Rev. Terry Defoe
Funeral Sermon For Anne Ostlund / Saturday June 24th - 2017
Funeral Sermon For Anne Ostlund at Mount Olive Lutheran Church / Pr. Terry Defoe / Saturday June 24th 2017: Pentecost 2017 / Philippians 4:4–7 "A Life Well Lived" My message this afternoon is based on a letter the apostle Paul wrote to an early Christian congregation. His message to...
Sermon / Oct 16, 2016 / 2 Tim 3:14-15 / God's Not Finished With Us Yet / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text is found in the book of Second Timothy in the New Testament. I’m reading chapter 3, verses 14 and 15. The Apostle Paul says, to Timothy and to us: 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned...
Sermon / Oct 9, 2016 / Thanksgiving / Deut 10-11; 17-18a / Pastor Terry Defoe
My message on this Thanksgiving Sunday is based on a text from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verses 10 and 11, as well as 17 and 18. Moses says to the people of Israel – and to us today: 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land...
Sermon / Oct 2, 2016 / 2 Timothy 1:8-9 / Passing the Baton / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text is found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 1, verses 8 and 9. The Apostle Paul says: 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord - or of me, his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called...
Sermon / Sept 25, 2016 / Psalm 146 / As Long as I Live / Pastor Terry Defoe
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — he remains faithful forever. (N.I.V.) Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....
Sermon / Sept 18, 2016 / Luke 16:1-15 / The Shrewd Manager / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text is found in Luke's gospel, chapter 16. I'm reading verses 14 and 15: The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly...
Sermon / Sept 11, 2016 / Luke 15:1-10 / Lost & Found / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text is found in Luke's gospel, chapter 15. I'm reading verses 1 to 3: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them...
Sermon / September 4th, 2016 / Deut 30:15-20 / A Fork in the Road / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text this morning is found in the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, chapter 30. I’m reading verses 15 and 16. Moses says to the people of Israel: 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God,...
Sermon / August 28th, 2016 / Hebrews 13:1-14 / Practical Christianity / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our sermon text this morning is found in the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, chapter 13. I'm reading verses 1 and 8. The writer says: Keep on loving each other as fellow believers. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Grace, mercy and peace...
Sermon / August 21, 2016 / Luke 13:22-30 / We Have it in Writing / Pastor Terry Defoe
Luke’s Gospel chapter 13. I’m reading verses 22 to 25: 22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow...
Sermon / July 31st, 2016 / Luke 12:13-21 / An Abundant Harvest / Pastor Terry Defoe
From the 12th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, beginning at verse 16: 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will...
Sermon / June 12, 2016 / Luke 7:36-8:3 / Do You See This Woman? / Pastor Terry Defoe
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his...
Sermon / May 29, 2016 / Luke 7:1-10 / An Odd Reversal / Pastor Terry Defoe
Luke, chapter 7, verses 1 to 5: 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this ... he entered Capernaum. 2 There, a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal...
Sermon / May 8, 2016 / John 17 / Jesus' High Priestly Prayer / Pastor Terry Defoe
1 Jesus ... looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only...
Sermon / May 1, 2016 / John 5:1-18 / A Healing Word / Pastor Terry Defoe
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is, in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate, a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie — the blind,...
Sermon / April 3, 2016 / John 20 / A New Reality / Pastor Terry Defoe
26 A week later, his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop...
Sermon / March 25, 2016 / Good Friday / Isaiah 53 / Pastor Terry Defoe
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; he punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are...
Sermon / Maundy Thursday / March 24, 2016 / A Towel & A Basin / John 13 / Pastor Terry Defoe
13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (N.R.S.V.) We have come this evening to our Maundy Thursday worship service. Tonight, as you...
Sermon / March 6, 2016 / Luke 15 / Preposterous Grace / Pastor Terry Defoe
My message is based on these words, found in the fifteenth chapter of Luke's Gospel: 15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told...
Sermon / February 28, 2016 / Luke 13 / The Best is Yet to Come / Pastor Terry Defoe
Our Bible text is found in Luke's Gospel, chapter 13. I’m reading verse 6: 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. (N.R.S.V.) Grace and peace to you from God the Father and from our Lord and Savior...