Pastor’s Blog
Sermons from Immanuel Lutheran Chicago
Latest Sermons
Wait in Messed-UpednessDecember 3, 2023 - 1:38 pm
Supremely Natural SovereignNovember 26, 2023 - 12:26 pm
Yes and NoNovember 19, 2023 - 12:57 pm
Family PhotosNovember 5, 2023 - 1:23 pm
A Humble, Self-Critical ChurchOctober 29, 2023 - 11:13 am
Lead Me, Guide Me
SermonProper 9A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago There’s an old preacher’s story about a church youth group working on an elderly woman’s house helping to make necessary repairs. There was a child on the worksite. The great-grandson of the woman who lived in the house desperately wanted to help. The very first task was to carry some […]
Discipleship Rewards
SermonProper 8A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago Did somebody say reward? Did Jesus promise compensation for the disciples? Jesus said, ‘prophets, the righteous—even those who do something as simple as give a cold cup of water to little ones who are thirsty should expect to receive the fruits of their labor’ I enjoy rewards. The Immanuel credit […]
How We Live
SermonProper 5A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me. And Matthew got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9). It is unfathomable to me how God has chosen to work in the world. The motto of the Evangelical Church in America is, […]
True Colors
SermonTrinity A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago June 4, 2023 True Colors Last year, Brian Koch, Patrick Ormand, and Genevieve Hallas and I took turns holding up the Immanuel Lutheran sign while walking in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. We walked the full four miles with representatives of dozens of other faith communities who are part of […]
Why Do Church?
SermonPentecost Sunday A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago I went into Ace Hardware yesterday mostly to put a stop to the dashboard light screaming, “Replace Remote Battery Now.” I’ve been there many times. This time felt different. This time, I was wearing my collar. When I asked the clerk to help unlock the battery case, I noticed […]
God is Close, Real Close
SermonEaster 6A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago As part of training for ministry 30 years ago, I spent a summer working as a chaplain at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. I was there a short time—just three months—but that time was full of vivid experiences and unforgettable people. One of them was a little girl, only […]
From Heaven to Earth
SermonEaster 5A-23 Immanuel Lutheran, Chicago Death by stoning is a horrible way to die. Yet despite the violence directed against him, Stephen prayed for his enemies. “He knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:60) How is […]