FPCLG Sermon Blog: Recent Episodes
Rev. Jonathan Krogh
Sermon includes a youtube video. If you wish to watch and not just listen, you can see it HERE.
Paul assumed the members of his churches knew their gifts, something we don't do very well. What do you do well? That's the gift you bring!
TUXIS youth group served with many other youth two weeks ago in Michigan. They came back full of Joy!
Jesus told stories about passionate people, those obsessed with excellence, growth, hope, best outcomes, These are the characteristics of God's passion for us.
Jesus told a parable about not looking to purify everything at the expense of the farm.
When the sower went out to sow, the seeds hit all kinds of ground, the sower was only responsible for the seed, not the response.
When Paul wrote about giving ourselves to unrighteousness rather than righteousness, he was referring to way more than just moral stuff, he was also talking about how we waist our time on little things of no consequence.
We're tempted to argue and prove others wrong. Jesus suggested we seek peace and love others right.
With the death of Daniel Ellsberg this past week, Pastor Krogh got to thinking about how bad things were and how hopeful we can be,
We’re sharing the whole Confirmation service so you can appreciate the depth of the student’s gifts.
Our emotions may arise from experience not hard-wired reality. Why are so many of our reactions militaristic, why not peaceful? Advent is a chance to review and rewire our response to the world.
We live in cycles, days, weeks, seasons, years, generations - they keep us ordered but also hem us in. Jesus came to break the cycle... forgiveness and companionship makes all things new... even at the end.
Thomas Midgley Jr, invented great things, innovations that almost destroyed the planet. He didn't mean to, but promise brings peril..
Paul was grateful for the saints -Jesus said the saints were those who turned the other cheek. With no apology to Donald Trump Jr, it's important to know what Jesus was talking about.
Two went into a museum, Jesus said. One left the same a he entered the other left justified and righteous. What was the difference?
Paul told Timothy to quit engaging with foolish arguments, to work instead on showing grace.
Jeremiah was asked to buy his cousin's farm in the middle of a war. Did he buy it because he was nuts or to help his cousin?
How can you be expected to be given your own when you can't even handle what you've got. Jesus said use your power to show forgiveness, pray for those who have short-changed your expectations.
God could have destroyed the Children of Israel, but Moses talks God out of it. God changed God's mind, it could have gone another way.
Jesus knew the weight of the call to discipleship. Sometimes the load results in dropping those who as you to drop the cross.
Jesus said if your guests can return the favor, that's not generosity. Invite those who cannot repay, and make them feel normal.
Emperor Constantine's troops, according to legend, were baptized with their swords above water, they could still do their worrier work. That's what happens when you try to make religious law civic law. Jesus broke Sabbath law to be helpful, the law wasn't
In Luke 12 Jesus announces that houses will be divided. So did the prophet Micah - both predicting the destruction of Jerusalem. Seeing the times is easy, doing something about them is hard.
A little different podcast this week as we're sharing the whole service. Listen as our high school group returns with new insights in mission, relationships and God's grace.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he also told them the relationship was presumed and what followed prayer wasn't something else, it was still connecting to God.
The prophet Amos came to the northern kingdom and found things a mess. Summer fruit summed up his disgust. Enjoy it as intended or let it spoil.
When the lawyer asked Jesus the great commandment, he knew the answer was love, but wanted an out to substitute self service with loving kindness
Portrayed as a mother, Jerusalem is reserved for those who need to be mothered, to come home. That includes us all
Jesus didn't go to Samaria, the Samaritans were upset, worse yet, the disciples wanted to smite them. Jesus rebuked.
When Jesus cast the demons into the swine, the man released did not impress the crowd. His freedom was worth less than their profits.
Reaching Up, reaching out, reaching you, that's our vision statement. It has an order, it must happen together, otherwise all will crumble under its own weight.
Join the five members of our confirmation class as they lead worship and celebrate their faith
We invest in things that hold promise. No medical doctor longs for past practice, current and future is the possible. Why do we become so wistful about church?
The Resurrection sends us back to Galilee where we figure out the Risen Savior was going through Hell all along
Oncogenic process is at work in first century Jerusalem in the bodies of those suffering with cancer. Similar process in both.
When Mary anointed Jesus' feet Judas tried to make it a scandal, but Jesus recognized the loving expression as an offering of grace.
Abraham served only as a witness to God's promise, not a participant. When we have no control, we begin to see God's.
The Devil tempted Jesus to look at the little picture, Jesus responded with the big picture. That's what the Devil does, chops us off from context.
Considering the many things that go wrong when interring cremains, good thing we're dust.
The Transfiguration changed nothing, even the disciples remained unconvinced. Real change takes time.
The Golden Rule is a great guideline for everybody else. But if you think I should love my enemies, you haven't met MY enemies.
There is nothing Scriptural about Self-Reliance. Jesus said the poor were blessed because they understood that. Trees need and feed each other, that's why the wise are their metaphor.
