Illumine Church: Recent Episodes
Illumine Church
There’s no getting around death, right? It depends what you mean by “getting around death.”
Scripture: Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
Date: June 30th, 2024
To learn more about Illumine Church, visit www.illuminechurch.com
Moses & his law are glorious…but they’re nothing compared to the glory that never ever goes away.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Date: March 2nd, 2025
To learn more about Illumine Church and its ministry, go to www.illuminechurch.com!
The disciples asked the question, and us regular people do, too. What’s God’s answer?
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Date: June 23rd, 2024
Jesus gave simple instructions. Easy? No. Beautiful? Yes.
Scripture: Luke 6:27-36
Date: February 23rd, 2025
Lots of talk of seeds and planting…but what’s it all mean for us and our responsibilities & non-sponsibilities?
Scripture: Mark 4:26-34
Date: June 9th, 2024
It can get to the point of being offensive, even, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true when Jesus says, “My grace is enough.” Thank God it is.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Date: February 16th, 2025
Rest isn’t something we earn through hard work. Rest can’t be the goal. It’s part of the rhythm of life, the way God designed us. Above all, rest is a gift.
Scripture: Mark 2:23-3:6
Date: June 2nd, 2024
What Jesus said didn’t make sense to Peter. And what Jesus to us doesn’t always make sense, either. But our responses can all be the same, because of who Jesus is: “Because you say so, Jesus.”
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Date: February 9th, 2025
To learn more about the ministry of Illumine Church, visit www.illuminechurch.com!
The Trinity is not understandable, not truly illustratable, but it proves there is something better for us.
Scripture: Romans 8:12-17
Date: May 26th, 2024
What does success look like? For a person…or for a church? Paul lays out the foundation and lays the path for us to follow.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Date: February 2nd, 2025
Jesus left, and that’s good. “Wait, what?? How?” Because of what—no, who—arrived after Jesus left.
Scripture: John 15:26-16:11
Date: May 19th, 2024
With whom should we identify in this account of Jesus getting rejected? And what should we do when we do indeed get rejected?
Scripture: Luke 4:14-30
Date: January 26th, 2025
To learn more about Illumine Church, go to www.illuminechurch.com
Is it right for churches & pastors to say, “The work we get to do together?” God tells us in Ephesians 4.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16
Date: May 12th, 2024
It was Jesus' first sign. But the sign is never the main thing; the sign is the thing that points to the main thing.
Scripture: John 2:1-11
Date: January 19th, 2025
Paul tells Titus to “stress these things.” Why? Because we don’t naturally operate by them, especially when it comes to identifying.
Scripture: Titus 3:1-8
Date: January 12th, 2025
To learn more Jesus and/or Illumine Church, go to www.illuminechurch.com.
Loneliness, some say, is an epidemic. The cure? Commonality, Loyalty, Transparency, and Sacrifice...the requirements of true friendship.Scripture: John 15:9-17Date: May 5th, 2024To learn more about Illumine Church, go to www.illuminechurch.com
The Queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon shows us how we can view other people and how God views us.
Scripture: 1 Kings 10:1-9
Date: January 5th, 2025
To listen or follow on Apple Podcasts, go HERE.
To listen or follow on Spotify, go HERE.
Christmas itself is the best gift, and we find out why in Luke 2. Merry Christmas!
Scripture: Luke 2:10-11
Date: December 24th, 2024
To listen or follow on Apple Podcasts, go HERE.
To listen or follow on Spotify, go HERE.
It's much easier to claim things (especially those which aren't exactly the truth) than confess them. And when it comes to claiming things, it's much easier to be on one team or the other. But through Jesus, we're on neither.
Scripture: 1 John 1:5-2:2
Date: April 21st, 2024
Jesus isn't just some hired hand. He's the Good Shepherd, which is whom we need. Thanks to Pastor Doug Van Sice of Huntersville Lutheran Church in Huntersville, NC, for sharing the Word today!
