In Sermons: showing 1-14 of 14

Easter: On Being Afraid

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 31, 2024

In the Gospel of Mark the Easter story, and the whole Gospel, ends with those closest to Jesus being afraid. Just as Jesus met them in their fear, so too will Jesus meet us.

"Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." (Mark 16:8, NIV) When we look at the four accounts of the Resurrection story in the four gospels, we see a common thread running through at least three of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

In The Beginning

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Apr 2, 2023

A look into what the Bible says about "the beginning"

What makes a good story? For me, I am not an avid reader. I average reading probably only one book every three years or so. It takes me a long time to read a book, usually. Most often when I have a hard time reading a book it is because I have a hard time getting into reading that book, and it ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Genesis 2:3

Denomination: Lutheran

Gardening Trust

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Jun 9, 2021

Through Scripture we find that gardening has a lot to teach us about trust. Specifically trusting in God to see us through the difficult times of life.

“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” [i] This quote from world renown horticulturist from the early 20th Century, Gertrude Jekyll, really speaks to the impact a garden can make on a person’s ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 17:22-24, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Lutheran

For All The Saints

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Jan 15, 2021

A look into a lost faith tradition of reflecting on the life and work of the saints, especially Saint Hilary of Poitiers, feast day January 13

This past week my First-Grade son, who goes to the local Catholic School, along with all of this first grade classmates, helped lead the Wednesday mass. This was the second time this school year that he and his class has done this, and thus it was the second time that I went in order to see him and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Luke 1:31-35, Romans 9:5

Denomination: Lutheran

Be Prepared

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Nov 9, 2020

Being prepared in life is very helpful in reducing stress when one faces the inevitable delays of everyday life. Scripture teaches us that being prepared in faith is useful as well as we a wait the coming of the kingdom of heaven.

Delays; they are an inevitable part of our everyday lives. We experience delays in a variety of ways, but one of the most common delays that we all experience is in our travels, be it from weather, road construction, or traffic. While these delays are unavoidable, there are steps that we can take ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, Amos 5:18-24, Jeremiah 22:3

Denomination: Lutheran

The Easter Witness Of God's Love

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Apr 19, 2020

What is Easter all about? What does Jesus' death and resurrection mean for our lives? These are the central questions of the seven-week Easter season. We may not be able to fully understand the meaning of these questions answers, but that does not stop us from bearing witness to those answers.

What is Easter all about? What does Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for our lives? These are the questions that have been on my mind and heart this past week. Is Easter a one-day holiday in the spring where we simply gather with family for a nice meal, maybe exchange small gifts, hunting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Remember Whose Child You Are

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Aug 15, 2019

When faced with the reality of the scary world we live in, it can be helpful to remember whose child we are!

"The story is told of a boy who was leaving home for college. His father had included him in the morning prayer at the breakfast table, asking God to protect him and to grant him success in the career which he was undertaking. Rising from the table, the young man expected to receive some final ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran

Do Not Dwell On The Past; Look To The Future

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Apr 25, 2019

When we focus too much on what happened in the past it becomes hard for us to see what God is doing in the present and is leading us in the future.

When I was in the parish, preaching every Sunday, there was usually one of my parishioners that would always come up to me after service and express how that day’s particular sermon seemed like I was speaking directly to them; that the sermon on that given day was addressing something specific ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Lutheran

The Strength Of Weakness

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Apr 25, 2019

It is not until we are at our weakest that God shows us His strength of Salvation.

If I am remembering correctly from a sermon I heard a few weeks ago[i] there is a story about a Chinese teacher who takes his students on an outing to a river/lake side as a time of respite after a grueling period of instruction. Out of all the students and the teacher, only two of them know how ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Extravagant Love

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Apr 5, 2019

There are some stories that are so wonderful they leave us feeling blessed just by hearing them. The story of God's extravagant love is one such story.

There are certain stories that at the moment you read them or hear them they have the ability to really tug on the strings of the heart. They are so moving, so beautiful that you can’t help but feel blessed just by the mere fact of having heard or read them. This is exactly the way I felt when I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Nobody Is Better Than Anybody

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 28, 2019

When we are faced with someone who thinks they are better than we are we try to rise above this through the reassurance that we would never treat anyone else the way they treat us. But with that kind of attitude, are we really any better?

At one point in our lives, I am sure that we have all have come across someone that has an “I am better than everyone else, especially you” mentality. I myself have encountered this kind of attitude at multiple points throughout my life. I have experience it in the food service industry in which I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 3:23

Denomination: Lutheran

Major Life Decisions

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 22, 2019

We all face major life decisions, and making those decisions are never easy. So how do we go about making them?

2nd Week of Lent Genesis 15:1-18 It seems that the older I get the more life decisions I am faced with making. When I was younger my life decisions included what was I going to be when I grew up? Or, what college would I attend in order to pursue my chosen career path. At that time those decisions ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Not By Bread Alone

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 15, 2019

In the Gospel lesson from the 1st Sunday of Lent we hear Jesus say that a person does not live by bread alone. How often do we do that in our own lives however?

“‘BOMB CYCLONE’ BLASTS THROUGH CENTRAL US”[i] This was a Thursday morning headline from CNN’s website, highlighting the historic late winter storm that swept across a great portion of the central part of the United States during the middle of this week that saw lots of people being affected by ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

The True Meaning Of A Lenten Sacrifice

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 9, 2019

Most people attempt to give something up for Lent. But is what we give up for Lent beneficial to us or to God?

This past Wednesday, the collective whole of the Christendom observed Ash Wednesday. A day in the church year when we are reminded of our mortality, but more importantly, reminded of our reliance on God, both for life in this world and for life in the next. This day is the mark of the beginning of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17, Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran