The Word at Shalom

May 21, 2023, Easter 7: ”The End of Nostalgia”

Paul was emphatic. In Christ, the old life once lived by Christians had come to an end in their baptism. However, some appeared to have difficulty believing it. After all, if Christ had died to forgive sinners, why not continue to do whatever one wants? Paul rejects this categorically, but why? What does radical freedom mean to the Christian? How might longing for one's old life get in the way of living out one's radical freedom in Christ? And what does this mean for the church? Pastor David preaches "The End of Nostalgia" based on Romans 5:19-6:14. 

May 14, 2023: ”True Hope”

The church at Rome was suffering. A small community, they had endured internal strife and the deportation of their Jewish members. With the accession of Nero, they may have been anxious about what was to come. To address their suffering, Paul writes of hope. But he doesn't tell them to be hopeful. Instead, Paul links hope itself to suffering. How does Paul do this? What does it mean to have hope in God when everything seems to fall apart? And how can today's church maintain hope in our challenging times? Pastor David preaches "True Hope" based on Romans 3:28-30; 5:1-11.

May 7, 2023, Easter 4: ”Good Pride”

The word "pride" has a long association with self-centeredness. Since Augustine in the 4th century, pride has been described as the chief sin. (And that's still true if you've ever lived in the upper Midwest for any length of time!) However, there is a good kind of pride, too, one in which we are not proud of ourselves or what we can accomplish, but what God in Christ has already accomplished. What does this good pride look like? How does it compare with the "Roman pride" contemporary to Paul? And, since we are celebrating seven young people who will affirm their baptism, what does it mean for them to take pride in a crucified and risen Christ? Pastor David preaches "Good Pride" based on Romans 1:1-17. This begins a three-month series on Paul's Letter to the Romans.

April 30, 2023: ”God in Suffering”

We may often wonder why a good God lets bad things happen. People suffer all the time for senseless reasons. However, even the apostles experienced senseless suffering. How do Paul and Barnabas deal with the senseless suffering they endure at Lystra? How can they strengthen the other disciples after suffering so much? Where do they find the strength to continue? And how can their example strengthen us in our own sufferings? Pastor David preaches "God in Suffering" based on Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-23. 

April 23, 2023: ”The Bible Clearly Says....”

Peter was confused. God's word clearly stated that there were clean and unclean animals. Likewise, there were Israelites and gentiles. Israel was set apart from the gentiles to be God's holy people. So when Peter had a vision, followed by Cornelius's summons, his way of understanding the world was turned upside down. What did Peter do in response to the Spirit's prompting? How do we sometimes get stuck in our own worldviews which divide people into insiders and outsiders? What is the challenge and comfort in this text for the contemporary church? Pastor David preaches "The Bible Clearly Says...." based on Acts 10:1-17, 34-48.

April 16, 2023, Easter 2: ”Jesus Meant It”

It must have been a surreal moment for the (now eleven) disciples. The last time they saw Jesus, he had been arrested as an enemy of the Temple apparatus and the state. Now he appears to them again, not as a defeated messianic candidate, but as King and Lord of all. So, what does Jesus do with his authority? How are the disciples to live, knowing who their rightful Lord is? And what does this mean for the western church today, often so fearful of decline? Pastor David preaches “Jesus Meant It” based on Matthew 28:16-20 (often called The Great Commission).

April 9, 2023, Easter Sunday: ”The King’s Triumph”

Jesus had been executed a few days before as a rival king. Pilate even stationed a few men at the tomb to prevent any funny business from happening. But the kingdom of heaven still showed up. What happens when heaven's kingdom comes in contact with earthly kingdoms? What kind of power does Jesus have? And where do we see his reign today? Pastor David preaches "The King's Triumph" based on Matthew 28:1-10.

April 6, 2023, Maundy Thursday: ”The King’s Table”

What makes Jesus' table so special? Pastor David preaches "The King's Table" based on Matthew 26:17-30.

April 2, 2023, Palm Sunday: ”All Shook Up”

Matthew tells us that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was "in turmoil" or "shaken". This isn't the first time Jerusalem has trembled at Jesus's arrival. Back in chapter 2, King Herod "and all Jerusalem with him" were frightened at the news of his birth. What about Jesus shakes hearts, minds, and even our very ways of being? How does Jesus shake up our institutions, even those as central as the Temple once was? And what are we called to instead? Pastor David preaches "All Shook Up" (with apologies to Elvis!) based on Matthew 21:1-17.

March 26, 2023, Lent 5: ”Living Our Best Life”

Jesus ends his parables of the kingdom with a final description of the last judgment. The sheep are separated from the goats based on works of mercy toward "the least of these". But how does this square with the notion that we are saved by God's grace alone? If our works do matter, as Jesus says they do, then how do we know we have done enough? And what does that mean for our life together, here and now? Pastor David preaches "Living our Best Life" based on Matthew 25:31-46.