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.
- 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 […]
- And they obey . . . Sunday, January 28, 2024 - There are real spiritual powers that are demonic, unclean, and God has come – now in you and me – to send them reeling into the abyss. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Lect. 4 BText: Mark 1:21-28 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and […]
- God Calls Twice Sunday, January 21, 2024 - God calls us twice, with patient urgency, into the reign of God. Vicar Lauren Mildahl The Third Sunday after Epiphany, Lect. 3 B Texts: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20; John 21:1-19 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the […]
- What’s In a Name? Monday, January 1, 2024 - Be Christ Jesus, share the same mind and heart, because you share the same name. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Name of JesusTexts: Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen My parents disagreed about […]
- Seeing Salvation Sunday, December 31, 2023 - In this passage the Temple is functioning the way it was supposed to and God’s salvation is seen in many different dimensions. Vicar Lauren Mildahl First Sunday of Christmas, year B Texts: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Luke 2:22-40 God’s beloved, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the […]
- Made Known Monday, December 25, 2023 - The Light has come and has shown you God’s heart: that you share that heart and bear the Light into the world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Nativity of Our LordText: John 1:1-14, add 18 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of […]
- Living In the Fields Sunday, December 24, 2023 - God can’t do this without you because there is no “this” without you. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Eve of the Nativity of Our LordTexts: Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 9:2-7 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen If you […]
- An Impossible Situation Sunday, December 24, 2023 - Mary was in an impossible situation and it is the same situation that we are in, to bear Christ to the World. Thankfully, nothing is impossible with God. Vicar Lauren Mildahl Fourth Sunday of Advent, year B Texts: Luke 1:46b-55, Luke 1:26-38 Greetings, favored ones, grace to you and peace in the name of the Father, and […]
- Light from Light Sunday, December 17, 2023 - You are the light, the anointed one, sent in the Spirit to drive away the shadows and darkness of this world. Pr. Joseph G. CrippenThe Third Sunday of Advent, year BTexts: John 1:6-8, 19-28; Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; with references to Matthew 5:14-16 Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the […]