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Pastor Ralph’s Audio Sermons From October 6, 2024 to March 2, 2025 ————————————————————— March 2, 2025 Transfiguration / Youth Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Jesus Is My Superhero” Jesus, our supernatural hero, loves us. The Kingdom of God is within us. TEXT: Luke 9:28-35
The above us the link to the Saturday evening audio version of my sermon.
The YOUTH SUNDAY morning sermon on VIDEO is at: https://tinyurl.com/SJ-Youth-Sunday-1 (The sermon begins at timestamp: 31:52) ——————————————— February 23, 2025 7th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “What the World Needs Now” What the world needs now is for disciples of Jesus to PROTEST the evil in the world, reject what’s wrong, and give to the world what we’ve been given: overflowing kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and love. TEXT: Luke 6:27-38
February 16, 2025 6th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Climate We Live In” God’s presence is like a gentle, comfortable rain of grace, peace, comfort, hope, healing, and love. TEXT: Luke 6:17-26
February 9, 2025 5th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “I Call You Anyway” God always gives us opportunities for kindness, caring, compassion, healing, forgiveness, and love. TEXT: Luke 5:1-11
February 2, 2025 4th Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “God’s Ways Are Best” God’s ways heal and love ALL people in ALL the world, wherever it hurts. God’s ways unite people by caring for each other. God’s ways don’t lead to division. God’s ways are all about LOVING ONE ANOTHER. TEXT: Luke 4:21-30 ——————————————— January 26, 2025 3rd Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Today is the Day” Today is the day to love others, to forgive, to protect those who are bullied, to feed the hungry, to give shelter to the homeless, to minister to the lonely, the grieving, those who hurt in any way. Today is the day. TEXT: Luke 4:14-21
January 19, 2025 2nd Sunday after Epiphany at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “How To Tell Time 101” Spiritual time is our awareness that, in this moment, in this place, in this heart, in this soul, God is here with new life for you! TEXT: John 2:1-11
January 12, 2025 Baptism of Our Lord at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “Beloved Children of God” We’re called to nourish the world with kindness, forgiveness, healing, compassion, and love. TEXT: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
January 5, 2025 Epiphany (observed) at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Erie, PA TITLE: “The Work of Christmas Begins” Let’s decorate the world, with gifts of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE. TEXT: Matthew 2:1-12 ——————————————— 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 ——————————————— |