epiphany-lutheran-church

04.26.2026 - Easter 4 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:40:22 GMT

04.26.2026 - Easter 4 - Pastor Chris

What does Jesus’ voice sound like? That’s the first thing that comes to mind for me with this passage. The next is; how do I make sure I’m listening for Jesus’ voice? A professor I follow connects this passage back to one we read in Lent, the story where Jesus heals the blind man. (It’s the one where Jesus makes mud and puts it on his eyes.) Because of this interaction Jesus has become his shepherd. The easy connection is that the man couldn’t see, his connection with Jesus was by hearing his voice. But after he had been healed, and he saw Jesus face to face, he now believes in Jesus and worships him.

If we focus too much on the ones who enter the sheepfold by another way, the thieves and the bandits, do we miss the overall meaning of this teaching? Yes, there are those who seek to do harm (steal, kill and destroy) but may we rather focus on who Jesus is. He is the one who knows us by name, who calls to us, who guides and protects us. We are safe with the shepherd.

Maybe the first step to understanding Jesus in this way is to admit our need for a shepherd. Our pride and arrogance can easily become a barrier that keeps us from understanding our need for a shepherd. Much like someone who participates in a 12-Step program, maybe admitting our need for a high power will put us on the path to realizing our need for a shepherd.

But, how do we hear Jesus’ voice? How do we hear Jesus call us by name? We live in a very noisy world, both literally and metaphorically. We need to verse spaces of silence so that we can hear what may be a still small voice. Faith is something we are supposed to practice, maybe we add times of silence to our faith practice so that we can allow for God to speak to us. This can be difficult to do but, much like exercise, when we work at something that can be challenging, we grow and become stronger. So, how is Jesus your shepherd? How have you heard the voice of your shepherd? How have you created space for this movie to be heard?

04.19.2026 - Easter 3 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:45:57 GMT

04.19.2026 - Easter 3 - Pastor Chris

Every year I am surprised by how different the first Easter was from our present day Easter. Where as Easter is a celebration for us, a time for family, and fun; the first Easter is almost the exact opposite. There is fear, worry, and disbelief. Our Easter may be a celebration today, but we still deal with fear, worry and disbelief. How does the resurrection speak to our struggles?

What keeps the disciples from recognizing Jesus? Does he look different? Are they so overwhelmed with emotion that they just dont recognize him? We may not know what keeps them from seeing, but we are well aware of what opens their eyes. “When he broke the bread.” We live in a world where we can feel overwhelmed with dread and we can feel despair, that is why we need these faith practices that remind us God is still with us.

Although Jesus does challenge the two to find hope, he doesn’t rush that process. Jesus comes alongside them in their struggles and listens to their concerns. We need to be both Jesus and the disciples in this part of the story. We need to be those who listen to the struggles of others. That in itself can be a healing event. But we also need opportunities and trusted friends where we can share our struggles. Hopefully we have those places and people where we can be vulnerable.

The disciples have a great testimony about Jesus, “mighty in deed and word” but their testimony falls short when they forget that he has also overcome death. What is our testimony? Does it carry all the way through to Easter and Christ’s victory over the tomb? What is the story that we share about Jesus? How has Jesus moved in our life to the point that we want to share it with others?

The two do a great job reflecting on their encounter with Jesus. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” How do we reflect on our faith, on those moments that keep us going, especially through times of struggle and distress? I do think Luke wants us to think about communion in this story with the conclusion, “in the breaking of the bread.” May we continue to hold on to and reflect on those memories that caused our hearts to burn within us. Not a burn insomuch as we had too much spicy food, rather, that God’s Spirit is alive in the world and God’s Spirit propels us to live out our faith so that hope continues to shine in places of despair!

04.12.2026 - Easter 2 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:16:09 GMT

04.12.2026 - Easter 2 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus appears to the disciples declaring peace and gifting them with the Holy Spirit. The disciples are hiding in the upper room where they had recently celebrated the Passover meal, and the Lord’s Supper. John tells us that they fear “the Jews”, but he’s painting in broad strokes. I doubt that the disciples are worried about mob violence from their fellow common Judeans, rather they are worried that religious authorities, who can persuade the Romans to arrest them, will come looking for them.

When Jesus appears, he miraculously passes through the door. This might have caused the disciples to fear that he is a ghost, so he shows them his wounds to prove he has his body. This does the trick, and the disciples rejoice. Jesus then gives them the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t necessarily contradict the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Maybe this was the seed of the Spirit that germinates on that day!

Jesus also tells the disciples about retaining and forgiving sins. It is difficult to know if Jesus is giving a new power to the disciples (and the church), or if he is simply describing the seriousness of the power the church will have over people’s lives. How strict should the church be on when to forgive someone who has sinned in the community? When should someone be asked to leave the church? We continue to wrestle with these questions today.

Finally in this passage, we have the story of “Doubting Thomas”. Poor Thomas! The only disciple who was brave enough to be outside the upper room when Jesus first appeared, he’s become the butt of jokes for his questioning of the others’ experience ever since. Jesus is willing to meet Thomas in his doubt and freely shows him his wounds and asks him to touch them. We don’t know if Thomas actually does, though. Perhaps, seeing was believing for Thomas, rather than touching the wounds.

Jesus’ words to Thomas aren’t meant as an insult to him, but instead as a word of encouragement to us. We, and many generations before us, have believed in Jesus even though we did not know him when he walked the earth with his disciples. Jesus is proud of us for believing in him despite that fact! When we spend time with the story of Jesus and with other believers in prayer, worship, and service, we sustain and grow our faith in the one who IS risen so that all might have life in his name! Amen!

04.05.2026 - Easter Sunday - Pastor Chris

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:23:35 GMT

04.05.2026 - Easter Sunday - Pastor Chris

Each gospel has their own way of telling the Easter story but there are similarities between each version, mostly they dont think this could happen. Whether they are filled with fear or sadness or they have very realistic concerns, “Who will roll away the stone?” Each story relays the idea that Jesus is most certainly still dead and they will find his body when they get to the tomb.

In John’s version its peculiar what is seen and what isnt seen. All three of the visitors enter the tomb but only Mary see the angels. Mary sees Jesus but she thinks he’s the gardener. It isnt until Jesus says her name that she recognizes him.

Focusing on the verbs can be a fun exercise when looking at a bible story. In this version of the Easter story there is a lot of seeing going on. Mary sees the stone rolled away, the disciples see the grave clothes, Mary sees Jesus but she also doesnt see him. When Jesus speaks is when she realizes he is alive. If we go back to the creation story God speaks creation into existence. “God said, let there be light.” The spoken word can be very powerful, both for good and to harm. Not only does Jesus say her name he gives Mary a message to share with the others, “I am ascending…” Mary returns to the disciples and tells them that she has seen the Lord.

What message do we have to share? What message has been shared with us? How does that message bring hope to those who worry all hope is lost?

03.29.2026 - Palm Sunday - Kris Perkola

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:14:37 GMT

03.29.2026 - Palm Sunday - Kris Perkola

In these passages, Jesus comes into Jerusalem for, and later celebrates, the Passover. We’ll hear both of these readings on Palm Sunday, the first being about the “palms” in the day’s name. This reading is one of joyful expectation, but the second ends ominously with the threat of Judas’ impending betrayal, preparing us for the rest of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphant, yet quirky, entrance into Jerusalem. The people of Israel, harshly oppressed with taxation and forced labor by the Romans, are hoping for a Messiah who will come and violently throw out these occupiers. They hope that Jesus might be this Messiah and so, they call out to him as a “Son of David” in this reading because David was a military king of conquest. Jesus subverts their expectations, however, by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, an animal of peace, just like David’s son, Solomon, did before him. Jesus likes to show himself more like Solomon than like Daivid because Solomon was a king of peace and wisdom, and Jesus is both wise and non-violent.

I don’t know if the people realize that Jesus is defying their expectations yet. They cheer for him now, but later they turn on him, perhaps because they have had time to realize that Jesus is not the kind of Messiah that they are looking for. The crowd’s fickle nature isn’t something unique to them. We too, can turn on those for whom we cheer. Indeed, this whole story is an indictment of human nature: our desire for violence and vengeance, our capriciousness, and willingness to scapegoat others for our problems even if we have to subvert justice to do it. We are a part of that fickle crowd.

Judas, too, is ready to turn on Jesus. In our second reading, he goes to the religious leaders to betray Jesus. It isn’t entirely clear why he does this, but it’s not hard to speculate. Judas might be much like the crowd: he wants a violent and military Messiah, and he realizes Jesus isn’t going to be that. Some have even speculated that Judas hoped to force Jesus to “show his hand” and use his power to fight off the Romans who would come to arrest him. But of course, we know that Jesus isn’t going to do that. Jesus is fully aware of what Judas is going to do, but he does not stop him. Everything is going according to God’s plan as it will unfold during Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

Taken together, these readings show us how God knows our hearts and desires, including the worst of them, and loves us anyway. Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago wasn’t just political theater. Jesus really is triumphant. He is triumphant over sin and death, and Holy Week, with all its drama and emotion, will help us to appreciate that all the more.

03.22.2026 - 5th Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:54:31 GMT

03.22.2026 - 5th Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Not only is this a long reading, it could be used for a series of sermons, there is a lot here. For this we will focus on how Martha and Mary share their grief with Jesus. Their prayers are raw and filled with emotion. I hope we feel like we can share similar prayers with God. We may not talk to a person in authority the way these sisters speak with Jesus, but when things aren’t going well, and we are struggling, we need an outlet for these emotions. God can be that outlet.

We aren’t giving directors notes to these stories so we can attribute our own interpretation to what is shared. Since they had asked Jesus to show up, and he intentionally waited, I am thinking they are frustrated and disappointed in Jesus. They knew that Jesus could save him, but he’s too late. When have we felt like Martha and Mary? When have we felt letdown, forgotten, disappointed. I think they are feeling all of these emotions and they share them with Jesus.

If we know God as we do, doesn’t God want to know everything that we are dealing with? Since God already knows everything, why would we keep anything from God? Much like a volcano, if we dont release some of the pressure that we carry from time to time, we have the potential to erupt. May we turn to God when we are struggling with sadness, grief, pain and sorrow. God wants to know and God wants to be a part of everything that we are dealing with. This is how much God cares for us.

03.15.2026 - 4th Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:22:33 GMT

03.15.2026 - 4th Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

This must be the season of long readings! (And stay tuned, next week is even longer!) For me this reading plays out like a fast paced drama, I want to know what happens next.

I do struggle with the opening, that this man was born blind so that God’s power could be revealed. Now, it doesn’t say that God caused this man to be born blind, whereas the disciples believe (probably culturally) that he is afflicted because either he or his parents sinned. I am so glad we (most of Christianity at least) dont believe this way, but I still think we are trying to figure out why bad things happen, especially to good people.

As the drama continues Jesus isn’t content just healing the guy the old fashioned way, he spits on the ground, makes mud, and spreads it on his eyes! Is this weird? I wonder what the disciples and the other folks standing around thought as they watched this unfold? Maybe he needed an excuse to wash so Jesus made sure to muddy him up good. There are a number of miracles that are messier than others in the bible; Jesus sticks his fingers in someone’s ears, Thomas is invited to put his hand inside Jesus’ wound, just to name a few! Sometimes life is messy, thankfully we have a savior who will get messy with us.

The drama continues with a host of characters. The neighbors think he’s someone else, the Pharisees are consulted as Jesus healed on the sabbath, and even the man’s parents are brought in to prove or disprove what has happened. In the end the man becomes an evangelist. He is so thankful that he has been healed worshiping Jesus is all he can do.

As one would expect, Jesus has some harsh words for the Pharisees. They are religious, but they struggle to adopt something new, Jesus. Maybe they dont think they need any saving and that keeps them from “seeing” Jesus for who he is. May we strive to be like the man, allowing God to move in our lives so that we can experience healing. May we avoid being like Pharisees and pretend as if we dont need help. May we see and hear Jesus and share him with everyone.

03.08.2026 - 3rd Sunday in Lent - Kris Perkola

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:24:09 GMT

03.08.2026 - 3rd Sunday in Lent - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at a well, and she comes to believe he is the Messiah. While traveling through Samaria, Jesus stops at a well in the heat of the day and the disciples go off to buy food. As the passage states, Jews and Samaritans did not interact with each other if possible because of severe animosity between the two groups. Both groups believed in the God of Abraham and followed the Law and the Prophets, but they disagreed on the importance of Jerusalem and on who was and was not part of God’s chosen people. The conflict between the two peoples had even resulted in war in the past, and only Roman occupation kept them from fighting in Jesus’ day. All this is to say, the woman’s shock that Jesus would ask her for water makes a lot of sense.

We don’t know much about the woman, but it’s possible that because of her history with men, having been with several and currently living with one with whom she isn’t married, has caused her to be shamed by her community. That shame might be why she goes to get water when the well won’t have people around it during the heat of the day. We can see that the woman is quite capable of some verbal sparring in how she talks to Jesus. Like Nicodemus from last week, she’s skeptical of Jesus’ claims about spiritual life, but eventually she is respectful in her disagreement, referring to Jesus as “sir”.

Eventually, Jesus' words, including his knowledge about the woman’s life, cause her to begin to believe in Jesus. She goes into town to tell everyone about his ability to know her history and suggest that he might be the Messiah. This evangelism from the woman brings the town to Jesus who stays with them for two days. It is interesting that they admit to the woman that their belief started with her, but spending time with Jesus himself has transformed their curious faith into something more substantial.

Our faith, too, can be enhanced and strengthened by spending more time with Jesus. This time spent with him can fortify us in times of trouble, but also give us the courage, like with the woman, to share our story of faith with others and invite them to “come and see” what the fuss about Jesus is all about. This can be true even among people we might never expect to be open to the message, like the Samaritans, so we should try to invite everyone we can! God’s love is for everyone!

