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Pastor Ralph’s Audio Sermons From March 31, 2024 to December 29, 2024 ————————————————————— December 29, 2024 First Sunday of Christmas at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Daughters and Sons of God” As children of God, daughters and sons, our calling is to ACT LIKE IT! (The sermon ends with a story from my High School days as a student at St. John Kanty Prep in Erie.) TEXT: Luke 2:41-52
December 24, 2024 Christmas Eve at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Light Shines in the Darkness” For the Youth Message, we sang a repeat-after-me song I wrote. The first line was “Light shines in the darkness.” For the second line, the youth and congregation offered a word or phrase which we sang, “God's light shines on my__________.” The words included stress, sickness, fear, grief, despair, anxiety. I added “ME” as a final verse. My sermon concludes with a new verse. TEXT: Isaiah 9:2-7
December 22, 2024 4th Sunday of Advent at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “I’m Dreaming of a Right Christmas” The bottom line of Christmas is “being right with God.” TEXT: Luke 1:39-45
December 15, 2024 3rd Sunday of Advent at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Good News to the People” When we DO BETTER, when we SHARE, when we’re KIND, when we’re NICE, when we FORGIVE as we’re forgiven, these things give us true JOY! TEXT: Luke 3:7-18
December 8, 2024 2nd Sunday of Advent at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Landscape Of Our Lives” In some way, we all know what “wilderness” is. We all have mountains and valleys, dangerous, crooked, and rough roads to travel. God shows up and gives you peace. TEXT: Luke 3:1-6
December 1, 2024 1st Sunday of Advent at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God’s Kingdom Is Near” We ALL have troubles, difficulties, armaggedons, snowmageddons, all-types-of-geddons. This is the human condition. In all these things, God gives us divine life and energy. TEXT: Luke 21:25-36 Because of weather, worship was recorded at home, not at church. Click here for a video of the whole service. ——————————————— November 24, 2024 Christ the King at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Rain of God” Apply the proverb “when it rains, it pours” to divine blessings, love, healing, forgiveness, peace. When these “rain” down, it pours! TEXT: John 18:33-37
November 17, 2024 Proper 28 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Endure to the End” Every act of kindness, compassion, mercy, caring for those in need, supporting one another, these are the TRUE “signs of the times!” TEXT: Mark 13:1-8, 13b
November 10, 2024 Proper 27 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “What God Values” What values will you live by? Will you choose corrupt, violent sinful ways? Or will you choose true kindness, compassion, and love? TEXT: Mark 12:38-44
November 3, 2024 All Saints Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Resurrection and Life” Sometimes, LIFE STINKETH! Life is filled with struggles, like grief, anxiety, fear, frustration, physical and mental illness, etc. These are enemies to our well-being. REJOICE: divine forgiveness, healing, and LOVE can conquer these enemies! TEXT: John 11:32-44 ——————————————— October 27, 2024 Reformation Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “O Lord, Have Mercy” We ask for mercy. We receive mercy. We spread mercy like a domino effect. [Also, the song referred to in the sermon is included, as sung at Saturday worship.] TEXT: John 8:31-36
October 20, 2024 Proper 24 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Be Careful What You Ask For” We marinate in a life where we work for peace. We marinate in a life where we hunger and thirst for justice. We marinate in a life of forgiveness, kindness, and compassion. TEXT: Mark 10:35-45
October 13, 2024 Proper 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Inheriting Eternal Life” We all need healing. There are different kinds of healing. Sometimes healing is a long process. TEXT: Mark 10:17-31
October 6, 2024 Proper 22 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Through the Roof Faith” There are many barriers to break through in order that we be instruments of healing and love in the world. TEXT: Mark 2:1-12 ——————————————— September 29, 2024 Proper 21 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “A Recipe for Seasoned Disciples” Seasoned disciples are tolerant of those outside their circle. They are non-judgmental, kind, inclusive, loving. They marinate in God’s love. TEXT: Mark 38-41, 49-50
September 22, 2024 Proper 20 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Children of the Heavenly Father” Our mission as disciples is to value people in the way God values people! TEXT: Mark 9:30-37
September 15, 2024 Proper 19 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Lift High the Cross” To “Lift High the Cross” means to learn what God’s will is, which always involves serving others. TEXT: Mark 8:27-38
