Lutherans believe that God’s Word is alive and active in the world, and that one way it comes to us is through the preaching of sermons.
A sermon is more than a “message,” more than advice. In preaching, God speaks to us. The sermon is an integral part of the liturgy, and, within that context, conveys God’s grace. Included here are print, audio and video files of recent and past sermons preached at Mount Olive.
- Hired No More Sunday, April 21, 2024 - Your Shepherd will never lose you and calls you to shepherd all Christ’s sheep with the same insistent passion and care. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fourth Sunday of Easter, year BText: John 10:11-18 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the […]
- Believable Sunday, April 14, 2024 - Faith in the risen Christ will transform you for life in this world, filled with God’s love and bringing healing. Life after death is the frosting on all, but not the important thing. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Third Sunday of Easter, year BTexts: Luke 24:(33-36a) 36b-48; Acts 3:12-19 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and […]
- Unbelievable Sunday, April 7, 2024 - The story of Thomas invites us to believe, not in death, but in life through Jesus and to hold space for the unbelievable bigness of God’s love . Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Second Sunday of Easter, year B Text: John 20:19-31 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and […]
- What’s Next? Sunday, March 31, 2024 - Your life in Christ is lived in what Mark left open, where you, like believers for centuries, let go of your fear and witness to God’s life in the world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Resurrection of Our Lord, year BTexts: Mark 16:1-8 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the […]
- Pass It On Thursday, March 28, 2024 - Jesus kneels at our feet, inviting us to be part of the fierce and incredible love of God. All we have to do is receive it and pass it on. Vicar Lauren Mildahl Maundy Thursday, year B Texts: Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of […]
- This Is My Body Sunday, March 24, 2024 - In the care given to Jesus’ body after death, we glimpse how God comes close to us in the every death. Vicar Lauren Mildahl Sunday of the Passion, year B Texts: Mark 11:1-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy […]
- As One Who Serves Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - Midweek Lent, 2024 + Love One Another + Week 5: Serve One Another Pr. Joseph G. CrippenTexts: Luke 22:14-27; 1 Peter 4:7-11 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen “I am among you as one who serves,” […]
- Unless a seed dies . . . Sunday, March 17, 2024 - There is abundant life in you, God’s dream for you, that only needs to have its shell, its husk die and break apart for you to bloom and grow as God’s gift to this world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fifth Sunday in Lent, year BTexts: John 12:20-33; Jeremiah 31:31-34 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, […]
- God’s Got This Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - Midweek Lent, 2024 ☩ Love One Another ☩ Week 4: Encourage One Another Vicar Lauren MildahlTexts: I Thessalonians 5:4-14, John 16:12-15, 32-33 Beloved children of God, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For the last three weeks, we’ve been […]
- Look – And Live Sunday, March 10, 2024 - The Triune God is always about healing: come into God’s light, look, and live. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fourth Sunday in Lent, year BTexts: John 3:14-21; Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen […]
- Logged and Loved Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - Midweek Lent, 2024 + Love One Another + Week 3: Do Not Judge One Another Pr. Joseph G. CrippenTexts: Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:7-13 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen This is a hard one. If loving […]
- Jealous Rage Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Thinking about the Cleansing of the Temple as a jealous rage refocuses our attention not on Jesus’ righteous anger but on God’s jealous love. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Third Sunday in Lent, year B Texts: Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 18-25, John 2:13-22 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of […]
- Radical Vulnerability Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - Midweek Lent, 2024 ☩ Love One Another ☩ Week 2: Confess Your Sins to One Another Vicar Lauren MildahlTexts: James 5:13-18, Luke 18:10-14 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Jewish sage Hillel the Elder was once […]
- Gladly Fail Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Faithful discipleship comes through failure and struggle, through the life that emerges from them to bless you and the world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Second Sunday in Lent, year BTexts: Mark 8:31-38; Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + […]
- Harmony Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - Midweek Lent, 2024 + Love One Another + Week 1: Agree with One Another Pr. Joseph G. CrippenText: Romans 12:16-18, 21 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen A man was stranded on an uncharted desert island […]
- Angels in the Wilderness Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Lent isn’t only a time to wrestle with our demons and the devil out in the world, but also a time to encounter spiritual good and to be served by angels. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The First Sunday in Lent, year B Texts: Mark 1:9-15, Genesis 9:8-17 God’s beloved children, grace to you and peace in the name […]
- Dusty Water Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - You are called to these practices to deepen your faith journey so you are a blessing and hope in the world, water in a desert. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenAsh WednesdayTexts: Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21; 2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and […]
- The Light That You Can See Sunday, February 11, 2024 - There are two hills where Jesus stands, and two lights: it’s the second one outside the city that matters to you and the universe, not today’s hill. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Transfiguration of Our Lord, year BText: Mark 9:2-9 (plus 10) Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, […]
- You, Too Sunday, February 4, 2024 - You matter to God, too. You get to ask for healing and hope, too. You are God’s beloved, always. Trust that. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Lect. 5 BTexts: Isaiah 40:21-31; Mark 1:29-39 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, […]
- Blood and Flesh Friday, February 2, 2024 - God transcends holy purity to enter into impurity in blood and flesh, sharing even the hard and gross experiences of life with us. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Presentation of our LordTexts: Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 Beloved saints, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the […]