St. Luke Columbus Sermon Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Welcome to the weekly audio podcast for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH where our mission is to grow fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We are a sanctuary where God's Love is LEARNED, LIVED, and UNLEASHED! Our desire is that this podcast will encourage you in your relationship with God. Visit us at stlukecolumbus.com.
Here is the link to the original conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2j8053yxbE&t=92s
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
This is a weekly podcast where Pastor Mike and Greg team up to discuss how faith and life collide. Throughout this podcast, Mike and Greg with be having conversations with each other but also bringing in people from our St Luke Community to discuss how faith interweaves into their daily lives.
The apostle Paul writes that it is for freedom that Christ sets us free. He goes on to tell us that when we live life with God by the Spirit’s leading, we stay free and bear fruit that blesses our family, friends, and neighbors. Life with God is a blessing of freedom and freeing others through the Spirit’s work in and through us.
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We all live under the authority of something or someone, whether it be an external authority or interior desires, or possibly a combination of both. The question is, does this authority lead to more life or less?
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We have a whole Sunday devoted to this essential, but kind of confusing, tenant of our faith. What difference does it make when we say God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Trusting that the Spirit continues to guide us into truth, we look at what God’s three-ness tells us about our mysterious, fluid, diverse, communal, hospitable, and loving God.
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When we feel like we’re alone, facing all of life’s challenges, remember that God, the Holy Spirit is already with you, already at work in you, and is for you, not only the share Jesus with the world, but to give you his peace.
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Eventually, after all the preparation, the people of Egypt moved through the river and entered the promised land. They did so slowly and with intention, following the ark. Likewise, we move into the future keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader of the church.
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As we peek into the future, we recognize that there are inevitable storms ahead. In Joshua’s time, Israel sent spies into the promised land and discovered inevitable opposition. How did they respond?
Courage. Faith. Trust. Partnership
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The phrase used at Westerville North HS is AllN. Similarly we are All In
From coaching, I know that it takes every single player to create a win.
We move forward together, united as one, into the future God has prepared for us. We need all of us, not some of us to make this transition well.
The disciples eventually replaced Judas. Jesus prayed for our unity. Together we move ahead.
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The people of Israel were at a transition point in their history. They had arrived at a new chapter in their history, a place no one had been. Across the river was the land God had promised. Moses died and Joshua was chosen to lead the people through the river into a new beginning.
Transitions mean change and change brings stress with it. Things will not be as they were. There is an inherent risk in change, in transitions, but there is also beauty as we anticipate what will be.
A new chapter in St. Luke’s history is upon us. We get to be part of the ongoing story of God for this congregation. It will be challenging. Storms await. We will be ok. God is doing a new thing. Do we perceive it?
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Our greatest reality and hope is that, by grace alone, we have been made beloved children of God and inheritors of God’s eternal kingdom. GRACE is the final word I leave with this church family. Grace was the first word that I preached on September 10, 2000, and the final word I left with the family of St. Paul’s Lutheran in Maumee, Ohio on August 20, 2000.
Article IV of the Augsburg Confession on Justification teaches that we cannot be justified before God by our own strength, merits or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake through faith, when we believe that we are received into favor and that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who by His death has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God accounts as righteousness in His sight. Martin Luther said that this is the article of faith upon which the Church stands or falls. Indeed, the reality of God’s grace in Christ is the hope upon which we stand or fall.
Relentlessly trust that your primary reality and hope is in the grace of God present in your life in Jesus Christ - alone.
This podcast is Pastor Steve Brown's final sermon as Senior Pastor at St Luke Lutheran Church, his Release from Call, and his final Blessing.
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Today’s message is shared by Christina ‘Tini’ Horning, Campus Crusade for Christ missionary in Freiburg, Germany. She will talk about what it means to be sent like Jesus and share experiences from her work in Germany.
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Our mission to connect people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ is why we exist as a church family. Jesus’ first command to the first person (Mary) who saw him raised from the dead was to “Go and tell.” That is also what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples to do. Becoming a congregation that is foundationally evangelical will mean that we live more for others than ourselves.
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The Seven Last Words of Jesus
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The Word of Forgiveness - “Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
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The Word of Promise - “Today you shall be with me in paradise.”
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The Word of Love - “Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!”
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The Word of Loneliness - “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
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The Word of Suffering - “I thirst.”
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The Word of Victory - “It is finished.”
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The Word of Trust - “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Lessons: Luke 23:34, Luke 23:43, John 19:26-27, Matthew 27:46, John 19:28, John 19:30, Luke 23:46
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Maundy Thursday is a night in which we experience a rich continuity with the past. Paul begins the reading in 1 Corinthians with the statement, “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you…” referring to the passing on of the Lord’s Supper to the believers in Corinth. Jesus gave the supper to us, and we in turn give it to the next generation. We share in an experience of God’s grace that has been experienced for centuries.
Jesus says a similar thing about washing feet, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” We are, in loving service, called to serve others as Christ serves us.
Tonight we receive and are invited to share with the next generation the incredible, unconditional grace of God found in Jesus Christ.
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What draws you to worship? On Palm Sunday we read about the crowds who worshiped Jesus as the coming Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like a moth drawn to a flame, the crowds were drawn to Jesus. Throughout the Gospels, they followed Jesus from place to place. He had something they needed, something no one else could give.
Are we the same? Are we drawn to worship Jesus as well? If so, why? What is it for you that draws you to worship Jesus as Lord?
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In our day, it is a primary mission of the evil one to divide a congregation, just like he has divided the Church in the past. When a congregation is divided, lives are wrecked and the mission is severely crippled. St. Luke has many differences within our family over politics, economics, human sexuality, gender identity and roles, leadership, worship styles, and more. While we should never dismiss these because they are very important to each other, they should not divide us nor motivate any of us to walk away from our St. Luke family. Remaining united in the body of Christ was a top priority in the teaching of the Apostle Paul, second only to the Gospel of Jesus. We stay united when we affirm as of greatest importance the essential beliefs and mission that we hold in common.
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Often it is said that our children are our future. While that is true, it is more helpful to understand that reaching the next generation with the gospel is a primary responsibility that God has for us. The trends currently look very bleak, but by relentlessly structuring and resourcing the St. Luke mission to effectively reach the next generation, this family of faith can turn the tide within our congregation and our surrounding community.
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Jesus has strong words, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” That is the change we need to make. But, what changes does God make on our behalf? God is like the vineyard owner who patiently tends to us, even when we don’t bear fruit. When the world around us finds us useless, God in his mercy, tends to us so that we might bear fruit to the world around us.
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We often find Jesus in the most unexpected places. We find Jesus walking the gauntlet in the covenant ceremony recorded in Genesis 17. In the gospel narratives, we find Jesus brooding over God’s people like a mother hen, with the little, least, last, lost, and dead, and on the cross. No matter where we find Jesus, it is good news for everyone. In our lives, Jesus shows up in unexpected places – where we need him the most.
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We all want certain things in life and out of life. Some of us want more adventure, authority, or attention. But do we want more of God? Do we desire to deepen our faith? Do these make the list? This week we’ll explore how Jesus was tempted to get more out of life, but instead, he opted to get more from God the Father.
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We must utterly despair of our own ability before we are prepared to receive the grace of Christ. Luther wrote, “The thirst for glory is not ended by satisfying it but rather by extinguishing it.” This is the cross story that stands in direct opposition to the glory story that is our default view of ourselves. Forde writes, “The most common overarching story we tell about ourselves is what we will call the glory story. We came from glory and are bound for glory.” BUT, “Our story is not that of the exit from and return to glory of an undying soul. The cross destroys all that.” All of our schemes for gaining the glory we imagine that lost come to an end at the cross of Christ. They are ashes - for we are dust and to dust we shall return. Our only hope is that when we die with Christ, we will also live with Christ. (2 Timothy 2:11)
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In our world today there is so much out of our control. If we focus on those situations and people beyond our control, we will end up frustrated and anxious. When we stay focused on what we can control, we can respond to life with peace and self-confidence. Jesus stayed focused on what he could control and the mission God had him on despite the swirling political and social pressures of his day.
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Having a safe place with safe people is vital to strong mental health.
Because Jesus inhabits our vital friendships with other Christ-followers with his grace and forgiveness, He empowers those connections to equip us with strong mental health. The symptoms of disconnection are evident, depression/mood; anxiety/fear; acting out/impulse problems; addictions; distorted thinking (negative/worrisome). The outcomes of a vital connection with others who are in Christ are more evident: peace, security, acceptance, truth is spoken in love, fortified resilience, and the capacity to love others as Jesus loves us. This fosters strong emotional health.
Next step: Find a safe place with safe people who follow Jesus.
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What is mature love? Humanity has a tendency to curve on itself, where all we think about is ourselves. One way through mental health issues is by seeking to better another person’s life through kindness while we ourselves are seeking to be better. Jesus’ way of love lifts our heads from seeing only ourselves to seeing others around us.
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When we are honest and vulnerable before God and one another regarding our faults, we put ourselves in the place to experience being fully accepted by God and others. This gives us a solid foundation for strong mental health. The central teaching of our evangelical faith is that we are saved, accepted, and justified by grace through faith in Christ. All of our efforts for making ourselves good and accepted fall short and come to end at the cross of Christ. We are left with only Jesus and his work to make us right with God and each other.
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It’s wise to fight. The foolish avoid conflict and thus let resentment, misunderstanding, and bitterness fester. Every relationship will experience conflict. What matters is not whether or not people fight, it’s how they fight that matters. The measuring line for successful relationships is not the frequency of fighting, it is in the quality of the conflict. Wisdom teaches us that we can fight fairly and find a resolution to our conflicts regardless of their intensity and duration.
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Pastor Tyus Nedd joins us from International Christian Center to share five pieces of w.i.s.d.o.m to take with us as we journey through life.
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It’s wise to grieve. Avoiding grief leaves our wounded hearts open like a cut that will not heal. Every person experiences grief. It follows as we experience loss in our lives, whether it be because someone we loved has died, we lose physical ability, friendships end, or hopes and dreams for the future die. The wise allow themselves to grieve. If we don’t allow ourselves to grieve, the emotional toll we face are physical and relational difficulties.
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God’s wisdom for our lives is the cost of dying so that we will be able to love God and others.
Everything in what Jesus taught and the way Jesus lived and died reveals the hidden wisdom of God for our lives – to die to ourselves so that we will be able to love God above all else and to love others as Jesus loves us. One cannot be raised to a new life without first dying. This hidden wisdom of God is upside down and backward from the “wisdom” of the world. It is the message of the cross which is foolishness to those who yet do not know Jesus.
Next step: Identify one bit of the world’s “wisdom” that you are relying on more than you should. Put it in its proper place of your priorities. Recommit yourself to trust in the message of the cross above the wisdom of this world.
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Paul describes Jesus as the “wisdom of God”, Thus, Jesus embodies the entirety of wisdom. He is the Savior of the world and the wisdom of God. The beginning of the year is a time for us to look ahead at what will be. We envision, make plans, set goals…but wisdom will be the way it is accomplished. The world today may be filled with incredible knowledge, but be bereft of wisdom. Google is knowledgeable, but not wise.
Next step: Ask for wisdom for the way through the year.
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When Mary visits Elizabeth, Elizabeth is shocked and says, “Why am I so favored…?” The NRSV re-words her question, “Why has this happened to me…?” Regardless of how it is worded, Elizabeth is surprised and taken aback by the grace she’s experiencing by Mary’s visit. Mary, in whom the Savior of the Word dwelled in bodily form, visits Elizabeth and gives her a day she would never forget. Might we do the same for others? What if we set out to make someone’s day this holiday season? After all, the risen Christ dwells in our lives as well. God, through Mary, gave Elizabeth a day she would never forget. Might God be asking us to do the same for others?
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In the morning, many of us ask, “What should I do today?” We think of tasks and obligations and make plans to carry them out. Do we ever ask, “Who should I be today?” or as we look at the holiday season, “Who should I be this Christmas?” What difference would it make if you did? During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ, his first coming in his birth in Bethlehem and his second in glory. He comes as a who first...a person in the flesh. He shows up intentionally before he does anything. The readings this week lead us into how we might show up during the holidays: joyful, attentive, gentle, generous, peaceful...not as an obligation, but in response to all God has done and is doing in our lives.
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As you look at what is happening in our world and individual lives, you may be thinking, “Evil seems to be winning. Where is the God of justice?” God brings justice through Jesus alive in us and everything is made new. The Hebrew prophets Malachi and John the Baptist proclaimed that God’s justice was coming. God’s justice came in Jesus. God’s justice is backward from the world’s justice. God’s justice flows from God’s grace found in Jesus and not from the world’s karma justice. At the same time, God’s justice calls for a response of trust in God and living in obedience to God’s values. When we trust in Jesus and seek to live by the Lord’s values, God’s justice overcomes the evil injustices of our time, and lives are changed to be more like Jesus.
