For a sermon based on Mark 8:27-38, a Mount Rushmore variant with various interpretations of Jesus.

Drawn from the following images:

• Dean Franklin – 06.04.03 Mount Rushmore Monument (by-sa)-3 new.jpg
• The Christus (Replica of a statue of Jesus Christ, by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen. This statue sits on top floor of North Visitor Center in Temple Square in Salt Lake City.)
• Best Jesus Ever (At the Portuguese church (near Kumarakom))
• Buddy Jesus loves you & wants you to be happy
• Head of Christ

Using the same “embroidered patch” motif of the other images in my “Live Free or Die” sermon, here’s a red and black crucifix image.

Title image for the sermon, “Live Free or Die” based on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

This is a price tag used for a sermon called, “Live Free or Die” based on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. It looks like an embroidered patch because of a graphic motif used for all the slides in the sermon.

A basic denim background, originally designed for the sermon, “Live Free or Die” as a PowerPoint background for its “patches on denim” graphic motif.

English: Baptism of Christ Русский: Крещение Господне (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a Communion hymn for the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (1st Sunday after the Epiphany). While it’s mainly based on John’s account, it should work for the festival regardless. Also consider on days with a Baptism in the service.

Come O Sinners to the Waters

Tune: Hyfrydol (e.g. Love Divine, All Love Excelling)

Come O sinners to the waters

Come prepare the way of the Lord

Let the path of life be straightened

Open now our hearts to His Word

Trim the blight of pride and arrogance

Drown our idols in the sea

Raise us out of self-indulgence

That good fruit be born for Thee.

Come O sinners to the waters

Come behold the Lamb of God

Voice of God Who made the mountains

Walks upon our groaning sod

See the Lamb, no spot or blemish

Washed for evil not His own

That the deluge bury transgression

Earning us an eternal throne

Come O sinners to the waters

See the Dove on Jesus alight

Spirit wafting where He wishes

Comes through Christ with loving might

Come O Spirit! Rest upon us!

Raise us from the tomb of sin

Bring us to sincere confession

Purify us all within.

Come O sinners to the waters

Hear the Father’s voice approve

“You, My Son, are all my pleasure.

Sole begotten Whom I love.”

Hear the Father speak to sinners

Righteousness fulfilled by One

New creation of the Almighty

You are now my beloved son!

Come O sinners to the table

Here the Lamb comes once again

Granting all His peace and pardon

Taking from the world our sin

Take and eat remembered covenant

Drink remission from the Slain

Come receive the Lamb’s own righteousness

Come be cleansed of every stain.

Holy Father, by Your mercy,

You have made us Your delight

Lamb of God, by Your redemption,

Freed us from eternal plight

Holy Spirit, by Your cleansing,

You renew us day by day

Let Your mercy as we go forth

For the lost prepare the way.

LSBX file for Lutheran Service Builder

An image from a sermon based on Mark 1:1-8 signifying that preparing for Christmas is done through repentance as John the Baptist called us to do.

Ever notice that pride is always sin in the Bible? And the biggest one at that? There’s no exceptions. Pride is self-centered aggrandisement, the opposite of shame, and just as harmful, because it determines a person’s value based on their accomplishments instead of the seal of their Creator and Redeemer. Honor and respect, which are more honest, are encouraged, but not pride.

Parents, are you proud of your kids, because they make you look good? I’m guilty of that. But how much better to be impressed and thankful, which removes you from the equation? (And how much moreso with team or national pride?)

Are you proud of your accomplishments? What happens when you fail or find someone who’s so much better at it than you? Find your value instead in the Name given to you in your Baptism. That can never be taken from you and doesn’t depend on you to retain.

We also hear about pride in sexual identity. Gay or straight, both place a person’s worthiness on something beyond their control. I understand how someone could cling to pride as a reaction to the shame they’ve experienced, but that’s overcorrecting. Rather, if a person’s value is given to them by Christ, they’re SO MUCH more valuable, and given that it’s Christians who often try to shame the people in question (Srsly, what’s up with that? Oh yeah — pride.), they can’t argue with your God-given value.

And straight pride? Like you can take credit for that? St. Paul had something to say about that kind of pride. He compared it with used menstrual rags. Yeah, that’s the banner you want to wave around….

The only appropriate pride & boasting is in our weakness and what Christ has done for us and through us, not because we deserve it, but because we don’t.

What if we focused on communicating and demonstrating grace instead of pride? What if we saw Christ in our neighbors and responded with honor and respect accordingly?

From a sermon based on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 entitled, “Rest for the Stressed”

It all makes sense now!