by Steve Thomason | Apr 23, 2018 | Devos
The second topic in our Overcome Worship Series is Anger. I’m not preaching this weekend, but we will record the podcast in the morning, so I like to dwell in the texts a little regardless. Our two main texts are John 2:13-25 and Ephesians 4:25-32. One important thing...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 19, 2018 | Devos
Do you ever feel overcome by anxiety? Are there things that keep you up at night with worry? We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with bad news. It is easy to believe that there is a life-threatening danger lurking around every corner. This week our...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 16, 2018 | Personal Updates, podcast, sermons2018
This was a very eventful weekend for churches in Minnesota. We had an historic blizzard spiral over the state for three days with a bullseye on the Twin Cities. I think the official snowfall was 15+ inches…in mid April! All the church buildings that I know shut...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 12, 2018 | Devos
We begin a new worship series this weekend. It is called Overcome. The intent of this series is to address issues of mental health and deep emotions that are often met with negativity, shame, and stigma in our society. The topics include: Anxiety, Anger, Depression,...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 10, 2018 | Bible
Jesus rose from the dead, spent some time hanging out with his disciples, then vanished into the clouds. What happens next? How are the disciples supposed to make sense out of his teachings and the scandal of the cross and resurrection? How are Jews and Gentiles...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 4, 2018 | Illustration
A fun thing evolved this year. It is my weekly habit to create some form of mind map whenever I study a text to preach. Honetly, I make one whenever I think about anything, because I am a visual thinker. Our lead pastor asked if I would make one for every week’s...
by Steve Thomason | Apr 3, 2018 | podcast, sermons2018
He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia! This is my first Easter sermon at Easter Lutheran Church. We have been following the Narrative Lectionary since Christmas as it tracks through the Gospel of John. The series is called Come and See. View all the sermons from...
by Steve Thomason | Mar 31, 2018 | Spiritual Formation
It is Holy Saturday. Jesus is dead. Two rich and powerful men took his dead body, wrapped it in burial clothes soaked in spices, and laid it in a garden tomb. The disciples hid in fear that the soldiers would come for them next. The air is strangely silent. The crowds...
by Steve Thomason | Mar 30, 2018 | Devos
“After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first...
by Steve Thomason | Mar 30, 2018 | Family Faith
We remember Jesus’ death on the cross today. We call it Good Friday, but I don’t think it was a good day for him or his friends and family. He died, remember. Think about that for a minute. Jesus died. In order for him to die, he had to be a real, physical human...