Scripture: John 10:11-18
Date: April 14th, 2024
"We need to talk" is not something that puts our heart at peace. But it's different when Jesus is the one saying words like that.
Scripture: John 20:19-31
Date: April 7th, 2024
There are 2 kinds of news: hard news & soft news. And because Easter is hard news, life is one big Saturday. Which, as you'll find out, is quite good.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Date: March 31st, 2024
Things that would otherwise be fragmented and broken, God brings together through Holy Communion, we hear on Maundy Thursday.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Date: March 28th, 2024
A collection of devotions for the Passion (Palm) Sunday, at the beginning of the darkest and brightest week of the year.
Scriptures: Mark 11:1-11, Mark 14:27-15:20
Date: March 24th, 2024
A random request sparks an answer from Jesus that we wouldn't expect or necessarily want. But it was the necessary answer.
Scripture: John 12:20-33
Date: March 17th, 2024
We can come up with all sorts of solutions. But not all of them work.
Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9
Date: March 10th, 2024
"Now I know" might just be the most beautiful words you can say. And make no mistake, you can say them.
Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14
Date: February 25th, 2024
You can't say that Jesus isn't blunt. Or straightforward. Or that he doesn't have his priorities straight. And on Ash Wednesday, and every day, that's quite good news.
Scripture: Luke 12:13-21
Date: February 14th, 2024
It was a mountaintop experience. Was it worth it to come down from that experience? Couldn't we just stay up there?
Scripture: Mark 9:2-9
Date: February 11th, 2024
[No one] loves having an authority figure over them. But you're saying it's a gift?Scripture: Mark 1:21-28Date: February 4th, 2024
Why it "would" make perfect sense to leave everything behind.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Date: January 28th, 2024
Philip, Nathanael, skepticism, and Jesus.
Scripture: John 1:43-51
Date: January 21st, 2024
Sometimes God seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth. Is it that way with Baptism?
Scripture: Romans 6:1-11
Date: January 14th, 2024
Foolishness, wisdom, & the Magi/”wise” men.
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Date: January 7th, 2024
To listen or follow on Apple Podcasts, go HERE.
To listen or follow on Spotify, go HERE.
Thankfully, the Christmas you need is the Christmas that happened.
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Date: December 24th, 2023
To listen or follow on Apple Podcasts, go HERE.
To listen or follow on Spotify, go HERE.
Anyone can make a promise. Anyone can make a bunch of promises! But not just anyone keeps them.
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
Series: The King Shall Come
Date: December 10th, 2023
To listen or follow on Apple Podcasts, go HERE.
To listen or follow on Spotify, go HERE
We all need identity. There's only one way to get the one we really need. Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24Series: The King Shall ComeDate: December 3rd, 2023
Jesus' culminating teaching before he gives himself up to unjust arrest, torture, and execution.Text: Matthew 25:31-46Series: The Time in BetweenDate: November 26th, 2023
3 devotions on what life looks like in the time of 2023. Also a bonus song: Jesus, your boundless love to meText: Isaiah 1:10-18, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 25:14-30Series: The Time in BetweenDate: November 19th, 2023
Jesus encourages waiting well. To listen to "To the Dawn" -- the song referenced at the end of the sermon, which was sung right after the sermon, go here: https://www.youtube.com/live/lnaAki3AqKk?si=tJZMK3zz35U_CMqE&t=3707
Whether you're in a lions' den, some other dark place, or literally anywhere else, there are promises Jesus makes and ones he doesn't.
The final sermon in "Tell Us A Story" - Jesus ramps up his parable to the religious leaders.
I thought it was Christmas in December...why in the world are we talking about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? And what about "having a Christmas"?
Text: Luke 19:28-40
Series: Humble Christmas
Date: December 5th, 2021
Imagine never having to prove that you were right. Imagine never having to think about how you look to others. Imagine never having your status be a concern of yours.
Here’s the good truth (you’re gonna hear it numerous times over this series): Christmas is not about you. But it is for you. So good!
Text: Luke 3:1-6
Date: November 28th, 2021
Series: A Humble Christmas
It seems like Jesus is praising the guy for being dishonest. For tipping the scales in his favor. But that can't be what Jesus is doing...right?
Text: Luke 16:1-15
Date: November 21st, 2021
Feeling you belong vs. feeling like an outcast--there's a huge difference. So which are you? And which are others? And is there anything you can do about it?
Yes.
Text: Matthew 9:9-13
Date: November 14th, 2021
Series: A God-Lived Life
Everyone (Christian, non-Christian…at least in America) knows what it means to be a Good Samaritan. But less obvious is the actual point of Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan—why did he tell it? What was the point? We find out in this sermon.
Text: Luke 10:25-37
Date: November 7th, 2021
Series: A God-Lived Life
That's really what this is. Because a life as Jesus' disciple is one where he's caring for you (and yes, there's more) through his Word.
Text: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
Series: A God-Lived Life | The Life of Being a Disciple
Date: October 31st, 2021
So Illumine's got a new ministry center....now what? This sermon takes a look at what life together looks like, and focuses in especially on worship. And by the way...it's not just Christians who worship.
Date: October 10th:
Texts: Romans 12:1; Hebrews 10:16-25
What would life look like if we truly got who we are and what we have?
This message comes from Illumine's first worship in our new ministry center on October 3rd, 2021.
Text: 1 Peter 2:9-12
How should we feeling about moving?
On October 3rd, 2021, Illumine moved ministry centers. We began worship at the facility we've rented for 7 years, and then we drove a few miles away and finished worship at the new ministry center we closed on last week.
So how should we feel about that? Psalm 84 & 1 Corinthians 3 shed some light.
Texts: Psalm 84:1-2 & 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Date: October 3rd, 2021
Chapter 4 is the nail in the coffin of Jonah being good. If you were on the fence, you can't be anymore. His anger infiltrated his thoughts and words, and even exploded into his actions. Welcome to God's anger management course!
Text: Jonah 4
Date: September 26th, 2021
Proposition: Jonah was halfheartedly going through the motions (you'll find out how we can know that in the sermon). And it's easy for us to do the same.
But the good news is this: we get to do so much better than echoing the king of Nineveh, who said, "Who knows?"
Text: Jonah 3
Date: September 19th, 2021
Some people call Jonah's prayer exemplary, a joy to read, absolutely wonderful...but is it actually all those things? This sermon dives deep into Jonah's prayer and looks at the heart of the issue.
Text: Jonah 2:1-10
Date: September 12th, 2021
Jonah was running. Away from his callings, but also away from the Lord. It is easy for us to do the exact same thing. The big question is: how will the Lord respond?
Text: Jonah 1:1-17
Date: September 5th, 2021
The 10 Commandments plane has landed, and we finished where we started...with the heart. The fact is: we'll never climb the ladder of the 10 Commandments. Fact is, they're more of a brick wall. But that doesn't mean there's no good news today. There certainly is.
Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 (and Ephesians 1)
Date: August 29th, 2021
When it comes to self-esteem, the problem is that you're always on trial. You're always in the courtroom of SELF-esteem. But because God is the true guardian of your reputation (with him, others, and yourself), there's a third way. A better way.
Text: 1 Samuel 19:1-6
Date: August 22nd, 2021
It's all about the stuff. Not just the stuff you possess, but all the stuff of life: people, experiences, dreams...and your attitude towards it all.
Text: Acts 5 (Ananias & Sapphire)
Date: August 15th, 2021
How do you fill in the blank? How should you fill in the blank? Is there only one right answer?
We don't all that often just straight up talk about sex--but here we are. God bless your listening.
Text: Matthew 5:27-28
Ever murdered someone before? Jesus would say...yes. Because in Jesus' eyes, anger = murder.
So what's the antidote to anger?
The 4th Commandment exposes our real struggle to honor leaders and those in authority in all aspects of our life. But don't worry: there's also good news. A lot of it.
Date: July 25th, 2021
Are you good at resting? And how's your relationship with work? And I don't just mean employment; I mean all the work you do. Most importantly, what does God say about work and rest? Find out as we dive into the 3rd Commandment.
Date: July 18th, 2021
There’s never a time when you’re not speaking words. Sometimes they’ll be literal words, audibly exiting your mouth. Or you might speak by what doesn’t come out of your mouth. And you speak in your actions (or non-actions) and in what you think (or what you don’t think) as well.
So…what words are you saying?
Exodus 20:7 | "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God."
Date: July 11th, 2021
Are the 10 Commandments something you "should" do? Are they something you "can" do? The answers to those questions are different. Yes, and no. And those different answers points us to the ultimate purpose of the Commandments, and as we understand them better and better in this series, they'll fulfill their purpose: drive us back to the God who gave them and fulfilled, and drive us out to serve our neighbor, and in serving our neighbor, serve our God.
Text: 2 Kings 5:10-19
Date: July 4th, 2021
How to defeat a walled city? God's got a plan, and it's...well, it's a lot of things.
Text: Joshua 6:1-21
Date: June 27th, 2021
John Mark's story, that is. In so many ways. And his status and purpose is also yours.
Texts: Acts 13:4-5, 13; Acts 15:36-41
Date: June 13th, 2021
Some would say Moses had an identity crisis. If so...good!
And he would have been so blessed. He would have been somebody. He would have had pleasures, treasures, power, honor, prestige, security, and more.
Except he turned it down—all of it, because for Moses, there was a better identity.
And there is a better identity for each and every one of us, too.
Date: June 6th, 2021
Text: Hebrews 11:24-28
We asked 70+ people the question, "What would you say is the purpose of the Bible?" How do you think they responded? And what's the answer to the question, anyways? Is there one right answer? And what in the world is life in Jesus' name, and how do we get it? Check it all out in the conclusion to our Gospel of John series.
Text: John 20:30-31
Date: May 30th, 2021
…when he said, “I will not leave you?”
How does the world give, actually?
What’s the deal with the Holy Spirit?
Just some of the questions that will be answered when you listen to this sermon on John 14.
Date: May 23rd, 2021
Illumine Church, Rock Hill, SC
Pastor Nathan Loersch
Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” The question is: what is the truth he was talking about, and what does it look like to be free? What is true freedom? It might not be what you think it is.
Also: listen for the “sermon after the sermon” (in other words, sometimes pastors forget to say things that they can’t leave unsaid).
Text: John 8:31-36
Date: May 16th, 2021
Location: Illumine Church, Rock Hill, SC
After a couple week hiatus, we’re back with another conversation! Enjoy listening in on this dive into Jesus’ promise, “I AM the Bread of Life.”
That’s what C.S. Lewis said—don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose. And Jesus said the same thing, only his words were: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.”
So the question is: what are you eating?
Text: John 6:25-35
Date: May 9th, 2021
Fear is powerful. It causes you to make bad decisions, even do destructive things. It diverts your attention and it sucks the joy out of your life. But there's an answer to fear, and he says, "Don't be afraid. It is I."
Text: John 6:16-21
Date: May 2nd, 2021
Jesus clapped back at the Jewish leaders. Not in a bad way, and not even in an aggressive way. He just told the truth. That he is God, and he is right. And...he's the judge. Which is soooooo good.
Text: John 5:16-30 Date: April 25th, 2021 Place: Illumine Church, Rock Hill, SC
Are you in the middle of a tough day or week? It happens. All the time. Even to pastors. This conversation is what you need (okay--what you actually need are Jesus' promises, and that's what we talk about). Enjoy!