03.01.2026 -2nd Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:28:26 GMT

03.01.2026- 2nd Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

When I first met Gina Kellyn and Kendra were 3 and 2. Getting to know them helped me rediscover something that I didnt even know I had lost, my imagination. All of a sudden I was making up stories and personalities with toys and creating elaborate worlds as we got to know each other. It was really cool.

Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus seems to expose Nick’s lack of imagination. When Jesus talks about being born again, he thinks Jesus is talking about going back into his mother’s womb. Jesus talks about spirit, wind, and water; all things that Nick can tangibly connect with, but Jesus is pulling him into a world that is beyond his basic understanding, Jesus is inviting him to adopt the mystery of faith.

Now that my kids are 23, 21, and 18 we seldom make up elaborate worlds and personalities for their toys. Have I lost my imagination again? Jesus doesn’t just invite Nicodemus to embrace mystery, this invitation is for us as well. Maybe this is why Jesus talks about “faith like a child” so much. May we be freed from the bonds of only embracing the reality that we can see and know. May we be opened up to experience the mystery of God at work in our world. May the unknown help us to find the wholeness that God desires for us.

02.22.2026 -1st Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:34:33 GMT

02.22.2026- 1st Sunday in Lent - Pastor Chris

Welcome to Lent. And with the beginning of Lent, we also get the well known reading of Jesus’ temptation. If you’ve been around church-world, chances are you’ve heard some (if not all) of these before, but they’re still good reminders.

It’s interesting that it’s The Spirit that leads Jesus out into the wilderness. I’ve always wondered how that works into the relationship of the trinity. I’ve also long wondered why Jesus was tempted at all. Was this necessary? Was it needed to prove to the early church that Jesus was the one or maybe it put the devil on notice that Jesus would ultimately triumph over the devil.

Lutherans aren’t the best with this but many other traditions utilize spiritual practices in their faith life. Fasting is one of the better known practices and we can see it has been around a long time. Was Jesus already planning to fast during this period of time or was it spontaneous? The number 40 is usually used to refer to a set period of time when someone, or a group, prepares for something important that is about to begin. (Noah, Moses, etc.)

It’s when Jesus is famished that the tempter shows up. Timing is everything. I love how Jesus responds to each of the temptations. Jesus doesn’t rely on his on craftiness or intelligence, he simply quotes scripture. It is written is how Jesus begins each response. Oddly enough, and maybe even a little scary, the devil quotes scripture with the second temptation!

Temptation is referred to as anything that comes between us and God. Certainly we’ve seen images that depicted what temptation looks like, but when we simplify it to anything that comes between us and God, we see how easily it is for us to be tempted. As we will all experience temptation, may we learn from Jesus here. May we lean on our faith instead of our own wit and will. If it worked for Jesus, I think it will work for us.

02.18.2026 -Ash Wednesday - Kris Perkola

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:02:19 GMT

02.18.2026 - Ash Wednesday - Kris Perkola

02.15.2026 -Transfiguration of Our Lord - Pastor Chris

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:56:32 GMT

02.15.2026- Transfiguration of Our Lord - Pastor Chris

02.08.2026 -5th Sunday after Epiphany - Pastor Chris

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:03:29 GMT

02.08.2026- 5th Sunday after Epiphany - Pastor Chris

You are salt and light. Here Jesus reminds his listeners, and Matthew reminds his community, of who they are. As salt they preserve and enhance. Salt doesn’t exist for itself but for others. Light is needed for safety and the simple ability to move about. As they are reminded who they are, so are we.

So, how are we salt and light? How have we made the world and the lives of others better? That’s being salt. How have we shown the way for others or helped them see the world around them? That’s being light.

The second paragraph seems to have a different tone, but if we live out what our identity, salt and light, what Jesus talks about in that second paragraph simply becomes a byproduct because we are living out who our faith calls us to be.

02.01.2026 -4th Sunday after Epiphany - Kris Perkola

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:00:38 GMT

02.01.2026- 4th Sunday after Epiphany - Kris Perkola

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01.25.2026 -3rd Sunday after Epiphany - Pastor Chris

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:40:35 GMT

01.25.2026- 3rd Sunday after Epiphany - Pastor Chris

If you’ve been following along, you might be wondering why this story differs from last week’s gospel. Last week Andrew follows Jesus after John the Baptist declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God and Peter follows because Andrew goes and tells him that they’ve found the Messiah. But here we hear the classic story of Jesus calling fisherman, who drop everything, and follow Jesus. Well, which story is the right story? In seminary we study the differences between the gospels, we learn about the authors of the gospels and the audience, and we learn what prompted the gospel to be written. In one of my favorite examples a professor placed something in the middle of the room and asked us what we saw. We all saw the image from our own angle. The professor then asked us how we would tell someone what we had scene; all of us would tell the story our own way. Lastly, we were asked how we would share our story depending on who we were talking to. Would we tell the story different to a kid vs someone who is advanced in years? I hope you get the idea. We all saw the same thing but we saw it from our own perspective and we would talk about it in our own way. This is the same way we understand the four different gospels. They all had their own experience of Jesus, or the experience that was handed down to them, and they told it their own way. This isnt a case of which account is correct, instead we have four different accounts of Jesus. This isn’t a detriment to the Christian faith, rather a variety of perspectives and emphasis.

We’ve been talking a lot about John the Baptist for the past few weeks. John fits in well with the season of Epiphany because his role is to reveal Jesus, something we celebrate this season. As John has been arrested Jesus now takes center stage. How do you understand Jesus’ act of withdrawing? Does Jesus so this so that he also isnt arrested? One benefit of this relocation is it fulfills an Old Testament prophecy.

Do you like Jesus’ message? Repent. This message is similar to John’s. John also talked about repentance but now with Jesus taking the lead, the kingdom is very much at hand. But we there may be something lost in translation from when Jesus first said this to how repentance is proclaimed today.

I think these call stories are one of the stories we learn early on in Sunday school. They paint a vivid picture that we can envision as kids. I like the idea that they were watching Jesus and hoping that he would call them. They were hoping that Jesus would invite them to follow him. But I also put myself in that moment and wonder how I would respond if Jesus called me. Would I drop everything and follow Jesus?

The last verse speaks so well to Jesus’ impact and power. He goes everywhere, curing every illness and sickness. But also notice where he teaches, Jesus is in the synagogue and not the temple. Most likely Jesus travels to the temple every year for the Passover and it will be his final Passover where he is betrayed, arrested, and killed. Until then, Jesus is among the commoners of Galilee teaching, proclaiming and healing. Jesus seems to have an affinity for those who may have been overlooked by the temple in Jerusalem.

01.11.2026 - Baptism of Our Lord - Pastor Chris

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:40:25 GMT

01.11.2026- Baptism of Our Lord - Pastor Chris

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12.28.2025 - Name of Jesus - Pastor Chris

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:58:48 GMT

12.28.2025 - Name of Jesus - Pastor Chris

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01.04.2026 - Epiphany of Our Lord - Kris Perkola

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:50:28 GMT

01.04.2026- Epiphany of Our Lord - Kris Perkola

In this passage, the magi follow a star to Bethlehem to pay homage to Jesus and to offer him gifts. This the reading for “Epiphany” which is the day when the church commemorates the magi’s visit to see Jesus. The magi, or “wise men”, were astrologers/ astronomers, probably for the king of Persia. Other Bible passages about kings paying homage to the Messiah are likely the reason that the magi are sometimes referred to as “kings”, but they were more likely advisors to a king. The passage doesn’t tell us how many of them there were, but the tradition of there being three comes from the fact that they bring three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men are important to Matthew because they are gentiles, likely Zoroastrians in terms of religion, and Iranian in terms of their ethnicity. That they feature so prominently and so early in this story shows how Matthew understands the salvation that comes through Jesus to be for all people, not just Jewish people. The fact that Matthew treats these characters with respect is also a message to his mostly Jewish Christian community to be respectful of their fellow Christians who are gentiles by birth.

The wise men are brought to Jesus by a “star”. We don’t know if this star was a comet, supernova, or something else, but they understood it to show the way to an important king. How would they know that? Plenty of Jewish people still lived in Persia at this time and Jewish writings would have been around. But maybe they had another sense of the situation from their own religious texts or even from their dreams, as happens later in the passage. Still, they don’t know exactly where to go to see this king, so they stop in Jerusalem since it is the capital of the region.

Herod, the Roman appointed king of Israel, and the rest of the Jerusalem elite don’t like that the wise men are there to see a different king. They think this might upset things, and Herod in particular doesn’t want a rival for the throne. Herod decides to use the magi as scouts, and so he informs them that they should go to Bethlehem, and indeed, the star continues to lead them there.

When they get to Jesus, they pay him “homage”, that is they bow down to him. Matthew knows that this term is ambiguous. Are the wise men showing the respect that one shows a king, or are they actually worshipping Jesus? The disciples will later do the same thing to Jesus when he is an adult. The magi also give Jesus gifts. The gold is useful for the holy family to survive on, and the selling of the spices given could also have funded their escape to Egypt after this story. The spices are also symbolic of Jesus’ death in that they are often used on the dead bodies before burial.

After all this, the magi have dreams of avoiding Herod, so they go home by another route. They show themselves as being very obedient to God even though they aren’t believers in a traditional sense. These wise individuals end up being models of faith for all gentile believers in Jesus who come after them. May we continue to follow in their footsteps!

12.21.2025 - Advent 4 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:35:03 GMT

12.21.2025 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Joseph is told in a dream to take Mary as his wife because she is to bear the Messiah who will be named Jesus. This is Matthew’s version of the birth narrative, and it is notable for its focus on Joseph and for being so short in comparison to Luke’s version of the story. In this version, we don’t get a journey to Bethlehem, but rather it is implied that Joseph already lives there. There are no shepherds in this story. We don’t hear about Mary’s own visitation from the angel, nor her visit to Elizabeth. It’s nice to have multiple gospels because we get these extra stories and details by reading different accounts of the same events.

Joseph never speaks in this story, but I do feel that we learn something important about him in these short verses. When he discovers that Mary is pregnant outside of marriage, he decides to dismiss her quietly. Matthew tells us that Joseph decides on this course of action because he’s “a righteous man” who is “unwilling to expose her to public disgrace.” By tradition, Joseph was within his rights to expose Mary’s pregnancy which might have resulted in her being killed. That might have even been considered the “righteous” choice at the time!

Instead, I believe that Joseph is indeed “righteous” in that he has very strong opinions about what passes for tradition in his day. Joseph might have some “righteous” anger that women in his society are killed for mistakes instead of being given the chance to repent and be forgiven. It’s one thing for him to believe that in theory, it’s another for Joseph to put that into practice when he believes that he’s been cheated on by Mary. But Joseph's values are his values, and he will stand by them. And by his values we see why he’s such a good choice to be Jesus’ father.

Joseph is someone with principles. He lives by his values, and when he’s told by God to do something, he does it because he is obedient to God. Jesus will also live by his principles and do what God asks of him, even to the point of death.Joseph sets the stage for the kind of person Jesus will be, and as such, he’s not such a bad role model for us. We should be "righteous" in our love of justice and mercy, like Joseph is. We should seek to avoid publicly shaming others who make mistakes. And we should answer God’s call whenever and wherever it comes.

12.14.2025 - Advent 3 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:44:37 GMT

12.14.2025 - Third Sunday of Advent - Pastor Chris

Years ago in high school we sang a song about this story and it’s always stayed with me. I find it very interesting that John wants to confirm that Jesus is the one they’ve been waiting for. I wonder if this was because John desired certainty or if he expected something other than who Jesus is. “Are you the one or should we wait for another?”

I’ve always loved Jesus’ reply and hear it as a great summary of his ministry. “The lame walk, the blind see, the diseased are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” One theory is that John wanted Jesus to be more of a political and military figure, one who would rid their land of Roman oppression. Instead, Jesus brings healing and care to those who are suffering but the final line can be perplexing, why is good news brought to the poor?

I’m trying to make a connection between the first paragraph and the rest of this reading. I dont think it’s that Jesus felt the need to legitimize John’s identity and ministry after John’s disciples had left, but it sure sounds like it. Jesus calls out those who went out to hear John’s preaching, those who were baptized by John, and asks what they went out into the wilderness to see.

Jesus contrasts what they found in the wilderness with what they would find in a palace. John wasn’t in fine clothing, rather itchy scratchy clothing. This is where the prophet was found. Maybe Jesus is continuing the unexpectedness of God’s work, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise, the prophets of the Old Testament said it would happen this way.

Jesus concludes with a statement about John’s significance but also says that John is the least of those in heaven. God is certainly full of surprises.

12.07.2025 - Advent 2 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:12:05 GMT

12.07.2025 - Second Sunday of Advent - Pastor Chris

Advent 2 really isn’t much easier than Advent 1 and it isn’t that much closer to the birth of Jesus than last week’s reading! Or at least it isn’t before Jesus’ birth I should say.

John the Baptist is one of my favorite character in the Bible because, in many ways, he is very different from me but also maybe who I’d like to be. I love how direct John is with his words. He is a prophet in every sense of the word. He proclaims his mission with clarity and passion. He doesn’t care who he offends or how they hear what his message. John calls is how he sees it.

At the same time, I am not sure Jesus is who John said he would be. I dont recall any stories of Jesus with a winnowing fork or Jesus clearing his threshing floor. In this gospel Matthew certainly has passages where there is a division between the people. The sheep and the goats in chapter 25 come to mind. But again, is this how I’ve experienced Jesus?

I also long to experience a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Maybe I have and I just dont know it. Maybe I’m too Jesus-centric and I haven’t given the Holy Spirit as much identity in my faith journey. I do love how John speaks of another baptism that is yet to come. I hope we all have experienced that sort of baptism.

When John talks about his baptism and how it leads into Jesus’ baptism, I am wondering if John felt one needed to come before the other? Does one need to experience repentance before one can receiver the Holy Spirit. Things that make you go mmm.

In this passage we hear how John is the one who prepares the world for Jesus’ ministry. With that in mind, who told you about Jesus? How did they reveal to you who Jesus is? May we give thanks for those who have reveled Jesus to us and the ways this introduction has changed our lives. Amen!

11.30.2025 - Advent 1 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:50:51 GMT

11.30.2025 - First Sunday of Advent - Pastor Chris

I’ve never been a huge fan of the readings for the first three Sundays in Advent and the first Sunday may be my least favorite. I want passages that talk about the time before Jesus is born, when the angel visits or when Mary visits Elizabeth, but that is never the case. Instead we get readings that reflect the second coming and a scary second coming at that. How does this reading connect to Advent?

Advent isn’t just about Jesus’ birth, advent is also about Jesus’ return. Now I have been pretty vocal about my dislike for church traditions who present the second coming as something we should be mortally afraid of. For the most part I dont view Jesus as anything to be afraid of but this passage seems to speak of the second coming as something that should be feared. Is that the case?

Would I live my life any different if I knew when Jesus was going to return? Would I indulge in sin? I dont think I would. I think I would continue to live as I currently am but a lack of this information may propel me to greater and deeper faith. Are we more likely to live by faith without knowing the future or knowing when Jesus will return?

How do we balance this need to be alert with the commandment to rest? Can someone be alert all the time or do we also need times to rest and recover?

Lastly, how does this reading reflect the candle for the first Sunday in Advent, hope? Can we see hope in this passage? Would it speak better to someone living through a difficult time vs someone living in times of peace and comfort?

11.23.2025 -Reign of Chris Sunday - Kris Perkola

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:15:57 GMT

11.23.2025 - Reign of Christ Sunday - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus is crucified by the Romans along with some persons who are criminals. This is our Reign of Christ Sunday (formerly Christ the King Sunday) gospel reading for the year of Luke. Here, we see Jesus enthroned upon the cross as a very different type of ruler than people are used to. We read this passage on this day to help us understand how radically different the reign of Christ is in our lives in comparison to the way earthly powers have ruled throughout history.

Jesus is crucified outside the city walls of Jerusalem. The place was called the skull because it looked like one and because of what was done there to criminals. The Romans used crucifixion as a method of execution to send a very visible message to anyone who might cause them trouble either as common criminals or as insurrectionists. Crucifixion was painful and took a long time to cause death, usually through asphyxiation. What was considered worst to people at the time, however, was the shame of being crucified. The earliest Christians felt some shame that Jesus was killed this way. That’s why the apostle Paul works so hard in his writings to claim Jesus’ crucifixion as THE fundamental way in which God’s love for us has been shown, and that we should proclaim it proudly. It wasn’t natural for people of the time to see it that way!

Luke’s version of this story is different from other gospel accounts of the crucifixion in how the different criminals crucified next to Jesus speak to him. In other accounts, we only hear of them mocking Jesus, but here we see one criminal respond with faith. He admits that he has been condemned rightly for his crime, but he does admit that now he fears the Lord, that is, he has come to faith. He also acknowledges that Jesus has done nothing to deserve being crucified. The injustice of what has happened to Jesus is an important theme for Luke. Luke wants his Roman citizen audience to understand that Roman justice is sometimes very un-just.

The ending of the passage is the most touching. The man with faith asks Jesus to remember him when he enters into his kingdom. He is not so bold as to ask to go to heaven, but I do believe that he is asking for forgiveness and for Jesus to bring the man’s appeal for forgiveness before the Father in heaven. But the man doesn’t say all this because it would be too bold. His request is just to be remembered, and it shows great humility on the man’s part.

Jesus’ response actually begins with, “Amen,” in other words, “It shall be so.” Jesus says that he will grant this man his (implied) request for forgiveness. Furthermore, Jesus promises him that, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” There is incredible grace in this promise. Jesus doesn’t say, “After a multi-year trial-period in purgatory, you will eventually be with me.” No, Jesus says that it will be today. Jesus also uses a very specific word for heaven: paradise. Everyone then knew what a paradise was. It was a private garden that wealthy people had attached to their homes in what was otherwise a desolate land. Jesus is painting a green and verdant picture of heaven for us! I know that this would have been very comforting to this man of faith at Jesus’ side.

Jesus is our king, but he is a very different kind of king than we might think of typically. He does not reign from a throne, but from a cross. He doesn’t wear a crown of gold, but one of thorns. He does not demand that others die in his place, but instead freely gives his own life for us. We read this passage to remember what kind of king we have in Jesus, and thanks be to God that we do!

11.16.2025 - Pentecost 23 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:32:14 GMT

11.16.2025 - Pentecost 23 - Pastor Chris

For those who speak Minnesotan, this passage deserves a double uffda!

For context Jesus has entered into Jerusalem and aside from chasing out the money changers, the verses between those for Palm Sunday and this reading are filled with speaking. Either Jesus is teaching or there is discourse between Jesus and his opponents. No words of comfort are shared and maybe the least comforting are found in this passage. Why?

As Kris mentioned yesterday there are times when things don’t go as planned, there are times when bad things happen to good people, to quote the well known book. It would be great if the Bible was only filled with stories that contain “happily ever after” but we know that’s not how life works. We endure times of struggle, at times significant struggle, and we need our faith to reflect the reality in which we live.

We have mentioned this before but it is important to read the bible not only from the perspective of when it happens but also how it speaks to the gospel writer’s audience. Luke’s community had lived through the fall of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem. Maybe this is something they thought could never happen but it most certainly left them rattled. Maybe they needed to be reminded that this trauma wasn’t an indication that God had abandoned them. Maybe they needed to hear that following Jesus was going to be difficult but that it would lead to eternal life. At times maybe we need to hear that too.

11.9.2025 - Pentecost 22 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:01:21 GMT

11.9.2025 - Pentecost 22 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus disputes with the Sadducees about belief in the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees were the chief political and spiritual rivals of the Pharisees in Israel at this time. They were aristocratic leaders of the temple priesthood who believed temple worship, including regular sacrifices, were most important for the Jewish faith. The Pharisees believed in study of the Law of Moses and living out one’s faith in daily life as what was most important. Also, the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead while the Pharisees did. Jesus may have disagreed with the Pharisees on many issues, but he fully agreed with them that there would be a resurrection of those who died.

The passage starts with the Sadducees coming to Jesus in an attempt to make him look foolish by asking him a hypothetical question. They create a ridiculous scenario where a poor woman who is widowed multiple times has been married to seven different men in her lifetime. The Sadducees ask: who will be this woman’s husband in the resurrection? They aren’t interested in a real answer, however. They ask this question because they believe that it shows how silly a resurrection would be. How would everyone raised possibly relate to each other? Many of our relationships are based on who is there and who isn’t. If you get everyone together all at once, across time and space, how will they be a functioning community?

Jesus gives them an actual answer to their question, then cuts to the central issue that the Sadducees have with him. First, he says that resurrection life will not be like life is now. People will be like angels and will not be married. And, just like angels, people won’t die anymore. In fact, they aren’t even dead right now because the dead are alive to God currently! Jesus refers to the Old Testament to back this up by saying that God always says God is God to Abraham and Sarah and all other dead ancestors, not “was” God to them, but rather “is” God to them, right now. With this, the scribes realize the debate is over, so they congratulate Jesus and leave him alone, for the moment.

As Christians, rather than Sadducees, we already believe in the resurrection, so what is this passage meant to say to us? I like the idea that God is the God of us right now, not just when we die. But even when we, or our loved ones, die, God is still our God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. This passage has resurrection hope for us, but that hope is not just left to the afterlife or when Jesus will return in glory. Instead, Jesus’ resurrection hope is for us right now and can empower us to live boldly according to God’s call on our lives. We don’t need to sacrifice goats, like the Sadducees did, we just need to trust in God’s promises and live according to them by the power of God’s Holy Spirit!

11.2.2025 - All Saints Sunday - Pastor Chris

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:26:45 GMT

11.2.2025 - All Saints Sunday - Pastor Chris

Similar to last week, this Sunday is another day vs text situation. We will celebrate All Saints, with the lighting of candles and the memory of those who have died, but we also have this well known text. Can we tie the two together?

As Luke is the most narrative of the gospels, this passage has a very descriptive opening. “Then Jesus looked at his disciples and said…” With moments like these I am always wondering what Jesus would say to me when he looks up and sees me or how do I connect with the crowd that Jesus is speaking to? What follows is known as the beatitudes. Matthew’s version is probably more well known but they are very similar. Do you take comfort or concern with these words? On one have promises that challenging situation wont last forever, but we hear the same contrast regarding positive situations. Maybe we are simply reminded that situations change

For the last part of this reading, I am hearing these words as a guide for how to see ourselves through a difficult situation. Maybe living out our faith can help us put one foot in front of the other when we are going through a difficult time. Not to rush through it or to get over it, but to process the challenge and the struggle. These words are very challenging but following Jesus was never meant to be easy.

10.26.2025 - Reformation Sunday - Pastor Chris

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:44:45 GMT

10.26.2025 - Reformation Sunday - Pastor Chris

Happy Reformation Sunday! (For those who celebrate…)

Why is this such a fitting passage for Reformation Sunday? I’m so glad you asked!

When a church such as ours celebrates specific church holidays like Reformation, the worry is we will celebrate the day over the text. Ideally, they connect and we can celebrate the day as well as honor the text. This passage fits in extremely well with Reformation.

As Luther battled with the church of his day, the Roman Catholic Church, what made a person righteous was at the center of this debate. The church believed that it was the church that made you good, or possibly the purchase of an indulgence, but Martin, captive to the word, knew that Jesus is the central figure to justification.

Jesus’ audience doesn’t want to think of themselves as slaves (ironically that was a part of their history) probably because they’d prefer to rely on themselves instead of someone else. There is a certain level of confidence (and maybe arrogance) in focusing on ourselves rather than someone else. To admit a lack or deficiency is something we seldom seek out, but this is at the core of the Christian message.

We are imperfect people, all of us (give the epistle reading for Sunday a look) and the only way we achieve perfection is through Christ. If we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need a savior. But, because of God’s loved revealed in Christ, we are set free from our bondage to sin and find ourselves in God’s house forever.

I always worry that our pride and self reliance as Americans will live in conflict of this identity, that we are broken and imperfect, in need of a savior. And maybe that is why we celebrate and remember what Martin helped us rediscover all those years ago. That we need grace, because we aren’t perfect. We are saved by grace through faith.

10.19.2025 - Pentecost 19 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:44:41 GMT

10.19.2025 - 19th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

This is a much easier passage than some of the ones we’ve had lately, but it could be confusing. The key is to realize that God isn’t anything like the judge. Whereas the judge only gives in after the widow has bothered him relentlessly, we know we have a God who cares for us, who wants to hear our prayers, who desires to intercede in our lives. So, where’s the tension?

Usually the parable is the thing that’s remembered but we also need to make sure we recall the occasion for the parable. The occasion here is so apparent it could be easily overlooked:

-Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.

Prayer can be very different from one person to another. It’s not as if one type of prayer is superior to another, the key here is that prayer happens. Why? To not lose heart.

This parable also has a summary conclusion.

-When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Pray always. Don’t lose heart. Find faith.

With passages like this I’m always curious what Luke’s congregation, or Luke himself, may have been going through. Were they experiencing some difficultly that was challenging and caused Luke to tell his story of Jesus with this point in particular?

In the parable the key word may be justice. The widow repeatedly asks the judge for justice against her accuser. I have some questions here. Who is the accuser, what is the accusation and why would anyone accuse a widow of anything? Am I supposed to identify with the widow or is the parable intended to spur me to see the widow, understand her needs, and cause reflection for how I’m supposed to respond? Maybe the answer is, yes. Maybe the parable is intended to help us understand how God responds to times of distress.

- And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?

Of course we know God wont delay. Of course we know God hears our cries. May we pray to God always, knowing that God hears our prayers and is working in our lives.

10.12.2025 - Pentecost 18 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:55:35 GMT

10.12.2025 - 18th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus heals ten men with skin conditions, only one of whom, a Samaritan, comes back to thank him. The emphasis in the story is probably less on the miracle and more on the faith of the one man who returned to Jesus, and it may have been put here by Luke to show what faith-in-action actually looked like after Jesus has told the disciples to trust in their faith.

The passage begins with some geography that might not make literal sense. We are told that Jesus is between Galilee and Samaria, but that’s hard to square with where he has been up to this point, heading toward Jerusalem. But he is between Galilee and Samaria culturally in that the ten men have both Jews and Samaritans among them. The geography is foreshadowing of this reveal later when the man returns.

The men cry out to Jesus for help, and Jesus sends them off to the priest which is when their healing takes place. This is because, when their healing is complete on the way, they will need to confirm this with a priest in order to be welcomed back into society from their leper colony. The Samaritan may or may not have had to do this given that he wouldn’t really have been welcome among Jews as an outsider even if he were healthy. Arguably, he has gained the least from Jesus’ healing. He has his health, but he has not regained a community of belonging. Nevertheless he is the one to come back and offer thanks.

Luke’s audience would have easily identified with the Samaritan’s situation since, as Gentiles, they would have been considered outsiders to the Jewish community, too. This passage would serve as a reminder to be bold in faith and humble in thankfulness for being welcomed into the community of faith by Jesus.

10.05.2025 - Pentecost 17 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:10:35 GMT

10.05.2025 - 17th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Matthew, Mark and Luke all include the parable of the mustard seed in their gospels, but only Luke has this call back to this tiny seed. As Jesus continues his walk toward Jerusalem he continues to teach but here this teaching is prompted by his apostles. Of all the questions that are asked in the bible, this should be an easy one to relate to. Who wouldn’t want to have more faith but, do we know how this happens?

Jesus uses so many agricultural references in his preaching and teaching because this is something they would have known because they lived it. I worry we have lost touch with these examples because we have very little knowledge or experience with farming. There are many seasons to farming, growth takes time, and we tend to be extremely patient. Are we patient enough to allow our faith to grow or do we desire the same immediacy we have in almost every other aspect of our lives?

