Triumph or Tragedy?

Palm Sunday 
Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Well, this Sunday, the lectionary wanted me to preach on the last supper and the crucifixion of Jesus – but I felt that was getting ahead of ourselves a bit. That to jump to Good Friday the Sunday before would miss the point and impact of Holy Week. We call it Holy Week because there are seven days between now and next Sunday – and there is a lot that happens in these seven days. Today is the start – as we remember Palm Sunday, and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The Hometown Prophet

This sermon was first preached January 23/24, 2010 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney, NE.

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

So how many of you have ever asked, or been asked, the question, “So what’s your favorite scripture passage?” Most of us have some passage that always sticks out to us, something that we always remember – even if it’s one of those “oldies but goodies” like Psalm 23, or John 3:16… I’m a bit of an odd-duck, my favorite passage is from Exodus 33, when God gets irritated with the Israelites and tells Moses: “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

Seems like an odd verse to like, I know – especially to have it be one of your favorites… but I like it because it reminds me that when I get annoyed with people, it’s okay to sometimes be annoyed. Even God got annoyed with the people he loved.

When Bad Things Happen

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Shakespeare may have thought “To be or not to be” was the question that preoccupied humanity – certainly was what preoccupied Hamlet, but I’d argue that “Why do bad things happen to good people” is right up there with questions that weigh heavily on our mind.

When people ask me that question, Luke 13 is exactly where I go. In this passage we see that the disciples were keenly aware of both the evils perpetuated by humanity – such as Pilate mingling the blood of a group of Galileean pilgrims with his pagan sacrifices, as well as the random acts of nature, like the tower of Siloam that fell and killed eighteen hapless Jews.

The disciples ask the question: Why do these things happen? What have they done to deserve that?