Category Archives: Sermons

Sermon from the 6th Sunday of Easter + Baptism of Leo Samuel

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Pastor Sergio Rodriguez
6th Sunday of Easter. 5.22.2022. Baptism of Leo Samuel.
“Mark my Words: the waters of God’s love”
“we will come to them and make our home with them (Jn 14:32).”

May the light of your face shine upon us, God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! We have certainly been witnesses of “Lydia-moments” as of late Acts 16:14-15) Like Lydia’s family, Leo Samuel Adams has joined the baptized household of faith (Acts 16:15b), being born anew by water and the Spirit. Like Lydia herself, as I shared with our siblings at Saint James Lutheran Church last week, the Latina women at our retreat experienced the blessing of “the Lord opening their to listen eagerly (Acts 16:14),” about the yoke Jesus gives to us who are weary. What a spontaneous, spirit-fulled time it was! We saw how the Spirit caused our hearts and listening hears embody Jesus’ words: “just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (Jn 13:34b).” The Spirit made known to us a love which is timely, tested, and transformative. This is a love that does not give us answers to the pressing questions of our lives but rather invites us to continually ask questions; being led by the advocate. For we know that God is love (1 Jn 4) who sent his Son, who in turned showed us that “no one has greater than love this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (Jn 15:13).” This is the kind of love that we need during every stage of our lives. Leo Samuel has just started. Our sister, Kate Paxton, basks in the eternal question that is divine love in its majesty.

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Sermon from the Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Deacon Ben Remmert
Acts 11:1-18 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 13: 31-3

Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today’s message could not be any clearer today, we are going to talk about love. You have probably heard a lot of preachers in a lot of different churches preach on this topic. In fact, Jesus in today’s Gospel reading gives us a commandment to “love one another as I have loved you.” On the surface, it seems simple. Yet, at the same time, we have so much pain and hurt in our community that is caused by our lack of love to our neighbor. So this morning, let’s get into our text to understand the topics of love and glory, according to Jesus Christ.

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Pr. Rodriguez Preaches at St. James This Morning, Sermon for Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Pastor Sergio Rodriguez, Sermon from St. James Lutheran Church on the Fifth Sunday of Easter
God’s love in us; always timely, leading, building us up. John 13.34b. 5th Easter 1
“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (John 13:34b).”

Grace to you and peace from God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! I want to express my gratitude to Mr. Robert Rivera, Pastor Jairo, and you all for the gift of presiding at today’s worship. Mr. Rivera and Pastor Jairo have shown me truly the meaning of Jesus’ new commandment to love as he has loved; be it at the dinner table, phone calls, driving me around the neighbors of Houston. Above all, they have made known to me the great love that is constantly expressed through you all and the Family Life Center. This kind of love is always timely, never worn out; always persistent, not buckling under pressure; always renewing, not reneging on Christ’s command to help the least of these. He urges us, his disciples, and friends, to see that our love is not simply our own; its source is God; its fount is Christ; its streams flow down from the Spirit.

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Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter 5/8/2022

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Deacon Ben Remmert
Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, John 10:22-30

Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

This 4th Sunday of Easter has traditionally been referred to as “Shepherd Sunday,” derived from the fact that our lessons, particularly the Psalm and the Gospel, make use of this imagery. And throughout the history of the church, there has been a tendency to romanticize this image of Jesus as the good shepherd. Just think of all the stained-glass windows and artwork depicting Jesus tenderly caring for his sheep. If you can not think of any art, google Good Shepherd and you will have so many wonderful images of Jesus.

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Sermon from the Second Sunday of Easter 4/23/2022

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Sending Spirit: The enlivening gift of Christ. 4.23.2022. Easter 2. Jn 20:21. Rev. Rodriguez.

“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God! (Jn 20:28)”

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! We live and move and have our being in this life-giving acclamation, acknowledging the victory of the resurrection. For the last two years, I have been blessed to speak to you, on the second Sunday of Easter, about life in and from this Alleluia. I first understood Alleluia from Thomas’ perspective; Jesus personally inviting him and us to the way of faith. Last year, I considered how we are like the disciples living in the middle way; between trauma and hope. How forgiveness long retained is not forgiveness denied. Today, I want to elaborate on the origin of forgiveness and peace, the gift we can not see but sing with, feel here, and which unites us; the Holy Spirit.

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