All those fish didn't make Peter happy, it made him realize his life was missing the mark.. Everything changed when Jesus said, "Do not be afraid."
Paul tried the body metaphor and scrapped it in favor of just talking clearly about love.
Jesus made wine from water so the party could keep going. Jesus' reaction to us is a groom seeing his bride. Why aren't we more joyful?
Discovering Christ's full story brought great joy to those who believed, it brought rage to those who didn't want things to change
With readings from the Prophet Isaiah and the Gospels interspersed with wonderful music, FPCLG celebrates Christmas Eve in this traditional service.
There's no good reason why we should have peace, that's why our peace passes understanding.
God kept interrupting people's lives with messages of Joy - We too are invited to God's great Joy!
Our constant battle this time of year is protecting the real Christ from mythology, it's all around us.
For 2,000 Years, Jews light a candle on this night, we as Christians do the same, perhaps we should know why.
Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" but failed to wait for an answer. Jesus could have told him...
With Polygamy, Sexism, Genocide, Slavery and so much more in the Bible, without condemnation, who are we to condemn?
Jesus praised the widow with her two coins. Everyone else praised the fat-cat donors. God doesn't ask any less than all.
Ruth offers a beautiful pledge of love to her mother-in-law Naomi, she's poor, she's foreign, she's a widow, she has nothing to offer but deep love. It's troubling when people we don't want to notice, behave with such overwhelming grace that we cannot dismiss their humanity.
Bartimaeus was the only one in Jericho that day who could admit he couldn't see, so he was the only one who regained sight.
Job's friends, trying to make sense of his suffering only make him angry. God's listening to that anger brings Job helplessness... Then there's God
Jesus said it's easier for camels to pass though a needle's eye than the wealthy go get into heaven. Of course with enough wealth you can buy a really big needle.
God and Satan make a bet, God's Job is on the line. What's Job's response? What's ours? Could you keep that bet?
Mordechai and Esther saved the people from evil Haman in ways the people did not know. Do we respect and thank the people who save us every day without our knowledge?
Peter was asked by Jesus what others were saying about Jesus, he then asked Peter what he thought? What's your answer?
Recalling his courses from the Business School at the University of Chicago, pastor Krogh recalls one particularly powerful case study.
Joshua reminded the people they had choices, they didn't have to choose the Lord as their God and perhaps that was a harder choice. Paul suggested that choice brings armor requirements.
We are frustrated seeing only the immediate, if there isn't peace or joy it is because we're impatient
Elder Doug Cogan capably fills in for Rev. Krogh with a wonderful sermon combining science and faith!
The Disciples panicked just hours after Jesus fed the 5,000, the did not surrender their fear to the message of the loaves
We burn out when our goals do not fit our possibilities. Offering God our goals changes the direction of our energy.
Paul's resume dismissed great experiences and highlighted failure and weakness. Weakness draws us closer to God and makes us students of one another.
A woman has the audacity to touch the hem of Jesus' cloak, for that her faith makes her well after 12 long years. A young girl has died she is raised by Jesus, she was 12. Explore what prayer means when its hard to be honest with God.
When the Disciples panicked, they were chastised for their small faith, not because they couldn't make the storm stop, but because Jesus had to make the storm stop.
Generosity is always appreciated, benefits the recipient. But giving to really help, changes the giver.
Following the 140 year old tradition of Nine Lessons and Carols, FPCLG provides this audio version of our Christmas Eve 2020 Worship Service. Video may be found at our website www.FPCLG.org/sermons
With an intro from Pastor Krogh's mother Lottie, who has since passed on to heaven, Jonathan visits his childhood home. The video version of this service is commended.
Pastor Krogh wanders around the texts of the day, sometimes making sense... sometimes not.
Audio ripped from video worship service during COVID. To see the video check our website, but here is the scripture and sermon.
Thinking there is a rhythm that connects tradition to reality is profoundly naïve. God seems to distain being locked in to what we think.
Elder Chris Hein offers his reflection of Jesus' feeding the 5,000. A story about a boy who just believed!
Diverse passages of Scripture require diverse understanding. Attending to the intended audience may help us understand
The Binding of Isaac is a difficult story in the Bible. How do we make sense of strange requests?
The Confession of 1983 was perceived by Roman Catholic clergy as anti-ecumenical because it affirmed women equally called into ministry.
Pastor Krogh reflects on his father's automotive repair training and what getting things started requires
The devil of Scripture isn't the Devil of popular depiction. It is simply the diabolical one who will stop at nothing to pull you down. But there is hope.
Paul's sermon at the Aerogapos is considered a great work of apologetics, except no church was planted and only 2 converts are mentioned. Why wasn't there a Church of Athens for another 125 years?
Why did the two on the road recognize Jesus? Only after they invited him to stay did the risen Lord become known.
