In this sermon, based on John 3:1-17, Pastor Scott explores the ambiguous nature of the Holy Trinity. It is difficult, perhaps even impossible to fully understand. Likewise, in today's gospel story, an individual comes to Jesus showing an equal amount of confusion in his identity and mission.  

This is the assigned gospel text for May 30th, 2021, Holy Trinity Sunday.

Sermon: Holy Trinity...Huh 5-30-21

In this sermon, based on Luke 16:1-13, Pastor Scott explores a bit of a maddening parable of Jesus, the dishonest manager.  While difficult to interpret, it does make us sit up and pay attention to the way that the world of wealth acquisition works.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday September 18th, the 15th Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon: Does Jesus Want Me To Hate Money? 9-18-22

In this sermon, based on John 10:1-10, Pastor Scott explores the idea of being known so that others know your voice.  Unfortunately Siri doesn't really cooperate very well. 

This is the assigned text for Sunday April 30th, the 4th Sunday of Easter

Sermon: Hey Siri 4-30-23

In this sermon, based on John 14:1-14, Pastor Scott explores the idea of symbols that point to something specific and the desire that we share with the disciples to somehow see God.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday May 7th, the 5th Sunday of Easter.

Sermon: Symbols 5-7-23

In this sermon, based on Matthew 9, Pastor Scott explores 2 seemingly unconnected moments in Jesus' ministry that highlight God's mercy for the individual. This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday June 11th, the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon:The Mercy of Jesus 6-11-23

In this sermon, based on Matthew 14:13-21, Pastor Scott explores Jesus' miracle of feeding the 5000, featuring both the disciples both receiving and participating in the miracle.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday August 6th, the 10th Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon: Jesus Feeds 5000 Plus The Disciples 8-6-23

In this sermon, based on Matthew 25:1-13, Pastor Scott explores a parable which Jesus' aims at questions of the end times. He teaches in ways that seem to reveal that no one knows when the end will be, so we live our lives in a way that reflects the joy of the gospel into the world.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday November 12th the 24th Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon: Being Prepared for the Lord 11-12-23

In this sermon, based on Matthew 25:14-30, Pastor Scott explores the Parable of the Talents, but zooms out to the larger teaching and narrative, ultimately comparing this to the large scale story telling aspect of the MCU.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday November 19th, the 25th Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon: The Biblical Cinematic Universe 11-19-23

In this sermon, based on Mark 1:1-8, Pastor Scott explores the hope we find in the gospel as we look forward into an unknown, but still promised future.

This is the text for Sunday December 3rd, the 1st Sunday of Advent.

Sermon: Advent Hope 12-3-23

In this sermon for Christmas Eve, Pastor Scott explores the age old question "Mary Did You Know?" 

Hint: She knew.

This sermon is based on Luke 2:1-20, along with references to the Annunciation in Luke 1.

Sermon: Yes Mary Knew, December 24th, 2023

In this sermon, based on Luke 2:22-40, Pastor Scott explores Holy Spirit inspired individuals who build into the story of his earliest life.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday December 31s, 2023, the 1st Sunday of Christmas.

Sermon: Hope 12-31-23

In this sermon, based on Mark 1:4-11, Pastor Scott explores the Baptism of Jesus and what it means for each of us, focusing in on the claim of God on humanity as beloved children. This happens in light of the school shooting in Perry Iowa a few days earlier.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday January 7th, 2024, Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.

Sermon: Jesus' Baptism and God's Grace For Everyone 1-7-24

In this sermon, based on 1 Samuel 3, Pastor Scott explores the call of God upon the boy Samuel and his important place in Biblical History, tied together with our ongoing life of faith.

This is the assigned text for January 14th, the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.

Sermon: Tingling Ears 1-14-24

In this sermon, based on Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Pastor Scott explores the story of Jonah and the display of God's mercy. 

This is the assigned text for Sunday January 21st, the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.

Sermon: Jonah and God's Mercy 1-21-24

In this sermon, which is admittedly odd...Pastor Scott explores the ways that Jesus cares for God's Children, with a strange reference to Cocaine Bear

This is based on Mark 1:21-28, the assigned gospel text for Sunday January 28th, the 4th Sunday after Epiphany.

Sermon : God Goes Papa Bear 1-28-24

In this sermon, based on Mark 1:29-39, Pastor Scott unpacks a story in which Jesus performs a bunch of healings, but rather than sticking around in the same place he heads off to do the same thing elsewhere. We explore the motivations of why everyone keeps looking for him.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday February 4th, the 5th Sunday after Epiphany.

Sermon: Looking for God 2-4-24

In this sermon, based on Mark 9:2-9, Pastor Scott explores the story of Jesus' transfiguration, and dovetails into the reason that we hear about so many different people in the gospels, in order to relate to those who experienced the amazing moments.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday February 11th, Transfiguration Sunday.

