Lutheran Sermons | David L. Hansen

Good Friday 2020 - a sermon preached during the Holy Week of quarantine, to and with the people of Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church. An image of Mattias Gunewald's Isenheim Altarpiece discussed in the sermon can be seen here. 

The story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, experienced in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic. What does faith look like at this time? Texts include Matthew 21:1-11

Loving God's story is not just about learning to tell the story ourselves - learning to share our experience of God with others. It is also about learning to listen to God and to others, so that we can truly hear what God saying through the people we encounter. Texts include James 1:16-20 and 1 Kings 19:8-13. Visit us at sojoy.org/corona for more resources for growing in faith during this time of quarantine. 

This week, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we talk about what it means for us to be outside of the church building and still be the church -- How do we tell God's story where God has placed us? Readings include Romans 12:3-17

In the midst of the news stories, warnings, and precautions of a global pandemic, we gathered to hear God's Word of hope spoken to us. Texts include Acts 9:1-20

I'm so excited to introduce you to a new resource - 6 Minute Faith. We all want a deeper connection to God and our neighbors. But we don't always have the time for all-consuming spiritual practices. Life is busy! 6 Minute Faith invites us to grow giant faith through small changes. Watch our Facebook page for more info as this resource rolls out. https://www.facebook.com/pg/6MinuteFaith

On TV, in advertising, on the big screen - we are wrapped up in stories. But often in our faith we forget the power of stories to transform our lives and the world. Our current series, "I Love to Tell the Story," returns us to the power of the story of who God is and our relationship with God. Sermon 2: Whose Story? Scriptures include: Deuteronomy 26:4-11

On TV, in advertising, on the big screen - we are wrapped up in stories. But often in our faith we forget the power of stories to transform our lives and the world. Our current series, "I Love to Tell the Story," returns us to the power of the story of who God is and our relationship with God. Sermon 1: The Power of StoryScriptures include: Psalm 71:14-20, Joel 1:1-3, and Luke 10:25-37. During the sermon, we showed the "Lost Dog" Budweiser commercial, which you can watch on youtube here. Next week's sermon asks the question, "Telling Whose Story?" 

The hope and freedom found in the Ash Wednesday proclamation, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return" Preached February 26, 2020 at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas

The Transfiguration is one of those "church words" that is hard to make sense of. What happened, and what does it mean for our lives? Preached at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church of February 23, 2020Texts: 2 Kings 2:1-12 and Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus shared a lot of wisdom in the Bible. And lately, he also seems to share a ton on Instagram, on screen-printed mugs, and in those images your aunt posts on Facebook, too.But how much of it is true?Where’s the line between what Jesus actually told us, and the Things Jesus Never Said?Sermon 5 in the series looks at the idea of personal, individual faith lives - the idea that "You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus."  Scriptures this week include Philippians 2:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 

Jesus shared a lot of wisdom in the Bible. And lately, he also seems to share a ton on Instagram, on screen-printed mugs, and in those images your aunt posts on Facebook, too.But how much of it is true?Where’s the line between what Jesus actually told us, and the Things Jesus Never Said?Sermon 4 in the series looks at our ideas about fairness - about God, or Karma, or life catching up with the people who deserve to be punished. Scriptures this week include Matthew 5:43-48, 1 John 1:8-10, and Job 1:1-8; 31:1-8; 38:1-24

Jesus shared a lot of wisdom in the Bible. And lately, he also seems to share a ton on Instagram, on screen-printed mugs, and in those images your aunt posts on Facebook, too.But how much of it is true?Where’s the line between what Jesus actually told us, and the Things Jesus Never Said?Sermon 3 in the series takes up that go-to cliche for tragic situations - Did Jesus ever say "Everything Happens for a Reason"?Scriptures this week include Romans 8:26-32 and John 9:1-11

Jesus shared a lot of wisdom in the Bible. And lately, he also seems to share a ton on Instagram, on screen-printed mugs, and in those images your aunt posts on Facebook, too.But how much of it is true?Where’s the line between what Jesus actually told us, and the Things Jesus Never Said?Sermon 2 in the series looks at the relationship between being sorry and being forgiven. Is it true that you have to be really repentant to be forgiven? Did Jesus say, "You have to be sorry to be forgiven"?Scriptures this week include Luke 23:32-38, Luke 6:27-37, and Matthew 9:1-10

Jesus shared a lot of wisdom in the Bible. And lately, he also seems to share a ton on Instagram, on screen-printed mugs, and in those images your aunt posts on Facebook, too.But how much of it is true?Where’s the line between what Jesus actually told us, and the Things Jesus Never Said?Sermon 1 in the series looks at the saying "God helps those who help themselves" to see how it matches up with what we learn about God in Scripture. Scriptures this week include Ephesians 2:4-10, Proverbs 28:26-27, and Luke 18:9-17

How can we start the year off right? A sermon for the first Sunday of 2020, looking at the story of Epiphany (Matthew 2), alongside the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and the changing of seasons in Ecclesiastes 13.

A sermon of Christmas Eve, preached at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas on December 24, 2019

 The essential stories of Scripture, looking this week at the story of Creation. Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4. Preached at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church on September 1, 2019

 The essential stories of Scripture, looking this week at the message of the Prophets. Readings: Amos 5:14-16, 21-24 and 2 Samuel 12:1-10. Preached at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church on October 6, 2019 

The essential stories of Scripture, looking this week at the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Readings: Luke 23:13-56 and Luke 24:1-12. Preached at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church on All Saints Sunday, November 3, 2019