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Decades ago, U2 sang, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” The phrase is not only a great lyric to a legendary song, it reflects the condition of our hearts at different points in our lives. The deeper question becomes, “What is your heart looking for?” Contentment? Peace? Love? Joy? Acceptance? When we live in Christ, we find what our hearts are looking for and what our souls long for.
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God makes our generosity extraordinary. God takes what we give to his mission and multiplies it to produce an extraordinary and eternal difference in our lives and the lives of others. When we sacrificially and cheerfully give first to God, our lives are extraordinarily changed. God uses all our offerings to bring his extraordinary mission into reality.
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As Christians, we live our lives always in view of the cross. God has generously given us all things, including himself, and asks us to live in this way of generosity. The question Capital One asks consumers is, “What’s in your wallet?” God asks, “What’s in your heart?” God doesn’t need our time, talents, and money, but we need to be generous. It is not only good for us, it is also what God desires of us, that we live with glad and generous hearts.
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Hope is the confident expectation that what God has promised will happen. The dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” But hope is less about feeling and more like trust. Faith and hope are synonyms in the theology of the Bible. Hope is forward-looking and, therefore, hope is less about proof. But our hope becomes more confident when past events provide proof for our hope.
So, we hope in Christ based on the historical events recorded in the gospel narratives. We know, however, that our hope in Christ can fluctuate from a shaky wish on one end to a confident expectation on the other.
What can we learn about hope from the Apostle John’s account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? Can what we learn move us towards a more confident hope that we will be raised from the dead to eternal life in the paradise that Jesus has prepared for us. How can a more confident hope change our daily lives?
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Luther dreamed and worked for a church that was free from the demands of the leaders in the church of his day. The reforms he led became a movement founded in the freedom of the Christian. The desire for freedom continues to this very day as Americans debate about what freedom means as it relates to government mandates about masks and vaccinations. Christians today, in America, can model and help create a future for all of us as we use our freedom, not to do what we want and demand our rights, but to serve our neighbor in love. We can help a culture confused and conflicted over the nature of freedom by living free lives in the Gospel in service to the neighbor.
“A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all.” ~Martin Luther
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Alisha joined the St Luke staff this year as Children and Families Ministry Director. Her message today centers on relating joy and finding joy at different times in her faith journey and the impact it has had on her. We hope this message encourages you.
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Jesus is called a prophet, teacher, miracle-worker, Messiah, the Christ, Savior, and Redeemer among other things. The writer of Hebrews adds two more, “Pioneer and Perfecter” of our faith. (The King James Version uses the word “author” instead of “pioneer”.)
This week we’ll lean into the implications that Jesus is truly what Hebrews testifies to, that he writes the story and perfects the same story, of our individual and collective lives lived by faith.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, when Christ calls us, he bids us to come and die. Pastor Mike taught last week that we church for a cause bigger than ourselves, but first we must be transformed by Christ and that takes sacrifice. To live and love like Jesus will take sacrifice. In a move that is incredibly counter-intuitive and countercultural, we church because Jesus bids us to come and die and live a life that is sacrificial for the sake of the world. It is here that we find our purpose.
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The church is a cause greater than ourselves, the Kingdom of God. As the church, we are invited to participate in the ongoing revelation of the Kingdom of God in this world. We pray for its coming weekly and, at times, daily, in the Lord’s Prayer, and we participate and co-create the Kingdom where we are with God by the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus sent the 72 out to do the work of the Kingdom to places maybe they had never been and with people with whom they had never spoken, and to do things they couldn’t ever do on their own, so Christ sends us out as ambassadors for the Kingdom.
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The community and friendships we experience in church are immeasurably life-giving. The love we show one another is a witness to the world. The most profound aspect of our family of faith may be that each of us church with people who are different from ourselves - people with whom you would not easily choose to hangout. It is a great witness to the world that each of us church with people who are ethnically, culturally, politically, economically, and other ways different from ourselves. This reflects the kingdom of God that Jesus ushered into the world, that is the body of Christ today, and is to come in the paradise of eternal life. Being in a church with different people helps us to grow to be more like Jesus, who was often criticized for churching with people that the religious leaders thought he should not be with.
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St Augustine said the church existed from all eternity whenever people loved one another. The unconditional love and acceptance we share with one another is where Christ dwells fully among us. The church is an alternative community where we love as Christ loves. Out of this love flows genuine community established on the foundation of unconditional love and acceptance.
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In our lives that are so often fickle and uncertain, the discipline of regularly attending church fills us with God’s unwavering and certain hope. Each week, as we hear, see, taste, smell, and feel the gospel of Jesus, the solid foundation of a confident hope is fortified within us.
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One of the most fundamental skills in life is to be able to adjust well to things beyond our control. Our lives are filled with circumstances beyond our ability to control them. We experience situations that are adverse, often we end up feeling helpless and frustrated, wondering what to do next.
Psalm 131 and Jesus’ experience before his crucifixion show us how to adjust our attitudes and outlooks as we experience adversity.
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As we grind through our daily lives, we screw up. In our self-centered drive, we violate God’s values and hurt others. In the mirror of honest self-reflection, we see what we intuitively know about ourselves – we fall short of God’s way of living. If we were left with only the mirror of honest self-assessment, we would have no hope and we would fear our deserved judgment. In Christ, the condemning mirror becomes a window to see God’s unfailing love for us.
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In this new post-pandemic/resurgence world, the need for the touch of community seems even more important than ever. After a year and a half of keeping our distance from one another there is a hunger to be in the presence of one another. Community cannot be fully formed at a distance, or through a screen. True community and the blessings of community occur when we are present with and for one another. We were designed for community and in community we find grace, peace, and belonging, and extend the same to others.
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In our culture, we have a tendency to worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship. This leads to work that can be anxious toil. Psalm 127 and the other passages point towards God’s way out for those of anxious toil.
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Life can be overwhelming at times, so much so that we search for relief from the fears, pressures and worries that face us. Psalm 121 invites us to focus on God who not only gives us all things, but also protects us everyday of our lives.
We abide in peace as we trust God
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We repeatedly grow physically hungry when we have not eaten physical food. In this sense our appetites are insatiable. The same is spiritually true when we find our primary satisfaction and security in the work we do and the fleeting experiences of this world. We continue to hunger for more to fill the black hole inside of us.
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This past year has been a year unlike anything we have had to deal with. Our world has changed, but God never changed. This Sunday we will look at what God did in the lives of these students in midst of the change we’ve all experienced.
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In the midst of unrelenting change and challenge in our culture today, many people are feeling overwhelmed, tired, and burned out. It can be a challenge to flourish in life today, especially spiritually.
One-third of church-going adults have seen a decline in their spiritual life over the past few months, according to a Barna Report of the spiritual state of Columbus.
The wisdom of Psalm 1 and the teaching of Jesus show us how we might all deepen our spiritual lives and flourish even during challenging times like these.
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Eugene Peterson writes, “We live in a culture where a new beginning is far more attractive than a long follow-through. Images are important. Beginnings are important. But an image without substance is a lie. A beginning without a continuation is a lie.”
Although Gideon had been a faithful leader, he made a move near the end of his career that had unintended consequences. He made an ephod that the Hebrews prostituted themselves by worshipping it. The ephod became an image without substance and a snare to Gideon and his family. This set up the Hebrews to fall into the same old trip trap of rebellion against God.
We can avoid this trap through a life-long follow-through of remaining obedient to God’s Word and not get caught up in a continual chase after what is new.
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“Take nothing with you,” Jesus tells the disciples before they are sent by twos to heal and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. Gideon now faced a massive Midianite army camped in the valley with 300 men armed with trumpets and empty clay jars. The victory was certain, “I am going to give it [the camp of the Midianites] into your hands,” (Judges 7:9) God tells Gideon. The question remains, will Gideon act on the promise. Will we?
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Gideon has a newfound strength and trust within him, one that moves him to radical trust in God and God’s guidance. He has a new name, “Jerub-Baal” meaning, “Let Baal contend”. Internally, Gideon has become the mighty warrior and he is now ready to go toe to toe with the Midianites. What would our name be as we face the overwhelming forces against us? The army God chooses will be like Gideon, internally strong, whose strength is found in God alone. Who has God chosen to fight with us?
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When facing the overwhelming military strength of the Midianites, Gideon’s faith faltered and he was no longer certain that God would save Israel through Gideon. So, Gideon asked God for two very specific signs that were counter to nature. Without hesitation, God gave Gideon the exact signs Gideon requested. What are the spiritual values and pitfalls of requesting signs from the Lord?
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Gideon, the mighty reluctant warrior, acts. He’s commanded by God to do something that frightens Gideon, “Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it” (Judges 6:25). Sometimes, the first boldest move God asks us to do isn’t feeding 5000, it is internal, as we self-differentiate ourselves from our families and friends to become the people God asks us to be.
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Throughout Biblical history, God calls unqualified, ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Whether it be the disciples called to feed a crowd of 5000 hungry people or Gideon to defeat the Midianites, God uses people like you and me to act boldly and gracefully in the faces of the various challenges we face. This week in this series, A Gideon Summer, we come to grips with our own weaknesses as we assess where God is calling us to face the challenges around us. We may be, like Gideon, reluctant warriors, but we are warriors nonetheless.
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In the book of the Judges, the people of God repeatedly were brought to a place where they thought evil was winning. We learn from the story of Gideon as to why this is happening and how to respond. When the angel of the Lord appeared to call a very discouraged Gideon to be the next judge of Israel, the angel began by saying, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” When evil appears to be winning, know that the Lord is with you.
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The Holy Spirit is our advocate who convicts, enlightens, and motivates me to live a holy life that is pleasing to Jesus – to make me more like Jesus. This is called the process of sanctification and wholly the work of God, the Holy Spirit.
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Martin Luther explains that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by leading “us into his holy community, placing us upon the bosom of the church, where he preaches to us and brings us to Christ.”
This message explores how the Holy Spirit keeps us trusting in Jesus, even when we’re compelled to doubt.
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Martin Luther explains that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by leading “us into his holy community, placing us upon the bosom of the church, where he preaches to us and brings us to Christ.” In part one of our series, we explore how the Holy Spirit is the pioneer who blazes the trail for our faith.
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Our values shape our expectations, attitudes, habits, and behaviors. How do our values align with God’s?
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Compassion means putting our faith into action in an important, tangible way. St Luke is joining other churches across the country in a movement to release children around the world from poverty through child sponsorship. Jesus taught us to serve the poor and those in need, about generosity and about why every child deserves hope. How can you bring hope to a child in need?
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We live in a culture with growing diversity, competing claims for truth, and greater uncertainty. We also have a foundational hope to know what is THE way, THE truth, and THE life. So, how can we know the way, the truth, and the life?
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From the time that Jesus walked the earth, people have tried to define Jesus. What if we let Jesus define himself? Jesus once said, “I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (John 8:18) The Gospel of John records seven statements that Jesus made about himself, all beginning with “I am …” Using these statements and other related Bible passages, we will seek to learn how Jesus defined himself.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” What does that mean for the life of a branch (you, me)?
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From the time that Jesus walked the earth, people have tried to define Jesus. What if we let Jesus defined himself? Jesus once said, “I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (John 8:18) The Gospel of John records seven statements that Jesus made about himself, all beginning with “I am …” Using these statements and other related Bible passages, we will seek to learn how Jesus defined himself.
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God is not against you. Jesus said, "This is my body given for you." "This cup is the new covenant in my blood shed for you." In Holy Communion, God, the Son, Jesus, comes face to face with us and says, This is me, for you. We can be certain that God the Son, Jesus, is right here with us. Holy Communion is for you and a profoundly personal encounter with Holy God.
Lessons: Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14, Hebrews 10:16-23, Luke 22:7-20
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When Jesus self-defined as the Good Shepherd, he said that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, even the sheep that didn’t belong to him. Why would a shepherd die for his sheep, let alone sheep that weren’t his?
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From the time that Jesus walked the earth, people have tried to define Jesus. What if we let Jesus define himself? Jesus once said, “I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (John 8:18) The Gospel of John records seven statements that Jesus made about himself, all beginning with “I am …” Using these statements and other related Bible passages, we will seek to learn how Jesus defined himself. In part 3 of our series we focus on Jesus’ words, “I am the door.”
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We often fear what we cannot see. Most of us have some fear of the dark. This ranges from literal fear of physical darkness to fear of the unknown. To what do your unseen fears lead you?
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This conversation features Jonas Kröning, a member of our partner church in Warder, Germany.
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From the time that Jesus walked the earth, people have tried to define Jesus. This continues in our day. What if we let Jesus define himself? The Gospel of John records seven statements that Jesus made about himself, all beginning with “I am …” Using these statements and other related Bible passages, we will seek to learn how Jesus defined himself.
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This talk features Christina "Tini" Horning, CRU missionary from Freiberg, German.
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Awkward and confrontational are two fears most Christ-followers have when they think about sharing their faith with others, but it doesn’t have to be that way. What if spiritual conversations weren’t forced and uncomfortable, but something that came up organically or naturally?
