April 16, 2017. The Easter story may be hard to believe, but it rings true. Pastor Penny talks today about Mary Magdalene, the first person to see Jesus alive after his resurrection. Suddenly she had a future, and she could go through life confidently sharing the good news. We're like Mary. As Jesus called her by name, so he is calling us. He wants us too to share in word and deed this Easter hope. *** [Keywords: Easter Easter story changes us Garden of Eden Garden of the Resurrection God called us by name God is holding us God planted us God's precious planting Gospel Jesus cured her Jesus himself appears Jesus understands grief Magdala Mary believes Pastor Penny Holste agonizing death all four Gospels all she has left of Jesus always hanging on always searching anchored approached the tomb ascend to the Father avid gardeners baptism because they've taken the body boy walking with grandfather cast out seven demons cloths wrapped around commissioned concern for the body confidently through life cross crying outside tomb did not share hope disciple dismiss friends' encouragement does not recognize him doesn't recognize them everything you need expected worst experience of humanity we cannot avoid experienced human life famous Roman statesman Cicero far as he could see first Easter first person to see Jesus alive flourish follow me for balance excitement success security for the future for us too frame of mind fruit that isn't so good garden and a library garden was quiet gardening as a chore get on the team get that scholarship go to my brothers good fruit good place or bad place grace of God gratefully great apostle great place to be the garden green tall strong trees grow handkerchief rolled up carefully hang on to him physically hard to believe held comforted strengthened by Jesus' spirit her lord her teacher friend beloved leader hold onto the past hope and prayer instinctively grabs hold is this orchard dying lay someone we love to rest in grave leaves reaching up lives are like orchard lost him once lump must be cancer maybe I'll be lonely mental illness messengers of hope mourn a dead body mourn at Jesus' tomb must have stolen his body my Father and your Father my God and your God never really notice not all we have not good enough for job not like robber would do old story one again with God only hope orchard our lives matter outcast in society pain in Mary's soul planted in God's garden power of the Holy Spirit rated gardens right up there with library reason to believe recognizes that voice reconnected records of the church recreating relationship between human beings and God resurrection reunited rich soil rings true rival Peter rock over entrance had been rolled away roots go down deep scrubby looking send her his spirit sermon share in word and especially in deed sharing good news sins are forgiven solitary figure sometimes both spring blossoms around us tall and strong things we love this Easter hope this joy this message this promise those that have gone before us those we love took her sad news took his body top of the ridge two angels until he calls her name Mary use this life vast forest into eternity very hard things victory over death and evil we are like Mary we are like a tree wept at tomb of Lazarus who are you looking for why are you crying without going in woman named Mary Magdalene wonderful things 2017]

March 26, 2017. Not everyone wants to be free from blindness. Pastor Penny preaches today on both the physical blindness of the man Jesus healed in John 9:1-41, and on another kind of blindness. The Pharisees who questioned the healed blind man were themselves blinded, by their rules, and by their obsession with keeping the law. Are we more like the blind man or the Pharisees? When Jesus invites us to the baptismal font, do we promise to try to see others as God sees us? *** [Keywords: Amy high powered New York architect At First Sight movie God valued him Gospel James Jesus invites us to the baptismal font Jesus offers healing Jesus' intention John 9:1-41 Pastor Penny Holste Pharisees Sabbath Shirl Jennings Ten Commandments Virgil able to see accepts afraid all their many rules already loves us anxieties baptized based on true story beggar bird took off flying blind from birth blinded by rules booted from synagogue breaking rules broken commandment called him Lord can be painful challenged their blindness come to see God compulsion confident couldn't remember their image crucified did not want to dirt distances were confusing doctor dog from cat drives wedge between us and people we love educated ends on sad note excellent in work or school eyesight fall back fall in love feeling fell on knees felt more disabled felt superior first a man free from blindness get rid of their blindness gift good life in spite of blindness great temptation having our trust healer helping someone on Sabbath highly respected leaders ice skating on pond identity independent keep all the rules keeping trust kneading bread know world without seeing known by everyone light of God's love look at life through God's eyes lost confidence love and forgive us forever love and mercy maintaining certain lifestyle make paste man from God massage therapist mitzvot mixing anything with hands more aware of Jesus more confusing and scarier never gave up on them obsession with keeping the law offered to end their blindness our value is already there outcast physical blindness physical sight pool and be healed prefers to remain blind questioned the healed blind man reaction to world reason he was killed recover sight regained energy religious leaders renewed creative energy road leading to village rose from darkness of death saddest thing about their compulsion about rules see others as God sees us see others like God sees us sinful society portrayed solution for eyelids something more precious soul searching spit still blind stronger than blindness succeeding in physical challenges successful operation take over our lives teaching then prohpet they were seeing God third commandment through hearing time and money touching trust Jesus trust in loving God unfailing promise unless they were dying vacation spa valued by God wash eyelids in pool wasn't being punished when we fail who God was who he was whole new understanding your sins remain 613 rules]

March 12, 2017. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16 NRSV). This is many people's favorite verse in the Bible. Pastor Keith discusses the text, and how Martin Luther struggled with it as a young man until he had the idea that God's love is a gift to be received rather than a reward to be earned. *** [Keywords: Abraham Christians Christmas For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life God's grace God's perfect action of love and forgiveness God's pure love God's pure love for us Gospel Heaven Holy Spirit Jesus was God's good gift John 3:16 Martin Luther Nicodemus Pastor Keith Holste Paul Romans accepting act of faith at great cost to God attempt to grow in quality of love babies baby has not done anything benefits of Jesus billboards cash check central church completely convicted by sin covered us into eternity die for sake of the world direction earn God's favor earn what we get escape from sin eternal life faith and promise relationship fallback position favorite Bible verse favorite lessons favorite passage flipped upside down freely fruits of faith games gift becomes ours gift of Christ child gift of salvation gift to be received gift wrapping give his life give us the kingdom glory and praise go to God human activity human brain human conditions humanity imperfection important lessons infant baptism keeping certain rules large check thousands of dollars message of grace money behind check to cover it more votes never escape no ordinary gift nothing is free offered to us other religions physical health received into the presence of God receiving gift relationship with God relieved resurrection reward to be earned righteousness sake of the world salvation comes by believing promise saved by his faith saved the world send the very best signs similar cycles simply by believing promise slow to understand such good news taken as faith thinking good thoughts tormented trying to please God very costly why we call ourselves Lutheran wonderful gift wonderful thing Jesus has promised worthy of receiving young man]

February 26, 2017. We live in different worlds and have different experiences. We are white and black, police and nonpolice, hopeful and hopeless. It's all too easy to live our lives without knowing how other people live theirs. But when that bubble bursts, what do we do? Being exposed to new truths can be overwhelming. Pastor Penny relates this to how it must have been for Jesus' disciples, wondering whether they were on the right track following him. Jesus shared his vision with the disciples. What is God's vision for us, and what are we called to do with this new understanding? *** [Keywords: African Americans Bible Easter morning Father 2 Father Ferguson Get up and don't be afraid God was at work God's action in our world Holy Redeemer James Jerusalem Jesus would be crucified Jewish cemetary Jews John Lenten journey Lutheran Mediterranean Muslim PBS Peter Pontius Pilate Roman Catholic Rust Belt Syrians The Talk This is my son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased Transfiguration United Nations a few bad actors actions of Jesus afraid agonizing experiences alive again anger animosity ban been followed in store black people bottom of socioeconomic ladder boy's body brightness brought people together bubble burst caucasians civil war cloud college students come to worship command conflict country courage to listen cowardice crack open these silos crowds came out crucified days that followed demean different experience disappearing lifestyles disciples dishonor documentary drought drowned election face to face fisherman follow him forgave going to hell in a handbasket good will prevail grave challenge to police hardship have hope headed to Jerusalem healed healing holy communion honor and revere hope dried up hopeful and hopeless how do we deal hymns ideologically opposed insinuations insult jobs dried up killed by police late night comedians lepers lips of Christian friends listen to him little boys killed live in a bubble lived in shadows lives of others love your enemies males media midweek services millions of children mosque mountain new ways of understanding no hope no jobs norms of our society not comfortable not trying to escape on the right track out of body experience outright lies overwhelmed Penny Holste police and nonpolice political enemies politicians power of God prayers pulling gun pushed over headstones re-energized reignited rejuvenated religious leaders religious radio stations rituals selfishness shoplifting split second standards of decency have really dropped starvation stopped by police take heart the Word time for a vision together bringing love to this world two different worlds unclean unjustly untouchables vandals violence of mobs visionary experiences voice of God warning we have each other we have the world we support you we welcome immigrants we've got work to do what Jesus would say what are we supposed to do white and black white people without knowing about other people's lives worked together]