Now the second part of this passage may require some reflection to fully understand as well as connect to the initial statement of, “Increase our faith.” Why does Jesus use this example of a slave and a slave master? (Aside from the fact that we do our best to avoid slave language because of our history and practice of slavery.) Even more so the conclusion of, “We are worthless slaves!” What are we to make of this? We may need to do our best to suspend our connection to slavery on this continent to fully understand what Jesus is saying here in Luke’s retelling of his life. In this passage the slave seems to have a very clear understanding of their place and role. This is just what they do. Maybe faith growth happens when we do what we are supposed to do as people of faith. Maybe faith grows through doing.

09.28.2025 - Pentecost 16 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:51:24 GMT

09.28.2025 - 16th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

One of the reoccurring themes in the Bible is to care for the poor. Over and over again the Bible reminds those of faith that they are to care for the poor. Luke does a tremendous job painting a very vivid picture with this story. Great detail is shared about the man who is rich. We can see a vision form in our minds as we hear about his clothes and the extravagance of his meals. Luke also writes an equally vivid picture of Lazarus. We can begin to see him lying at the rich man’s gate. We can picture the dogs coming up to him. We can see the condition that he is in. Can we also picture his desperation? Lazarus’ only hope for food is to eat what falls from the table of the rich man. This man’s crumbs would be enough to feed Lazarus. But, can we imagine his desperation?

Speaking of images, this is not how I’ve viewed Heaven and Hell, with the ability to see from Hell up into Heaven. In passages like this I begin to wonder what the author was trying to share with their community. What was the situation that brought about this writing and is it intended more for those who identify with Lazarus or those who resemble the rich man. But this interaction causes desperation for the rich man and he doesn’t want his family to end up in the same situation. But the story doesn’t conclude with any resolution. Abraham tells the rich man that if they haven’t listened to pillars of their faith, they wouldn’t listen to someone even if they had risen from the dead.

So, what are we supposed to do with this passage? Are we supposed to connect “if someone rises from the dead” with Jesus? We know of Moses and the prophets but we tend to focus on Jesus more than any other figure in the Bible. Are we supposed to connect with Lazarus and the promise of comfort after we die or are we challenged to see the error of our ways as the rich man does and do what we can do live a better life? (What does “better look like?) The poor are mentioned in the Bible maybe as many as 2000 times. Quite often those who have means or are in power are reminded to remember the poor. Is this still a core part of the Christian faith? If so, how do best we care for those in need?

09.21.2025 - Pentecost 15 - Kris Perkola

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:40:36 GMT

09.21.2025 - 15th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples a parable about a dishonest manager who cleverly makes the most of a bad situation and finds praise from his master and Jesus. This is perhaps the most controversial parable that Jesus ever tells in the gospels and the most discussed by Biblical commentators. The controversy comes from Jesus seemingly praising a person that Jesus admits is dishonest. Is Jesus endorsing dishonest behavior? Since most readers have doubted that, much has been written about how to make the parable work in a virtuous manner. The ending, however, is clear: we must choose to serve God over wealth.

The parable comes after several teachings directed at the Pharisees, and I do wonder if it is at their expense. Is Jesus mocking the Pharisees by saying they are dishonest managers of God’s things? Whoever the manager represents, it does seem that Jesus praises him genuinely for his shrewdness or cleverness, if not for his dishonesty.

The manager begins the passage having been losing his master’s money, probably spending it on himself. The master may or may not know this. What the master does know is that the manager isn’t making him any more money with his management, and he needs to go. The manager knows he’s going to be dismissed, so he decides to do favors for the master’s debtors by reducing what they owe to the master. It is a matter of debate if he’s reducing his master’s take on the debt or his own cut as a manager, but either way the debtors will now owe the manager for this favor. For this, the master and Jesus praise the manager. Jesus even suggests that believers can learn from this example. But what can we learn from this dishonest person?

I think it’s important to understand the society where this parable takes place. Entering into a favor-for-favor relationship with someone, like the manager is doing, bound people together for years. Many favors would be traded, and eventually, a genuine friendship might even form between people who originally just owed each other. I think Jesus might be saying that our good works, including the stewardship of the resources God has given us, should also build relationships with our neighbors. We shouldn’t just cut checks to help those in need, we should get to know them, even if we have to travel some distance to meet them. Eventually, the work we do isn’t charity, but just friends helping friends.

This can be a confusing passage, at least as far as the details are concerned. But the message that we should be good stewards of the gifts God has given us, and that we should serve God above all else, is straightforward. God gives us many gifts and resources to use for the benefit of our world, and we should make connections with fellow workers and people in need as we do so. May we be honest, yet shrewd, managers for God!

09.14.2025 - Pentecost 14 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 01:16:06 GMT

09.14.2025 - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

As Jesus continues his walk to Jerusalem, he continues to share wisdom and insights to those who will listen. Now the crowd isn’t filled with just one group of people, here we read about the tension brought on by the religious leaders because of who Jesus welcomes. Why is this such a big deal? Would we expect Jesus to do anything different? Who would church folks grumble about today if Jesus welcomed them?

Who is the “them” that Jesus shares these parables with? My first thought is the grumblers but maybe the “them” are those who are drawn to Jesus. Regardless, both groups hear what is shared. I think both groups hear Jesus’ words very differently. The sinners are excited to hear that they have value and that there is joy and rejoicing when they return, but I’m also thinking the religious folks aren’t connecting with what Jesus has to say. Out of their wealth they probably cant connect with someone who would care about one sheep or a woman who turns her house upside down for one coin. Jesus paints a very different picture of how Jesus approaches the world than they do. What can we learn from these parables?

The “grumbling” stands out to me for some reason. There are days when it seems like we are surrounded by grumbling and I struggle to find much “good” in grumbling. What causes us to grumble? How do we avoid grumbling? What can be the fallout if we allow grumbling to fester longer than it should?

09.07.2025 - Pentecost 13 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:49:34 GMT

09.07.2025 - 13th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Well here is an uplifting passage! The image alone is hilarious. Jesus, followed by a large crowd, turns and faces his followers and declares that a requirement to following him is hating one’s family and even life! Did Jesus wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Is Jesus grumpy?

I do wonder if something was done or said that caused Jesus to say this. The Bible routinely says that Jesus knows what’s in someone’s heart, what their intents are, so nothing really needs to be done or said, Jesus already knows. So, were there some in the crowd who were too causal with their following? Were there some who were just going along with the crowd who didn’t nt really know what it meant to follow. Maybe that caused this tirade.

As the expression goes, lost in translation, there might be something going on with the translation here. If Jesus spoke to the crowds in Aramaic, the Gospels were written in Greek, and now we read them in English, that could be a very interesting game of telephone. One perspective I’ve heard, relating to translations, is that Jesus isn’t saying “hate” as we know it today, but is reminding his followers, would-be or not, that following needs to be the most important thing in their life. Now that is challenging. Maybe even more so than hating. This approach can be further verified by the two examples that Jesus shares relating to the construction of a tower or a king going off to battle. In both situations the task would be evaluated and if it couldn’t be accomplished, or the battle one, neither would have ever happened. Do we approach the Christian faith with the same reflection? Do we know the cost?

I have long believed that the work of the suburban church, especially in wealthy areas, is to talk about priorities. Our priorities can get so out of whack if we let them. We extend ourselves beyond our means, we can desire things that dont matter, and we can neglect the things that do. Maybe this passage is a gut check for us and what it means to be a follower. Maybe Jesus is challenging us to evaluate our priorities, to reflect on what really matters. Jesus would never stop loving us, or the fair weather fans in the crowd, but Jesus will remind us that following will be tough, but it will also be the most rewarding thing we have ever experienced.

08.31.2025 - Pentecost 12 - Kris Perkola

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:55:14 GMT

08.31.2025 - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus gives advice on humility and proper motivations in how we conduct ourselves in the world while attending a Sabbath meal. Between verse 1 and 7, Jesus heals a man with what we would now call edema, first asking the religious leaders if it is permitted on the Sabbath. They do not answer, probably because they are embarrassed to say “no” when the ailing man is right there. Jesus takes their silence as approval and heals the man. Then we head into our verses at the Sabbath meal. What Jesus says to them tells us that, just as they are said to be carefully watching Jesus in verse 1, he has been carefully watching them.

Jesus’ parable to the dinner guests is actually old advice that goes all the way back to the Old Testament book of Proverbs 25:6-7. While Proverbs does provide spiritual advice, much of the time it is giving practical tips for living. It is better to be asked to move up to a position of honor than to be asked to move down off of one. Jesus, though, typically doesn’t “do” practical advice. His concerns are spiritual and for basic life necessities like health and food rather than things like “honor”. So what is Jesus doing here?

Verse 11 shows us that Jesus is talking about something more than just worldly honor. Jesus is talking about how God will honor the lowly and humble the (supposedly) exalted. Ultimately, all of us are called to humility. We aren’t perfect and we all make mistakes. We should not act like we are better than others (nor particularly worse). Jesus might be saying to start small on the road to humility. Take that lower seat, not so you’ll be asked up, but because you know you aren’t better than anyone else, and you’ve been called to humility.

Jesus then turns to his host and tells him who he should invite to his parties. Jesus says that the host invites people so that he might be invited to their parties in return. Instead, he says, you should invite people who can’t repay you and who are down on their luck in terms of health, finances, or social status. If you do, it is God who will repay you.

Does this mean God will reward you in some way like allowing you to go to heaven? As someone opposed to “works righteousness”, I wouldn’t say that. Instead, I’d say that you get to experience a bit of the resurrection right now. You get an early view of what it will be like when Jesus returns and heals all afflictions and comforts all sorrows. Now THAT is something worth focusing on, rather than any worldly honor.

Jesus calls us to consider why we do what we do in this passage. Do we have our minds on worldly things like honor, or on heavenly things like righteousness? Maybe asking ourselves that question is the first step toward the humility we’re called to live.

08.24.2025 - Pentecost 11 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 23:46:44 GMT

08.24.2025 - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

I wonder how much tension filled the synagogue when this event happened. I also wonder what Jesus was teaching about and when he stopped teaching, were the listeners mad. We don’t know what he was teaching but it does seem that Jesus feels healing this woman is more important than his sermon. Jesus stops, calls her over, and heals her. I wonder if she was a regular attendee and the usuals just overlooked her or if this was her first visit. I like to think that she was there on a very regular basis and Jesus is calling out the crowds for overlooking her. I wonder if she felt like she needed to be set free. Did she feel like she had been bound and held back or was she, after 18 years, resolved that this was her situation. Jesus doesn’t just say that she is healed, Jesus physically makes contact with her. I wonder if others avoided her and she hadn’t experienced contact in a number of years. In a world where we can often go without contact, I always think it is important to remember how often Jesus actually touched someone as a part of their healing.

Now the leader of the synagogue is thrown into the spotlight. I think he is a coward because he doesn’t speak directly to Jesus but to the crowd. What is he so angry about? Did he want the sermon to keep going? Would he prefer this woman continue to be overlooked? Was he really that dedicated to the third commandment? Jesus routinely challenges the way his tradition had missed the mark of what had been originally passed down from God to the people. Here the sabbath is what is misunderstood, and not just misunderstood but a situation of hypocrisy. Jesus loves to call that out. Should Jesus have waited until sundown to heal this woman? I don’t think that’s how God works. Is this healing more for the woman or those who are missing the bigger picture by limiting what they and God can do? Jesus does what leader should’ve done, he talks directly to him, and emphatically proves his point. More than just a crippled woman who is overlooked, she is a daughter of Abraham. I wonder if the leader is angry because Jesus now says she is equal to him.

Parts of this passage that also deserve attention; praising and disabilities. I’m not sure how to work those into a sermon but I think we could and should praise God more and I’m not sure how to walk that fine line related to a person’s affliction. I truly believe that (the) (d)evil is in our world and wreaking havoc but I don’t usually say a person with asthma is bound by satan. And yet, there are things that all of us are longing to be freed from. What are those things and how does God free us?

08.17.2025 - Pentecost 10 - Kris Perkola

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:45:10 GMT

08.17.2025 - 10th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus seems to warn the people listening to his teachings to turn to his message, even though doing so might bring about division among families and society, because he might return soon. Or that’s one interpretation. This passage is vague enough that multiple ways of looking at it are possible. Is this passage meant to scare us? If so, what is it meant to scare us to do in response?

The first part of the passage is about Jesus causing division. This is in contrast to the promise at Jesus’ birth that he would be a prince of peace. It seems that Jesus’ “fire” that he has come to cast will cause the division. Is the fire the judgement of God? Many have thought so over the years. But it’s also possible that it represents the Holy Spirit. Is his "baptism" in verse 50 his death on the cross? Is it his pouring out of the Spirit on the disciples? It’s hard to say!

As for the division, Jesus often plays up family division, partially to help his followers make peace with the fact that they often must disobey their families (perhaps dishonoring their fathers and mothers) in order to follow Jesus. But this also shows how deep the divisions will go. If even family can’t make it work in these times, can anyone get along?

The last part of the passage deals with interpreting the age the listeners find themselves in. Jesus says that people in his day are good at determining the weather in the short term. They can tell in the morning if it’s going to be a “scorcher” of a hot day. But they seem unable to tell that times for society are also troubled. Why is Jesus mad at them for not being able to do this? The clue is that he calls them “hypocrites”. This means they are perfectly capable of interpreting their times, but they feign ignorance about how to do so. “Things are bad, but haven’t they always been?” and “Things are the same as they ever were,” are the kinds of things people said then and say now that would make Jesus in this passage mad. It’s like Jesus is saying, “No! Things really are worse now than they were before! Pay attention!”

What are we supposed to do with this passage? I think it’s important to read Jesus’ anger and urgency as a cue to us to feel and act similarly. We should be mad about injustice in the world, rather than be apathetic. We should feel the urge to do something now, rather than wait for someone else to handle it or wait for the problem to go away. The comfort comes from knowing, whether he means it in this passage or not, Jesus does give us the fire of the Holy Spirit to motivate us and drive us to action as he calls us to do.

08.10.2025 - Pentecost 9 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:31:05 GMT

08.10.2025 - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Is this a coherent collection of sayings or does this read like a bunch of concepts and ideas? We have a short parable in this passage, about the master and the servants, but there are also many, I would say profound, statements around this brief example. Can we take them all in or should we simply grab a hold of one or two and do our best to hold on to them?

If a passage seems disjointed or difficult to grasp, looking at the verses around the reading can be helpful. This passage is roughly halfway through Luke’s gospel so we aren’t dealing with Jesus’ birth and shepherds, and we certainly haven’t reached Jerusalem where Jesus will die and rise again, so we are most likely in the middle of a considerable amount of teaching that Jesus is sharing with his disciples and the crowds. If we go back to the first verse of this chapter, Luke tells us that the crowds now number in the thousands. Jesus has a large audience and these are the words he shares with them.

For me this particular passage is a little like drinking from a firehose. There is a lot to take in and I usually want to do my best to do everything that Jesus shares. This may be difficult with a passage such as this one. So, what are the lines that stand out, how are they speaking to me (or you), and how do we either live them out or allow them to shape our faith? I appreciate how Jesus says it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. That sounds nice, I mean who doesn’t like receiving gifts. But, what exactly is the kingdom, how is it given and received, and are there things that may get in the way of this gift? Jesus’ next words talk about possessions and giving offerings. I can see where Jesus is coming from and this makes sense. But it is also to remember how different things are today than they were when Jesus walked the earth. Our possessions are vastly greater than what they could’ve imagines back then so do we need to adjust how we hear these words or are they even more important today? If we are able to receive the kingdom, maybe everything else that Jesus talks about falls into place. Maybe we care less about our stuff once we’ve received the kingdom. Maybe we are always ready once we’ve received the kingdom and it creates this balance between us and God, where we are always looking to serve but we also welcome a God who serves us. The church has done a lot to scare people in terms of Jesus’ return and I simply don’t agree with that theology. Maybe once we’ve received this gift we live in excitement and expectation for Jesus to return. It all starts with the kingdom.

08.03.2025 - Pentecost 8 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 21:25:23 GMT

08.03.2025 - 8th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus tells a lawyer a parable about a ‘good Samaritan’ to illustrate what it means to be a good neighbor. This is the fourth and final Sunday in our sermon series on the Good Samaritan. This week, we’ll be focusing on the character of the Samaritan himself. In the parable, the Samaritan stops to help a beaten and robbed man unlike a priest and Levite who pass by on the other side of the road. Jesus tells us that the Samaritan helps the man in need because the Samaritan is filled with compassion, which apparently, the other passersby were not.

Samaritans in this time were considered enemies of Israel. The Samaritans considered themselves “children of Israel”, but not Jews. The believed and worshiped in a similar way to Israel, but differed in where worship of God should be centered. Beyond theological differences, Jews and Samaritans disliked each other for cultural reasons and out of ethnic prejudice. Before the Romans conquered the region, both groups had launched violent and devastating military campaigns against each other. The main thing that kept them from fighting during Jesus’ day was the Roman occupation tamping down on all disturbance to their rule. All this is to say that Jews and Samaritans really didn’t like each other at this time. Notice that, at the end of our passage, the lawyer can’t even bring himself to say “the Samaritan” in response to Jesus’ question of who showed mercy in this story. The lawyer can only answer, “the one who showed him kindness.”

So what does the Samaritan in this parable mean for us? Three things come to mind. First is that we should not be so prejudiced that we can’t imagine someone from a group we don’t like doing acts of kindness. We can ask ourselves, what kind of person would we have a hard time saying was helpful in a story like this, even if it were obviously true? Then we should work on that prejudice!

Second, Jesus calls us to be like the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells the lawyer to “go, and do likewise.” We should have the same motivation as the Samaritan, since he was moved with compassion for the beaten man. And we should be attentive to details, like how the Samaritan cleans the wounds of the victim. We should be willing to go above and beyond in service to others when it really counts like the Samaritan does.

Finally, we should notice how the Samaritan is like Jesus and how Jesus is a good Samaritan to us. Like the Samaritan, Jesus is moved with compassion for us and our struggles. We are “half dead” in sin as Jesus finds us, but Jesus cleans us up and takes care of us, paying for our difficulties. And like the Samaritan, Jesus promises to come again to finish taking care of our troubles.

That’s a lot to digest from this one, short parable! I am always amazed by how Jesus can teach us so much with so few words. May we have compassion like the Samaritan, knowing that Jesus will always be with us as our Good Samaritan!

07.27.2025 - Pentecost 7 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:24:00 GMT

07.27.2025 - 7th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Part three in our four part series on the parable of the Good Samaritan focuses on the Inn Keeper. The inn keeper is an interesting because, much like the victim, the inn keeper never speaks. Yet, the inn keeper has an important part to play and one that we can learn from.

As usual, there are a bunch of questions I have about this story and related to the inn keeper specifically. When the Samaritan showed up with the wounded individual on the back of his animal, was the inn keeper watching out the window as they pulled up? Was the inn keeper initially reluctant to give lodging to these two individuals? Or, was the inn keeper excited to be a part of the victims healing?

Does the inn keeper have any autonomy in this story? When the Samaritan continues on with his journey, and leaves the victim in the room, sure the Samaritan pays for his stay and his care, but could the inn keeper have said no?

These are all questions and ideas that we can only hypothesize over, what we can learn from the inn keeper is the need to involve others in the work that we do. The Samaritan didn’t have to employ the inn keeper. He had already changed his plans and you’d think he could again. He could have placed him on his animal in the morning, but instead he involves someone else in the needed work to bring about healing for this individual.

With that in mind, are we more prone to inviting others to join us, or do you prefer to be asked? Regardless of which, we are never meant to do this work alone. We are meant to work together. So, when you have been invited to join up with someone or something that is needed, how did you respond? Did you have a resounding YES, or were you reluctant or maybe even said no? Have you taken the time to invite others to join you in work that makes a difference? Certainly you could do it on your own, and it might even be easier and go quicker, but in the long run we can do more together than alone. May we continue to look for ways to always increase who is doing God’s work, for the sake of our neighbor.

07.20.2025 - Pentecost 6 - Kris Perkola

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:24:41 GMT

07.20.2025 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus is challenged by a lawyer about who is his neighbor, and Jesus answers with the parable of the Good Samaritan. This will be the second sermon in our four week sermon series on the Good Samaritan passage from Luke 10. This week, we’ll be focusing on the two characters who walk by the beaten man without helping him: the priest and the Levite.

Our passage says that the priest came by the victim of the passage “by chance”, but he “passed by on the other side” of the road. The Levite who follows after him does the same thing. Priests during this time period worked at the Temple in Jerusalem, offering prayers and sacrifices, as well as leading worship. They were supposedly descendants of Aaron and had their role handed down from generation to generation through the male line.

The roles of Levites were a bit more complicated. They came from the tribe of Levi and had a variety of roles in religious life, including being musicians and guards at the temple. They offered prayers, but not sacrifices, and they also served as attendants to the priests.

Both of these men would have known their scripture well and would have known that they had a duty to help those in need. So why didn’t they? We can speculate, but it’s important to note that Jesus doesn’t say. He leaves it to our imagination. In contrast, we know why the Samaritan does what he does: he has compassion for the victim.

Much has been made of the Priest and Levite being afraid of becoming ritually unclean from attempting to help the man in the ditch. It was possible that the man was dead (he looked like he could be), and touching a dead body would have required them to undergo ritual purification. But I think that we make too much of these excuses. Luke’s audience were not Jewish priestly folks. They weren’t even Jewish. But Luke definitely wants them to see themselves as being in danger of acting like these two men who pass by without helping. Why would anyone, Jew or Gentile, avoid helping someone? Asked this way, I think we get more basic and plausible answers. They were afraid. They were in a hurry. They didn’t want to become responsible for getting the man back to health. These are the reasons I think Luke wants his readers to watch out for regarding themselves.

I know that, for me, I’m not worried about my ritual purity when I see someone in need. I’m much more likely to think, “someone else will help,” and “I have somewhere I need to be.” In this way the two persons who walk by are more sympathetic characters, but also more condemning for us to consider. May we ask God to help us get over our excuses for not helping those in need!

07.13.2025 - Pentecost 5 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:58:58 GMT

07.13.2025 - 5th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Over the next four weeks we will take four different looks at this passage. We will look at the parable from the perspective of the victim, the priest and the Levite, the inn keeper, and the Good Samaritan. As we look at this parable from four different perspectives, it’s still important to remember what prompted Jesus to preach this well known story.

A legal expert approaches Jesus to test him. The occasion for this moment isn’t rooted in genuine interest in Jesus or what Jesus has to share, but to test Jesus. How does the motive impact how we hear this parable? The expert asks Jesus about eternal life but he wants to know how he might “inherit” eternal life. Is that how we understand the gift of salvation or is there more to eternal life than an inheritance? Jesus response makes sense. Since his conversation is an expert in the law, ask him about the law. The expert has a great response, “Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus tells him that if he does this, he will live. And if the expert had left the conversation there, maybe we don’t get this parable, but the legal expert, “wanting to vindicate himself” asks, “Who is my neighbor?” Cue the music as Jesus now tells this well known story.

Now to our focused character for this week, the victim. We don’t know much about this guy. We know that he is leaving Jerusalem, maybe he was there for religious purposes, maybe he lives in Jerusalem and he’s traveling to Jericho, regardless he finds himself in a difficult situation. Not only is he robbed, the thieves take his clothes, beat him, and leave him for dead. After this the victim is merely along for the ride. He is sidestepped by a priest and a Levite but he is rescued by the Samaritan. Is this surprising? Would the victim be OK with a Samaritan helping him? It’s an odd question as he is presumably death without this rescue but some have argued that cultural differences between the victim and the Samaritan would have made this rescue unlikely at best. He cares for the man, transports him to an Inn, and pays for his care. Why? Because he was moved by compassion to this man in need. This parable is bookended with this conversation between Jesus and the expert. Jesus asks him, “Who was a neighbor to the man in need?” The expert doesn’t refer to him as the Samaritan but rather “the one who showed him mercy” to which Jesus replies, “Go and do likewise.”

This story doesn’t happen without the victim. The victim doesn’t go looking for this situation, it happens to him, and it leads to an opportunity for compassion. How do we respond to those who are in need, especially when it is out of their control? How do we hope others will respond to us when we find ourselves in need? This is something that we are struggling with today. Do we come to the aid of those who are in need or do they just need to pull harder on those boot straps? How do we hope others will respond when we encounter struggles and we are literally or metaphorically, left for dead? Hopefully there are still neighbors out there who will show mercy.

07.06.2025 - Pentecost 4 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:05:18 GMT

07.06.2025 - 4th Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

In this passage, Jesus commissions seventy-two followers to go ahead of him into Samaria, preaching and healing, in anticipation of his going there, and they are successful in their work. The sending of the seventy is only found in Luke. It is similar to when Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, which is found in multiple gospels, but this story shows us how extensive Jesus’ network of followers was. It was assumed that followers we hear about that were not a part of the twelve disciples were part of this group like Cleopas who meets Jesus with another disciple on the road to Emmaus.

Jesus sends these followers out to prepare the way for him, and probably also to get some practice for future ministry. Some interpreters would say that a third mission for the seventy is to heal, but I would say that that is part of preparing a place for Jesus. Healing and preaching helps people to know what Jesus is going to be about before he even gets there. Much Christian mission work today starts with health work. Helping people be healthy is good in and of itself, but it also helps them to know that healing is a core part of Chrisitan mission.

The verses we skip in the lectionary are “woes” that Jesus proclaims against stubborn and close-minded cities. This is on the mind of seventy who are headed into territory that has so far shown to be hostile to Jesus. Samaritans would have been skeptical that a Jewish prophet like Jesus would have anything good to say to them, so they might treat his followers harshly. These woes show that Jesus takes the seventy’s safety seriously.

When the seventy return, they are happy that they have been so successful. They haven’t just healed people; they have even managed to cast out demons successfully. Jesus is very encouraging to these followers by telling them that it was like Satan falling from heaven that they did so much Godly work! Jesus wants this memory to give them confidence that God will always look out for them in all the mission work that they will do, even after Jesus has left them. No matter what, they will see Jesus again in heaven, so why should they fear?

For us, this story can be encouraging because of the seventy’s success among people who could be hostile to their message. We spread Jesus’ message of love and healing, not because it helps us win points with God, since our names are already “written in heaven”, but because we are thankful for what God has done for us and we can be confident that God has our back no matter what.

06.29.2025 - Pentecost 3 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 01:08:14 GMT

06.29.2025 - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - Pastor Chris

I’m looking for some insights into this one. Can you find a consistent theme throughout this passage? I see a lot going on here, but I’m trying to see if there’s a consistent message from verse 51-62.

Luke has 24 chapters in his gospel but in chapter 9 we read that Jesus is preparing to head to the place where his life will end. This is important in understanding the challenge of what it means to follow Jesus. I think everyone wants to follow Jesus, but do we want to follow him to death.

Why don’t the Samaritans receive Jesus’ disciples? In the gospel of John Jesus has a conversation with a woman at a well in Samaria. During their conversation she brings up that her community has a different religious practice than that of Jesus. Jesus and the Jews worship in the temple in Jerusalem, but the woman and here people worship on “this mountain.” Is it the religious differences that keep the Samaritans from receiving Jesus? What ensues is even more interesting. James and John, I believe with good intentions, ask Jesus if they should wipeout the village fire from heaven. Obviously they are offended that this village shuns Jesus, but thankfully cooler heads prevail and Jesus rebukes them and they continue on their way to another village.

This next paragraph seems like a stark shift. Jesus encounters a number of individuals who either ask to follow Jesus or Jesus invites them to follow him, but these invitations are met with challenges replies. Is Jesus first response meant to inform the would be follower that following Jesus is difficult? Is Jesus insinuating that he is homeless and those who follow Jesus are also without a home? Next Jesus invites someone to follow him and they respond with what seems like a very valid excuse. “Let me go and bury my father.” Is Jesus’ response insensitive? “Let the dead bury the dead.” Maybe this response is less shocking when we attach Jesus’ next words, “Proclaim the kingdom of God.” God’s kingdom is one of life over death. If this follower commits to this message does it reflect the eternal promise that his father will live forever in heaven? The last excuse is just a simple farewell but Jesus has strong words for this individual too. I have never plowed a field, especially by hand, but I think I get what Jesus is saying. If you try to do something like plow a field, and you aren’t looking ahead, it isn’t going to go well. Just as Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem, this response invites us to set our eyes on the work and mission of God. So, where are we looking?

06.22.2025 - Pentecost 2 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:28:40 GMT

06.22.2025 - 2nd Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Pekola

In this passage, Jesus casts out a collection of demons from a troubled man, bringing the man new life, but frightening his neighbors. This story is found in Matthew as well as in Mark which is the version it is most similar to. Luke seems to have liked Mark’s version (assuming Mark was written before Luke), but Luke wanted to edit the story for greater clarity. For instance, Luke tells us that the possessed man is naked so that we aren’t surprised that he needed to be clothed after he is exorcised, something that Mark doesn’t say.

For Mark and Luke, it is significant that Jesus goes out of his way, across the Sea of Galilee, to a Gentile (non-Jewish) land to exorcise this man. Jesus could have stayed among his fellow Jews and had plenty to do in ministry and teaching, but instead he makes a point of going to this non-Jewish place, seemingly for this one miracle. But why?

I think Luke wants us to understand that Jesus had concern for Gentiles like Luke’s own congregation (and us) to help non-Jews know that Jesus loved them and wanted them to be a part of God’s Church. Gentiles hearing this passage would also understand Jesus’ command to the exorcised man that they too are supposed to go and share all that God has done for them among their fellow Gentiles. That’s a message that can still speak to us who are of Gentile descent today.

But I think another possibility is that this act by Jesus is a kind of political protest. At this time in history, the term “legion” had a very specific meaning. A legion was a unit of the Roman military, at this time numbering a few thousand soldiers. Over time, the term came to include any kind of large group of people, like a rock star’s “legion” of fans, but this sense of the term didn’t exist in Jesus’ day. Casting out a demon called “Legion” can be seen as a political protest against Roman military oppression in the middle east. Why would Jesus travel out of his way to a fairly hostile area to do this single miracle and then leave? It could be argued that Jesus knows exactly the name of the demon he is seeking to make his political point that the Romans have no business occupying this area of the world.

For a very long time, one part of this passage has been very controversial: the fact that Jesus allows the pigs who become the host of the demons to die. At first, this was controversial because Jesus allowed the destruction of private property. Now, it is probably more discomforting because the poor pigs die who have done nothing wrong! I think originally this was meant to be humorous. The dumb demons ask to avoid going into “the abyss” (which was thought to be water-like) even if it means going into unclean pigs, but they still end up in a watery grave! I don’t doubt that Jesus somehow made this right with the swine herds, even if this isn’t in our story.

For me, I love Jesus’ careful attention to all this man’s needs. Sure he needs to be exorcised, but he also needs clothes and shelter (Jesus actually tells him to go back to his house, which the man has abandoned). Jesus also teaches and comforts the man and talks to him about how he can serve Jesus best. We can get overly focused on just one problem someone might be struggling with, but this passage calls us to think holistically about helping others. Humans are complex and have many needs and the only way we can meet them is through helping each other!

06.15.2025 - Holy Trinity - Pastor Chris

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:06:26 GMT

06.15.2025 - Holy Trinity - Pastor Chris

If there were a TV show called something like, Confessions of a Lutheran Pastor, I would have to confess that Holy Trinity Sunday is one of my least favorite Sundays of the church year. Not because I don't love the Trinity but because I believe the trinity is more to be experienced than understood. So, how do we turn the sermon into something that is experiential instead of something that is only cerebral or intellectual?

What are things that we experience that are difficult to explain? Can we explain a hug or is it something that we experience? Certainly we can parse of the different steps of an embrace and use a number of adjectives to describe what happens when two people hug, but a hug may be one of those things that we experience more than understand.

The Christian faith is full of experiences. We experience grace and forgiveness. Like a hug, we could explain what exactly transpires when someone receives forgiveness, but it is much more powerful when we experience it. When we share the peace we hear the greeting but hopefully we experience peace, especially during times of chaos. We experience healing. We could explain healing on a spiritual, emotional, or physical basis but what’s more important is that we experience healing.

So, how do we experience the trinity? Over the years we have attributed titles to each person of the trinity. We refer to God as creator and we experience creation every day of our lives. Jesus is the savior and we understand what it means to be saved by Jesus from death and given the gift of eternal life. But what title have we given to the Holy Spirit? Sometimes the Holy Spirit is referred to as the sustainer. The Holy Spirit keeps us going so that we can continue to live out our faith in God’s world.

Less than understanding the trinity, how do we experience one God in these three forms and why is it so important?

06.08.2025 - Day of Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:06:05 GMT

06.08.2025 - Day of Pentecost - Pastor Chris

Words matter. The alternative first reading for Sunday is the well known story from Genesis about the Tower of Babel. In this story the people are united but their unity is against God. So God disrupts their language and they are scattered. Is the story of Pentecost in Acts 2 undoing what was done at Babel or is the lectionary merely pairing these two readings? Regardless, words matter. As the apostles are gathered together in one place the Holy Spirit makes its dramatic appearance. To me it has the feel of an NBA introduction, something out of a pro wrestling event, or a well orchestrated rock concert. There is fire, there is wind, and a lot of noise. But what this story is about is words. All of a sudden these apostles have the ability to speak in other languages. (I have long wondered if they knew what they were saying or if it was more like they were possessed.) Now these words aren’t for the apostles but those who overhear what is being said. Pentecost was a festival before it became the day when we celebrate the birth of the Christian church and the city was filled with people from a variety of nations. I assume all of these folks were multilingual but for them to hear about God in their native language is powerful because now they can connect God back to their births and their homelands instead of something that was limited to one language and one race. How do we make sure the stories of God are found in all languages?

Pentecost Sunday tends to be centered around the Acts 2 reading, but we have a bunch of other readings to learn from as well. As we opened with “words matter,” many words are exchanged between Jesus and his disciples in the gospel reading from John. Jesus says, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves.” Jesus ties his words and actions closely together. Here Jesus is responding to Philips request of, “Lord, show us the father…” I am sure we’ve all heard the expression actions speak louder than words, which I wholeheartedly agree with, but it’s so important to also remember how important words are as well. Words can destroy a person. We live in a time when what we say (or post) can come back to haunt us years after it was said (posted). Words can inspire and build up. I will continually return to speeches that I found powerful because how those words are strung together and the cadence in which they are delivered can inspire us to go out and tackle the world. Growing up I used to hear the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say they don’t say anything at all.” I wish we lived out this phrase today. I hope we realize the power of words, both for good and for ill. May we continue to take heart the words of Jesus, how it is that we share those words, and how they guide our actions. Our gospel reading ends with Jesus speaking words of peace. May we take to heart this message of peace but also echo this message in the far reaches of God’s world where they long for peace.

06.01.2025 - Easter 7 - Kris Perkola

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:23:14 GMT

06.01.2025 - Easter 7 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Paul and Silas are arrested and help bring about the conversion of their jailer. Paul and his crew, including Silas and probably Luke himself (notice the “we” in verse 16), were staying in Philippi after helping set-up a church in the home of Lydia. Lydia was the focus of last week’s reading, but this reading features a different woman, a slave possessed by an unclean spirit. This spirit correctly identifies (multiple times, apparently) that Paul and company are “servants of the Most High God”. Humorously, Paul exorcises this spirit from the girl from what appears to be more annoyance rather than anything else. But this exorcism puts Paul and company at odds with the girl’s owners and eventually the authorities. Paul and Silas end up beaten and imprisoned.

It should be noted that Paul and Silas could have avoided this fate. After our passage, Paul reveals that he and Silas are Roman citizens and therefore should have been afforded safety from the harshness of their punishment. Instead, Paul and Silas end up in prison singing songs to God. They also take this opportunity to talk to their fellow prisoners about God, but this is interrupted when an earthquake strikes. The fact that this quake perfectly unshackles Paul and Silas shows us that Luke feels that it was a miraculous event.

When their jailor awakens, he is shamed by the fact that his charges might have escaped, and he moves to kill himself to preserve his family’s honor. This might seem drastic, but dishonor was a serious concern to the Romans. It could spread like a disease unless quickly dealt with. To save his family from this dishonor, he was prepared to kill himself. Fortunately, he is stopped by Paul, and the grateful jailor takes Paul and Silas to his home and cares for them. He inquires about salvation and is baptized, “he and his entire family”. And so, our passage ends with celebration.

Paul and Silas show us that chances for evangelism can arrive in unexpected places. Even before the jailor, they were spreading the Good News among their fellow prisoners. Hopefully most of us don’t find ourselves in as dire a situation as Paul and Silas most of the time, but we too can probably find situations to witness to the gospel, by listening to people who are hurting, helping out people in need, and by telling what God has done in our lives. And we can do this, like Paul and Silas, even if things aren’t going perfectly in our own lives. You never know when an opportunity to share about Jesus might present itself!

05.25.2025 - Easter 6 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 26 May 2025 17:14:28 GMT

05.25.2025 - Easter 6 - Pastor Chris

One of the constants in all of these readings is a vision of what is to come. Some are further away and others are much closer. As people of faith we need to make sure that we continue to be open to visions and dreams. It can be far too easy to become pessimistic and dream less as we age, yet, we still need to dream because God continues to work miracles where we may worry if the future has any hope. More so than just dreams and visions for ourselves, we also need to be open to, and strive to follow, the dreams and visions that God has for us and our world. As we pray “On earth as it is in heaven…” this is a direct invitation to adopt and enact the dreams that God has for us. So, how do we get there? How do we see the world as God does and the miracle that may just be around the corner? We may need to suspend reality and realize that God works outside of our limitations. We may need to let go of visions and dreams that failed to become reality. When our dreams do not come true, it is very easy to become less open to and optimistic for dreams to become a reality. But God continues to work in our world. So, what are your dreams and visions? How is God working in those dreams and visions? What do you believe God’s dreams and visions are for us? How can we help make those a reality?

05.18.2025 - Easter 5 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 19 May 2025 06:49:29 GMT

05.18.2025 - Easter 5 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment to “love one another”. Jesus gives this commandment after washing the disciples feet and predicting that he would be betrayed. One thing that is easy to miss about the beginning of this passage is that the “he” mentioned in verse 21 is Judas. Jesus had just told Judas to go do what he was going to do, in other words, to betray Jesus. It’s immediately after Judas leaves to betray Jesus that he tells the disciples to love one another.

Maybe the most confusing part of this passage is all the talk about ‘glory’. What does Jesus mean about God being glorified and being glorified “in himself” and “immediately”? I think that Jesus means that we’ve come to know God through Jesus’ life and ministry. We and the disciples have seen the miracles and the compassion of Jesus and have come to believe that’s who God the Father is for us, too. As for the glory that will come “immediately”, I assume that Jesus means the glory that will be shown in his crucifixion more than in his resurrection. The two go together, but it’s important to remember that Jesus is enthroned as our king on the cross. It’s there that we see how much Jesus and the Father truly love us.

And that love brings us back to the commandment of the passage. As Jesus has demonstrated his love, through his ministry, the foot washing, and his self-sacrifice on the cross, we should show our love for one another through our words and actions. Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself.

Showing each other love is a good thing, in-and-of itself. But it is also a tool of evangelism. People saw the love early Christians showed each other, and even to strangers outside the church, and decided that they wanted what Christians had. They saw that love and knew that we Christians were Christ’s disciples! As it was true back then, may it be true now as we show others the love of Jesus through our words and deeds. Amen!

05.11.2025 - Easter 4 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:40:44 GMT

05.11.2025 - Easter 4 - Pastor Chris

Jesus as a shepherd is one of those iconic images that we may have seen in our Sunday school classroom or church fellowship hall as a kid. Maybe Jesus is even depicted carrying the lamb across his shoulders. This image of care, safety and protection likely shaped our understanding of Jesus and reminded us how much God cares for us. But as we get older, and maybe prefer to not rely on someone, how do we continue to remind ourselves of our need for a shepherd and the amazing shepherd that we have in Jesus?

Sunday is also Mother’s Day. Much like a shepherd reflects God’s commitment and dedication to us, do we also find motherly characteristics in Jesus/God? Are we OK seeing God as both a father and a mother?

More so that just Jesus as the good shepherd, this passage focuses a great deal on Christology. The crowd wants to know if Jesus is the messiah and Jesus raises their claims when he says he and God are one. In the next verse it says the crowd picks up stones to kill Jesus when he says this. Why are they so offended by these words and why is it so important that Jesus and God are one?

05.04.2025 - Easter 3 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 05 May 2025 10:01:16 GMT

05.04.2025 - Easter 3 - Kris Pekola

In this passage, Jesus appears to the fishing disciples, feeding them breakfast, and challenging Peter to affirm his love for Jesus in word and in pastoring Jesus’ flock. Chapter 21 of John’s gospel has often been thought of as an epilogue since the ending of chapter 20 feels so definitive. Chapter 20 ends with, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” This feels like a strong conclusion to the whole gospel! Why then do we get this extra story? One theory is that this chapter was added to comfort the early Christians who were upset that both Peter and John had died before Jesus’ return. That’s why we hear about Peter’s eventual death in this passage. In this theory, the gospel was meant to end at chapter 20, but this “extended edition” is what we have now.

