Christ Lutheran Church Harrisburg

Revelation is Good News

The book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood and misused books of Scripture - more often used to scare people, rather than offer them good news.  It is good news.  It shows empire for what it is, and that God rejects it and offers something better.  The sermon is based on Revelation 1:4-8. 

The Days Are Surely Coming

"The days are surely coming, says the Lord" is an invitation to a better world and way of living.  It's not something we trigger or force God's hand into.  God speaks these words and acts.  What might the days that are surely coming be?  Check out the Pastor Matthew's sermon on parts on Jeremiah 31 and 33.  

What does Hope Look Like?

What does Hope look like in the midst of a siege?  It often looks crazy.  Jeremiah does an act of prophetic theater in the absurd to emphasize God's promise - buying land while Babylon sieges Jerusalem before it falls.  We are under siege - just in a different way.  How is God calling on us to have crazy faith?  At Christ Lutheran it looks like repairing the bell tower and expanding the dental clinic.  Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Jeremiah 32:1-15.

America in Exile

The faithful are in exile in America in 2025.  It can be hard to be hopeful.  We may want it to return to what was.  But that's never been God's way.  We are to live life and know that we are not abandoned.  Jeremiah 29 is a letter written to those in exile.  A message from God that still applies today.  

So Let it Be Written...

Kings and the powerful have a long history of trying to use God's word for their own purposes or silencing it when it conflicts with their power.  But they never prevail.  God's word endures and liberates and sets people free.  Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on parts of Jeremiah 36.  

All means All

Divisions and separations define the world and often the church.  Paul had a different idea about that based on everything that Jesus was about.  The world and our churches still struggle with this.  Our differences don't separate us, but instead help us to see a wider image of God.  The sermon is based on Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29.

Grace is not Fair

Grace is not fair.  Thanks be to God!  Paul addresses grace and works in his letter to the church in Galatia.  The core of what he writes about is still relevant today.  Do we earn our way to God, or does God come to us because of who God is?  The sermon is based on Galatians 1:13-17, 2:11-21.

Membership has its Privileges

Membership has its privileges, as the saying goes.  But there are two ways to look at that.  One making faith something exclusive with the incentive to keep people out.  And another where we have the privilege of inviting people to see how God is at work in the world and participate in what the Spirit is up to.  The sermon is based on Acts 15:1-18.

Leviathan and Shalom

Leviathan, that ancient description of chaos, evil, cruelty, and more shows up throughout Scripture and human history.  It causes damage, destruction, and death.  But it doesn't get the last word.  Even in the stoning of Stephen that we hear about in Acts 7, death doesn't get the final say.  Shalom does.  We aren't called to take on the methods of Leviathan and we can't defeat it.  only God can.  And we are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps with his methods.  The sermon is based on Acts 6 and 7.  

Stories

Tyrants tell stories in order to maintain control through fear.  They have done this for a long, long time.  The resurrection of Jesus is a story that does the opposite - offers hope and new opportunities, setting people free.  Pastor Matthew's sermon is based on Luke 24:13-35.