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.
- Lifted High Saturday, September 14, 2024 - Jesus Christ on the cross tells us that the present pain, death, and shame is powerless. But when the pain of this world feels too heavy, His scars tell us that’s okay. Vicar Natalie WusslerHoly Cross DayTexts: Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; John 3:13-17 Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you in […]
- Who Acted? Sunday, September 8, 2024 - To be saved is to act as a neighbor, because you are forever bound up and embraced by the non-negotiable love of God. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 23 BTexts: James 2:1-10, 14-17; Mark 7:24-37; Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146; and using Luke 10:25-37 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace […]
- Armor Sunday, August 25, 2024 - In this weary world, we often struggle against powers and cosmic evils that wish to take us away from eternal, abundant life. The full armor of God helps us remember we are not alone in our struggles. Vicar Natalie WusslerThe Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 21 BTexts: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John […]
- And Sunday, August 18, 2024 - The gift of the Triune God in Christ is abundant, eternal life here and now, and life to come after we die, and all need to be brought into this abundant grace. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 20 BText: John 6:51-58 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the […]
- Enough is Enough Sunday, August 4, 2024 - We often can’t help but worry “Will there be enough?” but Jesus is enough, and all we need to do is trust that enough is enough. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 18 B Texts: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:16-35 Beloved friends, grace to you and peace in the name […]
- Abundantly More Sunday, July 28, 2024 - God is able to do, by the power at work in you, abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine: what if you learned to trust and expect that? Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 17 BTexts: Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-15 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the […]
- He Liked to Listen Sunday, July 14, 2024 - Like Herod, the good news might perplex us, but it also attracts us–and we are called to live into the fullness of God’s shalom by speaking peace and justice. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 15 B Texts: Mark 6:14-29; Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Ephesians 1:3-14 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in […]
- Listen Sunday, July 7, 2024 - You and I are called to follow Christ, proclaim God’s love with our lives, and we help each other both hear that call and live it. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 14 BTexts: Mark 6:1-13; Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name […]
- I Call to Mind Sunday, June 30, 2024 - God’s healing is coming, and therefore we have hope. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 13 BTexts: Lamentations 3:(21)22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Jeremiah found hope. […]
- Questions Matter Sunday, June 23, 2024 - Answers are important, but questions matter more — our questions for God, like “Do you not care that we are perishing?” and God’s questions for us, like “Why are you still afraid?” Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 12 B Texts: Job 38:1-11; Mark 4:35-41 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the […]
- Joyful Unknowing Sunday, June 16, 2024 - Growing as Christ, gaining God’s vision, is a gift of God, a mystery that grows in you even as you learn the skill and craft of being Christ in this world Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 11 B Texts: Mark 4:26-34; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and […]
- The Real Blasphemy Sunday, June 9, 2024 - The scribes thought Jesus might be using the power of a demon, but spiritual evil can’t produce life and wholeness and community–that’s what the Holy Spirit does. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Third Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 10 B Texts: Genesis 3:8-15; Mark 3:20-35; also Luke 6:27-28 and Romans 12:21 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in […]
- Shabbat Shalom Sunday, June 2, 2024 - Sabbath is God’s gift to you and your neighbor: seek it, find it, live it. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 9 BTexts: Mark 2:23 – 3:6; Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy […]
- Sharing Life Sunday, May 26, 2024 - All of our words and images fall short of perfectly describing the ancient and difficult doctrine of the Trinity, which is at its heart a description of shared life, shared within the divine and shared with us. Vicar Lauren MildahlThe Holy Trinity, year BTexts: Isaiah 6:1-8; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 God’s beloved, grace to you […]
- What Can You Bear? Sunday, May 19, 2024 - Christ promises the Spirit will lead us into all truth when we can bear it: let us pray that we say we’re always ready to bear whatever is needed for the life of the world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Day of Pentecost, year BTexts: John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15; Acts 2:1-21, referencing vv. 41-47 Beloved in Christ, […]
- Unrecognizable Sunday, May 12, 2024 - If you truly are made holy to love and live as Christ, you will be a threat to the world, like Jesus was; but you will also be a part of God’s healing of all things. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Seventh Sunday of Easter, year BText: John 17:6-19 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and […]
- Cloudy, With a Chance of Fullness Thursday, May 9, 2024 - Jesus left at the ascension, so that we could learn to look for Christ everywhere. Vicar Lauren MildahlThe Ascension of Our LordTexts: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you had […]
- Unexpected Friendship Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Jesus’s command to love one another invites us into unexpected friendships, including the friendship between God and creation. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Sixth Sunday of Easter, year B Texts: Acts 10:44-48, John 15:9-17 Dear friends, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy […]
- Never Apart Sunday, April 28, 2024 - You cannot be separated from God’s love in Christ by anything, so trust your connection to the Vine and God’s ability to grow fruit in you. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fifth Sunday of Easter, year BTexts: John 15:1-8; 1 John 4:7-21 (with a call out to Romans 8) Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and […]
- 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 […]