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We can do our part, but only God can draw people to Jesus and change their lives. One essential element of sharing our faith is learning to listen for God’s leading as we work in partnership with the Holy Spirit.
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God opposes the proud and gives grace and wisdom to the humble. Jesus taught and lived out humility. He gave practical examples of what it means to live humbly. This ignited a humility revolution that changed the foundational values of western culture. Right now, we desperately need a revival of the humility revolution to change us and our culture. It will begin as we live more humbly each day.
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Peacemaking begins in your heart where Jesus reigns. This message will explore how to resolve interpersonal conflicts using tools found in Crucial Conversations: Tools For Talking When the Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson.
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Blessed are those who actively make peace. This message explores Jesus' blessing of peacemakers and how we can better step into tense situations to help lower the emotional temperature.
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We live in a time of turmoil and great conflict within our nation. Calls for unity and peace abound. How can we help to bring unity and peace? This message explores the root of all conflict and the source of authentic peacemaking.
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If Jesus is truly God that is such good news. We no longer need to wonder what God is like and how God would behave if he were human. When Jesus is the lens through which we see and live our lives, our choices, behaviors, and attitudes change. Life through the lens of Jesus means grace for all people and likewise, as followers of Jesus, we are “means of grace to and in the world.”
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If Jesus is fully God, what does that say about who God is? While the claim that Jesus is fully God is a bold and controversial statement of faith, to claim that God is Jesus is even more bold and controversial, because no self-respecting God would behave like Jesus.
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Across the centuries, one question has driven people to find answers. The question, “How can this be?” How can this be that Jesus is both fully human and fully God?
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How do we set goals and make plans for a new year when we are uncertain what we can plan for in a pandemic?
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For over 2,000 years, God had shaped one group of people, the Hebrews, to receive the full revelation of God in the coming of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God joined us to finally and fully reveal who God is.
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The future is always uncertain. But God promises a future for us, all of us. We can wait with an expectant hope because our hope is rooted in a promise and a person.
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Waiting for the Lord through disappointment builds hope that leads to authentic trust in God, and it is so worth it.
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“Advent invites us not to push away all the realness of the world - but to lean into it - to participate with the waiting with the recognition that this present suffering is not all there is.” - Tsh Oxenreider
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While it can be extremely difficult to wait, especially when the stakes are high, there is spiritual value in learning to wait for the Lord (Psalm 27). In this Advent series, we will seek to deepen our understanding of the spiritual value of waiting for the Lord and explore practical ways that we can mature in our ability to wait.
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John Maxwell has said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” As we examine Paul’s words in Ephesians, we discover how our lives rise under the leadership of Christ in our lives. No one is diminished or dismissed. All are cared for through his people.
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We are hit with so many requests for donations. As Saints of God, how do we discern where to be generous?
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What is an ice cream scoop capable of doing? It is capable of holding liquids, scooping cold ice cream, being used as a hammer, digging in the dirt. Certainly, there are things that an ice cream scoop is not capable of. But, it has many uses...and the best day in an ice cream scoop’s life is when it is called into service on behalf of the Graeter’s employee. It becomes a means of grace in the form of ice cream.
We determine an object's capabilities by examining its form and intended function.
What are you capable of doing?
Lessons: Philippians 1:3-6, 4:14-19, John 14:12-14
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With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/traditional or enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am.
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Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together.
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St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
When we are brought into the family of faith, we become eternal saints of God. The old, rebellious, and self-centered ways of living are put to death and God raises up a new self that is recreated to live for others and be generous.
Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
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With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com or enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am.
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Looking for content for your Kids? Visit our St Luke Kids page: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/children
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Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together.
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FOLLOW St. Luke Lutheran Church:
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St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
Martin Luther longed for a church that proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t just looking for the church to be better. Luther longed for a church where grace was shared and freedom proclaimed in Christ alone.
What do you long for today?
Is there an I confessed longing, as Bonhoeffer writes, for peace, stability, joy, happiness? Are you longing for renewal in your relationships? Maybe you are just longing for a better tomorrow? Have you settled for 2nd best in life thinking “good enough” is the best it gets, and it is better than nothing?
Is it possible that your longing for renewal, peace, etc. can be realized? What if a reformation can happen in your life?
Lessons: Psalm 1, Matthew 22:34-46
— Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content! — With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/traditionalor enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am. — Looking for content for your Kids? Visit our St Luke Kids page: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/children — Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together. — FOLLOW St. Luke Lutheran Church: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlukecolumbus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukecolumbus/ Website: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/stlukecolumbus/ — St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
The unity and diversity of the early church shocked and intrigued the ancient world. Ours should as well.
Lessons: Galatians 3:26-29
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With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/traditional or enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am.
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Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together.
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St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
Our political views are shaped by a number of variables: our backgrounds, education, and personal experiences to name a few. It’s easy to feel like our view is the right one, but the person beside you is more precious to God than your political view. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are governed first and foremost by the Law of Christ (“love one another as I have loved you”, Christ), which precedes all our political viewpoints. Next Steps: Listen, Learn, and Love Lessons: Galatians 6:2 and John 15:8-13 — Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content! — With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/traditionalor enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am. — Looking for content for your Kids? Visit our St Luke Kids page: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/children — Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together. — FOLLOW St. Luke Lutheran Church: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlukecolumbus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukecolumbus/ Website: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stlukecolumbus/ — St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church will win or lose based on our behavior between now and then.
Next steps: Pray for oneness. Heavenly Father, make us one so we can influence many. Prayer of Jesus, what he wanted to be protected. Look for an opportunity to love unconditionally someone with whom you disagree politically.
Lessons: John 17:1, 11, 20-23
— Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content! — With St Luke Columbus Online you can join us every Sunday starting at 8:15 am. Join us at https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/traditionalor enjoy our outdoor service at 10 am. — Looking for content for your Kids? Visit our St Luke Kids page: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/children — Discover the God who loves you. You are not alone. We are in this together. — FOLLOW St. Luke Lutheran Church: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlukecolumbus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukecolumbus/ Website: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/stlukecolumbus — St. Luke Lutheran Church is located in the northeast corner of Columbus, Ohio. More info on St. Luke Columbus: https://www.stlukecolumbus.com/
Many divide society into sacred and secular spaces. Certainly, churches are considered sacred spaces where religious activities are conducted and secular spaces, like a park or government building, are considered secular, a place where attitudes and activities have no religious background to them. And yet, much of the books of Acts takes place in public, secular spaces like marketplaces, calling into question the sacred/secular divide. Today we will discover what happens when God crosses this false divide and the impact it has on the world around us. Next step: Boldly live as Christ in the public square, ushering in the Kingdom of God wherever we go. Lessons: Acts 17:16-34 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Jesus showed that there are no limits to where God would go to reach us. The work of God through Jesus not only went to the ends of the earth but to the dead - the dead that were once to be avoided. Jesus came to raise the dead, physically, and spiritually. Because of sin, all people are born spiritually dead. In our baptism and coming to faith, we are born again and raised to live a new life. As the raised Church of Christ, we go to be with the dead in hopes that God will work through our witness to raise the dead to new life. Next Step: Identify people you know that appear to be spiritually dead. Go and be with them, asking God to work through you to raise them to new life through faith in Jesus. Lessons: Acts 9:36-42, Psalm 139:7-8, Luke 7: 11-17, Eph. 4:9, 1 Peter 3:18-19, 4:6, Rom. 6:3-4. Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, his followers met together in their homes. Following a vision from God, Peter was led to be in the home of a gentile unbeliever named Cornelius who was a Roman centurion. We see in these and other events reported in the New Testament that the earliest Christian churches met in people’s homes and that the saving activity of the Holy Spirit happened in homes.
Lessons: Acts 2:42-47, 10:24-48
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The Church of Jesus Christ is to be more sent out everywhere rather than gathered in a church building. In the book of Acts almost all of the work of God through the apostles happens away from any church building. The earliest Christian churches left the building and during the pandemic most churches today have left the building. The disciples met the risen Jesus outside somewhere and were sent to the ends of the earth to be witnesses of Jesus. While we are strengthened in the gathered community of Christ Followers, we are sent out into our communities to give witness to the salvation that comes through Christ. Next step: Get to know the people you live life with and near (neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances, fellow volunteers, etc.) Spend time with them. Plant and water the seeds of faith through praying for and with people, encouraging people, serving people, engaging in spiritual conversations, telling your story, and sharing the good news of Jesus. Lessons: Acts 1:1-9, 8:1b-4 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
“Lamentation, a prayer for help coming out of pain, is very common in the Bible. Over one third (50 or so) of the psalms are laments. Lament frequently occurs in the Book of Job: “Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” (Job 3:11). The prophets likewise cry out to God, such as Jeremiah does: “Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable…?” (15:18) and Habakkuk: “…my legs tremble beneath me. I await the day of distress that will come upon the people who attack us” (3:16). One whole book, Lamentations, expresses the confusion and suffering felt after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. We find something similar in the New Testament as well. People who are afflicted cry out to Jesus for help. Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, shouts out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Mark 10:47).” During this service of lament, participants will be invited to lament the losses, the deep frustrations, and the painful areas of our lives in the presence of God and His people. It’s a way to let go of the sadness, pain, bitterness, and frustration that we’ve experienced since mid-March. During the sermon, worshippers will be invited to write down on a piece of paper specific information based on writing prompts. Later, during the prayers of the church, this will be used as laments from the people. At the end of the prayers or the service, the laments will be disposed of somehow [not sure how at this point]. Next step: Write down your laments and entrust them to the Lord. Lessons: Lamentations 1:1-4, 3:22-26, 31-33, 55-58, Psalm 13, 1 Peter 5:6-9, Mark 10:46-52 Watch: www.stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/stlukecolumbus
While a societal evil might not directly be our fault, we still have a responsibility to bring good. Because we have received much, we are called to live out this truth in the racial reckoning that we are experiencing in our society today. Jesus taught, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Whether we understand that societal evils are in any way our fault or not, Jesus calls us to use our privilege, power, and wealth to correct the evils and bring good into the lives of others. We are to live more for others than for ourselves. We are to apply this teaching of Jesus in our work to bring justice for those who have been oppressed and discriminated against. Next Step: If you believe that the oppression and discrimination that grows out of racism in our culture is not your fault and therefore not your responsibility to correct, spend some time thinking more about your opinion and ask the Lord what he thinks about this. Consider changing your mind about this and finding a good work that you can do or support to help those who have less because of discrimination. Lessons: Luke 12:32-48 Watch: www.stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/stlukecolumbus
