LCH Sermons—Easter 2016 (Year C)

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For recorded sermons since Easter 2007 and earlier sermon texts, visit our Sermon Archive.

Pentecost—May 15, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 2:1–21 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | Romans 8:14–17 | John 14:8–27
Summary: Pentecost is a new beginning for the church. The disciples, fearful aftr the Ascension, were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and spoke with confidence in a way everyone understood. But people still asked, “What does this mean?” There are times when we have trouble getting the fire to burn brightly, but God still pours out the Holy Spirit as prophesied in Acts to recreate the world in justice, love, and life.

We expect this sermon to be available soon.

Ascension Sunday—May 8, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 1:1–11 | Psalm 93 | Ephesians 1:15–23 | Luke 24:44–53
Summary: When Jesus ascended, the disciples must have lamented the loss of their master. But though it must of seemed the worst of times, the Ascension led to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the growth of the church. In our modern world, people’s need for hope and healing has never been greater, and the resources of the church to meet these needs never greater. We need to have faith that God is with us, a vision rooted in the Gospel, and ears to hear the Holy Spirit so that we can reform and be reformed for the sake of the Gospel.

We expect this sermon to be available soon.

Easter VI—May 1, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 16:9–15 | Psalm 67 | Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5 | John 14:23–29
Summary: Today’s Gospel embodies a tension between Jesus telling the disciples he is going away and his promise to be with them always. Jesus gives them his peace and promises to send the Holy Spirit. Of course, the Holy Spirit both comforts us and stirs us up to action. God calls us each to be the house and dwelling of the Spirit and sends us out in mission.

We expect this sermon to be available soon.

Easter V/Earth Day Sunday—April 24, 2016

Preacher: Jim Sullivan
Lessons: Acts 11:1–18 | Psalm 148 | Revelation 21:1–6 | John 13:31–35
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to love one another. Jesus lived out that love in action. In the Hawaiian world, the ‘āina (land) is our sibling, so part of our kuleana (responsibility) is to mālama (love/protect) the ‘āina. On this Earth Day Sunday, one way for us to protect our environment is to plant trees.

We expect this sermon to be available soon.

Easter IV—April 17, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Steve Jensen
Lessons: Acts 9:36–43 | Psalm 23 | Revelation 7:9–17 | John 10:22–30
Summary: In today’s Gospel, the people ask Jesus how long until the Messiah comes as conquering hero, but they are annoyed with his response. We should expect God to confront and annoy us and to come to us at inconvenient times. Many voices demand our attention, but do we hear Jesus’ voice calling, and do our actions show that we hear and follow? Jesus calls us to hear the voice of the Spirit and to come to God.

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Easter III—April 10, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 9:1–20 | Psalm 30 | Revelation 5:11–14 | John 21:1–19
Summary: In today’s Gospel Jesus comes to the disciples as they are fishing after the resurrection, and he asks Peter three times if he loves him. Jesus is asking Christians the same question these days, but often people try to show their love by forcing their own understanding of God on others. But the way we can truly show our love is by following Jesus to the cross and building up the body of Christ—by feeding Jesus’ lambs.

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Easter II—April 3, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 5:27–32 | Psalm 118:14–29 | Revelation 1:4–8 | John 20:19–31
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection, but Thomas is not there. This story gives us the phrase “doubting Thomas,” but it gives Thomas a bum rap. Jesus was not angry at Thomas; he simply provided what Thomas needed to believe. Many of us are share Thomas’ doubt, but the opposite of faith is not doubt but certainty. In the midst of our doubt, God continues to walk with us, breathe on us, and say, “Peace be with you.”

We expect this sermon to be available soon.

Easter Sunday—March 27, 2016

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 | Luke 24:1–12
Summary: The facts of today’s Gospel story of the resurrection do not seem to fit in our modern scientific minds. Our faith makes us part of the body of Christ. If the resurrection is simply a metaphor, it obscures the reality of God. If the world is to be healed, it must happen with our hands. As part of the living body of Christ, we live out the Gospel and show that the resurrection is not simply idle talk.

We expect this sermon to be available soon.