February 12, 2017. In Matthew 5:20-37, Jesus warns us that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Pastor Keith talks about how righteousness isn’t just about adding up all the right actions, but about being in right relationships — with God, with those we love, and within the Christian community. Righteousness was a difficult concept for Martin Luther until he realized that God has already done everything so that we can be in perfect relationship. When we come to God every week, he helps us avoid temptation, to reconcile, and to make peace. *** Transcript *** We look at this text from Matthew as we begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We hear a gospel like today's and it sounds pretty difficult. Jesus says that unless we exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. That's pretty hard on its own. But then he gives examples, and none of us find ourselves very clean as we hear that long list of things that doesn't just talk about actions, but what goes on in our mind as well. The scribes and Pharisees had dedicated themselves to keeping every little bit of the law. They said that it was important that everyone keep all of them. They had 613 extra ones -- the Talmud -- that bolstered the Ten Commandments and the other things that were in the Old Testament. So they were really into keeping all these little laws about the things that you're supposed to do, and to keep the Jewish faith and to be a good Jewish person. And so all that was going on. But Jesus says that's nothing compared to what I expect from you. To be more righteous than that is a very tough assignment. And Jesus goes on and says how they weren't even keeping the law very well, because he takes into account the motives and what goes on in the mind and the heart, besides what is written. It sounds very impossible. We know how we seem to innately kind of want to shrink the law, make it to a size that's manageable. We can shrink it to say "I won't steal," and so we don't steal. Or we say "I won't commit adultery," and we don't commit adultery. We find areas where we think we can keep it and we say, well I've done okay in these areas. Maybe that's good enough when I'm measured against the rules. But then we hear Jesus describe this process, and it's very unnerving. We wonder how we can ever be saved if all of our inner motives and our desires or temptations are condemning us -- let alone the small parts of the holy law that we break each week. How can we or anyone have a chance? This is what drove Martin Luther nearly crazy for quite a while in his life. When he was a monk, his confessor said he was spending way too much time in the confessional booth, and way too much time up at night feeling sorry and feeling convicted by his sins. How could he ever enter heaven, he wondered. He couldn't control his thoughts. He would think of something bad, and he would go back and have to confess it. And as soon as he'd do that the thoughts would enter his mind again, and it would start all over again. He never found peace in this period. And some believe he damaged his health permanently by the stress he put himself through in this time when he could never find peace, because he just knew he was always convicted by this word of Jesus. But through his study of scripture, Luther began to see the forgiving love of God. He began to see it wasn't a matter of being perfect or of having no hope, or being perfect in heart and mind and action, and then having to be condemned forever. He began to see that God in Jesus had come to save him and everyone from this problem. There was a way for him to have righteousness that exceeded that of the scribes and the Pharisees. There was a way to have peace with God. And it could change all those human relationships too, that Jesus was so concerned about. Jesus had said unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you are condemned. When we look at the Old English word of "righteousness" it literally means "right-wise" or "right way" or "right relationship." Its early true meaning wasn't to center on adding up all the rights and wrongs in a person's life. It was a measure of relationship. That's what Jesus is getting at here: being in a right relationship with God. When you're in a right relationship, you don't focus on the little actions and the words and the rules, and make them the main thing. Rather, you focus on your love for God or for the other person, and their love for you. And you act in ways that are loving for them. You do that automatically. You don't go to the rule book and say, I'm supposed to be doing these things for that person. You love them. You love God. And you do the things that naturally flow from that. When we have this right relationship with God, we are one with God. And indeed then, our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, because we are in a loving relationship with our God and our thoughts and our actions are redeemed by God. We will naturally then live out what is best for the relationship. Then it's not so much that we have to do certain things, but we get to do the best things for the relationship. But Luther figured out finally that it wasn't all up to him. It had all been done for him by God in Christ. Jesus knew what all happened with people. That's why he could name all those temptations and things that people do. He was willing to take all those things upon himself, keep them all upon himself, and die with all those things. And when he did, a righteous or right way relationship with God became possible. He died with all those things and he rose, and with that God brought forgiveness to us and gave us righteousness. That is a right way