In any case, the passage starts with the disciples out fishing. This seems odd after they’ve received the Holy Spirit in chapter 20, but some view this fishing as metaphorical. Maybe the disciples are out in the world doing ministry, but without the energy that should come from really believing in the risen Christ. If so, Jesus appears to them to strengthen them in this effort. Jesus kindly prepares breakfast for the disciples and he even helps them to catch tons of fish first. Why do they catch 153 fish, specifically? No one knows for sure, but it might represent John’s idea of how many nations there are in the world.

After everyone has eaten, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. This reminds us (and probably Peter) that he denied Jesus three times. With each affirmative response, Jesus commands Peter to tend to his flock, essentially charging him with pastoral duty. Jesus prophesies about Peter’s future and his death. It might be odd to us, but this would be comforting to John’s audience because it means Jesus saw something coming that the community has probably recently experienced and mourned over. Finally Jesus commands Peter, and us, to follow him.

I’ll be honest, readers: I find this story a little odd. It feels somewhat tacked on after the strong ending to the gospel from last week when Jesus confronts Thomas and encourages us in our belief. But I can appreciate that this passage would have been a comfort to John’s community about the fate of Peter and John and the importance of recommitting ourselves to shepherding Jesus’ flock. No matter what happens, Jesus will be with us, cheering us on to do the work he has called us to do for the sake of God’s kingdom.

04.27.2025 - Easter 2 - Pastor Chris

Sun, 04 May 2025 17:14:56 GMT

04.27.2025 - Easter - Pastor Chris

The post-resurrection stories are great and this one from John may be one of the most well known. Thomas usually get’s the heading before this passage but a bunch of other important stuff happens too. Jesus walks through walls and gives them the gift and power of the Holy Spirit that he told them about before he was crucified. It’s important to remember that Jesus always makes good on his word.

I love the supernatural aspect of this story. Jesus walks through walls and then gives his friends the gift and power of the Holy Spirit. But he does this with a specific greeting, peace. Peace is such a powerful word. So much is contained in just that one word. As the disciples are juggling an onslaught of emotions after everything that had happened, they needed to hear, “peace.”

But peace isn’t just for comfort and serenity, they have important work to do. The giving, and receiving of this peace will allow them to live out their mission in God’s kingdom. The church today still has a part to play in God’s mission. May we hear and receive this gift of peace so that we can be sent out just as Jesus sends out his friends.

I’m encouraged that Thomas seems to be embraced now more than shunned. Whereas being called a Doubting Thomas was an insult, now we appreciate his honesty and openness. And what happens because of that honesty, Jesus shows up and gives Thomas exactly what he asked for! (Even if it is a little gross. I mean who wants to put their hand in a wound!) I mostly wonder if Thomas was sad and bummed out because he missed out on such a powerful moment. I am sure he wanted to receive the Holy Spirit too!

04.20.2025 - Easter - Pastor Chris

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 21:07:57 GMT

04.20.2025 - Easter - Pastor Chris

One of the things that always surprises me with the Easter stories is how few lines Jesus gets. Jesus isn’t present at all in Luke or Mark, he has a small part in Matthew, and they don’t recognize him in John! For it being his resurrection, I’m surprised we don’t get more Jesus in these stories! Since Jesus doesn’t get a lot of stage time, this allows others to share the good news. The angels, the same ones who told the shepherds that Jesus had been born, share the news that he has risen. In classic Luke fashion, the women are the ones to hear this news first and it is the women who tell the remaining 11 disciples. God is continually looking for ways to involve others in this story and the sharing of this good news. Like the angels and the women, how has God invited us to be active participants in the telling of this story?

I love how the angels tell the women that they are looking for the living where you would only find death. Now to be fair, they believe that they will find a corpse, not a living creature. The angels’ redirect their search from a place of death to a place of life. I think we need to hear this part of the story over and over again. How often do we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed with things that take life instead of things that give life? This is such a part of our daily lives that it’s almost a crisis. Who will redirect us from a place of death to a place of life? What will we need to let go of?

The angels recap the story and when they do, the women remember. What helps you remember? Who are the voices that remind you of God’s faithfulness and power over everything? Do you seek out those voices and desire to hear what they have to say, or are you too drawn to the places that speak of death and pessimism?

Do you think the women were bummed out by the reaction of their friends.? Aside from Peter, they hear it as an idle tale and don’t believe. But at some point people believed because we know this story today. Someone believed and someone shared.

Peter is amazed at what he sees. What amazes you? How often are you amazed? Should we be amazed every day, all the time, or is amazement elusive and hard to find?

04.13.2025 - Palm Sunday - Kris Perkola

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:42:23 GMT

04.13.2025 - Palm Sunday - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the praise of the people and his disciples. This is the Lukan account of what is celebrated as Palm Sunday. All four gospels contain this story, but this is the only one missing the titular palms that the people waved, according to the other gospels. Instead, Luke’s focus is on the Spirit-led praise that is given to Jesus in joy by those who witness this event.

In Luke’s account, Jesus had just finished giving a parable about a king returning with royal power. It’s similar, but different to the more familiar parable of the talents from the gospel of Matthew. In this parable, the king receives royal power, but has opponents who try to prevent it. It’s possible that Jesus is predicting how the religious establishment is about to oppose him as he comes into Jerusalem.

After finishing his parable, Jesus sends out some disciples to get a colt for him to ride on. Luke sets this up as a prophecy. Jesus knew that the donkey would be there and that the disciples would be able to get it easily. Getting a donkey to ride in on would subvert the expectations of those who expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem as a conquering-style king. Instead, he enters the city like Solomon did nearly a 1,000 years before, by riding an animal which was a symbol of peace.

By the time Jesus is riding the colt, something strange seems to come over the multitude of Jesus’ followers. This would have been all the people who had been following Jesus, not just the twelve. These followers begin to praise Jesus by quoting scripture and recalling all the miracles that Jesus performed. This whole event probably felt like a traveling revival and seems to have upset the religious authorities. They tell Jesus to quiet his followers, but Jesus says that the stones would cry out in their place if he did.

In Luke’s version of this story, I think that Luke is making this event a mini- Pentecost. Luke is our best source for Pentecost, which he depicts in Acts 2. There the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaim God’s deeds of power. They do that here, too, but without all the fancy extra languages they use at Pentecost. I think this is also why Luke leaves out the palms and the “hosannas”. Both of those things were symbols of national struggle for ancient Israel, and they would distract from Luke’s point about this event being about the Holy Spirit moving in Jesus’ followers to share all that God had done through Jesus. Luke hoped that the Holy Spirit continued to move in his congregation to continue to proclaim who Jesus is. Hopefully, the Spirit continues to move in our community the same way today!

04.06.2025 - Lent 5 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:25:26 GMT

04.06.2025 - Lent 5 - Pastor Chris

The details here are so important and they’re easily overlooked.

John explicitly lets us know where this event takes place; in Bethany, at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha; and just in case you forgot, yes, the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead. Reminded of this, Mary’s response makes complete sense. Overwhelmed by what Jesus has done for her, she responds with unimaginative appreciation.

This story has great tension between death and life. Lazarus was dead but now he’s alive. Jesus is alive but in just six days he will celebrate a final meal with his disciples before his death. How do we live in this tension between death and life? For Mary the only response she knows is one that seems completely absurd to Judas. We know this story so well we can easily miss the extravagance of Mary’s act. There is so much perfume that Jesus’ feet can’t completely absorb it, so Mary soaks it up with her hair. The aroma of the perfume is so great it fills the entire home. In my mind the smell of the perfume lingered in the home for days and it stayed on those who were there and they took it with them when they left. This may seem extravagant but when we read it in the context of Jesus bringing her brother back from the dead, Mary’s act makes complete sense.

So what to make of Judas’ response? When I read this passage I wonder why John had to be so hard on Judas? It seems as if Judas hasn’t had the same level of interaction with Jesus that Mary has. It’s not as if Mary doesn’t care for the poor but she feels compelled to worship Jesus with an overwhelming response. Maybe Judas is repulsed by her response because he doesn’t yet fully know who Jesus is. With that in mind, how do we know who Jesus is?

The tension of death and life is not just from the raising of Lazarus from the dead and Jesus’ impending murder, the chief priests plot to kill Lazarus in the very next verse! There will be constant tension between life and death, not just then but also for us today. How do we continue to worship Jesus as Mary did? Especially in the face of death?

The challenge of this passage seems to surround the poor. Judas criticizes Mary for her act, a point that John is quick to tell us is not genuine, but Jesus has what seems to be an even more peculiar response. “You will always have the poor, but you wont always have me.” On a number of occasions Jesus references the difference between when Jesus is there to when Jesus is gone. He brings this up when talking about following old covenant laws and the need to celebrate when Jesus is with them. Does that mean they weren’t encouraged to care for the poor then but we are today? I think the focus here is on Mary’s response, she worships. She worships Jesus for who he is and what he has done. Do we worship like this? Do we need to have a loved one brought back from the dead to have a response as over the top as Mary’s? Or, do we experience the extravagance of God everyday, we just miss it more often that we notice it?

Before Jesus commands his disciples to serve others as he has served them (when he washes their feet) Mary lives out this command. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum which translates to command. It’s not as if they are excused from caring for the poor, on the contrary they are commanded to serve one another as Jesus has served them. When Jesus does this, a different disciple, Peter, stops Jesus from doing a servant’s job, to which Jesus responds, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Will we be like Peter and stop Jesus from doing something for us, or will we allow Jesus to do the greatest thing for us that the world has ever experienced, so that we can have a response like Mary?

03.30.2025 - Lent 4 - Kris Perkola

worship.production@epiphanysuwanee.org (Worship Production Epiphany) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:51:31 GMT

03.30.2025 - Lent 3 - Pastor Chris

In this passage, Jesus tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son, also known as the Parable of the Forgiving Father. Jesus tells this story, and a few short ones before it, in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling, in private and in public, about Jesus welcoming tax collectors and sinners to eat with him. These elites are mad that Jesus, as a respectable member of the learned religious caste, would make them all look bad by associating with people considered ‘bad’. This response by Jesus is meant to make them think about the implications of their grumbling.

The parable starts with the father/ farmer and his two sons. The younger son tells his father that he wants his inheritance now because he doesn’t feel like waiting for his father to die. This is offensive now and would have been even more so back then, but the father agrees. The younger son takes these possessions and goes and spends them in a foreign land and finds himself poor when a famine hits the land. He is forced to work for a pig farmer, something very disgraceful for a good Jewish boy. He can’t even get leftovers from feeding the pigs, however, so he “comes to himself” and decides to go home, apologize, and hire himself to his father.

Is the younger son sincere in his repentance to his father, or is he just apologizing out of self-interest? It’s hard to say, but in any case, the father takes him back without question. The father runs out to meet the son and barely gives him time to apologize before honoring him with a robe, ring, and even a feast. The father says that it was like the son was dead, but has become alive again, so this is worthy of celebration.

But the older brother is not happy about his father’s generous forgiveness. He refuses to go into the celebration and when the father comes out to him, the older brother refers to the younger as “this son of yours” rather than as “my brother”. It is clear that the older brother has also been estranged from the father because of bitterness and resentment, even if he didn’t physically leave like his younger brother did. He complains that he didn’t even get a goat! The father points out that they have shared their possessions all this time. And furthermore, he should be happy that his brother has come home!

This is a story of radical grace. Jesus is offering forgiveness to the outcast, but he is also offering it to the resentful “older brothers” among us who resent that generosity. All of us are “lost” to some extent and need Jesus to welcome us back to God’s family. We may need to get over who all that offer is for, though, before we can accept it ourselves!

03.23.2025 - Lent 3 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:53:54 GMT

03.23.2025 - Lent 3 - Pastor Chris

This is one of those Bible stories that I’ve never fully gotten my arms around. Both parts. The first one is gruesome and almost sounds cruel. Here’s a take, people aren’t killed (or die) because they’re evil or deserve it. The key point seems to be when Jesus says, “Were worse sinners…” If the idea is that those Galileans died because they were wretched sinners, Jesus has something to say about that. Now a tower falling on someone isn’t unicorns and rainbows but death happens. Sometimes it’s gruesome and unexpected and other times it happens just at the end of someone’s life. But Jesus words, “Unless you repent..” certainly sounds urgent. Are we ok with urgency in our faith?

The fig tree parable seems unfinished. What happened? An important thing not to do here is to assign roles of God and Jesus to the characters in this parable. It’s not as if God is angry and Jesus comes to our defense. That doesn’t jive with our theology. Now there is some call to account here. This tree isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do and the owner is justified in their frustration. But there is also grace. For three years it has wasted the soil but there is hope that it will bear fruit. But we don’t know what happens. It is given every opportunity to do what it’s supposed to do and we could do some expansion on what manure looks like in our spiritual lives.

Maybe the classic Lent feel to this passage is how open ended it is. We have no idea what happens to the tree, we have no clue how the deaths of the Galileans or the victims of the tower collapse were resolved. There is tension to this passage, as if more is yet to come, and needs to come.

03.16.2025 - Lent 2 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:44:13 GMT

03.16.2025 - Lent 2 - Pastor Chris

This week our focus for something we hope you will add to your Lenten discipline is reconciliation. As Jesus prepares for what will happen when he enters Jerusalem, he reflects on what he hopes for this city on a hill. Luke depicts Jesus as having true motherly characteristics in this passage, revealing how much Jesus desires to care for Jerusalem and how painful it is that it wont happen. But reconciliation does happen via the cross and the tomb.

The world could use a lot of reconciliation right now. We are so divided, and have such disdain for each other, it seems like reconciliation will never happen. It is very easy to become overwhelmed when we think about overcoming the divide that spreads the globe, so we need to start small and with those who are close to us. Are there people in your everyday life that you have had a falling out with? Are there friends and family members that you have become estranged from? What would it look like if you reached out to them and attempted to clear the air and mend the relationship? What would that look like? How would that feel? Why hasn’t it happened yet? The other side of that coin is when folks reach out to us with the hope of reconciling. Will we be open to their efforts or are the wounds too deep? Will we let go of the past or is it just too tough to let go? Whether it’s global or local, reconciliation is tough and yet it’s’ desperately needed.

I love how honest Jesus is in this passage. I read it as if he had such great hopes, but they aren’t going to happen. But Jesus still goes to the city that kills the prophets. He allows himself to be arrested, flogged, and murdered. From the cross he proclaims forgiveness and on Easter morning reconciliation happens, whether they want it or not. God never asks us to sacrifice our lives for the sake of reconciliation, Jesus has already done that, but God does ask us to live out our faith in response to who Jesus is. This can be tough but carrying the wounds and the burdens can be even more painful. When we carry these hurts and wounds, they can become a cancer to our souls and spirits and we can turn bitter and cold. That is why we let the light in so that the darkness no longer reigns. This is tough work, but it God’s work. And when we worry if we can do this difficult work, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit goes with us and gives us the strength to do the things that seem impossible.

03.09.2025 - Lent 1 - Kris Perkola

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 01:04:14 GMT

03.09.2025 - Lent 1 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus is tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days, successfully resisting. This is the first gospel reading for the season of Lent this year. Just like Jesus is tempted over forty days, so too is Lent forty days (not including Sundays). Like time in the wilderness, this is a time for contemplation, a chance to reflect on how we are living out our faith and especially, what we could do better.

The passage begins after Jesus has been baptized by John. We know that this is all according to God’s plan because it is the Holy Spirit which leads Jesus into the desert. Why did Jesus need to go into the wilderness? The term “testing” can also mean “refining”, like in preparing a metal for forging an item with it. This was a time to focus and set his sights on what he was going to do for his ministry and, eventually, his death, to forge him into the savior he is meant to be. Jesus probably had many worldly concerns before his ministry. He was a carpenter and had a large family of brothers and sisters to look after. This time in the wilderness allows him to set aside these concerns, somewhat, to focus on the next part of his life.

After fasting for a time that would be dangerous for anyone else, Jesus is tested by the devil. The tests are similar to ones found in Matthew’s account, but in a different order than found there. Here, Jesus is first tempted to make food for himself. The fact that Jesus hasn’t already been tempted to do this after forty days without food speaks to his steadfastness. Then Jesus is tempted with worldly power that the devil says is his to give in exchange for worship. Jesus is not interested and cites scripture as to why.

Finally, the devil tempts Jesus to demonstrate his protection under God by throwing himself off the top of the temple in Jerusalem. Most offensively, the devil cites scripture to try to convince Jesus to do this. I imagine that this is the last straw for Jesus. Perhaps his curt response to the devil was said in such a way that it scared him a bit, so the devil gives up here, but ominously, he plots to return at a more opportune time later.

What are we supposed to take from this passage? Debate has centered around two interpretations, for the most part. Maybe we are supposed to be inspired by Jesus to similarly resist temptation and rely on scripture, as Jesus does here, to do so. Or maybe this passage shows us how great Jesus is to be able to resist the devil beyond what any ordinary person would be able to do. In this interpretation, we can have confidence that Jesus is worthy to be our saviour because of his perfection in resisting the temptations of this world. Which interpretation speaks most to you?

03.02.2025 - Transfiguration - Pastor Chris

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:32:19 GMT

03.02.2025 - Transfiguration - Pastor Chris

I’m not sure if it helps or confuses, but we never read the Jesus stories in chronological order, we read them in the order that reflects the church calendar. On the Sunday leading into Ash Wednesday, and the season of Lent, we always have this story, the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Why?

The question I usually find myself asking when the story comes up, is this event for Jesus or the disciples/us? I tend to believe that this story was for Jesus’ current followers and those who would follow him until his return. If there was any doubt that Jesus is the one who will fulfill the messianic prophesy, certainly this answers all doubts. This list of what transpires is impressive beyond anything that had happened or will happen. Jesus physical appearance is changed, his face glows and his clothes got a double dose of Oxy Clean! Next Jesus is visited by two titans of their tradition. These visitors represent the law and the prophets. Again, fulfilling the prophesy. Then a cloud and the voice of God! Could anything be more powerful?

But the disciples’ experience seems to be filled with more fear than anything else. It says they were terrified when they entered the cloud. They were so terrified that they didn’t tell anyone about this experience. (Other accounts of this story Jesus orders them to keep this to themselves until after the resurrection.) What role does fear play in our faith? The usual experience goes something like, they were terrified and someone said don’t be afraid. That always seems easier said than done. In this world there will be times and experiences when we encounter fear. What does our faith have to say about that? We will never live in a world absent of fear, so how do we invite God into those things that cause such distress? How do we invite God into those places and moments that cause us such fear and trepidation? What does God want to do with our fear?

02.23.2025 - Epiphany 7 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:54:48 GMT

02.23.2025 - Epiphany 7 - Pastor Chris

I love how Jesus opens this passage, “You who are listening.” If we back up a few verses Luke tells us who Jesus is talking to. He came down with his disciples and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people. It seems there are a lot of people listening to what Jesus has to say but Jesus seems to know that know all of them are listening. To listen to what Jesus says can be challenging. Jesus offers many words of comfort, but Jesus also challenges his audience, and us, to live out our faith. This can be difficult at times. Jesus immediately launches into one of these difficult teachings, “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” I get the idea that Jesus is telling his followers that they have to be better. Jesus begins to make this comparison between his audience and sinners. “For even sinners do that.”

This passage plays out like a greatest hit of Jesus’ most challenging teachings. One after another Jesus challenges his followers, those who are listening, to do better. How are we doing today with these challenges? Of course we know we could do better, we could always do better, but we need to be reminded, sometimes a lot.

If we live out this passage, does this sort of life cause people of faith to look like pushovers? Lend expecting nothing in return. Turn the other cheek. Give your clothes to anyone who takes them from you! If someone takes your stuff, don’t ask for it back. Are people of faith supposed to stand up for themselves? And then Jesus wraps up this passage with a promise of a gift to come. Would this passage have been better if Jesus didn’t say that? If we know a reward is in our future, does it taint our motivation as soon as it is said? Or, do we need to be reminded of the gifts that will be given to us, even if we wont receive them until after we die?

I wish our reading included verse 39. In that verse Jesus asks, “Can a blind person lead a blind person?” Maybe we live this way so that we can help guide those who haven’t discovered this way of living yet. If no one takes them first step, how can we make any progress?

02.16.2025 - Epiphany 6 - Kris Perkola

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:47:54 GMT

02.16.2025 - Epiphany 6 - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus gives his “Sermon on the Plain” where he proclaims blessings on the poor and marginalized, as well as woes on the rich and the powerful. First though, Jesus comes down from a high place where he was praying and where he had finalized the selection of his twelve disciples. After coming down the mountain, he heals and casts out unclean spirits. Only after this does he turn to his disciples to begin teaching them with the crowd as an audience.

Jesus begins his sermon with a proclamation of blessings. This is similar to the Beatitudes of Matthew's gospel, but it’s shorter and more focused. Here, Jesus specifically mentions poor in money, rather than “in spirit” as Matthew’s gospel says. Which did Jesus actually say? In Aramaic and Hebrew, saying someone is poor leaves the interpretation vague. If you heard someone say this, you might ask, “poor in what?” Jesus might have left it open ended, so he means both those who are economically poor and those who are spiritually poor.

Jesus also specifically mentions those who are “excluded”. Nowadays, we would say people are “marginalized”. This would be anyone society excluded from polite society, like the poor, the sick, or those with professions considered unclean. Even though this saying is specifically about people who are marginalized on account of their faith, Jesus almost certainly is concerned with those marginalized for any unfair reason.

After the blessings, Jesus proclaims woes on certain people who are currently “living it up”. What probably sticks out the most here is Jesus proclaiming woe on those who laugh. What’s wrong with laughing? Well, the specific word Jesus uses for laughing here is usually for cruel laughter at someone else’s expense. Laughing at other’s misfortune, especially undeserved misfortune, really seems to upset Jesus.

What’s the context of this passage for Luke’s audience? Luke’s congregation are likely affluent professionals who are not marginalized and doing well. They would have heard this as a warning not to bask in their success as affirmation of their superiority over the less fortunate, but rather as an opportunity to offer genuine, material help to those in need. 2,000 years later, we share many things in common with Luke’s community. We are fairly well-off and not really facing persecution. We also are called to help others and to be a blessing to the less fortunate.

02.09.2025 - Epiphany 5 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:57:12 GMT

2025.02.09 - Epiphany 5 - Pastor Chris

It isn’t until the fifth chapter of Luke’s gospel that Jesus gets around to calling his disciples. Luke 1 and 2 deal with Jesus birth and the time before his birth, along with his time as a child. The third chapter Jesus is baptized. In the fourth chapter Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, he begins his ministry, is rejected, does some more preaching and healings. Finally, in chapter five, Jesus calls the first of his disciples. One of my favorite parts of the Bible is how eagerly the crowd wants to hear what Jesus has to say. “The crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God.” I love this image and I feel like there still is a hunger for God’s story, I just worry it either gets lost in the noise or we need to do a better job sharing this story. Where there is the most struggle is where the Gospel message tends to receive the greatest audience. How do we make sure we don’t need despair to understand our need for hope?

I’ve always believed that Jesus’ plan was to call fishermen to follow him, but I love how random this account sounds. Jesus was by the lake, the crowd was pressing in on him, some boats were nearby, so Jesus got in them. I wonder how casual it looked to those who were there? Did they know that Jesus was going to call followers, as a rabbi would, or were his intentions still elusive? Were folks hoping that he would call them? Were they watching Jesus out of the corner of their eye, hoping he would say their name? These are just fun things to things to think about, we don’t necessarily have answers to these wonderings, but we do know who Jesus called was unexpected. Typically the final 12 that followed a rabbi, who would be rabbis themselves one day, were the elite, the cream of the crop. Fishermen were normal, common, not special. Maybe Jesus calls them so that he can use the line, “Now you will fish for people.”

Peter’s first interactions with Jesus set the tone for what their relationship will be like. Jesus suggests something that seems contrary to what they’ve recently experienced, and possibly the opposite of how their profession worked (was that the best time to catch fish?) and yet Peter does what Jesus asks of him. But not without a side-eye comment. This miracle is known as the miraculous catch of fish and Peter has an interesting response. You’d think as a fisherman he saw a huge payday in this moment but instead Peter asks Jesus to leave. I wonder if Peter was dealing with issues of shame and guilt. He refers to himself as a sinful man but Jesus doesn’t even respond to his comment, he simply tells him that his life is going in a different direction. Shame, guilt, and regret can wreak havoc on our psyche. I am sure Jesus worked through these issues with Peter as they spent the next three years together (even though Peter was far from perfect) but instead of dwelling on them in that moment, Jesus redirects Peter’s life. How does God to that with us? How does God continue to call us and give us purpose, even though we are imperfect? Maybe that’s even more powerful than catching a ton of fish!

02.02.2025 - Epiphany 4 - Pastor Chris

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:36:04 GMT

2025.02.02 - Epiphany 4 - Pastor Chris

Is Jesus grumpy? Luke tells us that everyone is speaking well of Jesus and amazed at what he has to say. But then they ask, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” If Jesus is angry, is this the statement that sets him off? It’s odd that they refer to Joseph instead of Mary. We seldom hear about Joseph, Mary pops up from time to time throughout the gospel stories, but never Joseph. So why is this how they phrase the question and why might it anger Jesus?

Then it seems like Jesus goes on a rant. Jesus is Nazareth but the home base of his ministry is Capernaum. Is there a rivalry between these towns? Is Nazareth jealous that Jesus isn’t housing his ministry in their town? Jesus states that a prophet isn’t accepted in their hometown but for the most part, prophets are routinely rejected when their message is one that calls out the people. Jesus then quotes some well known stories from their scriptures which causes such anger among those in the synagogue that they attempt to kill Jesus! Why all this anger? Then in a final display of power, Jesus walks right through the very crowd that wants to end his life.

Should our faith anger us at times? Do we need Jesus to make us uncomfortable so that we live out our faith the way we know we’re supposed to live out our faith? I’ve said before that if our faith doesn’t make us uncomfortable at times, we aren’t paying enough attention. To be uncomfortable can be a good thing. When we work with a physical therapist following an injury, we may experience discomfort, but we know we’re getting better. When a trusted friend holds us accountable, that can be an uncomfortable moment but it helps us stay where we need to be. Our faith will comfort us when we are challenged and challenge us when we are comfortable. We need our faith to do both.

2025.01.26 - Epiphany 3 - Pastor Chris

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:41:53 GMT

2025.01.26 - Epiphany 3 - Pastor Chris

I love how Luke describes Jesus in this passage. “In the power of the Holy Spirit.” The location is important because Jesus has returned to where he grew up. These folks know Jesus. In this passage they like Jesus but stick around for next week when they want to kill him. I like how Luke tells us that this was Jesus’ custom. He went to synagogue. I’m not sure if Isaiah was the intended reading for that day, like we have picked readings, was this random, or did they specifically want Jesus to read from this passage. Regardless, it is important that Jesus reads from the prophet because the prophet’s words are fulfilled in Jesus. But what is the prophet going to do? “Bring good news to the poor.” “Proclaim release to the captives.” “Recovery of sight to the blind.” “Free the oppressed.” “Proclaim the year of God’s favor.”

Everyone there would have known these words from Isaiah, were they captivated by Jesus’ comments on them, or that Jesus reminded them what Isaiah had said all those years ago? As the generations came and went maybe they created their own idea of what they wanted the messiah to be. Under Roman rule a messiah that would rid them of their oppressors sounds pretty nice, but that’s not what the prophet said. If you are one of the ones mentioned in that Isaiah reading, Jesus’ words bring you hope. If you are one of the other side of situation, and maybe you have caused some of the things that Isaiah prophesies about, you may feel very uncomfortable. We know Luke’s audience so most likely he had in mind the poor, the captive, the blind, the oppressed. Jesus’ brief sermon on Isaiah remind them that the messiah is for them when they probably feel like nothing is for them. This is the good news that they needed to hear.