September 8, 2024 Proper 18 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “All Are Welcome” God’s love and healing power are NOT limited... TEXT: Mark 7:24-37
September 1, 2024 Proper 17 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Being Right With God” We’re our best selves when our traditions and actions help us to be right with God and with others. TEXT: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 ——————————————— August 25, 2024 Proper 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Share a Little Bit of Your Love” Loving others, for us, is to be like breathing. So, we breathe kindness, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, LOVE. TEXT: John 15:9-17
August 18, 2024 Proper 15 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Living Bread” This is both a sequel and a recap of last week’s sermon. We’re LIVING BREAD to others in kindness, compassion, ministry, etc. TEXT: John 6:51-58
August 11, 2024 Proper 14 at Faith Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “I AM Bread” When we’re kind to others... when we’re compassionate… when we genuinely say ‘I’m sorry’... when we say ‘I forgive you’... we’re BREAD to them. TEXT: John 6:35, 41-51
August 4, 2024 Proper 13 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Food For Hungry Hearts” Being human means that we have hungry hearts. Our hearts growl with heart-hunger. God provides heart-food in every part of our lives. TEXT: John 6:24-35 ——————————————— July 28, 2024 Proper 12 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA VIDEO VERSION WITH POWERPOINT SLIDES TITLE: “Enough and More Than Enough” There’s enough LOVE to calm every storm that comes our way. TEXT: John 6:1-21
July 21, 2024 Proper 11 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Hunger of the Soul.” People are hungry for food, forgiveness, healing, and peace. TEXT: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
July 14, 2024 Proper 10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “I Can See Clearly Now” Pray for those who are struggling physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. TEXT: Mark 8:22-25
July 7, 2024 Proper 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Keep On Keeping On” God calls us to go out into the world and bring good news, healing, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and love. TEXT: Mark 6:1-13 ——————————————— June 30, 2024 Proper 8 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Healer of Our Every Ill” This is LIFE!” Most of the sermon is a three-act play. TEXT: Mark 5:21-43
June 23, 2024 Proper 7 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Mega-Storm, Mega-Calm” Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. TEXT: Mark 4:35-41
June 16, 2024 Proper 6 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God’s Crazy Garden” What we really need to do is to take our God-given seeds of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and love, and scatter them EVERYWHERE. TEXT: Mark 4:26-34
June 9, 2024 Proper 5 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA VIDEO VERSION WITH POWERPOINT SLIDES TITLE: “Who Ya Gonna Call?” Jesus will forgive the unforgivable sin. TEXT: Mark 3:20-35
June 2, 2024 Proper 4 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Do No Harm” When we harm another person, let’s TRIPLE our efforts to be kind, compassionate, and loving. TEXT: Mark 2:23--3:6 ——————————————— May 19, 2024 Pentecost Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Erie PA TITLE: “God’s Language” God’s language is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS the language of LOVE. (The message begins with a story from “Butterflies and Penguins: the Ralph & Jo Show.”) TEXT: Acts 2:1-21
May 12, 2024 Easter 7 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: Marinating in God’s Word Disciples of Jesus don’t marinate in hatefulness, hurtfulness, sin. Disciples of Jesus marinate in God’s Word, in God’s Love. TEXT: John 17:6-19
May 5, 2024 Easter 6 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Love One Another” When we’re CONNECTED to Jesus, our lives are SATURATED with DIVINE LOVE. TEXT: John 15:9-17 ——————————————— April 28, 2024 Easter 5 at Faith Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Vine and the Branches” We receive God’s divine love and we bring that love to others. TEXT: John 15:1-8
April 21, 2024 Easter 4 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Jesus the Good Shepherd” Jesus is calling us into abundant life with him. TEXT: John 10:11-18
April 14, 2024 Easter 3 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Resurrection Hope” HERE is where God gives new life... God is giving us new life NOW. TEXT: Luke 24:36b-48
April 7, 2024 Sunday after Easter at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “That You May Have Life” We can have that LIFE, that breath of God, that forgiveness, that peace, NOW, in the days ahead, and for all eternity. TEXT: John 20:19-31 ——————————————— March 31, 2024 Easter Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Easter Is Everywhere” Our calling as disciples is to recognize Jesus in all the places we go. TEXT: Mark 16:1-8 ——————————————— |