Listen to an individual sermon—Click on the “Listen to this sermon” link to play the mp3 file of that sermon. To save the file to your computer and listen later, right-click (Windows) or option-click (Mac) on the “Listen to this sermon” link for that sermon.
Subscribe to podcasts of LCH sermon audio—Click on one on the icons below to have LCH Sermons delivered directly to your computer each week.
iTunes Podcast Directory—Use this icon to subscribe via the iTunes Store (and raise our popularity index on iTunes).
Podcast RSS—Use this icon to subscribe via your default RSS application.
For recorded sermons since Easter 2007 and earlier sermon texts, visit our Sermon Archive.
Pentecost—May 24, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 2:1–21 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | Romans 8:22–27 | John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15
Summary: The Pentecost story, with its violent wind and flames of fire, shows us that God is up to something new in a powerful way. God is not just soothing energy in times of trial. Because the Spirit is up to something new, our lives can be upset. The Sprit of God did not just act in the past. God is up to something with us. God takes the old and beloved—including use—and reshapes them to be a part of God’s mission in the world.
This sermon was not recorded for technical reasons.
Ascension Sunday—May 17, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 1:1–11 | Psalm 47 | Ephesians 1:15–23 | Luke 24:44–53
Summary: In today’s Gospel, which goes with the Ascension story in Acts, Jesus appears to the disciples, and they are filled with joy, disbelief, and wonder. The church these days is the same; we often have to suspend disbelief when we hear Bible stories like the Ascension. The story of the Ascension is less about where Jesus goes than who Jesus is. We worship a God who refuses to let death have the last word, who loves and feeds us, and who sends us out to bring the Good News to the world.
Easter VI—May 10, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:44–48 | Psalm 98 | 1 John 5:1–6 | John 15:9–17
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to the disciples, “Abide in my love.” This a beautiful picture of what it means to be the church. We must remember that God loves Jesus on the cross, so we are called to abide in the cross and lay down our lives for each other. Unlike money, love does not get depleted when we give it away. When we light our candles from the Paschal Candle at Easter Vigil, the light grows as we share it. Love is like that.
Easter V—May 3, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 8:26–40 | Psalm 22:25–31 | 1 John 4:7–21 | John 15:1–8
Summary: Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, and then it talks about pruning the branches so they bear good fruit. This lesson is often used to justify excluding people, but that interpretation do not fit Jesus’ words. The dead parts are pruned away for all of us, but because God abides and we are connected to Jesus, the vine, we may bear more fruit. Our task is to bear fruit in the world, in our church, and in all of creation.
Easter IV—April 26, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 4:5–12 | Psalm 23 | 1 John 3:16–24 | John 10:11–18
Summary: In today’s Gospel, after telling us that he is the good shepherd, Jesus says that there are other sheep to bring into the fold. God is not done with salvation, and God is not done with us either. We are called to join God in searching out these other sheep and shepherding the whole flock.
Easter III—April 19, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Phyllis Hormann
Lessons: Acts 3:12–19 | Psalm 4 | 1 John 3:1–7 | Luke 24:36b–48
Summary: Today’s Gospel continues the story of the road to Emmaus where two men met Jesus. They seemed to have returned to their old lives after the crucifixion. But Jesus revealed himself in the breaking of the bread. Jesus met them where they were and provided what they needed to believe. We each come with our own experiences and see Jesus in our own brokenness, the brokenness of others, or in the breaking of the bread. May we continue to embody God’s love and live out an active faith in the world and to care for creation.
Easter II—April 12, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 4:32–35 | Psalm 133 | 1 John 1:1—2:2 | John 20:19–31
Summary: I love the story in today’s Gospel about Thomas, who missed Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples but believed the second time Jesus appeared. Thomas is smart and practical—just like us—so he wanted proof. It is hard for Christians to convince others to believe in Jesus because they are savvy consumers and want proof as well. We know that Christ lives because of our experiences as part of the body of Christ, the church, and we have been touched by the Spirit and made new. It is our job to bring the living Christ to the world.
Easter Sunday—April 5, 2015
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 | Mark 16:1–8
Summary: In today’s Gospel the disciples seem to be feeling a mixture of devastation and relief when the angel tells them Jesus is not in the tomb, for they go home and don’t tell anyone. But the resurrection is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of a new journey because they have been transformed. We are a people of new beginnings, venturing from the center point of that resurrection to be God’s love for each other and all creation.
Listen to this sermon (Note: There are problems with the audio breaking up. We apologize for the inconvenience.)