Getting help is essential to making it through the land between. There are always challenges in the land between. The Israelites faced the hostile Amalekites in battle. As long as Moses held up in arms, the Israelites prevailed in the battle. When Moses could no longer hold his arms up, those around him helped him and the battle was won. Our first move when we are in the land between is often to think that we can go it alone and prevail. That is very rarely true. When we rest on Jesus (the stone in v. 12) and allow others to help us and hold us up, we are much more likely to overcome the challenges we face in the land between. Next Step: Identify where you are trying to go it alone and it is wearing you down. Change what you are thinking and doing in order to rest on Jesus, determine what help you need from others, and then secure that help. Lessons: Exodus 17:8-16 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God sometimes gives signs when we thirst for reassurance, but our trust in God cannot rest on God proving his love and care for us. Trust is the most necessary quality for an eternal relationship. In an account Water-from-the-rock account found in Numbers 20:1-13, the necessity of trusting God is tragically illustrated when Moses goes beyond the direction of God and strikes the rock and is therefore not permitted to enter the Promised Land. Trusting in God is so vital to our relationship with Him that He used what appears to be a momentary and minor lack of trust on Moses’ part to teach us the tragic results of not trusting in God. This is because only God fully understands that trust is most necessary for an eternal relationship. Next Step: Determine where you might be putting God to the test to prove that he is with you and working for you. Spend some time listening to what He thinks about this and determine whether this is helpful to your faith. Make a change in your thinking if necessary. Lessons: Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 20:1-13 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Grumbling. The Lord heard their grumbling, the text tells us, and instead of rebuking them for their grumbling against Moses and Aaron, He provides abundantly: quail and manna. But on the seventh day, some looked for food but there was none. Others saved some until morning, but it was spoiled by the maggots. The people’s lack of trust in God’s abundance caused problems in the community. The people had a scarcity mindset which caused them to hoard food and not rest. During this time, when certain items have been on short supply, and when we’ve seen our bank accounts dwindle, we may feel scared...and wonder if God really will provide. Times of scarcity certainly can cause fear and lead us into a scarcity mindset. An abundance mindset rests in the grace of God revealed. An abundance mindset is able to rest on the Sabbath because they know that there will be more tomorrow and there is enough for today. An abundance mindset allows us to be content with our “daily bread” and not store up for ourselves “treasures on earth” because we know that our life is not about the accumulation of things, but the journey God has us on. In the end, the people who thrived in this time understood that God had called them to this path and thus will provide. God is good. Scarcity does not take away God’s goodness but accentuates it. When we understand that God is for us, always, we move toward an abundance mindset and away from a scarcity mindset. Lessons: Exodus 16:1-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The Israelites were thirsty, really thirsty. They had traveled three days and found no water, and then the water they found was bitter. One can imagine the disappointment and possible frustration with Moses. After all, they were out there because he had led them there. Couldn’t they find some water after all? Bitterness, psychologists tell us, is a smoldering resentment. We are wronged, we feel angry and then we ruminate on the wrong. We become bitter. We think, “Someone must be to blame for my misery.” In this case, Moses. Fueling their complaint to Moses, “What are we going to drink?” is a frustration and growing bitterness. The people were helpless in the face of the growing and real threat of dying of thirst in the wilderness. Their situation went from bad to worse at Marah. The people wondered, and then concluded, that there was nothing that could be done. They had learned helplessness. Life is filled with adverse conditions, including this pandemic, which leaves us feeling helpless and possibly hopeless. What can be done? Moses does something. He cries out to God. The people didn’t ask God for anything. God provides a branch to throw into the waters, a branch that possibly everyone had seen, including Moses. Once thrown into the water, the branch becomes the means by which the water turns sweet. The same waters that were once a source of bitterness and frustration, were now a source of refreshment and blessing. Moses was able to do something...a small gesture with a common object, by God’s direction, to change the situation for the better. Next step: Ask God to empower you to help change a situation you are in from a bitter situation to a blessing to others. Lessons: Exodus 15:22-27 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
This Sunday, we are continuing our sermon series, God's Grace in the Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions. In this series, we are seeking direction on how to navigate this season of our lives by taking a fresh look into the Exodus account, where God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt and guided them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Now I don't know about you, but life today feels a little like the wilderness to me. Can we get this period of our lives over already!? When can life return to normal? I'm sure we are all wrestling with questions like these, hoping for a little more stability and go back to what we enjoyed most about life before public health restrictions were put in place. This week, we will take a look into one of the most powerful ways God delivered his people at a time when they were fearing for their lives the most. Next Step: When we can release our fears, trust in God’s plan, be silent, and move forward as he directs we experience His love in very powerful ways. Why go back to Egypt when we can experience the promised land. Lessons: Exodus 12:29-33a, 14:5-18, Psalm 32:7-11, John 16:33 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God provides clarity when we are confused, but we will often have to change. The Hebrews had to leave their bondage in Egypt in a rush and probably were confused as to which route to take to the Promised Land. Their first move was to take the shortest route there along the Mediterranean Sea. They were confused. God brought clarity through providing the pillars of cloud and fire to lead the Hebrews in the way that God would have them go. What they first had to do was to turn around (repent) and go back from the direction they had initially started to follow. When we are in the land between it is often confusing which direction we are to move. We trust that God’s desire is to provide clarity when we are confused and lead us in the direction God would have us move. It is often the case that God’s first move for us is for us to repent and move in the opposite direction from which we were headed. This will involve us having to change. Next Step: Where are you experiencing confusion in your life? Consider that your confusion may be that you are not following the path God has for you. Determine what changes you need to make to follow the path God has for you and then make those changes. Lessons: Exodus 13:17-22 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
If the things we are doing in our daily lives are not fueled by the time we are spending with God, we eventually forget that He's there and think we can make our own decisions; that we are god. We are fueled by spending time with God, not by the physical "busyness" of our lives. Lessons: Luke 10:38-42 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
In this is scripture passage we see that Jesus is a masterful storyteller as he is able to tell a story that speaks to all of us. No matter who we see ourselves as in this story Jesus reminds us all that you don’t have to be fixed to be found. Lessons: Luke 15:11-32 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The yoke of Jesus is a structure that gives a restful lifestyle. Many people are feeling overwhelmed because of the changes brought on by the COVID 19 pandemic. Many were already feeling overwhelmed before the pandemic hit. Finding true rest does not mean becoming lazy. Rather, Jesus promises that following his way of living (his yoke) will bring a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. To experience this you may have to take off a heavy and burdensome yoke that you are trying to carry and take upon yourself the yoke of Jesus and learn from him. Think of this yoke as structures you put in your life to experience a restful lifestyle. Even as you press on to take hold of this change, know that you have already been taken hold of by God. Rest in the assurance that Jesus took hold of the cross in order to take hold of you. Next Step: Identify a structure you could put in place to help you to be less overwhelmed and then establish that structure. Lessons: Matthew 11:25-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Listen to the full interview between Pastor Tyus Nedd, Alvin White, Pastor Mike Weaver, and Pastor Steve Brown.
Pastor Tyus Nedd, Alvin White, Pastor Mike Weaver, Pastor Steve Brown
Lessons: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 12:2
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In response to the upheaval in our country following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement officers, we decided to change our sermon plans and begin to seek what love requires of us in this time. Given the short time-frame for planning, the enormity of the issues, and the schedule constraints for June and July, we decided that we would spend two Sundays beginning to address racial reconciliation. Our hope is to revisit this in the coming months and hopefully bring about lasting change in ourselves, our congregation, and the community. Our first response to racism is to listen more and talk less. The racism that is displayed by some is overt, easy to identify, and clearly calls for us to speak against. The racism that lies within most of us is much more difficult to identify. It often is found in deep-seated suspicions and opinions of which we may not even be aware. Jesus taught us by his example of the importance of sitting and listening to those who are different from us. While there is much we might want and need to say in response to the racial unrest that has rocked our country in recent days, let’s first humble ourselves and do the work through reading and listening so that we can learn from others what is their experience of racism. Most of us simply need to change our minds and that seldom happens when we are talking. Next Step: As much as you are able, read, and listen to gain an understanding of what people of color are thinking and feeling. Lessons: Galatians 3:26-29, Matthew 15:21-28 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Pentecost Sunday Focus text, “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’...he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Interestingly, just before the disciples reentered the world around them, after spending time behind locked doors, the Lord blesses them with peace and blesses them with His presence in the Holy Spirit. What if Jesus stood among us today as we move outward, reentering the world around us after this long quarantine period? What does peace mean now? What did that peace allow the disciples to do then and what does it allow us to do today that we couldn’t before? The Holy Spirit will enable them to co-create the emerging new normal, we now know as normal. What will the Holy Spirit enable us to create today? Next step: Receive and move ahead. Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We live in hope today because tomorrow’s worst is taken care of. The resurrection of Jesus was never far from the minds of the apostles. The resurrection of Jesus infused the apostles with justifiable hope for their future, freed them from the dread of death, and empowered them to sacrificially serve others for the sake of the gospel. What have you learned about your fears during this pandemic? It is possible for our sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life to empower us to live lives of great courage in the face of external threats. Next Step: The Apostle Paul wrote this, “I desire to depart and be with Christ.” (Philippians 1:23) By “depart” Paul meant to die. Try saying this verse out loud and be aware of how this feels. Lessons: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-26, 54-57 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To live an excellent life, love drives everything we do. When love is the beginning, middle, and ending of everything, we increase our ability to be influential in the lives of those around us. What’s possible now is leaving a legacy of faith, hope, and love to generations beyond us. Take away: excellence begins with how we approach things, our intentions. Embrace the intention of living each moment, each interaction, and each task with faith, hope, and love. Lessons: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13, Mark 12:28-31 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
It is possible for us to be perfectly united. As crazy as that sounds, it is possible when we are united in our essential beliefs, show liberty in our non-essential beliefs and practices, and live by charity in all our beliefs and practices. The first Christian Church described in Acts 2 experienced this perfect unity for a brief period of time. They resolved their conflicts. Next to the gospel itself, in the letters of the Apostle Paul unity in the body of Christ is of greatest importance. Paul called the earliest Christians to a very high standard of unity. As we move out of the pandemic restrictions, it is possible for us to reset our priorities so that we live in perfect unity within the family of faith. Next Step: If you have an unresolved conflict with another person within our family of faith, do what is needed to resolve that conflict. Become an encourager of others. Lessons: Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Mark 9:33-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The National Day of Prayer when followers of Jesus from across our country will join in prayer for our communities and nation. The churches of Gahanna are putting together a unique online prayer experience for you to join this great prayer movement. You can participate by listening to a 30-minute guided time of prayer. Get outside, go on a walk or a run, listen, and pray along with others in the Gahanna community.
Paul reminds and encourages the church in Thessalonica, that despite the hardship they face as chosen followers of Christ, God is using their “work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope” to bless those around them, including in places l Ike Macedonia and Achaia, miles away from the city of Thessalonica. The presence of the risen Christ by the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Christians then, and in the lives of us who live in 2021, amplifies our impact to those around us. Lives that go to “11” are now possible. Take away: Live open hearted to God and others, and reframe work from occupation to ministry. Lessons: Acts 17:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Mark 13:9-11 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We can’t give away what we don’t have. In today's lesson, a crippled beggar asked Peter and John for money, something they didn’t have. Peter gave the beggar what he did have--the power to walk in the name of Jesus. In the weeks and months following the resurrection of Jesus, we see his followers love others as Jesus loved us and give to those in need what they had. God has called each of us to do the same to meet the hopes and hurts of people today. Next step: Identify what God has given you that you can give to help someone, and then do it. Lessons: Acts 3:1-10 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Verses 3-4 of Acts 1 tell us, “After [Jesus’] suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.” What’s intriguing to me is Jesus’ “staying” with the disciples in Jerusalem while they waited there for the “promise of the Father.” As they waited, Jesus waited. Unlike the disciples who could not stay awake and wait with Jesus before he was arrested, Jesus waits with his them. He doesn’t go ahead and say “I’ll be back! Wait here.” He, like the disciples, is waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. We are in a period of waiting, wondering what is to come. The risen Lord meets us in our waiting, moving us deeper in relationship with him. Next step: Wait patiently for a good thing is coming Lessons: Acts 1:1-14, Mark 6:7-13 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
When our dreams are taken away, the Lord has the words of eternal life that matter most. In coming to terms with the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, Olympic hopeful, Allyson Felix, wrote recently, “This has been a sobering reminder that we are not owed our dreams.” The COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering reminder that our dreams often do no come true and we experience disappointment and loss in life that can be crushing. John 6 records a turning point in the ministry of Jesus when it appeared that the mission dreams Jesus’ disciples seem to fall apart. When Jesus asked them whether they wanted to leave the mission, Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Certainly when Jesus was executed on the cross, the disciples thought their mission dreams has been crushed. When Jesus rose from the dead, his words of eternal life became real and the basis of our hope for the future. We are not owed our dreams and sometimes our dreams are threatened or taken away. In those times, it is especially important to rest our hope in the future on Jesus and his words of eternal life. Next Step: If you have a dream that seems threatened or has been take away, use these words of Peter to help you cope, “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” Lessons: Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
- The Word of Forgiveness - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 - Speaker: Robert Flagg
- The Word of Promise - "Today you shall be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43 - Speaker: Carrie Whatley
- The Word of Love - "Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!" John 19:26-27 - Speaker: Mary Lou Owens
- The Word of Loneliness - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 - Speaker: Colleen Zielke
- The Word of Suffering - "I thirst." John 19:28 - Speaker: Emily Reese
- The Word of Victory - "It is finished." John 19:30 - Speaker: Pastor Steve Brown
- The Word of Trust - "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 23:46 - Speaker: Pastor Mike Weaver
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We’re reminded that Jesus took the lowest place to serve those around him. He’s always moving lower, so that we move higher. His selfless, kind and generous service on behalf of his friends brightens the room and their experience with light. It is an example that we follow as disciples. We “adorn the darkness” of this world through generous acts of service. Next Step: Take the lowest place with others. As the apostle Paul writes in Romans 13:8-10, we are indebted to one another to love one another. Lessons: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, Romans 13:8-10, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Today, we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter, we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God. We wave palms in celebration today as Christ comes into our midst, and we follow with trepidation as his path leads to death on the cross. Amid it all we are invited into this paradoxical promise of life through Christ’s broken body and outpoured love in a meal of bread and wine. We begin this week that stands at the center of the church year, anticipating the completion of God’s astounding work.
