Radical Grace For Real People with Ben Bergren: Recent Episodes
Ben Bergren
This is the podcast page for Ben Bergren. He is the Senior Pastor of Community Lutheran Church of Las Vegas, NV. Ben teaches with relevance and passion. Listen in each week as he teaches from the Bible.
1981 was a year that swung wildly between despair and disbelief · hostages freed, a president and a pope both shot at, and a one-hit-wonder song that somehow still gets stuck in your head. That song is the key to today's episode and the story from Acts 3.
The meaning behind Fleetwood Mac's Landslide changes depending on what season of life you're in: changes, growing older, wondering if you can handle what's next. In this episode, Pastor Ben Bergren follows that same question through the story of Moses.
Stop comparing yourself to others·Paul says grace already settled your worth, not your ledger. If you've ever caught yourself keeping score—against a sibling, a coworker, that person from high school on Facebook—you're not alone, and you're not crazy. It's how we're wired. Paul helps us see a better path forward.
Why is grace so hard to accept? Jesus offers forgiveness and love without a price tag — and yet most of us keep reaching for something we can manage, something we can earn. In this sermon from Galatians 4. You didn't find grace, grace found you.
Most of us have a "Jerusalem crowd" · a person or a room that makes us go quiet when we know we should speak up. Peter had one too. And when that crowd showed up in Antioch, he stopped living out what he actually believed. Paul called him on it publicly.
Grace is free·no asterisks, no fine print. So why do we keep building tollbooths on a road we didn·t pave? A look at Paul·s letter to the Galatians.
Grace is free·no asterisks, no fine print. So why do we keep building tollbooths on a road we didn·t pave? A look at Paul·s letter to the Galatians.
Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit was given to the early church. Nothing has changed God's heart and mind since then. We have the same Spirit and the same mission today.
Jesus told Mary ·don·t hold on to me· · then told Thomas ·put your finger here.· Same risen Jesus, opposite instructions. Here·s why both make perfect sense.
We conclude our sermon series "This is Us" about our mission statement at CLC. What does it mean to be on a path of Inspired Growth? Mary Magdalene show us the way.
The story of Zacchaeus in the gospel Luke illustrates Jesus' inclusive love for all. All four parts of mission statement are contained in this story! Jesus welcomes all without condition and the crowd hated that.
Did the resurrection of Jesus happen? Does he care? Does he even notice you? Listen in and find out!
We come to the end of this season and our series on Spirituals. "Soon I Will Be Done" reminds us we are going home one day in the same way the people of Israel crossed the Jordan to finally be home after 40 years.
There is quite a story to the Spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead." Hear the hymn and how it ties to the book of Numbers, Jeremiah and the gospel of John. There is healing to be found in your life!
Today we hear the Spiritual, Wade in the Water and we hear the story of the people of Israel at the Red Sea. This Spiritual also points to the waters of Baptism.
As we begin the season of Lent we are going to explore both the story of Exodus and the genre of music called "Spirituals." Today we begin with the beginning of the Exodus story and we welcome Knixx Taylor singing, "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child."
We are called to be humble and invited to serve. Are there exemptions to that rule? To find out, we look at the story of Joseph found in Genesis.
There is a reason this story is told before the season of Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Listen in and find out why this is an important moment in history and why it is important for you today.
If Christ is our foundation and we build the walls of love and service on that foundation, what holds them up? Prayer. Prayer anchors our lives to the foundation.
We continue in our sermon series on Foundations. Today we build on the foundation of Christ and we do that by serving others.
We begin a new series on foundations based on the Sermon on the Mount. We begin with the most important thing in any building: the foundation. As people of faith, we also have a foundation of faith.
Is a song in the Bible just a song or does it come from the heart of God? In this message, we explore Mary the mother of Jesus song of praise but it also points to a vision of living differently.
Need a little grace in your life this season? Christ comes to give us a free gift of love. We call that grace. This is Pastor Ben Bergren's Christmas Eve message for Community Lutheran Church of Las Vegas, NV.
God is generous and wants to give us joy when the external circumstances of our life are difficult. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth show us how God responds to our emptiness.
In the month of December we are looking at the generosity of God! Today we explore Joseph's story that shows us how we can tap into the peace of God.
Not everyone feels thankful on Thanksgiving because of circumstances beyond their control. The story of Elijah running away shows us what God does when we gratitude doesn't come naturally.
Not only do we learn that Jesus is a servant king but also that we are invited to be people of service. Service is a core value of Jesus and of this church.
What does it mean to be on path of life long learning? Building a foundation of belief will allow you to build a strong faith. Listen in and discover the importance of learning.
All Saints Sunday is a reminder that there is more and we are not alone. It all begins with an invitation to transformation and a welcome to join the family of faith.
We finish our sermon series on phrases not found in the Bible. Today we hear a well used phrase that flies in the face of the Protestant Reformation. Listen in and hear how God promises to always walk with us.
We begin a new sermon series called "I Thought that was in the Bible." Today we look at the phrase, "Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner." Is that actually possible?
Why is forgiveness so important? Is it outdated and antiquated? Listen in and find out why Jesus focused in on this important part of our faith life. There is a song at the beginning and the end! Listen to it all!
Give us this day our daily break doesn't originate within the Lord's Prayer! It begins with Moses continues on with Solomon and a person named Agur and then Jesus reminds us to pray for our daily bread. It is not just about food. Its a reminder to be depend on the God of love for all things to find balance in your life so that you can free yourself from extremism, hate and cruelty.
We begin a new sermon series called: Prayers of the Bible. We are going to look at The Lord's Prayer section by section and pair it with another prayer in the Bible. In this message we look at the "Our Father" part of The Lord's Prayer.
We finish our KCLC Radio sermon series from a number one hit from 1987. This song reminds us to have patience while we wait for Jesus to act in our life and that he will be at the end of our journey.
We finish our KCLC Radio sermon series from a number one hit from 1987. This song reminds us to have patience while we wait for Jesus to act in our life and that he will be at the end of our journey.
KCLC Radio sermon series goes back to 2003 where we hear a hit most of us know: You Raise Me Up. Listen in as we hear how Jesus wants to raise us up our of our shame, guilt and pain and into a better future. Keep listening after the message, there is another amazing song!
We go back to 1973 to hear the Eagles classic song "Desperado." There are loners out in the world, some intentionally some unintentionally. Listen in and see how Jesus helps desperados.
We go back to 1969 to hear a hit about peace. We are invited to be the peacemakers in our homes, our state and our nation.
We begin our "KCLC Radio" Sermon Series! Today we go back to 1989 to hear a song that expresses the importance of expressing love to those we care about.
The last of four parables to help us live life in the present so we don't have anxiety in the future. A story to remind us that God has given everything we need for faithful living.
Jesus challenges his Church with parables. Reminds us that how we live is important. It is our witness and the world needs us. Way better than being a goat.
Pentecost is a moment in history but not just a moment in history. The promise, power and God's will of that day is available to us in 2025!
We conclude our series about our mission statement by examining what it means to be on a path of "inspired growth." Gideon of the book of Judges helps us to see how we can move forward in faith.
We are in a sermon series on our mission statement. We understand that we can be real people because we have an inclusive welcoming God. But there are things that get in the way of that core truth. Listen in and find out.
The first time the disciples see Jesus on Easter evening, he has a lot to tell them and us. If you ever wondered about God's plans, listen in!
The resurrection points to the inescapable conclusion that we can have freedom right here and right now. If we lean into the resurrection, we can leave our old stories behind.
Maybe the Church has missed part of the story of Jesus because of the word "Christ" that has remained untranslated for almost 2000 years. Once we understand that word, it can change the way we see Jesus and live our lives.
In our faith journey, there are times we need to take a break and rest. Rest is biblical! Through the scriptures and the music of Keith Thompson we hear, There is a way to find rest.
Even in life there is a way and the time to start over. Through the music of Keith Thompson and scripture, we hear there is a way forward in life. Need a little hope, listen in!
We begin looking at the Way of Jesus inspired by the music of our very own Keith Thompson. Today we discover that the Way is never traveled alone.
We begin the season of Lent with a confession that we need a savior. It is an invitation for revival and reconnection. Listen in as we go back to the time of King Hezekiah to hear about a time of revival for the nation of Israel.
The Transfiguration is a holy disruption for the disciples who were making plans for Jesus. Maybe we need a disruption in our life to refocus on Jesus and his ways.
Today we move on to the next origin story in the book of Genesis. The story of Noah and the ark might be the best known story of the Bible. Before jump to theological conclusions, take time to listen and hear what this story is really telling us.
We continue to look at the patchwork stories of early Genesis. We turn to the story of Cain and Abel and see that we always have the choice to follow God versus our own wants. Temptation is always out there but we've been called to something better.
We begin a series on the origin stories of the Bible. The first 11 chapters of Genesis contain a patchwork of stories that describe the nature of God and humanity. First up: Creation. This is not about science!
We remember the life and ministry of Martin Luther King Jr. and the biblical principles he used to bring change to our nation. These same principles can transform our lives, our nation and our world.
We haven't given up on Christmas because it is a season and not just a day. On the 12th day of Christmas, we are encouraged to unwrap the gift of Jesus and not just leave it on the shelf.
Why is Christmas important? We discover that God takes a step towards us in love! Listen in as Pr. Ben reminds us of why we need Christmas in our lives today.
If you want joy in your life, peace comes first. Once you grasp the peace of Christ, then you have room for joy. Listen in and find out how to increase your joy!
Sometimes we need a perspective check to change our mindsets. If we want peace, you need to look beyond what you see. This message begins and ends with a song to help us understand the peace that Jesus offers.
We conclude our God is in Charge series with Christ is our King because it is Christ the King weekend. What does it mean to claim Christ as our King. It may not be as easy as saying it. Listen in and find out!
Either God is sovereign or God is not. Over the next 3 weeks we will see how God is in charge! In this message, we discover that all are accountable to God, including leaders.
We get so caught up in living life that we forget about the ultimate win of eternal life. On All Saints Day, we hear how we are already saints and how that happens.
We continue in our series on Winners and Losers and we turn our attention to Martin Luther and Reformation Sunday. Most of his life was losing but he remained faithful.
We continue on in our sermon series on winning and losing. For the second time, Jesus needs to explain to the disciples that life isn't about winning or being the "top dog."
We being a new sermon series about winning and losing. This mindset can cause and has caused a lot of problems in our world. Jesus has something to say to us about leaving this harmful point of view behind.
Generosity is often the last step in a Christian's faith walk. LIsten and find out how you can grow by giving.
We value learning as Christians. Specifically, we value learning from Jesus who taught us love and not hate. Explore this core value and see how your life can be better with Jesus' instruction in your life.
Why is worship important for the those who believe in Jesus? What does worship do for us? Listen in and find out as we explore our core values as a church!
We finish our sermon series on Ruth in chapters 3 and 4. We discover how vulnerability and consistency can change a person's life.
We are looking at the story of Ruth and we pick it up in chapter 2 where we see Ruth's commitment and care for her mother in-law. We also learn something about life in her interaction with Boaz the landowner.
We come to the end of our KCLC Radio sermon series and we hear a song from 1985 that swept the world by storm because of its message and cause. It is the same message God has been communicating to the world through the Bible.
In our radio series we go back to hear a #1 hit from 1970. This song reminds us that we will never be alone. Jesus wants to change your trajectory.
Today we go back to 1982 to hear a song that dominated the airwaves and was a number 1 hit. This song reminds us that Jesus wants to lift us up so that we don't fall into the trap of horizontal living.
We step back to 1967 to hear a song that calls us to higher living. Spiritual maturity can be elusive when we live like everyone else.
We continue on in our KCLC Radio Sermon series and we hear a song that has its roots in 1939. There is something better waiting for us but now is the time to get ready!
KCLC Radio sermon series is back with all new music! We go back to 1996 to hear a worldwide hit. On the surface, this sounds like a love song, but there is so much more.
We come to the end of Joseph's story. Will he find peace from his past? Will he see the bigger picture? Listen in and find out!
We take another step in the story of Joseph. He hits rock bottom in his life and we find something surprising. Joseph keeps serving others and God continues to watch over him.
Joseph goes to Egypt as a slave and encounters even more hardship. His faith in God informs his character and acts with integrity in a no win situation. Listen in and find how we can apply the lessons of Joseph into our lives.
We begin a new sermon series on Joseph of Genesis. He is the example of how to be a person of faith in times of struggle. Today we set up the story and talk about jealousy and envy.
We continue to look at our Mission Statement at Community Lutheran Church. We believe in Radical Grace for all. Jesus tells a story about radical grace that I am sure upset people when he told it. The characters in the story were angry too about God's grace!
This podcast begins with a song for a reason. We begin a new sermon series on what makes Community Lutheran Church tick. We begin with "us". We strive to be real and never fake.
What is the spiritual inheritance that Jesus leaves us in his death and resurrection? Listen in and find out! Happy Easter!
More than a remembrance of a moment in history, Jesus dies to forgive our sins. If you ever wondered about what Jesus accomplished by his death, listen in.
We conclude the sermon series about the the things Jesus brings to our lives. We saved the best for last... salvation. Listen in and find out why this is the most important thing Jesus brought to us.
We continue our series on what Jesus brings to our lives including a constant connection to bring us miracle power to our lives.
If we trust Jesus with our eternity, how come we struggle to trust Jesus with our tomorrows? Jesus brings direction to our lives and he even teaches us how trust him with our future.
There are many things that Jesus gives his people. In the sermon series "Jesus Brings" we will discover some of those gifts. In this message, we will see how Jesus brings fulfillment to all who look.
As we enter the season of reflection (Lent) we take a moment to humble ourselves and empty ourselves of pride. King Uzziah and Zaccheaus show us the difference between these two polar opposites.
The story of Balaam and his talking donkey helps us understand the importance of our words. Words have the power to heal and to hurt. We are challenged to watch what we say and even bite our tongue.
We conclude our sermon series on change. In this message Pastor Ben explores transformational change or the change within. Step one is to change your social surroundings.
Change is all around. What happens when there is societal change? We embrace God's view of justice and not our own. We remember the lasting legacy and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the change he brought.
As we begin 2024, let's talk about change. For the next month, we will look at different types of change in our lives. In this episode, Pastor Ben looks at the uninvited change in our lives.
We close 2023 with one more set of characters from the Christmas story: The Wisemen. They could have chosen to avoid Herod or even Jesus but they pushed forward to meet the King of Kings. Listen in and hear how avoidance can hurt you.
Merry Christmas! Open your heart for Jesus and receive unimaginable love. Sometimes we need to stop and let Jesus in and him handle the rest!
Shame might be the third most power emotion after love and grief. Shame can paralyze you. Not for a moment, but it can affect your entire life. Zechariah walks with shame and see how God sets him free and how you can be free too.
What happens when we choose wonder over worry? Wondrous things! Today we hear about two types of worry from Mary and Joseph and with God's help, they choose wonder!
We conclude the sermon series "I Surrender" with a message about how we surrender ourselves to the King and not just parts of our lives.
We continue our sermon series on surrendering our lives to Jesus. What about our future? Can we surrender our future to God even before it happens? Yes!
We start a new sermon series on surrendering our lives. We begin with why surrendering is so hard to do and then work towards surrendering our troubles first.
We conclude our sermon series on our core values at Community Lutheran Church. Generosity is the last step in spiritual growth for a reason. Listen in and find out why.
We continue in our annual sermon series on our core values at Community Lutheran Church. In this message you hear about the importance of learning and why every Christian can grow in faith when they engage in learning.
We are returning to our core values at CLC in this series. But these values can help everyone grow closer to Jesus. Welcome is tied to worship. Listen in and find out why.
We finish this short sermon series on Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Yes, this is still about joy but the promise of peace when we pray! Also, there is a special song by Elisa Fiorillo at the end!
We jump into the book of Philippians where Paul reminds us to be joyful! In chapter three, we hear that joy comes when we make Jesus our #1 priority.
We conclude our sermon series on the book of Nehemiah. We discover the final points we need to make a change in our lives. There is a song at the end for everyone trying to change something in their lives.
Nehemiah helps the people rebuilding the wall. He sees the importance of caring for the people as much as completing the task.
We take a look at the next steps in making a change in your life by diving into Nehemiah chapter 2 of his story. We hear that waiting, making lists and evaluating are good before we make a major change!
We begin a new sermon series on the book of Nehemiah. This story is a blueprint on how to move forward in life. The journey begins with prayer.
In this message we go back to 1965 and hear a hit song that was the unofficial anthem of the civil rights movement. The same themes are important for us in 2023.
We continue on in our radio sermon series and we go back to 1966 to hear the title track from the movie Alfie. In the movie, he asks the question, "What's it all about?" That is the question that is answered in this message.
We go back to 1972 to hear a number one hit that still moves us today. This Bill Withers classic reminds us that we can lean on each other and more importantly Jesus.
In our KCLC Radio sermon series we go back to 1971 to hear a classic song by Carole King that talks about the importance of friendship and connection.
We celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit as found in Acts 2. But it is more than a historical event, the Spirit is for us!
We finish our series on our source code at CLC. We believe that Jesus wants to put us all on a path of inspired growth!
We continue looking at our source code at CLC. We discover that we can be real with our struggles because we have a God who welcomes all.
Like a computer program, we have a source code. Our mission statement informs how we operate as a church. Over the next four weeks we will look at each aspect of our mission. We begin with REAL PEOPLE.
We come and celebrate the resurrection of Christ! Not just a historical remembrance but to claim resurrection power in our lives today!
We come to the end of this series because it is the last Sunday in Lent. Today the story has a twist. Jesus is at the feet of others to remind of something important.
We continue on "At the Feet of Jesus" but this moment is different than all the rest. A woman named Mary is at the feet of Jesus to just be in his presence. Spending time with Jesus on a regular basis will minimize moments of anxiety and desperation.
In today's message, we hear of two people in one story who end up at the feet of Jesus for two different reasons. Whatever reason we come to Jesus, he will never reject us.
We begin a new sermon series: At the Feet of Jesus. We are looking at the various people who ended up at Jesus' feet. We begin with the Wisemen from the east.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the journey to the empty tomb of Easter. God speaks of his intentions for us in Isaiah 61. He will take the ashes of our lives and make something beautiful of them.
In this sermon series we turn to the New Testament to see what Jesus does when he gets in a jam. His response teaches us how to respond to temptation.
What does God do when you make a mess in your life including hurting others? There is a difficult story about King David that can teach us something about how to live better with God’s grace.
What happens when you have nothing in your tank when a jam comes your way? God gives amazing grace to help you move forward. Gideon from the book of Judges shows us what God can do in our lives.
We are in our second week of "What God Does When you are in a Jam" series. This week we look at a moment in Moses' life when he was between a rock and hard place. God provides a way forward for Moses and for us.
It is the first day of 2023! How will we face the new year? By being present in the moment because that is where our faith is.
How do we find peace in a world of hate? We find peace in the people we love and in the Prince of Peace who came to us.
How do we find peace in a world of hate? We find peace in the people we love and in the Prince of Peace who came to us.
We enter into another busy season! Instead of trying to do it all, let us slow down a bit. Maybe instead of buying presents for everyone, we could give a better gift of being fully present in people’s lives this season.
We finish up our sermon series on our core Values at CLC. There are blessings to receive when we are generous. It may sound too good to be true but it is not.
We continue our exploration of our core values at CLC. In this message, I talk about the importance of learning and to understand what underpins our faith and what does not!
We are spending some time looking at our core values at CLC. Today, we explore the importance of worship and why we gather to worship. More than that, we are reminded why we worship because of what Martin Luther discovered and shared with the world.
We conclude the sermon series on the Old Testament prophet Daniel. We begin with what we have learned so far and conclude with Daniel's time in the Lion's Den.
We conclude the sermon series on the Old Testament prophet Daniel. We begin with what we have learned so far and conclude with Daniel's time in the Lion's Den.
We continue in our journey with the Old Testament prophet Daniel. In chapter 5, we learn a valuable lesson about leaving our past behind and tapping into the power of Christ to change our lives.
We continue in our journey with the Old Testament prophet Daniel. In chapter 5, we learn a valuable lesson about leaving our past behind and tapping into the power of Christ to change our lives.
We continue on in the Old Testament book of Daniel. Today we discover that Daniel's friends are in trouble because they won't worship a golden statue. The heat is on when they refuse to obey.
We continue on in the Old Testament book of Daniel. Today we discover that Daniel's friends are in trouble because they won't worship a golden statue. The heat is on when they refuse to obey.
We dig into the story of Daniel the Old Testament prophet. Time and time again we discover how to handle crisis and obstacles without drawing a line in the sand every time something doesn't go our way.
We dig into the story of Daniel the Old Testament prophet. Time and time again we discover how to handle crisis and obstacles without drawing a line in the sand every time something doesn't go our way.
We conclude our sermon series on the letter that James the half brother of Jesus wrote to the Christian Church. We review the first four chapters and then we hear about having patience in times of trouble and the importance of prayer.
We conclude our sermon series on the letter that James the half brother of Jesus wrote to the Christian Church. We review the first four chapters and then we hear about having patience in times of trouble and the importance of prayer.
We continue on in our study of the letter James wrote to the Christian Church. In chapter 4, we see what robs of joy and connection: coveting and jealousy. James also gives us the remedy to this struggle in our lives.
We continue on in our study of the letter James wrote to the Christian Church. In chapter 4, we see what robs of joy and connection: coveting and jealousy. James also gives us the remedy to this struggle in our lives.
We are exploring the letter the half brother of Jesus wrote to the Church when he was leading it. We move into chapter two where James writes about being consistent in our words and actions.
We are exploring the letter the half brother of Jesus wrote to the Church when he was leading it. We move into chapter two where James writes about being consistent in our words and actions.
We begin a sermon series on the book of James. We begin with chapter one where we hear practical advice about how to navigate troubles in our lives and how listening helps us all.
We begin a sermon series on the book of James. We begin with chapter one where we hear practical advice about how to navigate troubles in our lives and how listening helps us all.
KCLC Radio is still on the air and we go back to 1978 to hear the first breakout hit of this band from the state of Illinois. This song is an invitation to higher living. The lyrics to this song points us to a new way of living.
KCLC Radio is still on the air and we go back to 1978 to hear the first breakout hit of this band from the state of Illinois. This song is an invitation to higher living. The lyrics to this song points us to a new way of living.
We hear another song from the radio this week. This time from Motown Records. Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On reminds to ask the question to those around us before we get too far down the road.
We hear another song from the radio this week. This time from Motown Records. Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On reminds to ask the question to those around us before we get too far down the road.
We continue in our KCLC Radio sermon series. Today the last song ever released by The Beatles. It says a lot about the lives we all lead and the world we live in.
We continue in our KCLC Radio sermon series. Today the last song ever released by The Beatles. It says a lot about the lives we all lead and the world we live in.
KCLC Radio is on the air! We take a look at popular music from the radio and explore the spiritual messages contained within. This week, the first single ever released by Elton John in the United States.
KCLC Radio is on the air! We take a look at popular music from the radio and explore the spiritual messages contained within. This week, the first single ever released by Elton John in the United States.
Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit was given to all believers as promised by Jesus. What is the role of the Spirit in our lives today? Listen in and find out!
Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit was given to all believers as promised by Jesus. What is the role of the Spirit in our lives today? Listen in and find out!
How do we make sense of the senseless violence of the past 3 weeks and even the past 20 years of mass violence? God calls to us from the book of Amos and gives us direction.
How do we make sense of the senseless violence of the past 3 weeks and even the past 20 years of mass violence? God calls to us from the book of Amos and gives us direction.
We continue to look at what makes us tick at CLC. We believe that RADICAL GRACE is for all people! We receive unexpected kindness from Jesus and then give grace to others!
We continue on in our sermon series about our mission statment. We believe God accepts all and does not hold our baggage against us.
We begin a new sermon series revisiting our mission statement. One of the things we strive for at CLC is to be real. We want to be authentic and genuine.
This is Pastor Ben's Easter message. Sometimes we need reminders that we are not alone and that someone is willing to walk with us through the dark times of our lives.
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem and there is a huge celebration praising Jesus for what they think Jesus is about. The crowd is wrong. They seek a political solution for a spiritual problem.
We make our last stop on "The Journey" to Jerusalem. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, we see Jesus' commitment to drawing people close to him and a man's faith who was stronger than all the people following Jesus in that moment.
We continue "The Journey" to Jerusalem. Today Jesus is across the Jordan River talking to a man who want to know how to get to heaven. There is something in this story for us too!
We are looking at lesser known characters surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. In this podcast I talk about the high priest Caiaphas. In two weeks, I will chat about Judas.
We begin a new series on "The Journey" to Jerusalem. Every week until Easter, the gospel of Mark tells us exactly where Jesus is on the journey to the cross. This week we are in Capernaum as Jesus talks about perils of getting into arguments and engaging in conflict.
We conclude our sermon series about mountains with an amazing story about Jesus revealing his identity to three disciples. The miracle of transfiguration has much to teach us about Jesus and life itself.
We continue in our sermon series on how we connect with God. Religious rigidity gets in the way of that connection. So much so we can get into ruts that we can't get out of. Jesus frees us from our personal ruts!
We continue in our sermon series Sneak PeAk. Sometimes we get stuck on the foothills instead climbing up to the mountain to see things more clearly from God’s point of view and experience that “Higher Love.”
