In Sermons: showing 16-28 of 28

How's Your Karma?

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Nov 3, 2007

A look at Israel’s history of (sinfully) worshipping the pagan gods of those people around them, its implications, and how Israel kept doing it again and again. The sermon compares this with how our contemporary society falls into this same trap (karma,

HOW’S YOUR KARMA? An Exploration of the Danger of New Age Mysticism in American Society Based upon the teaching of Isaiah 1:10-18 Stephen H. Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church—Elk Grove, CA November 4, 2007—23rd Sunday After Pentecost A few months ago I did something that really upset my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Freedom In Jesus

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 28, 2007

A look at what it means when Jesus tells us that holing to his teachings will set us free. What does it mean to be free in Christ? This is a Reformation Sunday sermon that shows us the freedom in Christ which two great men taught: the Reformer of the C

FREEDOM IN JESUS John 8:31-36 Reformation Sunday, October 28, 2007 Stephen H. Becker, M. Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church For us Lutherans, today is an especially important day, as today is Reformation Sunday. It’s the day in the Church year where we remember the events that lead up to the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Do You Have Time For Jesus?

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

God claims us as His own, sending us forth to proclaim His Good News. Yet, at the same time, God wants quiet time with us...time spent in prayer with our Maker and Redeemer...time allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives in sanctification.

DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR JESUS? Galatians 1:11-24 June 10, 2007, 2nd Sunday After Pentecost Stephen H. Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church—Elk Grove So do you have a busy life? A chaotic life? Does it seem like you are running around every day between jobs and kids and activities? I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:11-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Sins Are Forgiven

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

Jesus completely paid for our sins on the cross. Yet Satan will always try to "remind" us of our unworthiness and or our sins, but God the Holy Spirit wants us to know that because of our faith in Jesus, we ARE saved and God remembers our sins no more.

YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN Stephen Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church—Elk Grove June 17, 2007, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost There was once a little boy and his sister visiting their grandparents on their farm. Grandpa gave the little boy a sling-shot to play with out in the wood. The boy ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Sons And Daughters Of God

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

Through Grace, we are adopted into God’s family, because REAL sons and daughers of God, completely forgiven of our sins, through the Grace of Jesus Christ...purchased with His body and blood on the cross for our redemption.

Sons and Daughters of God Galatians 3:23-4:7 Stephen Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church--Elk Grove Last month we celebrated Mother’s Day and last Sunday was Father’s Day. These are days we set aside to honor our moms and dads, the parents who loved us and raised us, or in the case of the ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Keeping In Step With Christ

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

What is the cost of discipleship? It’s free! Jesus calls us to follow Him and then gives us the tools we need to do so. We keep in step with Christ when we allow the Holy Spirit to put our lives into order...into Christian order, as believers.

Keeping In Step With God Readings: Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:57-62 Stephen Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, July 1, 2007 Have you completely committed your life to Jesus? I mean, completely? Have you ever thought of what it “costs” to completely turn ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-25

Denomination: Lutheran

He Ain't Heavy...he's My Brother

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

A look at fellowship among Christians, especially in light of Paul’s discussions of Christians’ role within the church to God, to each other and to those who have not yet come to Christ.

“He Ain’t Heavy…He’s My Brother” Galatians 5:14, 6:1-10, 14-18 Stephen Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, July 8, 2007 One of the songs that the 1960’s is best known for is a song by The Hollies known as “He Ain’t Heavy…He’s my Brother.” Back in the 60’s, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

And Now For The Rest Of The Story...

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

A sermon investigating the Good Samaritan and Good Works, in light of the Grace of Jesus Christ. We do God’s good works not to be saved because Jesus has done everything for our salvation; rather we do good works because we are saved.

And Now…the Rest of the Story Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan Stephen Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, July 15, 2007 How many people here have heard of the story of the Good Samaritan before? It’s a parable that is taught often in Bible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus: The Fulfillment Of Promise

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

Jesus Christ is more than just the prediction of the Old Testament; Jesus is the fulfillment of the OT promise, promises God made to Abraham to send a Messiah into the world. This sermon explores Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the World.

JESUS: THE COMPLETE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE Acts 13:16-32a Stephen H. Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church July 22, 2007 8th Sunday After Pentecost Often when people think of the Old Testament, they think of it as a book about God’s creation of the world, about Adam and Eve, about Noah, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:16-32

Denomination: Lutheran

"A-Life" In Christ

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

Through our salvation in Christ, we are made alive in Him. Through His death, we find our life. Not only are we made alive through Christ’s death, but we begin a new life in Him, thus making us "A-life" in Christ. The sermon explores what it means to

“A-Life” in Christ Colossians 2:6-15 Stephen H. Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church July 29, 2007 9th Sunday After Pentecost Friends, you and I are alive and have “a-life” in Christ! In our reading today from Colossians, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in the young Church ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-15

Denomination: Lutheran

The Way Of Grace Is Different

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 13, 2007

A sermon which explores the meaning of the Grace of Jesus Christ: what is means, how Jesus secured our salvation, what it meant to the Jews and Gentiles of Jesus’ time and what it means to us today. FAITH ALONE, GRACE ALONE BECAUSE OF JESUS ALONE.

“The Way of Grace is Different” Luke 14:1-14 Stephen H. Becker, M.Div. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church—Elk Grove, Ca. September 2nd, 2007 In our reading today, Jesus told a parable, and in fact throughout Jesus’ ministry, He often taught using parables. The Apostle Mark in his Gospel tells us that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

"Chief Of Sinners"

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 9, 2007

Who is the chief of sinners? We are all sinners, yet saved by grace through faith. As a former Mormon, my sermon explores Paul’s message of "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." how regardless of our past, we are new creatures, alive in

So who is your favorite character in the Bible that you can relate with most? Do you have one? Of course, I would have to say that Jesus Christ is my favorite Person in the Bible, but, other than God, who in the Bible can I really relate to? I guess for each one of us it depends upon how we¡¦ve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Denomination: Lutheran

"Strong In The Grace Of Christ Jesus"

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 9, 2007

Remaining strong in the Grace of Christ Jesus, even despite persecution.

Have you ever thought about what you would write to somebody if you knew it would be your last letter ever to them? Especially if you were writing to a family member or a close friend…somebody you care for but knew that you would never see again? I’ve heard of parents who, when finding out that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran