125th Anniversary Rev. Dr. Christopher P. Nelson Sermon Collection | Page 3

In the early years the sermons were in his longhand, generously peppered with his own
invented shorthand. In the new millennium, it was typically a typed sermon and eventually they
were electronic files on his laptop. All in all, the hours spent evaluating which sermons to
include in this collection landed with Sandra. No small task!
Once the compilation plan was complete, Naomi created the document you are reading.
Simplistic in its design: some sermons have titles, some are part of a larger sermon series, some
are topical in nature. We are indebted to Anne Westby for proofreading and informing
judicious edits. Chris did not have a distinct style that pervaded his career. Not only did the
poignancy of his preaching advance but his typing flair evolved. Honoring Pastor Chris’ writing
means the composition, syntax, and punctuation will not be perfect. The emphasis is his, either
with bold/italic print or capital letters, or something similar. Some formatting has been
standardized for the ease of reading. In many cases, you may need to read between the lines to
add words that simply aren’t on the page. But of course, Chris could (and did) embellish as he
preached. Go with it as you read.
We trust you will enjoy this collection of sermons. We know you will be able to hear Chris’ voice
sometimes. We realize you may shed tears. We are certain you will laugh. Chris had a knack for
bringing the Word of God to humans. In fact, he showed us the importance of the humanity of
Christ – God with us.
We are forever grateful to the Nelson family for sharing Pastor Chris with us. We are also
thankful that they have allowed us to cherish this glimpse into his professional works.
In Christian Service,
Sandra Anderson and Naomi Christensen Staruch
June 9, 2019
If you share an excerpt of any sermon, a single sermon, or a few sermons in this collection,
please be kind to give credit where credit is due -
to the writer, the preacher: The Rev. Dr. Christopher Nelson
Sincere thanks to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Foundation for the generous grant which made the
production and the printing of this collection possible.
If you would like to contribute to the legacy of The Rev. Dr. Christopher P. Nelson, please consider a donation to the
church or the foundation in his memory now or in the future. Your generosity is gratefully appreciated.
Christopher Nelson Sermons
Page 2
2019