You know the feeling: you pour your heart and soul into something, you spend a ton of energy and time, and you come up empty. Turns out there's a man on the shore with your breakfast all ready.
Text: John 21:1-14 Illumine Church, April 18th, 2021
Where were the disciples at that first Easter evening? Peace & The Keys Does Thomas get the short end of the stick?
THREE times in 2 appearances, Jesus says, "Peace be with you." What is he saying, and what does he mean when he says "peace"?
Text: John 20:19-29 Date: April 11th, 2021
What's your favorite part of Easter? What did Peter & John believe? And a classic Zoom gaffe (around 9:30)
You can't get through life without suffering, and you can't get through suffering without hope. Hope is necessary to survive. But not just any hope will do. Certain Hope is what we need. Happy Easter!
Text: John 20:1-18 Date: April 4th, 2021 (Easter!)
Do you know how horrible crucifixion was? Turns out...it was horrible, but that's not really the point.
Text: John 19:16-30 Good Friday 2021 - April 2nd Illumine Church, Rock Hill, SC
Your King is riding in…on a donkey. Yeah, a donkey. And that’s so important.
This is one of the few accounts from Jesus’ life that’s recorded in all 4 Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And John leaves out some details, but he zeros in on exactly what he wants you to hear.
This sermon was preached on March 21st, 2021 at Illumine Church in Rock Hill, SC.
What’s your favorite part of John 11? (Apologies for the intermittent audio difficulties...the internet's not perfect [and neither are we!]) Jesus saying, “I am the resurrection and the life” ??? Jesus saying, “Lazarus, come out!” ??? Jesus’ power move? Jesus letting Lazarus die?
Let us know by emailing nathanl@illuminechurch.com!
Jesus' friend died, and Jesus was broken up about it. He was ripped apart by it! How did he deal with it all--the death, the people, everything? How should we deal with it all? God shows us in John 11.
Thank you to Jessica, Catalina, and Elijah who helped read today!
One note: there will be a couple short parts of John 11 are inaudible, as they were being read by the congregation and were thus not caught on any microphone. Sorry about that!
These messages were proclaimed on March 14th, 2021 at Illumine Church in Rock Hill, SC.
If everybody knew everything about everyone, would anyone have any friends? Frankly, who knows. But we never even have to worry about that with Jesus—he knows us all fully and still says he is our Good Shepherd.
Text: John 10:11-21 Date: March 7th, 2021
Voices are calling to you all the time. How should you listen to each of them? Listen in as pastors Josh Schultz and Nathan Loersch discuss Jesus saying, "I am the gate," and all its implications for us.
Listen in as Pastors Nathan Loersch and Josh Schultz dive in to John 9! Here's a link to read or listen to John 9: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9&version=NIV
Beautiful voices are all around, calling out to us, "This is the way! This is what you need?" How should a Christian handle them? Jesus gives the answer.
Text: John 10:1-10 Date: February 28th, 2021
We cry out, "Why, God?" And often we don't get clear-cut answers. Here are 5 reasons why suffering could be happening in your life. And one of them is for sure.
Text: John 9:1-7 Date: February 21st, 2021
It's extremely simple, but also extremely difficult: simply taking Jesus at his word.
Text: John 4:43-54 Date: February 14th, 2021
Jesus meets a woman who is desperately thirsty, proves he is "greater than", and shows her how her soul can be truly satisfied. How would it have turned out if it were you and Jesus by that well?
Text: John 4:1-26 Date: February 7th, 2021 Place: Illumine Church
Listen in on this wide-ranging conversational study of John 1:43-51 with Pastor Nathan & Pastor Josh.
Why is Jesus called the "Word" of God and the "Lamb" of God? Pastors Josh Schultz of Mountain View in Great Falls, MT, and Nathan Loersch of Illumine in Rock Hill, SC, discuss the beginning of the Gospel of John.
