Sermons on Karl Menninger:

Don't Shrink Back

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Sep 19, 2002

Like God’s people to whom Isaiah spoke in Ch. 55, we can grow to think our circumstances are insurmountable. We can suffer a crisis of faith. Isaiah reassures God’s people of every age that there’s no reason to shrink back from carrying out the work and

Pentecost 18 A Isaiah 55:6-9 Don’t Shrink Back 09/22/02 Professor William Muehl once visited a fine ancestral home in Virginia. He followed the aged owner, the last of a distinguished colonial family, as she proudly showed him through her home. An ancient rifle above the fireplace intrigued him, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-13

Denomination: Lutheran

A House For All Nations

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 20, 2002

God’s house is not just for a select few. God tells those who are among his family and those who are outside of it that He still intends to add still more to His people than those already gathered; people of every nationality and race, social status and

Pentecost 13 A Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 A House For All Nations 08/18/02 As part of my daily routine, I receive and read an e-mail newsletter called Heartlight. I was struck this past week by the heartfelt confession of a brother in Christ by the name of Lynn Anderson in the July 31st issue. He was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Your Balloons Sail Free

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 26, 2002

Seeing how God has acted to give us all we have and how He has kept His promises we’re moved to offer Him thanks and praise.

Pentecost 14 A Exodus 6:2-8; Romans 11:33-36 Let Your Balloons Sail Free! Based on Joachim Neander’s Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 08/25/02 “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.” These are not expressions that ordinarily used in the Lutheran Church. Not because there’s anything wrong with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:2-8, Romans 11:33-36

Denomination: Lutheran

A Peaceful Passing

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Dec 31, 2002

Christmas is not a time when we like to discuss death, but the story of our Lord and the calendar of the church year won’t allow us to ignore it. The question then is how can we face this experience we would rather not discuss with peace.

Christmas 1 B Luke 2:25-35 A Peaceful Passing 12/29/02 "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; ...those they love are taken from them, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Lutheran

All Dressed Up

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jan 8, 2003

Unable to dress up our lives with a "righteousness" of our own, Jesus dresses us in "His" righteousness.

Christmas 2 B Isaiah 61:10-62:3 All Dressed Up 01/05/02 Yes, they’re still here – the manger, the advent candles, the decorations and the trees. Signs of Christmas, so hastily put up, in many cases so slow to be put away. For a couple of months now our homes, our businesses, our churches; yes, ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Justice For The Nations

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jan 14, 2003

Justice is not just a matter for that guy over there, nor is it simply a matter of punishment. God shows us His brand of justice in His Servant-Savior who would make us just by grace and then send us out as agents of justice to the world.

Epiphany 1 B Isaiah 42:1-7 Justice for the Nations 01/12/03 The images seem so stark in contrast don’t they? Last week our chancel was decorated in color and light, green trees and a Christmas stable. This week it’s back to its original design. It’s beautiful still, but bare in contrast, not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

A Call To Obey

Contributed by Karl Kruse on Jan 25, 2003

This sermon speaks especially to congregations and communities experiencing stress, and a lack of unity; reinforcing the call to obediently seek and follow the will of God.

January 26, 2003 "A Call To Obey" Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Mark 1:14-20 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’” Now, if the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, it only makes sense to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Leave, Cleave And Weave

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 18, 2002

Marriage, as it was instituted by God, involves three keys for success. Leaving Home, Cleaving to one’s spouse and being Weaved around the Love of God in Christ.

Genesis 2:18-25 Leave, Cleave and Weave 11/08/02 On July 29, 1981 Britain’s Prince Charles married his Lady Diana in a grand royal ceremony. The glamorous wedding was a fairy tale of present pomp and past glory, a last gold-leaf page from the tattered book of empire. London was a city dressed like ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope Can Be Yours

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 18, 2002

In the face of death, there is hope. David knows it. Do we?

Psalm 51:15-17 11/09/02 Edith Rockefeller McCormick, the daughter of John D. Rockefeller, maintained a large household staff. She applied one rule to every servant without exception: They were not permitted to speak to her. The rule was broken only once, when word arrived at the family’s country ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:15-17

Denomination: Lutheran

One Is The "Only-Est" Number

Contributed by Karl Ingersoll on Mar 8, 2003

This sermon helps us to understand the nature of God’s commitment to an imperfect church and how we fit in the picture.

One Is The “Only-est” Number Scriptures: Ephesians 4:1-16 I believe that God is at work in our midst faithfully building his church. There are many who absolutely hunger to see Him break through in an unprecedented manner in our midst and in their individual lives. This message will be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

Underpinnings Of The Church Of God

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 3, 2002

What is it that makes for a strong Christian Community? Moses identifies three underpins of the Church -- The Family Incubator, The Word of God and the assurance of God’s gracious love.

Pentecost 2 A Deuteronomy 11:18-21; 26-28 Underpinnings for the Church of God 06/02/02 I would guess that’s not a word that you use in your everyday vocabulary. More customary is the use of other words with similar meaning; words like “foundation” or “groundwork” or “building blocks.” Any of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Our God: The Patron Of Lost Causes

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 6, 2002

It’s easy to identify others as "lost causes". It’s not nearly so easy for us to see ourselves this way. Nevertheless that’s exactly where we need to be, where we’ll want to be; for empty of all our righteousness we cling to Christ and find life.

Pentecost 3 A Matthew 9:9-13 Our God: The Patron of Lost Causes 06/09/02 Speaking of Lost Causes, take a listen to these stories. In New Orleans, a man broke into a home and stole, some jewelry and took the home owner’s season tickets to the New Orleans Saints. The police arrested him the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Do Not Be Afraid

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 28, 2002

Fear can be a powerful motivating factor that can keep us from living out our Christian faith, life and responsibilities. Jesus assures us that we do not need to be afraid and releases us from fear’s bondage.

Pentecost 5 A Matthew 10:24-33 Do Not Be Afraid 06/23/02 During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-33

Denomination: Lutheran

The Gate Of Heaven

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on May 12, 2003

Death is viewed a lot of ways by different people, but for us as Christians it is nothing less than the Gate of Heaven.

Genesis 28:17 The Gate of Heaven 04/12/03 It wasn’t too long ago I was snooping through some boxes that I had long packed away, and found one of those little electronic games I used to play with when I was a teenager. Maybe you had one – a Mattel hand held football or baseball game – with the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:17

Denomination: Lutheran

Stay With Us

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on May 12, 2003

In death we rest with the assurance that our Lord will stay with us when we pass and with our loved one’s still on earth.

Luke 24:29 Stay With Us 04/25/03 (Spouse’s name), it was but about 3 weeks ago that I first shared this story of our Lord’s resurrection with you and (name). We sat at your kitchen table and I read from a pamphlet like this one here as it recounted how two disciples of Jesus bid a friend to tarry ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:29

Denomination: Lutheran