Simply the Sermon for March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, March 29, is a little different kind of a day. It is a day when we begin by joining in with the excited throng who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem and begged him to save them and it is the day when we hear much of the rest of the story. It is an emotionally hard day, a long day. We begin by hearing the the story of Jesus's triumphal entry in Matthew 21:1-11. Unfortunately we didn't get a recording of that.

Then we hear readings from Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; and finally Matthew 26:14—27:66. It is a long reading which we were able to break up a bit by singing verses of the beautifully haunting hymn Were You There. A hard story, yes, but a story that shows the depth of love that our Savior has for us.

Today, we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is both glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter, we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God. We wave palms in celebration today as Christ comes into our midst, and we follow with trepidation as his path leads to death on the cross. Amid it all we are invited into this paradoxical promise of life through Christ’s broken body and outpoured love in a meal of bread and wine. We begin this week that stands at the center of the church year, anticipating the completion of God’s astounding work.

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Simply the Sermon for March 22, 2026: Fifth Sunday in Lent

Our Bible texts for Sunday, March 22, the 5th Sunday in Lent are: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:6-11; and John 11:1-45.

In today’s gospel Jesus reveals his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those in exile or living in the shadows of death, these stories proclaim God’s promise of resurrection. In baptism we die with Christ in order that we will also be raised with him to new life. And that life is found, here and now, in community with all the people of God.

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Simply the Sermon for March 15, 2026: Fourth Sunday in Lent

Our readings for Sunday, March 17, the 4th Sunday in Lent are: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41. This Sunday is called Laetare Sunday or Rose Sunday. It is the halfway point in Lent. Traditionally, this Sunday is a day of celebration within the more solemn period of Lent. It is a day specifically appointed to rejoice!

The gospel for this Sunday is the story of the man born blind healed by Christ. “I was blind, now I see,” declares the man. In baptism God opens our eyes to see the truth of who we are: God’s beloved children. As David was anointed king of Israel, in baptism God anoints our head with oil, and calls us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our daily lives. We are recreated from dirt to mudpies to disciples.

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Simply the Sermon for March 8, 2026: Third Sunday in Lent

Our texts for March 8, 2026 are: Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11;  and John 4:5-42.

In today’s gospel the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. The early church used this gospel and those of the next two Sundays to deepen baptismal reflection during the final days of preparation before baptism at Easter. As we journey to the resurrection feast, Christ comes among us in word, bath, and meal—offering us the life-giving water of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

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Simply the Sermon for March 1, 2026: Second Sunday in Lent

Our readings for the second Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2026 are Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17.

During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are given a new birth as children of God. As God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world.

Here at Bethel we talked about the apostle Paul, both his quirkiness and his  passion for the gospel. How he informed the Christians in Rome that we rely not on our own faith but on the faith of Jesus which has been shared with us. And that passion for that faith, that gospel, can propel us out into the world to share the good news of hope to all people.

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