This audio from the FPCLG video worship service my lose something in translation but enjoy anyway
Starting popular and ending at the bottom, God in Jesus experienced everything for and with us.
With many sheltering in place, we've put the full service in the podcast. If you wish to hear only scriptures and sermon, start at 10:50
Faith was reckoned as righteousness for Abraham. Winners have a hard time believing they weren't born right the first time.
Tempted as are we, Jesus faced temptation too and yet his vision of eternal things kept him from sin. Diabolical plans tempt us, and what are we to do?
Jesus was transfigured before the eyes of the disciples, quick to answer Peter missed the chance to be transformed by what God was doing. Do we miss for the same reasons?
Standards of righteousness were relative in both Jesus and our day. Fortunately, it's not about being better than others.
The Apostle Paul needed God to calm his nerves - Salt and Light don't have to be afraid of anything.
Conspiracies convey a sense of mastery and inside knowledge, what if there is no conspiracy, folks are just stupid?
Jesus came to John to be baptized, in baptism I am connected to him, and some people I don't like.
The incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is a core theological understanding of Christianity, but it is also central to understanding God's love for all of us.
FPCLG member Sally Kruse reads the Christmas Story and our Children's Choir offers carols and songs to help make the season bright!
Starting with Rev. Krogh's guilty pleasure of Pawn Stars, we as the Christmas question, value, bargain, negotiating? What would you trade?
John the Baptist wasn't interested in popularity, he was interested in the real change of hands and hearts.
The middle of the Apostles Creed is the meat where we meet God. The Incarnation that cycles our year and yet makes every day new. We're closer to our salvation today than we have ever been before!
On Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday, all other allegiances should be thrown into question. The Sunday was created in the middle of political upheaval, and so it has great meaning for times like these.
Past greatness should only serve to inspire present faithfulness. Their God is our God too.
Zacchaeus was hated for good reason. Yet Jesus wanted to eat with him, be in his home, talk to him like he was deserving of grace. Then again, if it was deserving, it wouldn't be grace.
Two went into the temple to pray. One left justified, the one who chose to identify himself with sinners. The other chose to distance himself, he left unjustified.
We tend to treat single moments as the summary of our future, but God really is tolerant - what is now is not what we are stuck with. God's will is a relationship not a fixed moment.
Third, in pastor Krogh's GRIT series, we visit the one leper who chose to show gratitude.
Jesus gave steps to forgiveness and faith to make it possible, the disciples needed to understand how restoration requires rebuke and repentance, "Lord, increase our faith!"
Jeremiah bought a field during a siege when its value was about to plummet. He did so because he believed God's promise. Where should we invest to demonstrate our believe in what God will do?
Why did Jeremiah ask regarding a Balm in Gilead? Why sell a brother? What's the tipping point we need to avoid?
A good shepherd doesn't leave the sheep - you're missing a coin, you'll find it later. But what if...?
Paul, who was in prison, asks a wealthy Christian to free a slave. Our thirst for power and illusion of powerlessness ignores the power of the Potter.
In 1909 the AFL proposed that the Sunday before Labor day be Labor Sunday, to convey the moral, spiritual and educational values necessary to celebrate organized labor. In that tradition, Pastor Krogh preached about the solidarity necessary to make America great!
The problem isn't that the world is too angry these days, it is that the righteous aren't angry enough!
Jesus asks us to live in the reality of God's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom, and we keep living like we've got everything to lose. Our brains stress out over unsubstantiated rumors of danger rather than the peace of God's promise.
Pastor Krogh uses this sermon as a time to complain about the reduction in can sizes at the grocery store. He also suggests Martha's problem was her inability to focus on her guest, not her many tasks. Do we multi-task to avoid listening to Jesus?
The Prophet Amos saw the seedy underside of Israel and could not keep quiet. We send our mission trip teens into the underside of America and ask them to show compassion for a week. What if they come back changed and want to do more, like the Good Samaritan who not only bound the wounds of the moment but also pledged future support to the innkeeper? Are we prepared for their prophetic word back to us?
From Paul's letter to the Galatians we discover the fruits of the Spirit, but what is sown in the flesh is bringing a bitter harvest. Jesus sent the 70 (72?) to spread peace, receive hospitality and attend to the sick, and in that simple planting, Satan fell from the heavens like lightning.
The disciples wanted to rain fire on the Samaritan village that did not receive Jesus. Their desire for revenge was rebuked by Jesus, as were the would-be disciples who had distractions, farewells, funerals, and schedules. Give Pastor Krogh's sermon a listen.
Elijah's attitude completely changed when the headlines changed. Pastor Krogh explores his own co-dependence on his newsfeed.
Trinity Sunday coinciding with Fathers Day and To Mars and Beyond, VBS Kick-off created a challenge for pastor Krogh. Call all this fit in one sermon that ends before supper?