Sermon: Is the Gospel Relateable? 2-11-24

In this sermon for Ash Wednesday, Pastor Scott explores a call from God through the prophet Joel to call together the people into a solemn assembly of repentance. This is a fitting thing for Ash Wednesday as we kick off the season of Lent.

Sermon: Ash Wednesday 2-14-24

In this sermon, which is a dialogue, Pastor Scott is joined by Deacon Eric Haitz, and they explore Mark 8:31-39, in which Jesus makes his first Passion Prediction. The disciples reaction is interesting.

This is the assigned Gospel text for Sunday February 25th, the 2nd Sunday in Lent.

Sermon: Expectations of Resurrection 2-25-24

In this sermon, based on John 2:13-22, Pastor Scott explores the event known as the cleansing of the temple. Jesus gets pretty riled up over the exploitation of individuals.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday March 3rd, the 3rd Sunday in Lent

Sermon: Is God's Mercy Like Sunscreen? 3-3-24

In this sermon, based on John 3:14-21, Pastor Scott explores a portion of the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, in which Jesus talks about light and darkness.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday March 10th, the 4th Sunday in Lent

Sermon: What Light Reveals 3-10-24

In this sermon, based on John 12:20-33, Pastor Scott explores and emotional reaction that Jesus has as he faces down Holy Week. We tie that in with the normalcy of human emotional reactions.

This is the assigned Gospel text for Sunday March 17th, the 5th Sunday in Lent.

Sermon: When My Soul Is Troubled 3-17-24

In this sermon, based on Mark 11:1-11, Pastor Scott explores the event known as the Triumphal Entry, as Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem and kicks off Holy Week.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday March 24th, Palm Sunday.

Sermon: Palm Sunday 3-24-24

In this sermon, based on Mark 16:1-8, Pastor Scott explores the Easter Story.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday March 31st, Easter Sunday.

Sermon: Easter 3-31-24

In this sermon, based on John 20:19-31, Pastor Scott explores the story commonly, though incorrectly, known as Doubting Thomas. Thomas needs to see to believe, but he is also credited as an eye witness.
This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday April 7th, 2024, the 2nd Sunday of Easter.

Sermon: Thomas Believes 4-7-24

In this sermon, based on Like 24:36b-48, Pastor Scott explores another resurrection appearance of Jesus, one among many we have, and the importance of the witnesses of the resurrection.

Note that there are some pauses in the audio due to audience participation.

This is the assigned gospel text for Sunday April 14th, the 3rd Sunday of Easter.

Sermon: Why Do We Bear Witness? 4-14-24

In this sermon, based on John 10:11-18 and Psalm 23, Pastor Scott explores the apparent desire of God to be known by us, even as God already knows us.

These are the assigned texts for Sunday April 21, the 4th Sunday of Easter and Good Shepherd Sunday.

Sermon: Knowing God 4-21-24

In this sermon, based on Acts 8:26-40, Pastor Scott explores the story of Philip and the Ethiopian and what Philip's example means for us, especially in light of a natural disaster which stuck the area a couple days prior to Worship.

This is the assigned text for Sunday April 28th, the 5th Sunday of Easter.

Sermon: Why Do We Care About Each Other? 4-28-24

I'm kicking off a new venture, based on an old venture. Over the past 5 years, I've been producing weekly video podcasts in which I rambling through my musings on the assigned scripture passage for the week. You can find those videos on Youtube under the title "Sermon Braindump." But now I'm doing them in the audio format. 

Tune in weekly, almost always on Fridays as I prepare and post new episodes, and you'll be able to gain some different insight into the assigned text for the week.

The Rambling Rev

The Rambling Rev Introduction

In this episode, Pastor Scott explores the invitation of Jesus to the Apostles to join with him in the ongoing ministry that he is already doing in the world. Through his action and commands, we see the importance of proclaiming the good news, that the kingdom has come near. Pastor Scott also explores just why that statement is so vital. 
This is the assigned text for June 14th, 2020, the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Episdoe #024-Matthew 9:35-10:8

Episode #024-Matthew 9:35-10:8

In this sermon, based on Matthew 10:24-39, Pastor Scott continues to explore the ongoing teaching that Jesus offers to the disciples as he invites them into the ongoing ministry of announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. Its divisive, and Pastor Scott explores why.

This is the assigned gospel text for June 21st, 2020, the Third Sunday after Pentecost.

Sermon: Why Is Love So Divisive 6-21-20

Sermon: Why is Love so Divisive 6-21-20

I'm a pastor in Southwest Iowa, serving a congregation that is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Each week, I explore an assigned Common Lectionary Text as I aim towards creating a sermon.

RevDalen

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