Proper 18a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Healthy Relationships” A healthy relationship with God means that God runs to us. This empowers us to have healthy relationships with others. TEXT: Matthew 16:21-28 ——————————————— August 30, 2026 Proper 17a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Our Spiritual Identity” These define who we are: love, respect, harmony, patience in affliction, perseverance in prayer, care for those in need, hospitality, empathy, humility, goodness, hope, peace - and FORGIVENESS. TEXT: Matthew 16:21-28
August 16, 2026 Proper 15a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Our Faith Matters” What does your heart need today? Is there a hunger? Is there a storm? Is there a need for healing? TEXT: Matthew 15:10-28
August 9, 2026 Proper 14a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “We’re All in the Same Boat” We’re all in the same boat, a boat we call Earth, and the fighting, killing, division, and hatefulness are downright wrong. TEXT: Matthew 14:22-33
August 2, 2026 Proper 13a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “We All Need Blessings” Twelve full baskets of leftover blessings for us to share with others: inner peace (shalom), comfort, compassion, forgiveness, belonging, healing, strength, perseverance, wisdom, rest, hope, eternity. TEXT: Matthew 14:13-21 ——————————————— July 26, 2026 Proper 12a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Making the World a Better Place” Our calling to make the world a better place with small acts of kindness, good deeds, and loving one another. TEXT: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
July 19, 2026 Proper 11a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Weed-Planting” Weed-planting: don’t do it! And don’t judge! Instead: bear fruits of goodness, kindness, peace, and love in our daily lives. TEXT: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
July 12, 2026 Proper 10a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God Gives the Growth” Seed-planting (kindness, compassion, generosity, forgiveness, hope, promise of salvation, etc.) can be verbal, non-verbal, acts of service. TEXT: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
July 5, 2026 America’s 250th Anniversary at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God Mend Thine Every Flaw” “We are God’s giant hand reaching into the world to do God’s work.” TEXT: Various Texts ——————————————— June 28, 2026 Proper 8a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Love Rescued Me” The reward of giving love is receiving love. TEXT: Matthew 10:40-42
June 21, 2026 Proper 7a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “These Precious Days” Life isn’t always easy for people of faith, for disciples of Jesus, for anybody. But life is always precious! TEXT: Matthew 10:24-39
June 7, 2026 Proper 5a at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “A Prescription for What Ails You” Doing acts of mercy and kindness are a blessing and a healing for the DOER and well as the RECEIVER. TEXT: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 ——————————————— May 31, 2026 Trinity Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Grandeur of God” God dances (interweaves) in the world, the church and our personal lives. (The last 46 seconds of this sermon is an addendum / correction I adlibbed after the offertory.) TEXT: Romans 5:5
May 24, 2026 Pentecost Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Born of the Spirit” God’s love is being poured into us, right here, right now. TEXT: Romans 5:5
May 17, 2026 Seventh Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God at the Center” I can do better remembering and recognizing God at the center. TEXT: John 17:1-11
May 10, 2026 Sixth Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Resting in God” The story of Jesus is a story of LIFE. And our lives merge with his life. TEXT: John 14:15-21
May 3, 2026 Fifth Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “To God Be the Glory” “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do SOMETHING, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” TEXT: John 14:1-14 ——————————————— April 26, 2026 Fourth Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “A Different Kind of Sheep” The Good Shepherd sends us out to participate in his mission of generosity, caring, forgiving, welcoming, and loving. TEXT: John 10:1-11
April 19, 2026 Third Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Recognizing Jesus” Jesus enters into our every Emmaus, our every grief, anxiety, overwhelmingness, frustration, sickness, sadness, depression, worry. TEXT: Luke 24:13-35
April 12, 2026 Second Sunday of Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Believing Is Seeing” The truly valuable things of life are peace / shalom, forgiveness, community, generosity, loving one another. TEXT: John 20:19-31
April 5, 2026 Easter Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Rising With the Lord” On this Easter, we receive that double dose of peace: SHALOM. SHALOM. We receive the Holy Spirit to help us navigate the pits of life, the struggles, the sickness, the suffering, death, whatever interruptions come our way. TEXT: Colossians 3:1-4 and John 20:19-22
April 3, 2026 Good Friday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Dying With the Lord” When we’re in THE PIT, we’re never alone. The Lord is always with us. TEXT: Galatians 2:20
April 2, 2026 Maundy Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Sitting With the Lord” People will know we’re followers of Jesus by our love. TEXT: John 13:12-15, 34-35 ——————————————— March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Tree of Life” We’re tethered together by a single root system which is nourished by the grace and love of God. TEXT: Revelation 22:1-2
March 25, 2026 Sixth Wednesday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord: SING” Music is a holy way to marinate in the presence of God. TEXT: Psalm 8
March 18, 2026 Fifth Wednesday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord: DELIGHT” Have you come to a Red Sea place in your life? TEXT: Psalm 77
March 15, 2026 Fourth Sunday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “With Eyes Wide Open” Wash yourself in the waters of God’s amazing grace, God’s forgiveness, God’s hope (shalom), God’s love. TEXT: John 9:1-41
March 11, 2026 Fourth Wednesday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord: REMEMBER” Question to self: is life difficult? Answer to self: Yes. Now, remember the love. TEXT: Psalm 103
March 8, 2026 Third Sunday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Living Water for You” It’s important that we’re hydrated, physically AND spiritually! TEXT: John 4:5-42
March 4, 2026 Third Wednesday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord: FOLLOW” Goodness and mercy, forgiveness and shalom will hunt you down! TEXT: Psalm 23
March 1, 2026 Second Sunday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Growing as Disciples” We grow by forgiving, being kind, serving, caring, living as people of peace and love. TEXT: John 3:1-17 ——————————————— February 25, 2026 Second Wednesday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord: SEEK” Marinate in peace, healing, and love TEXT: Psalm 34
February 22, 2026 First Sunday in Lent, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Facing Our Demons” Being human means having inner demons. We must choose between embracing the demons within, or the divine within. It’s not always easy, but Jesus showed us, it CAN be done! TEXT: Matthew 4:1-11
February 18, 2026 Ash Wednesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Walking With the Lord” We wear the ashes, not to show off, but as a proclamation of God’s Good News of eternal life. TEXT: Psalm 51
February 15, 2026 Transfiguration of Our Lord at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Watch Your Altitude” Sometimes we rise to divine altitudes. Other times we struggle up mountains or fall into a pit. No matter how good or how bad things are, God is WITH US. TEXT: Matthew 17:1-9
February 8, 2026 5th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “We Are Salt and Light” “YOU” are the light of the world. Worldly power, wealth, and oppression don’t get to be the light of the world. TEXT: Matthew 5:13-20
February 1, 2026 4th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God Blesses You” God blesses us when we reject the ways of evil. God blesses us when we work for peace. TEXT: Matthew 5:1-12 ——————————————— Youth Sunday Weekend January 24, 2026 St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Let There Be Light” Darkness is not overcome by the light. Receive the light in every time of darkness. TEXT: Mosaic of Scripture passages on LIGHT.
Pastor Ralph’s Saturday Sermon (AUDIO) Youth Sunday Worship - FULL WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEO Youth Sunday Sermon - SERMON BEGINS HERE
January 18, 2026 2nd Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Behold the Lamb of God” Pay attention to the love and the peace around you. Pay attention to those in need of food, water, shelter, support. Pay attention to those treated unjustly, unkindly. Pay attention and help put an end to needless suffering and death. Pay attention and resist evil, greed, and selfishness. TEXT: John 1:29-42
January 11, 2026 Baptism of Our Lord at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Heaven Is Opened” When we do what God wants us to do, our work is forgiveness, healing, kindness, compassion, generosity, love. TEXT: Matthew 3:13-17
January 4, 2026 Epiphany (observed) at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Drawn to the Light” Arise. Shine. Light has come. Hang on, for dear life, to the LOVE and JOY that the LIGHT offers you. TEXT: Isaiah 60:1-6 ———————————————
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