Sermons on Matt:

Horribly Beautiful

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Nov 13, 2009

In Hebrews 10 we are reminded of the horror of sin and the need for sacrifice, but also of the beauty of being reconciled to God by the blood of Christ

Hebrews 10:11-25 What do you think of when you hear the word, “Sacrifice?” There are a lot of different ideas that come to mind. With Veteran’s Day this last week, sometimes we think of those who have served in the military. And that is a great definition of sacrifice, people have risked a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Real Thanksgiving

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Nov 18, 2009

In our Readings for the Last Sunday in the Church year, we learn something important about giving thanks.

Isaiah 51:4-6; Jude 20-25; Mark 13:24-37 Well this Sunday is a big Sunday in the Church Year! If you didn’t know it, it is the LAST Sunday of this church year. Next week starts Advent and the beginning of a new journey through the church calendar. This Sunday is also called the Sunday of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:4-6, Jude 1:20-25, Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Light Of The World

Contributed by Matt Barker on Aug 10, 2008

We are called to be the light of the world.

About a month ago, I was up here talking about us being the Salt of the Earth, and what that actually means. Today, we are going to continue on from there to the next part of this message from Jesus in his sermon on the mount. Let’s open our bibles to: Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Connected To Jesus

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on May 6, 2009

God calls us to be fruitful, but before we can be fruitful, we have to be connected to Jesus

Sermon 051009 John 15:1-9 Goal: TWW stay connected to Christ through Christ. GMP... Happy Mother’s Day! This is the first time that this is actually a big day in our house. Yet another day I am in trouble if I forget, thank you very much. This year, I will call my mom sometime between 9 and ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Love = Verb

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on May 14, 2009

God’s Love for us is an active love. We are to actively love one another in reponse to His grace.

John 15:9-17 Anne and I are learning about love. It’s not that we don’t love each other, we really do. But we’re learning about a different kind of love. The kind of love Killian is teaching us. There is no doubt that we both have very deep feelings of love for our little boy and each other. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Lutheran

In It, Not Of It

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on May 21, 2009

This Sermon is an encouragement to live out our faith in the midst of a world that is hostile to followers of Christ.

Sermon 052409 Every now and then, you hear about someone who makes a lasting tribute to a loved one. Jack Benny comes to mind. He made arrangements that upon his death, flowers would be sent to his wife every day for the rest of her life. Makes the rest of us look bad, I know! Sometimes ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Camping... For Now!

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jun 10, 2009

Life in tents. This is what life is like in this sinful and fallen world. But by God’s grace, we have good courage in the solid building of our heavenly home.

Sermon 061409 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 How many of you love camping? How long is a good length of time to go camping? I did a lot of camping when I was growing up, and as I got a little older, I noticed we didn’t go any more. I asked my mom why we didn’t camp anymore, “you loved camping!” I said ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Hinneni

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jun 10, 2009

Isaiah says, "Hinneni," or, "HERE I AM," when God calls. The only way he can have this confidence is through knowing the forgiveness of Christ. When God call us we respond like Isaiah because of the cross alone.

Language is a funny thing. It’s amazing that we can share so much by just talking. Ideas, feelings, problems, joys, knowledge – all passed on through language. We don’t often stop to think about how amazing it is that we can talk. But we also don’t often stop to think of the limits of human ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Snakes On A Plain

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Mar 19, 2009

This is a monologue sermon from the persepective of an eyewitness to the plague of snakes from Numbers 21:4-9. You will need someone to read the last verses of the sermon from the back of the church after you walk off.

Good Morning, I love meeting new people! I am glad to meet you. My name is Abraham, which, lately, I can’t help feel is more ironic that I ever realized it was. You see Abraham is the Father of all nations; he is person I was taught about by my Rabbi ever since I can remember. And the one word ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: Lutheran

What's Love?

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jan 29, 2010

In 1 Corinthians 13 God teaches us what love really is, and how counter-cultural His understanding of love is. He calls us to be counter-cultural as well!

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Love. A lot of things come to mind with that short work. If I asked each of you to come up with a song title that used the word Love, I’ll bet we could each come up with a different one. We like to talk about love, to hear love stories, to share about when we ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Transfiguration: Moses And Us

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Feb 9, 2010

On Transfiguration Sunday, we go all the way back to Deuteronomy and Numbers to see how God deals with sin, and in Luke, we see how big God's grace really is

Sermon 021410 Deuteronomy 34:1-12 In the Winter of 1966, a voters registration card arrived in the mail at the home of Vernon Dahmer. On the surface, something like this is no big deal, it happens every day. But this was different, for a number of reasons. It was different because Vernon ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Happy 4th: Faith Hangs On More Than A Thread

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jul 3, 2009

In Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, and Mark 6:1-13 we see how time and time again our future seems to hang on by a thread (like our American History). But in Christ our Future Hangs on a Cross!

Sermon 070509 4th of July Mark 6:1-13; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Ezekiel 2:1-5 Happy 4th of July Weekend. What comes to mind first when you think of the 4th? Fireworks? BBQ? All good stuff. But there is a reason why we celebrate on the 4th and we can’t forget that! It was the day the day the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Amos: God's Plumb Ain't Dumb

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jul 9, 2009

God’s Plumb Line (His Law) isn’t dumb! It speaks to us about our sin. But we are blessed that God isn’t silent about his grace either, that reaches out to us from the cross

Sermon 071209 Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-14 I read a book this week that really challenged me. It was a book that speaks against all kinds of things going on in society today. I’ll list some topics, and think about what comes to your mind: Self-Righteousness, Deceit, Greed, Oppression of the ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Killer Hostility Or Hostility Killer

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jul 15, 2009

When we have hostility we need to remember that we all hang on to the same cross for our salvation. Nothing else is more important than that.

Sermon 071909 Ephesians 2:11-22 Anne and I love where we live. We live in an area of town called Clintonville with lots of old homes and families and stuff like that. The thing is, we live just south of a major dividing line in the community. That dividing line in North Broadway, and the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Lutheran

"He Meant To Pass By Them, But... "

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jul 21, 2009

When the disciples forget who Jesus is and what he does for them, Jesus doesn’t abandon them, he gets in the boat.

Mark 6:45-56 We have been working our way through Mark 6 for the past month or so. We’ve had readings from it every week, and even a couple of sermons. And today, sadly, we get to the end of Mark 6. I love this chapter, because it is vintage Mark. What I mean by that is that God used Mark to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52, Exodus 33:18-23, Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran