Simply the Sermon for August 31, 2025: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 31, 2025 are Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; and Luke 14:1, 7-14. 

Invited and inviting—that is the nature of God's call to the church. By God’s grace in holy baptism we have a place at Christ’s banquet table. When, by the power of that same Spirit, humility and mutual love continue among us, the church can be more inviting still. In God's kin-dom the rules of the world are turned upside down; like Mary sang out, the proud are scattered in their conceit, the mighty are brought down from their thrones, etc. This is shocking, even angering for some folks, but for those in need (financially, emotionally, spiritually) it is what saves us all.

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Simply the Sermon for August 24, 2025: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, August 24 are: Isaiah 58:9b-14; Hebrews 12:18-29; and Luke 13:10-21.

Remember the sabbath day. Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord’s day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.  These are fabulous reminders to recognize God in all God's blessings . Remember that you are never lost from God and healing comes through both God and community. Even in those days that you are most weary, God sees you and knows you and loves you.

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Simply the Sermon for August 17, 2025: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 17 are: Jeremiah 23:23-29; Hebrews 11:29—12:2 and Luke 12:49-56. 

The word of God is a refining fire, purifying and preparing us for the work that we are called to do in caring for our neighbor. Jesus is the great divide in human history. He invites our undivided attention and devotion. Today in worship we are surrounded by a great “cloud of witnesses.” In the word and in holy communion we are invited yet again to look to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

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Simply the Sermon for August 10, 2025: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 10 are Genesis 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; and Luke 12:32-40.

Where is your treasure? What do you use those treasures for? In whom do you trust? Jesus says, I am the thief who sneaks into your house, your heart, when you least expect it. I come to remove the lust for those treasures that do not serve the neighbor so that you may find hope and joy and grace in servanthood.

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Simply the Sermon for August 3, 2025: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Bible readings for Sunday August 3, 2025 are Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21. 

Today’s texts offer instruction and encouragement for all who are occasionally overwhelmed by the “unhappy business” of life. Jesus urges us to take care and be on guard against all kinds of greed. We who have died with Christ in holy baptism have also been raised with him and are encouraged to elevate our thinking, seeking the “things that are above.” To that end we seek the sustenance of the Lord’s supper and the encouragement of God’s word. We are gifted for the care of neighbor and community rather than for the satisfaction of the self. We are called to look beyond our own navel.

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Simply the Sermon for July 27, 2025: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Our Bible readings for Sunday, July 27, 2025 are Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:6-19; and Luke 11:1-13. Hospitality and prayer are our foci this week. Persistence in prayer is encouraged by Jesus and wins the attention of God when Abraham intercedes for Sodom. The life of the baptized—to be rooted and built up in Christ Jesus—is to be nurtured with prayer. God hears and answers prayer and so strengthens God’s own. “When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.”

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Simply the Sermon for July 20, 2025: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Bible texts for Sunday, July 20 are Genesis 18:1-15; Colossians 1:15-28; and Luke 10:38-42. We hear the story of Martha and Mary of Bethany as Jesus and his disciples drop in for a meal and a rest. 

Perhaps the church, at its best, is “all ears.” God urges the faithful, again and again, to “listen up!”—to heed the word that gives life. So it was with Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Martha, and the early church at Colossae. So it is today as we join the assembly to hear the word of God, the word of life.

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Simply the Sermon for July 13, 2025: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, July 13 are: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37 (sometimes known as The Good Samaritan").

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind is to reflect God’s mercy in both seeing and responding to one’s neighbor. That mercy found its most profound expression in the “gospel that has come to you”—namely the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That gospel mercy comes to us again today: at the font, at the table, and from the pulpit. It is very near to you. Who would be neighborly with you that you may not recognize?

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Simply the Sermon for July 6, 2025: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, July 6 are Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:1-16; and Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. 

How might our gospel reading about disciples being sent out to share the good news be not so much about us being the givers of good news but instead our being the receiver of the good news from sources that we might ordinarily discount? Who is sharing the gospel with us that we might not recognize? Who are we discounting who may leave our presence only to wipe our dust from their feet? Might God be opening you to a new revelation?

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Simply the Sermon for June 29, 2025: Third Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings today are 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25, and Luke 9:51-62. We have no good apart from God. That makes Jesus’ call to follow him an invitation to freedom. This is freedom to revel in the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, and patience. This is freedom to not be imprisoned by anything or anyone that would keep us from the fullness of the life God has given us. This is the path of life.

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Simply the Sermon for June 22, 2025: Second Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for this Sunday, June 22, 2025 are Isaiah 65:1-9; Galatians 3:23-29; and Luke 8:26-39. In our gospel reading we follow the journey of Jesus and his friends as they travel into other lands and meet folks who are in extreme need. But when we poke into the story a bit deeper we find nuance that we had never expected. Listen closely to the story and find a God who is willing and able to stand against chaos and the power of sin so that God's entire creation can flourish.

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Simply the Sermon for June 15, 2025: Holy Trinity Sunday

This is a special day, a day when we try to wrap our heads around how one God can be three persons. The good news is that we will never get it exactly right because God is so much bigger than our little brains can comprehend. If we had all knowledge and all wisdom and could explain in detail what God was, then what would we need a God for? I for one am grateful that God knows more, is more, and loves more than I can even comprehend. 

Our readings for this Sunday, June 15 are Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5; and John 16:12-15.

 “O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Paul writes that through Jesus we have peace with God, whose love pours into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, giving us lasting hope. We celebrate the gracious One-in-Three, eternal Three-in-One, as we worship in community; as we share water and word, bread and wine; and as we bring God’s love and hope to our neighbors.

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Simply the Sermon for June 8, 2025: Pentecost Sunday

On Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, our second advocate,  to people of varied languages, communities, and customs, people outside of the previous scope of the gospel story. This particular reading comes to us from Acts 2:1-21. We also heard Genesis 11:1-9 and our gospel reading was John 14:8-27.  This advocate, whom Jesus had promised, now comes to us in wind and fire, water, wine, and bread, the Holy Spirit abiding in and among us. We give thanks that God speaks to each of us, no matter our origins, language, or life path. Filled with the Spirit of truth, we go out from worship to proclaim the saving power of Christ’s love and the freedom of God’s grace with all the world.

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Simply the Sermon for June 1, 2025: Seventh Sunday of Easter

Our readings for Sunday, June 1 are: Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26. Today is not a normal day. Five of us are just returned from our Synod Assembly where we gathered with hundreds of Lutherans from across the Southwestern California Synod to sing, pray, discern, vote, listen, and worship. It was a thrilling time! Please ask Julie H., Grace S., Autumn B., Cherie D., or myself about our experience. I'll also try to type up something for the Friday Collective.

That being said, our Bishop, Brenda Bos, provided a sermon for use this Sunday, since most of us preacher types were preparing for and then at the Assembly during our normal sermon prep hours. What a gift! So what you will hear preached on this Simply the Sermon is me, preaching the sermon written and prepared by Bishop Bos.

It is possible to hear in Jesus’ high priestly prayer, a prayer he offered shortly before his death, the petitions of the ascended Christ for his own throughout history—to our day—and beyond. Bishop Bos uses Jesus' words here to remind us of who Jesus is and how we are called to follow his lead in giving and receiving love.

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Simply the Sermon for May 25, 2025: Sixth Sunday of Easter

Visions abound in the readings (Acts 16:6-15, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, and John 14:23-29) for the sixth Sunday of Easter. Paul has a vision about what to do but keeps hitting roadblocks until finally the way is made clear. John has a vision of what will be. Lydia sees a vision of a future filled with hope and love. Jesus provides visions of peace that surpass all human understanding and power beyond human imagination.

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Simply the Sermon for May 18, 2025: Fifth Sunday of Easter

Our readings for Sunday, May 18 are: Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, and John 13:31-35.  

The resurrection of Christ at Easter initiates a new day. It anticipates a new heaven and a new earth. The risen Christ is making all things new. In the mystery of holy baptism God has even made new people of us. Today Jesus invites us to see everyone in a new light—through the lens of love, leading us outside of our doors and into the community. Who are we that we could hinder God? Might as well follow him into the world.

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Simply the Sermon for May 11, 2025: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Our readings for Sunday May 11, 2025 are Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17 and John 10:22-30

The gift of new life, of eternal life, is the gift of the risen Christ. It is the promise of Jesus. It was true for Dorcas/Tabitha in Joppa. It was true for those “who have come out of the great ordeal” in the Revelation vision. It is true for us and for all the baptized: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Believe, belong, become.

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Simply the Sermon for May 4, 2025: Third Sunday of Easter

Our readings for Sunday, May 4, 2025 are Acts 9:1-20, Revelations 5:11-14 and John 21:1-19

What Would Jesus Do/ Let's see what he did on the beach, and let's remember how the followers in Damascus behaved. There are lessons for all of us

Pastor Ellen Ayres

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Simply the Sermon for April 27, 2025: Second Sunday of Easter

Our readings for Sunday, April 27, 2025 are Acts 5:27-32, Revelations 1:4-8 and John 20:19-30

I admire Thomas for his courage in demanding answers in terrifying times.  His willingness to ask is an inspiration to me. See if you agree.

Pastor Ellen Ayres

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Simply the Sermon for April 20, 2025: Easter Sunday

Our readings for Sunday, April 20, 2025 are Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 and John 20:1-18
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death,” Paul writes. Today Christ is risen, and we gather together with astonishment and joy. Christ is risen, and we have been set free from the bonds of death. Christ is risen, and we are forgiven. Christ is risen, and with Mary at the tomb as she meets her Lord, we are honored and overjoyed! Let us rejoice: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Blessings on this Holy Week,
Pastor Diana

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