When you have Jesus you have life; when you do not have Jesus you do not have life. The New Testament clearly teaches that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in Jesus. Whoever lives and believes in Jesus has real and eternal life, now and forever. Those who do not believe in Jesus stand condemned because of their unbelief. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Next Step: Put your trust in Jesus and you will have life. Lessons: Ezekiel 37:1-14, 1 John 5:9-13, John 11:17-27 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
“When a life is a work of art, it is always more than simply an expression of ourselves. Life becomes a work of art when we live it not for ourselves but for others. We live and tell our story, and through it we carry the hope of the world.” Jesus turning water into the best wine is the work of his reflection of his essence. “The greatest art of an intersection of contrasts.” Jesus didn’t have to tell the people a miracle had happened, the quality of the product did it. God turns water into wine time and time again, the “water” being the quality of our ordinary lives. Lessons: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, John 2:1-11 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To experience happiness, craft your life into a work of art within God’s boundaries. Erwin McManus writes, “Every creative endeavor becomes a realization of both how limited and how unlimited we are...Every medium carries within itself inherent limitations, and every artist comes with limitations. True creativity is not the outflow of a world without boundaries. The creative act is the genius of unleashing untapped potential and unseen beauty within the constraints and boundaries of the medium from which we choose to create” (The Artisan Soul, pp.145-146) The commandments of God are boundaries for our lives. Jesus taught that he did not come to abolish the commandments of God but to fulfill them. Jesus and the apostles fulfilled and deepened God’s Old Testament laws through their teachings and by embodying the law of love. The laws of God are boundaries within which we most flourish in life and experience authentic happiness in our relationships, accomplishments, and well-being. Take Away: Memorize the 10 Commandments and then pick one to understand more deeply, beginning with Luther’s Small Catechism. Lessons: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 16:5-11, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5:17-20 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Paul was a tentmaker. Peter, James and John were fishermen. Jesus was a carpenter. Remarkably, Jesus became a common laborer and dedicated his life to a craft. What’s the best way I can do the most good? What is your “genius”? What is your unique talent? Where might you be considered, if you worked at it, the best in the world? Craft means strength. Lessons: 1 Chronicles 28:19-21, Acts 18:1-4, Mark 8:22-26 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We transform invisible ideas into visible reality to unleash God’s love to others. Having been created as artisans in the image of God, Erwin McManus teaches that we transform the invisible into the visible. Everything that exists began as an idea in the imagination of someone’s mind, including our personal creation that began as an idea in the mind of God. An artist brings a piece of art into visible reality from the invisible imagination of the artist’s mind and we craft our lives into works of art by bringing what we can see only in our imaginations into the visible reality of how we live. BUT, as followers of Jesus, we do not create art or craft our lives into works of art only for our sake. We are primarily motivated by love for others to transform the images in our minds into visible reality so that others will have real and eternal life. It is therefore necessary that we strive to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ and his command to love others as he has loved us. Next Step: Identify one idea that you have to serve, invite, or give to meet the hopes or hurts of another person; then transform that idea into visible reality. Lessons: Jeremiah 1:4-5, Psalm 139:13-16, Ephesians 1:3-6, 2:8-10, Matthew 16:13-19 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
All of life is interpretation. It is through interpretation that we discover the truth. The word, theology, broken down is “Theos Logos”, literally “God words.” Theology is the process by which we interpret the work of God to discover the truth about God’s nature and involvement in our lives. “The power of the story of Job is in Job’s struggle through multiple interpretations of his life, to discover and embrace the true meaning of his suffering.” In order for us to create lives that are works of art, we must interpret it to discover the essence of what God is doing through us. “What is your interpretation of life?” Lessons: Job 42:3-6, Philippians 1:9-11, John 9:1-7, 13-17, 24-41 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We find our true voice in God’s voice. Our voice is the internal narrative that drives our thoughts, words, and actions. Our voice shapes our experience of the world. When our voice dwells in the voice of God, we begin to find our true and unique voice – our true story. We will struggle to fully live when we allow other voices to silence our own unique voices. Shame silences us. Grace invites us to boldly tell our unique story. God’s voice in us becomes our story that we offer the world. What story is God speaking through you? Next Step: Identify whether the voice that speaks most loudly in your internal narrative is God’s voice. If it is not God’s voice, work to disregard that voice and discover God’s voice in you. Begin and end each day this week answering this prayer question, Lord, what are you telling me about my story today? Lessons: Genesis 3:7-11, Psalm 31:14-21a, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Luke 5:1-11 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The Artisan Soul The most important work of art is the life that we create. Based on Erwin McManus’ book, The Artisan Soul, this series will call us to reclaim our creative essence and craft our lives into a work of art. Within each of us is the essence of an artist. We need to create and be part of a process that brings to the world something beautiful, good, and true. God is the master artisan of our lives, working within and through us, to make the world a better place. Week 1 - Soul McManus writes, “Art in its purest form is an extension of the soul...“God didn’t have to make everything he created good; everything he created was good because he made it.” Anyone who has a soul is an artist. There is no such thing as “artist/creative-types” and “non-creative types”. When we believe this, we spend our lives “admiring those who have the gift of creativity while seeing our role as simply celebrating their uniqueness.” We are all creative. “We breathe, therefore, we create.” The real question for all of us is, “Do we have the courage to express ourselves and create?” McManus writes, “To make our lives a creative act is to marry ourselves to risk and failure.” Courage is a matter of the heart, of the soul. If we want a different future, we need to create it. If we want to have a more fulfilling life, we need to create. We were born to create because we’ve been made in the image of the creative God. Lessons: Genesis 1:24-31, Psalm 131:2-3, Ephesians 4:29-5:2, Luke 6:43-45 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Your life is a sacred stewardship. Regift sacred stewardship to the next generation. If that means you have to understand and practice sacred stewardship first, do it. Be motivated by the likely life disasters if we do not learn and then teach sacred stewardship. Learn and teach God’s understanding of sacred stewardship. Learn and then teach that managing our money is a tool for making our values and priorities line up with God’s will. Begin with the simple understanding of what it means to Give, Save, and Spend in that order. Learn and teach to be guided by God in your money decisions. Next Step: Pick the one next step from today’ message that you sense God is nudging you to take and take it. Lessons: Proverbs 3:9-12, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Matthew 25:14-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
“Many people in America today would say that divisiveness is one of the most dangerous issues in our common life, that factionalism and misguided allegiance keep us from being able to address the very serious challenges that confront us today: increasing disparity between rich and poor, climate change, global violence, competition for natural resources, migration due to war and famine. And of course, each of these issues has its local manifestation: * isolation of people in homogeneous neighborhoods; * fear of strangers, of other races and nationalities, refugees, the homeless—or the despair of being the stranger, the refugee, or without a home; * addiction, mental illness, trauma; * a lack of individual commitment to the well-being of an entire town or city; * a sense of powerlessness when it comes to self-regulating the use of fossil fuels, water, food.” ~Jane Lancaster Patterson
Paul is not necessarily emphasizing uniformity, completely, but a unity of thought and opinion about the Gospel. What’s at stake is the mission of the local church. Paul asks rhetorically, “Is Christ divided?” If Christ had been divided internally about his mission as the Messiah, the witness would have been compromised. Christ’s unity within himself birthed the church for future generations. We stand united in Christ and thus pass on to future generations a healthy and vibrant church. Next Step: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3-6) Lessons: Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Lessons: Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 1:29-42
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Lessons: Isaiah 44:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Matthew 3:13-17 Now that the season of giving Christmas gifts is over, we could say that we are in the season of regifting as we consider what Christmas gifts we will regift to others. Regifting can describe what we do with the gifts that God has given us as we share with others the great gifts God has given us. The priceless difference is that God’s gifts are unlimited and therefore we can keep these gifts that we surely desire and also give these gifts to others. We are in the season of Epiphany, or more precisely the Sundays after the Epiphany. The account of the Wisemen bringing gifts to baby Jesus is called The Epiphany and is the seminal story this season. Using the account of the Wisemen as an inspiration, this series will explore five priceless gifts that God has given us and that we can regift to others, especially those in the next generation. Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Now that the season of giving Christmas gifts is over, we could say that we are in the season of regifting as we consider what Christmas gifts we will regift to others. Regifting can describe what we do with the gifts that God has given us as we share with others the great gifts God has given us. The priceless difference is that God’s gifts are unlimited and therefore we can keep these gifts that we surely desire and also give these gifts to others. We are in the season of Epiphany, or more precisely the Sundays after the Epiphany. The account of the Wisemen bringing gifts to baby Jesus is called The Epiphany and is the seminal story this season. Using the account of the Wisemen as an inspiration, this series will explore five priceless gifts that God has given us and that we can regift to others, especially those in the next generation. Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
In every way our brother Jesus empathizes in our trials. Based on the lesson from Hebrews, we learn the depth of the connection that God the Son, Jesus, has with us. He both empathizes with us and saves us from our bondage to sin and suffering. This brings a deeper understanding and comfort to the words, “The Lord is with you.” Next Step: As we practice the discipline of staying, “The Lord is with you, and also with you.” pause to ingest all that this greeting means. Lessons: Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-23 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Meet the God that is FOR you this Christmas!
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20
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Open God’s gift of being delivered from the power of sin. When the angel explained to Joseph that what had been conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit, the angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) This gift that God gives to us is not only being forgiven of our sins (as great as that is!), but also being freed from the power of sin over us. Sin is no longer our master, because we are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14) Therefore, through the power of our new master the Holy Spirit living in us, we can begin to put sins behind us and live new lives of righteousness. Next Step: Identify a sin that you have given up trying to overcome. Name that before God and surrender it to God’s power in you to overcome. Trust that you can take steps to leave this sin. Lessons: Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
In the face of difficulty, weakness, fear, disappointment, and discouragement, the Lord boldly proclaims that a day of joy is coming. “Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” This is our hope as well. Times of sighing and sorrow come to all of us. We move through seasons of difficulty and discouragement. Today, we rest in the presence of Christ, letting go of all that burdens us. Lessons: Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Our search for assurance find hope in Jesus. We live with more uncertainty than we would admit. We know that at any moment life could take a devastating turn. The current events in our culture cascade around us and we are left asking, “Now what will happen?” Even when we have worked hard to ensure that we will be ok, there is an endemic uncertainty to this life that leaves us searching for greater assurance of our futures. Some who journeyed out into the Judean wilderness to hear John the Baptist were surely looking for greater assurance. In his preaching John cast both threat and assurance. What can we learn from John’s teaching as to where we will find true assurance? Next Step: Make a list your uncertainties over which you feel dread. Surrender your uncertainties to Christ and hear him say to you, “Trust me on this.” Lessons: Isaiah 11:1-5, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
With the beginning of Advent, a season of preparation, watching, and waiting, we hear Jesus say, “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day the Lord will come.” We lean into what we profess to be true that Jesus will “come again to judge the living and the dead.” While we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s arrival in the world in Bethlehem, we yearn for his return again, watching for God’s ongoing activity in the world and the unfolding of God’s Kingdom until Christ comes again. Lessons: Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Living thankfully by being generous matters to God. When we thank God by giving offering, we honor God and prepare ourselves to see the salvation of God. From the time of ancient Israel, giving thanks to God involved making sacrificial offerings to God. One way to thank God is by giving to others, which transforms us and honors God. Jesus lived thankfully and generously. As we grow to be more like Jesus, we become more thankful and generous. We begin to live thankfully, giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Next Step: As an act of thanksgiving and worship to God, make a plan for what you will offer the Lord in 2020. Lessons: Psalm 50:7-15, 23, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 6:25-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Generosity is a heart matter, it’s not a quantity issue, it is simply a quality issue. God’s unending storehouse of mercy and grace cannot be outdone or exhausted, which is why our mindset isn’t on the “what” of generosity but on the “pricelessness” of the act. The other thing for us to surrender is the act of being generous is not the first step, but the last action of a heart fully committed and in full pursuit of Jesus. Next Step: Take a step back from your daily tithe of time, talents, and treasures, and deeply examine the heart behind your generosity, spend time with Jesus pursing his heart for your heart, then let this compel you towards Him and His kingdom. Lessons: Genesis 4:1-8, 2 Corinthians 8:8-15, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
It’s been said about God, that while God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, the Lord willingly limited such attributes for the sake of being generous to His people. God withholds judgment, limiting anger, for the sake of forgiveness. Jesus limits his involvement in the ongoing ministry of the disciples by empowering his disciples to serve as he serves. The Omnipresent nature of God is limited in space and time for 33 years within the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth in a particular context, Israel, so that the mission of the Kingdom of God can be generously shared with the world around us. Limits need not be limiting. We put limits on ourselves, as God has done and continues to do, for the sake of sharing generously with our neighbor. Next Step: Limit the propensity to live with the attitude, “It’s a free country. I can do whatever I want” for the sake of being generous and kind to your neighbor. Lessons: Hosea 11:1-9, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Mark 10:13-14 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