of being with God. We began to be in a good relationship with God. We began to do those things and live in those ways that God wants us to do, because God sees us now as little Christs, people wearing Christ around with us. God cares for us, and we know that we have someone in God whom we can trust and love, rather than someone we need to fear and try to placate all the time and live despairing that we will never do enough to please God. Jesus accomplished the way for us to live right-wise, in a good relationship with God. In many ways it's like how we see marriage. That is, we love the person that we're married to, and have a good relationship with them. Because we love them, we do things for them. We live for them. We want them to flourish in life. We want them to be satisfied. We want them to have happiness. We don't go around with a rule book saying I need to do this or that to please my spouse. Because we know them and love them, we do what will build them up. Our relationship comes first, and the words and the actions follow. Jesus is saying that when it gets turned around, then the relationship's pretty much gone. When we focus on doing the right little things and not on the relationship, we're going the wrong direction. We may be doing okay on this small scale doing some of the correct things. But if we do it without the relationship things like Paul says, or like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, they're empty. They are noises without meaning. The love needs to be there. We know how we don't always keep the love in the relationship right, and we wander off. We do things wrong. We focus on the little things rather than the relationship. We start to feel that things aren't right and we know that we need to find our way back. We may need to step back and think about where we are with God, with those we thought we loved, and with those in our Christian community. Jesus uses that example in our lesson today. Two people have forgotten the good relationship they have in Jesus. They go to make their offering at the worship service, but they don't like each other as they do make their offering. Jesus says stop, go and make peace with the other, and then come back and bring the offering. Jesus isn't interested in money that isn't given in love. When we share and make the peace in our worship, that is what we're doing. We're making God happy by showing our love for our Lord. We're restoring our faith relationship so we can be in good relationship as we stand before the Lord. So sometimes we do need to step back and evaluate where we are in a relationship, whether with Jesus or with someone else. We need to mend that relationship to be right with that person. Then we can proceed into a right relationship with God. It doesn't work to say we love God but not to love those who are around us, especially fellow ones in Christ. There are right times to make reconciliations, to heal wounds, and to do what's necessary to make things right with others, so that we can be in a right relationship with God. Peter Steinke is a Lutheran pastor, but also a psychologist. He's written a number of books on things that make healthy people and healthy congregations. He notes that relationships often get into trouble when they get fearful and anxious, and the people in the relationships begin to pull into themselves, become more self-centered, and less open to what's happening around them. For good health he says it's good to keep an outward focus and be engaged with the world around. And the same, he believes, is true for congregations. When congregations become self-centered and self-oriented they don't do so well. They get ingrown and tend to fight among themselves. But when congregations look outward, work together to do mission and projects outside themselves, they do things together and it builds up the spirit of oneness and enthusiasm for mission, looking outward rather than inward. The temptations are always there. There are always temptations to look inward, to focus on the small things instead of the relationships we are a part of, to think about ourselves and to ignore or harm those who are around us. We find these temptations in our relationships, especially when we aren't feeling very good about ourselves. We find these temptations in our communities of faith when we lose sight of the mission we all have as God's family, and think more about how things are with me. And we're tempted to do it as a country or even as the world, as people in countries draw back into individualism and tribalism rather than thinking of the whole world as having the potential to be a whole world wide community. We come together here every week because we know how easily we forget and go back to our old ways. So we come here every week to be reminded that it isn't about us, but it's about us and our Lord. Just like in our human relationships, we can get sloppy sometimes and don't care for them very well. We need to come every week to be strengthened in our relationship with our Lord. We receive the good word of God's love. We receive the meal that God offers us. It's a meal of reconciliation. We make our peace. We make our offering. We can offer ourselves because God has made that peace with us, and declare that we are at one with God. God has done everything so that we can be in a perfect relationship. Because of God we can have and live with righteousness -- even righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and of the Pharisees. Amen. Now may this peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. *** Keywords *** 2017, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, Pastor Keith Holste, Matthew 5:20-37