We come burdened with guilt and shame over things we've done, and often avoid approaching God for fear of condemnation instead of compassion. But God's love is greater than anything we do. By Pastor Lars Hammar
What is Truth - sermon April 7
The big problem of discerning the truth in the face of overwhelming powers, and the temptation to believe in conspiracies and mystery cults, is nothing new. In fact, combating the lure of the gnostic cults with their promises of secret knowledge to the initiated is an underlying theme in the writings of John. This first in the series on "Jesus in the Eyes of John" looks at Gnosticism and how it affects language of light and dark, truth and falsehood, and finding God's love. By Pastor Lars Hammar.
Here’s my highly sophisticated drawing of the Gnostic universe.
Woman at the Well - sermon March 12, 2023
When a Samaritan woman encounters Jesus waiting by a well in the middle of the day, she ends up getting a new life of acceptance, value, and respect. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Wilderness Rebirth - sermon March 5, 2023
When we go into the wilderness, both literally and figuratively, we move outside of our areas of expertise, and into a new place where we have to start over, unlearn and relearn, and let go of being the expert. This is what Jesus is talking about when he tells us we need to be reborn in the Spirit - to let go of being the expert about God, and letting God teach us. By Pastor Lars Hammar
Anointing - sermon for April 3, 2022
What would you do if you only had a few days left with a person who had saved your brother's life? Would you throw a party? Do something to show your gratitude? And if you did, would you worry about the cost? A look at the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with perfume, and the importance of living generously and graciously. By Pastor Lars Hammar.
John 12:1-8
1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
A Child of God - sermon May 9
You can ask God to make you a somebody in the eyes of the world, but the Gospel of John is telling us to embrace our identity in Christ as a child of God. Fifth in the sermon series on "Who Am I? Finding my identity in Christ"
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What if It Didn't Happen for a Reason?
The crucifixion of Jesus is something we have struggled to find a purpose for, to explain it in a way that makes sense. But maybe we take away from the real meaning of the cross when we try to explain it, instead of allowing the tragedy of it all to be the meaning. The last in the sermon series on the Passion Story in the Gospel of John. By Pastor Lars Hammar.
Good Guys and Bad Guys
Hollywood makes its movies with conflicts between "good guys" you root for and "bad guys" you can't sympathize with. But in the real world we have mixed motivations, personal histories, and systems of power that don't always make the moral choice easy. In our struggle to find the "bad guy" in the story of Jesus' trial, we miss the larger point about all the actors being both sinners and saints in an unjust world.
Fourth in the sermon series on The Passion Story of Jesus in the Gospel of John. By Pastor Lars Hammar.
The False Appeal of Barabbas - sermon - March 7
We imagine that if we were in the crowd, and had to choose between Jesus the Messiah and Barabbas the killer, that it would be an easy choice. But the people chose the criminal, and we need to know the appeal of revenge, pride, and getting even that he promised - instead of Jesus' Kingdom of God. By Pastor Lars Hammar. March 7, 2021
Third in the sermon series on The Passion Story in the Gospel of John.
Talking Back - sermon Feb 28
If the Gospel message were simply that we should do what we're told and follow the rules and we'll get to go to heaven, the powers would never have tried to kill Jesus. Rediscover the Jesus who challenges authorities and provides a different meaning to "follow your cross". Second in the sermon series on the passion story in the Gospel of John. By Pastor Lars Hammar.
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." 22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23 Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. - John 18:19-24