All Saints Sunday Value most what matters most, which is trust in Jesus. This is what makes a saint. God has values and a saint strives to live by those values above all else. The values that Jesus taught are precisely opposite of the values we internalize in our culture. The great news is that the values that Jesus taught do not rest on a foundation of our achievement, but rest on the achievement of Jesus alone. Because of this, when we trust in Jesus, we can authentically rejoice because our reward in heaven is eternal. The rewards we receive from being successful according to values of this life can be wonderful, but are fleeting. To be a saint, put your trust in Jesus. Next Step: Trust in Jesus above all else. Lessons: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-14, Luke 6:17-31 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The greatest need every person has is to know and trust in the love of God in Christ Jesus. Through the work of Jesus, God demonstrated his desire to be in a personal relationship with every person. Next Step: Identify one person that you sense God is nudging you to begin praying for that person to trust in Jesus and be saved. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 8:35-39, John 8:2-11, 31-36 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
You can be personal enough to believe in someone’s potential to live a remarkable story. A lot of people need someone to believe they can do something they may not even realize they can do. The traps of self-destructive habits, unresolved emotions, and overwhelming circumstances are the trick mirrors that foster in us the false inner-voice that our failures are personal, pervasive, and permanent. When Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house,” Jesus modeled belief. Zacchaeus responded in extraordinary changes to his behavior. God believes in us more than we can imagine. God has entrusted us with a mission that makes an eternal difference in the lives of people. When you believe in someone’s potential, you answer a few underlying questions like, Do you believe in my dreams? Do you believe I have what it takes? Do you believe I do something meaningful? We can learn and practice ways that help others to believe in their own potential. Next Step: Identify one person you can encourage this week with your belief in that person, and then do it. Lessons: Jeremiah 29:11-13, Ephesians 3:17b-21, John 21:15-19 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
You demonstrate forgiveness when you respond to someone in a way that helps that person to replace shame with hope. While being guilty is part of being human, living with shame is something we choose. The greatest trick shame plays on us is alienating us from the one thing that might help – love. Every person needs to know they are more than the sum of their worst moments. When Jesus ate with Zacchaeus, Jesus modeled forgiving love. Out of that same love, God has forgiven us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Although God knows our every sin, God chooses to forgive and forget them because of Jesus. When a person makes changes to their life as a way to please someone, perform for someone, or perfect their image, those changes are often short-lived. When you demonstrate love in the face of someone’s deepest vulnerability, you answer a number of unspoken questions, like Do you think I will be okay? Do you think I still have value? Do you think I can be forgiven? We can learn to be a person who default setting is to demonstrate forgiveness. Next Step: Learn and then practice being a forgiving person. Lessons: Psalm 51:1-12, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 5:1-8, John 4:1-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Something changes in a relationship when you take the time to understand someone’s everyday context. In Jesus, God entered our everyday context, becoming fully human and now fully understands what we experience. If each of us is really honest, admit that you sometimes assume that a person should feel like I feel, think like I think, and believe like I believe. When Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house, Jesus modeled empathy. You can’t force your way into someone’s heart, but you can invite yourself into someone’s world. We can “board someone else’s train” and ride through the landscape of that person’s life. When you enter someone’s world, you respect their personality, timeline, and boundaries. We can learn someone’s context by understanding where they live physically, socially, digitally, culturally, and emotionally. Next Step: Learn how to better understand someone’s everyday context and begin to practice being empathically curious. Lessons: Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 9:9-13 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
If you want to be personal, understand what really matters to someone. In order to do that, you have to understand why it mattersGod knows the desires of our hearts and what matters to us. In Jesus, God gave us what matters most. If you are going to shift from shallow relationships to becoming more personal, you have to become interested in something that interests someone else. When Jesus stopped for Zacchaeus, Jesus modeled friendship. When Jesus showed interest in Zacchaeus, he validated Zacchaeus’ worth. You begin to know someone when you discover someone’s interests and you validate their worth. Discovering someone’s interests is a way to show they are worth liking. We can learn ways of discovering someone’s interests. Next Step: Chose one relationship to make more personal by learning what really matters to that person. Lessons: Psalm 37:4, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Psalm 139:1-14, Romans 8:22-28, Luke 5:1-11, Mark 2:1-12 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Learning someone’s name is a first important step in being personal. Before we were born, God knew us by name. In our baptism God called us by name into his eternal family. Because of Jesus, our names are written in heaven. Because God knows you by your name, you ought to know others by their names. How you say someone’s name can be personal or shallow. When Jesus said Zacchaeus’ name, Jesus modeled honor. When you call someone by name, you are making a statement about a person’s existence, purpose, and value. When you say someone’s name, you are saying someone is worth remembering and identify someone in a way that communicates value. It matters if you say someone’s name, how you say someone’s name, and how often you say someone’s name. We can learn ways of remembering people’s names. Next Step: Become better at remembering names. Lessons: Isaiah 43:1-3a, Revelation 3:5-6, Luke 19:1-10 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
German Partnership Sunday Our common mission is to reach the lost. Can we first see ourselves has having once been lost and now am found? If we can internalize the grace in having been lost and found, then we will have the love and the right motivation for doing whatever it takes to reach those who yet do not trust in Jesus. Next Step: Pray the Lost and Found Prayer each morning this week. Lessons: Exodus 32:7-14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We find true sanctuary when we take on the easy and light yoke of Jesus - dying to ourselves so that we will live for others. Lessons: Proverbs 22:9, Hebrews 6:7-12, John 12:20-26 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We find true sanctuary when we enjoy life in active and fulfilling friendships with other followers of Jesus. A life group is any group of friends that regularly enjoy life together and a Christian life group also seeks to help each other grow in faithfully following Jesus. We hear this call to live God’s love in life groups often, maybe more often than you wish. We will continue to encourage being in a life group for these reasons: * It is in friendships that we most tangibly experience God’s love and the tanks of our souls are filled. * True friendship is the antidote to the growing loneliness that many are experiencing. * Being in a life group is the most effective encouragement to faithfully follow Jesus. * Our church family will be at our best when most of us are in life groups and the life groups truly become the center and heartbeat of our life together. * This is the model that Jesus lived and gave to us.
Take Away: Try out a life group and help to deepen the relationships in your life group. Lessons: Proverbs 17:17, Romans 12:3-11, Luke 22:7-15 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Worship is a gathering with others to be in the presence of the Living God. It’s an opportunity to rest in the presence of the Presence, to love and be loved, to find peace in community. We come with all of our fears, doubts, pressures, joys, and sorrows. We come as we are, and invite others to do the same, and we leave refreshed and renewed. It’s less about what we do, and more about being present and accepting God and others for who they are, not for who we think they should be. Next Step: Quit “should-ing” on God, others, and yourself. Start accepting and loving unconditionally. Lessons: Isaiah 25:4-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Mark 12:28-34 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We will find true sanctuary when we walk God’s path for us. God desires to give us sanctuary. We live in a corner of the world where many people experience being over-scheduled, over-burdened, and over-extended. Many of us desire to experience a sanctuary where we can find true rest for our souls, but being an active and growing disciple of Jesus takes time. God will not allow a Christ-follower to find restful sanctuary outside of God’s will for us. How do we become more fully devoted followers of Jesus and have a more healthy balance in our lives? When we are weary and burdened, how do we find a safe and encouraging sanctuary to experience God’s true rest and where the empty tanks of our souls are filled up with God’s inexhaustible love, grace, and truth? Next Step: Determine what your priorities are and adjust your schedule to reflect those priorities. Make it a priority to be in worship the next three weeks to better understand how we experience true sanctuary when we learn, live, and unleash God’s love. Lessons: Jeremiah 6:16-21, Matthew 11:25-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Fear more than any other emotion stands in the way of faith. Scripture says that faith is certainty of things not seen. When God calls us to do something in faith, fear often causes us to pause. But we have no need to pause, for God is faithful. God’s faithfulness has been displayed from the beginning of time. Despite Abraham’s fears and doubts, his faith bore a great nation that stands to this day. Jesus understands that fear and worry hold us back. In our gospel lesson, He reminds us how happy the Father is to give us the kingdom of heaven. Jesus wants us to be faithful and prepared to receive his Kingdom. When we stop worrying and live obedient to the calling God has placed on our lives (to love and serve others) we experience God’s kingdom today and are prepared to receive it when Jesus returns. Call to action: You can't change what you don't acknowledge. Start by identifying what fears stand in the way of your doing what God wants most for you. Next, consider what God could do despite your fears. Finally, make a decision to align your life in real ways that look like Jesus. When those fears rear their ugly head, be reminded of God's faithfulness, so that you can do what God calls you to do in order to love and serve others more fully with your time and treasure. Lessons: Genesis 12:1-7, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Generosity is the way to avoid being a rich fool. God gives us everything for our enjoyment, and yet our wealth and the pursuit of our wealth can become such a burden that life seems meaningless. Generosity is God’s way of giving a grandeur purpose to our wealth. Next Step: Review your lifestyle and generosity and decide whether God is calling you to increase your generosity as one way of living wisely when it comes to your wealth. Lessons: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:17-23, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:13-21 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Just as Jesus made it personal with Zacchaeus and changed his life, so the church makes it personal with kids because too many people feel invisible or ignored. Next Step: Take the opportunity to get involved with kids and teenagers as a volunteer, to make an impact on someone’s life by making it personal. Lessons: Isaiah 43:1-7, Philemon 1:1-16, Luke 19:1-10 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God opens doors when we feel confused about what to do next. We can devote ourselves to prayer and ask God to open doors for each of us to share the Gospel with people, especially those on our prayer list. When we spend time in listening prayer we will grow in wisdom and be able to more clearly see the doors that God is opening for us. With that wise foundation we will more likely make the most of every opportunity to share our faith and speak in ways that are full of grace, seasoned with sincerity and tact, and be confident that we are giving truthful answers to questions we are asked. Next Step: Begin the practice of listening prayer by asking God, “What is a door you are opening for me to share part of my faith story?” Lessons: Exodus 14:10-14, Colossians 4:2-6, Luke 11:1-13 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
When we allow the Word of Christ to dwell within us richly, the Lord connects us to others in life-giving and grace-filled ways. What's Next? Continually open your heart to the presence of Christ and the message of the Gospel. Let God do the work in you to bring about a change in the relationships around you Lessons: Genesis 4:1-12, Colossians 3:1-17, John 17:20-24 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
When I am rooted in faith in Jesus, I am virtually untouchable, free from worldly harm. Next Step: Reflect upon what my roots look like and practice spiritual breathing to continually ensure we are being built up in Him Lessons: Psalm 66:1-12, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 11:14-28 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God holds all things together when life is falling apart. God not only created all that exists, God also continues to preserve us. God protects and guards us from every evil. Because all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, we can learn the extent to which God goes to hold all things together for us. Because of our corruption of God’s creation, our lives sometimes are falling apart, but through the work of Jesus God holds all things together for us. Next Step: Identify one area of your life that you think is starting to fall apart. Be present with the feelings that come with this experience. But, trust the words that God is holding all things together. Pray the “God Holds All Things Together For Me” prayer when life seems to be falling apart. Lessons: Psalm 33:1-22, Colossians 1:15-23, John 1:1-5, 14-18 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
As human beings, certain questions seem to constantly echo in our hearts and minds: What is God doing/not doing? What am I supposed to do with my life now that I have graduated/have kids/am at mid-life/am facing retirement/am retired/experience life with diminishing physical abilities? Is my life headed in the right direction? As many of us take a vacation break from work during the summer, we have the great assurance that God continues to work for our good in all things. As we grow in our knowledge of how God works, we are compelled to love God all the more and respond by living a life that is pleasing to God, doing the fruitful work that God has for us. Next Step:Commit to praying for someone in your life that God fill this person “with the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual wisdom and understanding” and he or she might “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.” Lessons: Ezekiel 3:1-6, Colossians 1:3-14, Mark 1:14-28 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We all want our lives to mean something beyond ourselves. When we make time to help others through service, generosity, or telling them about Jesus, we experience what it means to unleash God's love.
Next Step: Take one step towards establishing the habit of serving, inviting, and giving to meet the hopes and hurts of others. Do this in response to how Jesus has loved you and in the name of Jesus. Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, James 2:14-17, John 15:1-7 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
There are times when we all feel lonely and disconnected from other people. God didn't design us to go through life alone. Studies today indicate that we live more disconnected than ever in our culture today. One way we provide the care and connection we all need is by forming life groups. Life groups are groups that become friends who live out their faith together, which is essential as we grow to become more like Jesus.
Lessons: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-23, Hebrews 10:23-25, John 17:20-26
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We come to trust in Jesus through learning God’s Word. People can learn of God’s love in many ways. God is certainly notlimited to one way. The primary way, however, that people learn of God’s love is through the preaching of God’s Word. God’s Word is preached and people learn of God’s love during worship at St. Luke. Worship is our primary churchwide ministry connected with learning God’s love. We also learn God’s Word through personal time with God in Bible reading and prayer which helps us to love God intimately. Next Step: Increase the amount of time you spend in learning God’s Word. Lessons: Deuteronomy 30:11-16, Romans 10:8-17, John 3:16-21 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Paul tells the church in Ephesus that we are to be “imitators of God…and live a life of love” (5:1-2). In this increasingly fractured, divided culture, it is imperative that Christians live this “new command” from Christ. Love changes lives. Next step: Pray for your enemies and intentionally do good to them. Lessons: Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148, Ephesians 4:25-5:3, John 13:31-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
In Christ we have all received, as John says, “grace upon grace” (John 1:16). Doubts, fear, shame, guilt, temptation, sin, etc. threaten to disqualify us from God’s grace, but they cannot remove God’s favor from us. Next step: Define yourself as beloved. Lessons: Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Romans 8:31-39, John 10:22-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
This Sunday, we are pleased to welcome Rev. Bob Abrams, Assistant to the Bishop, to install Pastor Mike into service at St. Luke. He preached on the challenges of sharing the gospel in a culture which is increasing living without it.
Lessons: Acts 9:1-6, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19
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Our eternal relationship with God is based on trust. There can be no other basis for an eternal relationship. God must trust us to remain obedient to his values and we must trust in God to provide what we need for eternity. When what we are counting on in this life is shaken and we can no longer walk by sight, we enter the faith zone. Next Step: Each day this week, pray the Walking By Faith prayer. Lessons: Genesis 15:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, John 20:19-31 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
This podcast features confirmation students sharing their essays, "Who is Jesus to Me?"
The Word of Forgiveness - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 - Speaker: Ron Dimmerling
The Word of Promise - "Today you shall be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43 - Speaker: Peter Chang
The Word of Love - "Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!" John 19:26-27 - Speaker: Greg Osborne
The Word of Loneliness - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 - Speaker: Charlotte McCullough
The Word of Suffering - "I thirst." John 19:28 - Speaker: Kari Brown
The Word of Victory - "It is finished." John 19:30 - Speaker: Laura Whistler
The Word of Trust - "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 23:46 - Speaker: Pastor Steve Brown
We all have times when we neglect, betray, abandon, or deny from following Jesus. In a short period of time on the night when Jesus was arrested all of the disciples either neglected, betrayed, abandoned, or denied faithfully following Jesus. In this sermon we will explore how we do the same and turn that into a confession of our sin. Next Step: Identify how you have neglected, betrayed, abandoned, or denied following Jesus and then ask God to forgive you. Lessons: Luke 22:1-6, John 13:21b-8, 16:32-33, Mark 14:26, 32-54, 66-72
When Jesus raises us out of our dead self-centered existence, he gives us the new life of living for others. With the new hope of eternal life before us, we can live this life focused on meeting the hopes and hurts of others. Nothing that happens to us in this life can take away the hope we have and therefore we are free from the cares of this world to serve, invite, and give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. Next Step: Meditate on the eternal life that you have in Jesus and let that lead you to be less concerned for your present life and more concerned for the eternal destiny of others. Lessons: Isaiah 65:17-19, Romans 6:1-5, John 20:1-23 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We are simultaneously fully justified and fully sinful. Simul justus et peccator.The juxta position of Palm Sunday and Good Friday well illustrates this theological truth. On one day the crowds shouted praise to Jesus and then a few days later they shouted “Crucify him!” Beyond a pedantic theological formula, this truth is practically helpful and encouraging for us in honestly understanding our condition before God and our need for Jesus. To live within the tension of this truth is to honestly walk the path of understanding that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This helps us to avoid two great holds of the evil one, shame and pride. Next Step: Say to yourself, “I am fully made right with God and fully a sinner deserving God’s punishment. Lessons: Psalm 51:3-12, Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 21:7-11, Mark 15:1-15 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
It has been sixteen years since we welcomed an ordained pastor into our church family. The coming of Pastor Mike Weaver will work best if we all fully accept him as a pastoral leader that God has called to St. Luke.
This Sunday, Pastor Steve will preach a sermon titled Accepting A New Pastoral Leader. This sermon will offer teaching and guidelines for welcoming Pastor Mike and his family and help us accept that he will share equally with Pastor Steve in the preaching, pastoral care, and leadership of our congregation.
Pastor Mike will begin his ministry at St. Luke on Tuesday, April 23.
Next Step: Begin to accept that Pastor Mike will equally share with Pastor Steve in the preaching, pastoral care, and leadership of our congregation. Lessons: Numbers 27:15-23, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, John 13:3-17, 20 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
When God has brought you through the wilderness, live the new life God has for you. Once God has delivered us from our old, fearful, self-centered, and sin-dead life, we are free and equipped to bring God’s reconciliation to others. Next step: Stop looking back at your old sin-dead life. Lessons: Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Because of Jesus, God has given everyone alive at this moment more time to turn and trust in Jesus. No where you are in your thinking about God or your behavior in regards to God’s commandments, you have time today to honestly consider the claims of Jesus and turn and trust in Jesus. In Jesus, you have complete forgiveness of your sins. Now is a great moment for you to trust in Jesus, begin to follow Jesus, and live out the good work that God has for you. Next Step: If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus, do it now, Lessons: Isaiah 55:6-7, 2 Peter 3:9-15a, Luke 13:1-9 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God promises us. Our hope is that God will honor the promise he has made to us of eternal life with God in others in the earth-like paradise. This life ends and we die, then our only hope is that God will honor his promise to raise us to eternal life. From start to finish The Bible communicates God’s many promises to us. Lessons: Exodus 6:1-8, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-12, 14-16, Revelation 21:1-7, John 14:1-3 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Living a new life is us. When Jesus redeems from our slavery, he frees us into the lives of others to serve, invite, and give to meet their hopes and hurts. Living the new life in Christ means living more for others than ourselves and putting others ahead of ourselves. This is following the example of Jesus and reflects the heart of God who spoke throughout his written word that we are our faith is to be active in love towards others. Next Step: Identify what changes you need to make in your thinking and behavior to increase your living for others more than yourself. Lessons: Isaiah 56:6-11, Psalm 23, Acts 2:42-47, John 13:34-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Being redeemed is us. In Jesus, God redeemed us from our slavery to sin, death, and evil. Through his death Jesus manumitted us from this slavery. From Genesis 3:15 on the Bible teaches that it was always God’s plan to set us free from death and restore us to God’s original blessing through God’s Son, who is Jesus. God spoke through the Old Testament prophets to teach that the long-awaited Jewish Messiah would be the one to redeem us. Although Jesus rarely used the word, redemption became a central theme among the apostles to understand what Jesus accomplished for us. Next Step: Trust in Jesus and be free. Share your redemption with those who are still in slavery. Lessons: Isaiah 43:1, 44:21-24, Psalm 11:1-10, Galatians 3:10-14, John 3:16-17 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Being chosen is us. We do not chose God, God choses us. This third major theme is taught throughout the Bible and fills Christ followers with ridiculous assurance, but causes others to scoff at what the Bible teaches. The amazing grace of being chosen by God is the clearest insight into the love God has for us. Next Step: Whenever you have doubts, look in the mirror and say, “God chose me, I am chosen.” Lessons: Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Psalm 105:1-11, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 15:15-19 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Rebelling against God is us. As much as we don’t want to admit, we have rebelled against God and God’s values. Our rebellion has broken our relationship with God, with each other, and with all of creation. Our rebellion has led to physical death for all creation and all the death-like experiences in this life. This is the second major theme of the Bible. Very many passages in the Bible teach the reality and consequences of our rebellion. It is both unbiblical and unrealistic to deny this truth. Next Step: Be honest with God about your rebellion and confess your sins. Lessons: Genesis 3:1-8, Galatians 5:16-21, John 8:34-35 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Being created is us. By His Word God fully creates me and all that is. The first major theme of the Bible is that God has created and sustains all that is. In the New Testament the theme of creation grows to include that Jesus created all that is, that through Jesus God is recreating us and all that is, and that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. It is helpful for each of us to understand the original blessing of God’s creation in a personal way - that God has personally, lovingly, and carefully created each of us to be in an eternal and perfect relationship with God and all of creation. Next Step: Marvel at one of God’s creations. Lessons: Genesis 1:1-2:3, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-17, 23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, John 1:1-5, 10-14 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel Discussion Guide Sermon Outline About the series: This Is Us – God’s Word Our Story This series will help us understand the Bible more deeply by exploring six great themes of the Bible: Creation, Rebellion, Chosen, Redemption, Living, Promise. Using passages from both the Old Testament and New Testament each week, we will see how each of the six themes develops through the Bible. The goal is for us to more deeply understand God’s written Word as we see that God’s Word is our story and our story is found in God’s Word. We hope that by the end of this series we will more fully understand who we are, who God is, and how completely God loves us. The theme of community/relationship will flow through whole series.
A first move in following Jesus is establishing a discipline of Bible reading. When Jesus began to teach, he was guided by the Holy Scriptures. He continued to be guided by his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures throughout his ministry. In faithfully following Jesus, there is no substitute for regularly reading and reflecting on God’s written Word. Next Step: Seek to more deeply understand the Bible by establishing a regular discipline of reading and hearing it taught. Lessons: Psalm 119:105-112, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Luke 4:14-30 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
A first move in following Jesus is finding vital friendships with a few other Christ followers. One of Jesus’ first moves before he began his public ministry was to find a small group of friends with which to do life. We do exceedingly better in faithfully following Jesus with a small supportive community around us. Next Step: Find a small life group of Christian friends. Lessons: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Romans 1:8-12, John 1:35-51 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand Subscribe to our Youtube channel
A first move in following Jesus is to learn, trust, and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Immediately following his baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the evil one. We learn from the example of Jesus that one of our first moves in following him is to become sensitive and obedient to being led by God, the Holy Spirit. Next Step: Ask God a question about your life and trust the answer you receive. Lessons: Ezekiel 36:24-28, Galatians 5:16-25, Luke 4:1-13 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
A first move in following Jesus is to be baptized. As illustrated in the baptism of Jesus, our baptism is God coming to us to make us his children, declare his personal love for us, and express confidence in us to do God’s work through equipping us with the Holy Spirit. Next Step: Be baptized if you have not. Find your confidence in what Jesus accomplished in your baptism. Lessons: Acts 19:1-7, Romans 6:1-8, Luke 3:15-17, 21-23a Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/firstmoves1 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Epiphany of the Lord When we search for truth, God invites us to scrutinize honestly. The account of the Magi is one of searching carefully for the one who has been born king of the Jews. The search eventually involved King Herod and all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law. They rightly turned to God’s written Word for guidance. The Magi also were guided by God’s Word in as direct revelation. When we search for truth God wants us to honestly scrutinize what the Bible and our experience teach us. Jesus once said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Our God invites us to honestly scrutinize him and his truth claims. Doing this will lead us into a more honest, vibrant, and deeper faith. Next Step: What is one real question you have for God? Honestly ask it and search for God’s answer. Lessons: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/searchcarefully Subscribe to our Youtube channel
When faced with the evil slaughters of innocent people, we must avoid despair and complacency by trusting that God works through us to thwart evil. We continue to live in a world so broken by sin that we frequently experience innocent people being slaughtered by evil and broken people with the means to commit these atrocities. We are divided as to how to respond to these evil acts. As witnessed in the Slaughter of the Innocents recorded in Matthew 2:13-23 and in very many evil acts through the centuries, the slaughter of innocent people is an appallingly regular part of our human experience. This can easily move us into despair or complacency. Our trust in God calls us to hopeful action to thwart the slaughter of innocent people. Next Step: Allow God to work through you to make one hopeful action to thwart the slaughter of innocent people. Lessons: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-12, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-23 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/slaughter Subscribe to our Youtube channel
This Christmas remember that through the Incarnationof God in Jesus we have Regenerationto a new life and Salvationthat is eternal. What is one of your fondest memories from Christmases past? What will you remember from this Christmas? Our account of the first Christmas comes through Mother Mary, who kept in her memory all that took place on that holy night by continuing to ponder over the events for the rest of her life. To declare the obvious, for Mary it was a Christmas to remember. For us who have pondered over all the accounts of Jesus for many years, we remember that God was physically born into our world in Jesus (Incarnation), that we have been born again into a new life through Jesus (Regeneration), and that because the death and resurrection of Jesus we have been given the wondrous gift of eternal life (Salvation). Next step: Make this Christmas a Christmas to remember by holding in your memory that through the Incarnation of God in Jesus we have Regeneration to a new life and Salvation that is eternal. Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 3:4-8a, Luke 2:1-20 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/christmaseve2018 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We prepare for the coming of Jesus by sacrificing for justice. Jesus came to bring God’s justice to us. That means those who are little, least, last, lost, and dead are given new life. We rightly prepare for the coming of Jesus when we sacrificially participate in justice work. Bringing justice for people directly reflects the ultimate and merciful justice we receive through Christ and is dear to the heart of God. Next Step: Identify one person you can bring justice to and let that justice roll down through you. Lessons: Amos 5:18-24, James 1:26-27, Luke 3:7-18 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/prepare3 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
We prepare for the coming of Jesus by letting go of our barriers to God. We foolishly put up barriers to God’s saving working in our lives. Jesus came to remove those barriers and to bring God’s salvation into our lives. It is a death to life experience when we make a straight and clear path for God to work in our lives. Next Step: Identify and let go of one barrier that is preventing you from taking a next step in your life with God. Lessons: Malachi 3:1-2, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/prepare2 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Angels Prepare Us For the Coming Of Jesus This year we are focusing on what it means to prepare for the coming of Jesus. During the Wednesday Advent services we will look at how angels prepared people for the birth of Jesus. We will seek to learn from these accounts how angels may be continuing to prepare us for the coming of Jesus into our lives and the lives of others. This message: Angels prepare us for the coming of Jesus by announcing that God looks upon us with favor and takes away our shame. We learn several truths about angels in Luke 15:5-25. Angels are heavenly beings that can be seen, who speak in a language we can hear and understand, who are fearfully awesome in appearance, who calm our fears, who know our prayers, who have names, who speak very specifically into our current and future situations, who stand in the presence of God, who can hear and understand us, who respond to our words on behalf of God, and who can meed out God’s justice. The most comforting truth we learn about angels is that they are messengers of God who prepare us for the coming of Jesus by announcing that God looks upon us with favor and takes away our shame. Lessons: Luke 1:5-25
