In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 30

All Dressed Up

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jan 8, 2003

Unable to dress up our lives with a "righteousness" of our own, Jesus dresses us in "His" righteousness.

Christmas 2 B Isaiah 61:10-62:3 All Dressed Up 01/05/02 Yes, they’re still here – the manger, the advent candles, the decorations and the trees. Signs of Christmas, so hastily put up, in many cases so slow to be put away. For a couple of months now our homes, our businesses, our churches; yes, ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

A Peaceful Passing

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Dec 31, 2002

Christmas is not a time when we like to discuss death, but the story of our Lord and the calendar of the church year won’t allow us to ignore it. The question then is how can we face this experience we would rather not discuss with peace.

Christmas 1 B Luke 2:25-35 A Peaceful Passing 12/29/02 "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; ...those they love are taken from them, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope Can Be Yours

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 18, 2002

In the face of death, there is hope. David knows it. Do we?

Psalm 51:15-17 11/09/02 Edith Rockefeller McCormick, the daughter of John D. Rockefeller, maintained a large household staff. She applied one rule to every servant without exception: They were not permitted to speak to her. The rule was broken only once, when word arrived at the family’s country ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:15-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Leave, Cleave And Weave

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 18, 2002

Marriage, as it was instituted by God, involves three keys for success. Leaving Home, Cleaving to one’s spouse and being Weaved around the Love of God in Christ.

Genesis 2:18-25 Leave, Cleave and Weave 11/08/02 On July 29, 1981 Britain’s Prince Charles married his Lady Diana in a grand royal ceremony. The glamorous wedding was a fairy tale of present pomp and past glory, a last gold-leaf page from the tattered book of empire. London was a city dressed like ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Free Indeed

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Oct 29, 2002

Many people feel freedom comes in being free from anything and everything except themselves. Jesus helps us discover that true freedom is found in Him and His Word of Truth.

Reformation Sunday John 8:31-36 Free Indeed 10/27/02 A park ranger by the name of John Elliott was once caught in a blizzard high in the Rocky Mountains. As a result of the storm he became lost. It was only by the grace of God that he eventually saw a cabin and crawling to the door with his last ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't Shrink Back

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Sep 19, 2002

Like God’s people to whom Isaiah spoke in Ch. 55, we can grow to think our circumstances are insurmountable. We can suffer a crisis of faith. Isaiah reassures God’s people of every age that there’s no reason to shrink back from carrying out the work and

Pentecost 18 A Isaiah 55:6-9 Don’t Shrink Back 09/22/02 Professor William Muehl once visited a fine ancestral home in Virginia. He followed the aged owner, the last of a distinguished colonial family, as she proudly showed him through her home. An ancient rifle above the fireplace intrigued him, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-13

Denomination: Lutheran

A Tale Of Two Offerings

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Sep 12, 2002

Cain’s offering and Abel’s offering look similar on the surface but are distinguished from one another on the basis of the faith in their hearts. The great question this story asks is where our offerings fall, closer to Cain’s or closer to Abel’s?

Pentecost 17 A Genesis 4:1-16 A Tale of Two Offerings 09/15/02 The powerful, faith assuring epistle of Romans which we have been reading this past summer and from which our epistle is taken today, draws near to its close with the following words of chapter 15. “everything that is written in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

What Was He Thinking

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 30, 2002

When a cross or trial comes our way we’re often left wondering like Peter, "What was He thinking when He allowed this to come on me?" However, Jesus’ own cross story helps us to see that in the midst of it all, He’s still thinking of you and me.

Pentecost 15 A Matthew 16:21-26 What Was He Thinking? 09/01/02 There’s a television commercial currently running that shows a guy going off a tall waterfall in a kayak. He’s screaming all the way to the bottom as he bounces off rocks along the canyon wall and finishes his plunge into the waters ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Your Balloons Sail Free

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 26, 2002

Seeing how God has acted to give us all we have and how He has kept His promises we’re moved to offer Him thanks and praise.

Pentecost 14 A Exodus 6:2-8; Romans 11:33-36 Let Your Balloons Sail Free! Based on Joachim Neander’s Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 08/25/02 “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.” These are not expressions that ordinarily used in the Lutheran Church. Not because there’s anything wrong with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:2-8, Romans 11:33-36

Denomination: Lutheran

A House For All Nations

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 20, 2002

God’s house is not just for a select few. God tells those who are among his family and those who are outside of it that He still intends to add still more to His people than those already gathered; people of every nationality and race, social status and

Pentecost 13 A Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 A House For All Nations 08/18/02 As part of my daily routine, I receive and read an e-mail newsletter called Heartlight. I was struck this past week by the heartfelt confession of a brother in Christ by the name of Lynn Anderson in the July 31st issue. He was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Do Not Be Afraid

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 28, 2002

Fear can be a powerful motivating factor that can keep us from living out our Christian faith, life and responsibilities. Jesus assures us that we do not need to be afraid and releases us from fear’s bondage.

Pentecost 5 A Matthew 10:24-33 Do Not Be Afraid 06/23/02 During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Our God: The Patron Of Lost Causes

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 6, 2002

It’s easy to identify others as "lost causes". It’s not nearly so easy for us to see ourselves this way. Nevertheless that’s exactly where we need to be, where we’ll want to be; for empty of all our righteousness we cling to Christ and find life.

Pentecost 3 A Matthew 9:9-13 Our God: The Patron of Lost Causes 06/09/02 Speaking of Lost Causes, take a listen to these stories. In New Orleans, a man broke into a home and stole, some jewelry and took the home owner’s season tickets to the New Orleans Saints. The police arrested him the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Underpinnings Of The Church Of God

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 3, 2002

What is it that makes for a strong Christian Community? Moses identifies three underpins of the Church -- The Family Incubator, The Word of God and the assurance of God’s gracious love.

Pentecost 2 A Deuteronomy 11:18-21; 26-28 Underpinnings for the Church of God 06/02/02 I would guess that’s not a word that you use in your everyday vocabulary. More customary is the use of other words with similar meaning; words like “foundation” or “groundwork” or “building blocks.” Any of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Show Us!

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Apr 29, 2002

We all ought to develope the attitude that seeks to know God more. But Jesus also wants us to go and show others.

Easter 5 A John 14:1-12 Show Us! 04/28/02 I’ll never forget the first day of drivers training. The process in Illinois wasn’t at all like it is here in Iowa. First we had to wait till we were 16 – Juniors in high school, not in Jr. High. Imagine, two years of high school where we could ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

A Test Of Authenticy

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Apr 29, 2002

Jesus helps his listeners to identify faithful shepherds of His Word and how they can know they are true sheep of His pasture.

Easter 4 A A Test of Authenticity John 10:1-10 04/21/02 You wouldn’t think it would be all that difficult. Loading a computer program onto your computer these days is usually as simple as placing the CD in the computer and following the simple instructions on the screen. But this is not ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran