Sermons on Billy Joel:

The Service Challenge

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 6, 2020

Joshua challenges the Israelites to serve the LORD - the Jealous God.

2.9.20 Joshua 24:14-24 14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-24

Denomination: Lutheran

How Can I Be Attractive?

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 13, 2020

As we follow on the weekend of Valentine's Day, Jesus talks about what is attractive to Him, and what we should be attracted to. He shows us what sin is, so that we see who HE is.

2.16.20 Matthew 5 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ 28 but I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out and throw it away from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 20, 2020

Jesus shows His true color in the Transfiguration

2.23.20 Matthew 17:1-9 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James; and he led them up onto a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the light. 3 Just then, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

The Glorious Battle Begins In The Desert

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 27, 2020

Jesus is led into the desert to conquer Satan's temptations.

3.1.20 Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Come And Taste What The Water Of Life Can Do

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 6, 2020

Jesus goes on a special mission to the Samaritan adulterous woman.

3.8.2020 John 4:5-26 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman Come and Taste what the Water of Life Can Do! Today’s Gospel lesson takes us on a small and individual mission of Jesus in Samaria. He was heading from Judea back to Galilee, to try and get away from the Pharisees for a while. But ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The God Of The Plague

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 13, 2020

Where do we find God in the midst of virus and death? Right in the middle of it.

3.15.20 Habakkuk 3:5-6 Where is God in the midst of the plague? Habakkuk 3 says, 5? Contagious disease goes ahead of him, and plague follows after him. 6? He stands up and shakes? the earth. He looks, and the nations jump in fright. The ancient mountains are shattered. The age-old hills ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:5-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Is Coming Soon

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 4, 2020

A reflection on how to be ready for Jesus to come as we prepare in the Advent Season.

12.9.20 Revelation 22:20 20 The one who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Jesus Is Coming Soon What will we give Him? Here’s a little fact you may not have known about our preschool teacher. She’s a twin. Not only that, but if I have ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:20

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Is The Greatest Gift

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 18, 2020

we reflect on Gabriel's announcement to Mary, what a great gift Jesus is, and how we respond.

12.20.20 Luke 1:26–38 26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Lutheran

The Greatest Gift Is Jesus

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 23, 2020

We look at gift giving - the difficulties of it - and how the gift of Jesus gives us all.

12.24.20 Romans 8:32 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also graciously give us all things along with him? There was once a little girl in child care who had spent about an hour meticulously coloring a card to give to her mother. When ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:32

Denomination: Lutheran

Take A Far And Close Look At The Baby In The Manger

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 24, 2020

John shows us the Word made flesh to live and die for us.

12.25.2020 John 1:1-5, 9-14 When the first Star Wars movie came out, it was rather unique in that it started with a scrolling dialogue describing what had happened prior to the movie, so you’d at least have some clue as to what was going on and be able to follow along better. The same thing ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Embrace The Struggle In 2021

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 28, 2020

Things will probably get worse before they get better in 2021. Do not give up hope. Embrace the struggle.

12.31.20 Embrace the Struggle of 2021 If you look through the Scriptures you see the drama of story after story after story. Nobody lives easy lives. The Israelites are put into slavery. When they escape, they have to live in the desert for 40 years. When they get into the Promised Land, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Goes To Church, And It Is An Amazing Thing

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 31, 2020

Jesus the Trailblazer and Author of our salvation enters the sanctuary and sings.

1.3.21 Hebrews 2:10-12 10 Certainly it was fitting for God (the one for whom and through whom everything exists), in leading many sons to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to his goal through sufferings. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't Live Your Life Like A Drowning Rat

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 3, 2021

Everyone eventually becomes tired and worn out from life. God has the remedy. Wait.

2.7.21 Isaiah 40:27–31 27 Why do you speak, O Jacob? O Israel, why do you say, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and justice for me is ignored by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Be Storm Ready

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Oct 1, 2020

What does it take to be ready for the storms of life and death? Jesus says what is essential.

10.4.20 Matthew 7:24–27 24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on bedrock. 25 The rain came down, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was founded on bedrock. 26 Everyone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Lutheran

A Complete Love

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Oct 9, 2020

A wedding sermon on love.

10.9.20 1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I have a little wooden German hiker on the shelf in my office. You can open him up and put incense in him and smoke comes out of his mouth. The hiker was given to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:12

Denomination: Lutheran