And if God brings good out of "bad"...was it really bad at all? This sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10 was preached December 13th, 2020, at Illumine, Rock Hill
Is it okay to cry out, “God, do something!” Is it possible to lament too much? What should we actually lament, and is there anything we shouldn’t lament? Listen in on 3 pastors discussing these questions & more, in the context of Isaiah 64.
Having a debt is not something anyone wants. Having a debt you can't pay is worse. Being owned by someone else because you can't pay your debt is the worst of all.
But Jesus paid the debt we owe; in fact, he bought us. So now we belong to him, which is the best status we can have.
For that, a new & different sacrifice was necessary. A new replacement. And then one appeared.
But today, judgment itself is the fixer--it takes the bad and makes it good!
Sacrifice is defined: the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else seen as more important or worthy. The people of Israel, throughout most of the 1st half of the Bible, knew this concept most intimately. Daily they made sacrifices, in order to remedy their sins. Sure, they gave up animals, but it was worth it, to have good standing with God. But, these sacrifices could not ultimately take away sin.
For that, a new & different sacrifice was necessary. A new replacement. And then one appeared.
But today, judgment itself is the fixer--it takes the bad and makes it good!
Sorrow can cause despair. Sorrow can cause us to lose hope. Sorrow can cause us to say, "Who cares?" Sorrow can cause us to try to forget about the sorrow -- and say that sorrow itself is a thing to be avoided. But none of that is godly sorrow. Tonight we live in good, godly sorrow.
A "Fixer" is someone who makes a situation right. Who takes something bad and makes it good. In our day and age, there's usually a violent, shady, or negative connotation involved with using or being a fixer. And we usually think of judgment with a violent, shady, or negative connotation.
But today, judgment itself is the fixer--it takes the bad and makes it good!
While you probably think of a courtroom and a black robe when you think of judgment, if you can transport your thinking to a county fair or the cooking channel, you might start thinking of someone sitting down to test and rate a dish - a judge of whether or not something is good, tasteful, and of a certain quality. God encourages this - not with food, but as you experience the world, different messages, and even God himself. God urges you to honestly "taste-test" things and determine whether they are good or bad.
The good news? This word is used just as powerfully to remind us that we are unconditionally loved by that judge as it is to show us we're condemned.
Are we using judgment the same way?
One of the most common words in the Hebrew Old Testament for judgment has to do with the law, judge-pronouncing-judgment, and courtroom - which is probably the most common way we talk about judgment today in English, too. The image of a "justice system" working to uphold the laws is powerful, and the idea of God as that kind of neutral, objective, cold/stern/righteous judge is a common idea.
The good news? This word is used just as powerfully to remind us that we are unconditionally loved by that judge as it is to show us we're condemned.
Are we using judgment the same way?
That is the question, isn't it? And an answer is: ";Don't judge." or "Don't judge me." or"Don't be judge-y." But if that's our answer, it is incomplete. Because the Bible says more. Today, we find out what comes after, "Don't judge."
"I got this." ...is a phrase that may be true, but may not be best. In our world, and especially in our American culture, we value individualism.
We may think we should be able to stand all on our own. We may think that just doing things ourselves is the easiest, most efficient way to do things. We may be anxious about opening ourselves up to dependence on others. We may be anxious that if we do open ourselves up, no one will be there to catch us when we fall.
All that being said, God designed us as humans to depend on other humans. Today we'll explore the blessings that come from human-to-human interdependent existence.
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array."
God created everything, including humanity and nature, in a way that was perfect. Today we see how humans depend on the nature God created, how nature depends on us, and the attitude we ought to have towards all of God's creation.
Because God is God, and we are not, it’s somewhat simple to understand that God designed us to depend on him (though we frankly quite often don’t think and act that way in our everyday lives). But what’s harder to grasp is how God designed us in such a way that he depends on us. And yet all at the same time, we depend on him. Back and forth. Interdependence.
Interdependence is the proper posture in which to live, and has inherent value, for 2 reasons: it’s the way God is, and it’s the way he designed us.