We are in a new series called: Sneak PeAk: Vistas of God's Grace. We are looking at the faith stories that involve mountains. In this message, we look at two greats of the Old Testament who experienced fear and negativity.
Do we have a seven day a week faith or is it a Sunday morning thing? I use the metaphor of a backpack to take with us wherever we go. Don't drop it!
As we step into the new year we can learn something from the Christmas Classic, It's A Wonderful Life. Christmas and New Years all in one message!
This is Pastor Ben Bergren's Christmas message on December 24th, 2021. This is a reminder that God delivers us...
It is the 4th week of Advent and we are on the cusp of Christmas. Love is the order of the day. I spend some time answering the question, "Why love?"
We continue our journey in Advent as we prepare for Christimas and the return of Christ. We are offered peace but how do we secure it for ourselves? We won't find it out in the world. Listen in and find out how we can receive peace right now.
We begin the journey towards Christmas in a season called Advent. We will take some time looking at some themes that will help us make our way in life. Today, we explore the importance of hope.
We continue digging into the core values of Community Lutheran Church. Today we dig into two more: Worship and Learning. All Christians can benefit from these two practices.
We begin looking at our core values as a congregaiton. This doesn't come from the staff but all of our members! We embrace welcome here, even when it is uncomfortable. This is the first in a series sermons about our core values.
We conclude the sermon series on the Old Testament prophet with a disappointing conclusion. Jonah is now pouting that God saved the city of Nineveh. What can we learn from Jonah? A lot!
We finish our sermon series on the Big Questions... Answered. Today we dig into the big question of What happens when we die? Have you ever wondered? Listen in and find God's will for us after we die.
We continue on in our sermon series that attempts to answer the big questions of the Christian Faith. In this message Pr. Ben looks the 9/11 tragedy and answers the question, "Why do bad things happen?"
We continue on answering the biggest questions of the faith. In this message, I answer the question, What is the Holy Spirit and what does it do? Listen in and find out how we are guided and cared for in this chaotic world.
We begin a new series that seeks to answer the biggest theological quetions of the faith. Today we begin with biggest of all questions: Is there a God?
We finish off the sermon series on the parables of Jesus by talking about the connection between mustard seeds, salt and light. What begins small can grow to the point that we can change the world in Jesus' Name.
We continue in our sermon series and Jesus answers the most important question. Why do some people come to faith in Jesus and others do not? Jesus has the answer!
We begin a new sermon series on the parables of Jesus. Today we unpack what we need to be looking for in any parable of Jesus and then we spend time looking at the parable of the vineyard owner in Matthew 20.
We continue in our sermon series on thankfulness. Today we spend some time looking at the fact that we can be thankful that God wants to grow us.
Today we spend some time unpacking the importance of All Saints Sunday and how that can transform our lives. We begin a short series on being thankful and this is a perfect place to begin. And a quick encouragement before the election.
There is always a day after conflict. It doesn't all end when one side wins and the other loses. Why does that matter to us? Because we have a big "day after" moment coming up in November.
We take a look at the next Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Faithfulness. I clear up some misconceptions about faith and how it is different than belief.
We take a look two fruits of the Spirit through the lens of ancient wisdom this week. Kindness and gentleness. We need them more than ever
We take a look at the second fruit of the Holy Spirit today through the lens of the wisdom of Proverbs. We find something quite surprising... joy is found in justice. Just another avenue to foolproof your life.
We begin a new sermon series called "How to Foolproof Your LIfe." We will look at how to add wisdom to our lives focusing in on the Fruit of the Spirit. Wisdom is way better than knowledge. We begin today with love.
We continue to look at the message behind the miracles found in the gospel of John. Today we discover the meaning behind Jesus walking on water. It is something we all need.
We are looking at John's story of Jesus... specifically the signs of Jesus. They were chosen by John for a reason but we have to dig deeper to find understands. This week, two back to back healings.
It is the day of Pentecost (the birthday of the Church) but it is a day we lament the racism in our nation. How do these two go together? The Spirit gives us the strength to be advocates.
This Easter we may doubt that God is with us... our doubts or even our troubles might be affecting our faith right now. Jesus comes to us and rolls the stone away from our fear filled tombs. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
We begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday. We remember Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem as we get ready for Jesus triumph over death! Pr. Brian Ward and I share this message.