We prepare for the coming of Jesus by not being weighed down by addictions and anxieties. Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. This is good news for those who trust in Jesus and obey his commands. It can be a frightening future for those who are consumed by the addictions and anxieties of life in this world. The frantic and fearful preparing we fall into leading up to Christmas is a parable for this. We rightly prepare for the coming of Jesus when we get free from sinful addictions and anxieties that weigh down our hearts. Next Step: When you get weighed down, remember that our real life is yet to come. Lessons: Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/prepare1 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Christ the King Sunday Jesus is our King and Lord so we trust in him and obey him above all else. This is both good news and a challenging truth for us. The good news is that the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world and does not function by the norms of this world. For, though we are guilty of many sins and deserve only punishment, our Saving King is the one who died to make us right with God. We, therefore, already know that he judges according to the forgiveness of our sins and made us to be his eternal kingdom. Because Jesus is our Lord, our challenge now is to demolish all arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the truth of Jesus and to take captive every thought, word, and action to make it obedient to Christ. (1 Cor. 10:5) Next Step: Surrender to Jesus as your Saving King and then surrender to him as your Lord. Lessons: Revelation 1:4b-8, 2 Corinthians 10:1-5, John 18:33-37 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/jesusourking Subscribe to our Youtube channel
The more you mature in following Jesus, the more you live for others. Thanking God is first verbally directed to God and then is lived out by unleashing God’s love to others. True thanksgiving results in generosity. Next Step: As an act of thanksgiving to God, commit to what your generosity through St. Luke will be for 2019. Lessons: Psalm 100, Hebrews 6:1-2, 7-11, John 13:12-15 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/livingforothers Subscribe to our Youtube channel
As you manage your money: give to have joy, save to have peace, and live to have freedom. Discontentment, greed, and debt rob us of being happy with our money and enslave us. Submit your financial life to God by saying, “God, I don’t want my stuff and wealth to manage me. I want you to manage me and teach me how to manage my money.” God’s answer is first give of the money that comes our way, with the Biblical percentage being 10%; secondly to save for the long-term, with the wise guidance being 10%; and thirdly to live with freedom on the rest. Next Step: Figure out how you will manage your money to bring you joy, peace, and freedom. Lessons: Genesis 3:1-8, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19, Luke 12:13-21 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/happymoney Subscribe to our Youtube channel
All Saints Sunday Your resurrection matters. Our resurrection matters to Jesus, it matters to how we live today, and it really matters to what happens to us after this brief life. There is a recent trend among some followers of Jesus to downplay the importance of eternal life for the sake of emphasizing the difference following Jesus means in this life. While it is certainly important to have Jesus impact how we live now, this life is only “a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Our resurrection to eternal life is what enlivens our living for today and is our greatest hope for our future. Next Step: Fully engage in living each day to please Jesus empowered by your coming resurrection to eternal life. Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, James 4:13-17, John 11:32-44 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/yourresurrection Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To get what you want mostin relationships, show the same mercy to others that God shows to you and do what is good in your relationships. You live mercy towards others, not because you have to be good enough, but as the obvious response to the mercy God has shown you. Next Steps: Take the reformation step you most need right now. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 5:7 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy6 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
God’s Way of experiencing what we want most in our relationships is being impartial and sincere. Jesus taught and lived this ethic. Loving those who challenge us (our enemies or those who persecute us) is a radical response and display of God’s love. To get what you want most in relationships, treat others with impartiality and sincerely love those who challenge you. Lessons: Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 5:43-48 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy5 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To get what you want most in relationships, yield to others and break free from abuse. Next Steps: Identify a relationship where you sense God is nudging you to yield more to the other and begin yielding. If there is abuse, break free from the abuse. Lessons: Isaiah 61:1-2, Galatians 5:1, 13-15, Matthew 5:5 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy4 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To get what you want most in relationships, listen, seek first to understand and effectively resolve conflicts. Definition of considerate: showing kindly awareness and regard for another's feelings and circumstances. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. This sermon will teach ten steps to resolving conflict, making use of insights from Crucial Conversations. Next Steps: Identify a relationship where you need to listen and seek to understand more. If you are in conflict, try using the 10 steps for resolving conflict. Lessons: Proverbs 18:2, 13, Ephesians 4:21-27, Matthew 18:15-20 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy3 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To get what you want mostin relationships, don’t feed your anger. Stay in dialogue when you become angry by mastering your stories that trigger your anger. Understand what presses your buttons. When responding to a person’s words and actions seek to first understand their pain. This sermon will teach how to faithfully deal with your anger when someone presses your buttons. Next step: Honestly look at any relationship where you find yourself angry. Seek to understand why you feel anger. Seek to understand the pain of the other person that may be motivating their behavior. Ask God to give you the heart of Jesus for that person and avoid feeding your anger. Lessons: Proverbs 15:1-2, 18, James 1:19-20, Matthew 5:9, 21-24 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy2 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
To get what you want mostin relationships, understand and live God’s pure way of steady goodness. In our relationships we sometimes confuse what we sometimes think we want with what we really want most. What we want most in relationships is what God wants most for us in our relationships. This is God’s Way for our relationships. God’s way for our relationships is pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Integrity is God’s way to be pure in our relationships. God’s way of being pure refers towhen we behave with integrity in our relationships. All relationships are built on trust and trust is built on integrity. “Steady goodness” is a way to understand integrity. Behaviors that reflect steady goodness in relationships include following God’s personal morality commands, radical honesty, speaking kindly, and following through on our promises. Next Step: Honestly determine where you are not acting with steady goodness in a relationship and change that behavior to reflect the pure way of God. Lessons: Proverbs 2:6-8, James 3:13-18, Matthew 5:8 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/crazy1 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Don’t run away from the world because the world needs us. Sometime it is hard to be a Christian in the world. Some in the world have a very negative view of our faith. They think we are judgmental. In Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, we learn from Jesus how to be in the world. We learn that even when Jesus faced difficulties, barriers, weariness, and stress, he let his love lead him to give the woman what she needed most – the living water of salvation. Lessons: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, John 4:1-26 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/intheworld2 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Remember you are not of this world. Live the tension of being in the world but not of the world. Your identity and confidence rests in the eternal salvation Jesus has given you and that you have accepted through faith. Next Step: Find your identity and confidence in the being connected to Jesus. Lessons: Isaiah 42:5-7, Philippians 3:20-21, John 17:6-21 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/intheworld1 Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Improve your working conditions by primarily serving the Lord and others in your work. We spend a significant part of our lives doing our work. For some, work can be the frustrating and painful toil spoken about in Genesis 3:17. For others, work can be a meaningful and fulfilling career. The difference comes down to for whom we understand that we are primarily working. We learn from Jesus teaching on the greatest commandment and from Paul’s teaching to slaves how to improve our working conditions by working at our labors with all our heart because we are primarily serving God and others. Next Step: Repeat this mantra in your work, “Whatever I do, work at it with all my heart for I am primarily serving the Lord and others.” Short version: “This is for God and to bring God to others.” Lessons: Genesis 3:17-19, Colossians 3:22-4:1, Mark 12:28-31 Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/work Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Kim and Annie Colich are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators, serving in Papua New Guinea among the Tami people. For many years St. Luke has financially and prayerfully supported their mission. Kim will be preaching that Jesus is our redeemer who has broken all the chains that bind us. Lessons: Psalm 107:1-16, Acts 16:16-34, John 8:31-32
Becoming more like Jesus means to give our lives to serve, invite, and give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. Our faith is active in love. Next Step: Find at least one way to serve, one way to invite, and one way to give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. Lessons: Isaiah 58:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 15:1-7
We were designed by God to be in close relationship, so why not seek it out. One of the first moves Jesus made was to form a life group of close friends that did life together. We are who we hang out with, so vibrant friendships with other Christ-followers is necessary to becoming a fully-devoted follower of Jesus. In strong life groups we experience the yoke of Jesus that is easy, his burden that is light, and find sanctuary for our souls. Next Step: Sign up to be in a life group during the coming church-wide campaign. Lessons: Genesis 2:15-23a, Hebrews 10:22-25, Matthew 11:28-30
Refresh: Learn, Live, Unleash This series will refresh our mission, vision, and discipleship path. We come to worship to learn God’s Word and give God glory. Faith comes from hearing the word. Worship is our primary ministry for learning God’s word that leads to faith. Our response to what we learn of God’s love centered in Jesus is to give God glory through our worship of God. Next Step: Determine what step would help deepen your worship experience and then take that step. Lessons: Psalm 29:1-2, Romans 10:8-17, Matthew 28:16-20
While Jesus and his disciples were desiring time away to rest and talk about all God had just done through them, they didn’t turn their back to the needs of the people. They remained available to what God wanted them to do most.
How about you? Have you had moments in your life where you felt God wanting you to do one thing, but you did something else instead? Why do we do this? What makes being available to Christ so hard?
This sermon aims to give you tools to remain available to Christ every moment of every day, because living available for Christ changes lives for the better. It changes lives for the better today and for eternity.
Lessons: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Jesus offers his disciples a template for prayer in what we have come to call “The Lord’s Prayer,” which begins by acknowledging God’s holy name and God’s kingdom. Jesus teaches his disciples that prayer begins not with what we want, but what God wants and desires. Prayer brings us into alignment with God’s will and rule, and we will receive what we need to live in God’s kingdom: the gift of the Holy Spirit. Next steps: Try using the Lord’s Prayer as your prayer template this week, focusing especially on the first half of the prayer. Ask God to show you what it looks like to live under God’s kingdom and in accordance with God’s will. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you to live according to God's will. Lessons: Psalm 138, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 11:1-13
Death and death-like experiences are the reality in our lives. To ignore this reality is naïve and can bring ridicule from others. Jesus faced such ridicule when he ignored the realities that kept people trapped in death and death-like experiences. He raised them up to new life. Our stubborn Savior, Jesus, continues to ignore the death-like realities of our lives to give us the abundant life God intends for us to experience. Next Step: Trust that Jesus ignores your death-like realities to give you new life. Repeat the “New Life Prayer” to increase your trust in what Jesus has done for you. Lessons: Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Mark 5:21-24, 35-42
Jesus keeps looking for us when we are hiding in fear. Many of us are held back from deeper intimacy with God and others because we fear being exposed for who we think we truly are. Jesus is our stubborn Savior who is relentless in searching for us and his perfect love casts out our fear. When we surrender to Jesus and open our whole lives to him, he embraces us as his own child with unconditional acceptance. We physically experience his embrace through other followers of Jesus who accept us and love us like Jesus. Next Step: Identify anything you are trying to hide from the Lord. Surrender it to him. Find a few Christian friends with whom you can be real. Lessons: Genesis 3:1-10, 1 John 4:15-19, Mark 5:21-34
Jesus never said this faith will be easy. We ask questions, we doubt, and we fear the uncertainty of our tomorrows. But it is these struggles where we wrestle with our faith that we emerge stronger, ready to face our trials knowing that together with God and those in community the face of God is always upon us. Next Step: Identify those places of struggle, share these struggles with a trusted partner, and pray and encourage each other as these times of struggle will lead to new life strengthened with God. Lessons: Genesis 32:22-32, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus brings remarkable change. God raises us from death to life and persistently changes us and to be more like Jesus. Some of these changes happen rapidly while others are slow and steady. What is always the case is that these changes are remarkable and the change can be seen as the difference between a mustard seed and full grown mustard plant. Next Step: Jesus changes you. Lay down your barriers to change and put yourself in a place to be remarkably transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Jesus now and in eternity. Lessons: Ezekiel 17:22-24, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Mark 4:30-32
Sharing the story of Jesus working in our lives can be intimidating, scary even. If we let out fears keep us silent, Satan is the only one who wins. If we listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as have an opportunity to come along where God is already working. God gave us love and boldness to share his love. In letting fear rule what we share we miss the opportunity to be at the intersection where God's love meets someone's insecurities and hurts. After hearing this message, we hope you will practice telling fellow Christians what Jesus is doing in your life. Be bold to share with nonchristians who you already have a foundation of friendship with. Lessons: Exodus 3:10-14, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus shows his power over sin and evil in his ministry, and on the cross through his death and resurrection. All who acknowledge their sinfulness before God may receive forgiveness and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Next step: As Luther suggests in the Small Catechism, begin each day by acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, and open yourself to the power of the Holy Spirit to forgive and heal you. Lessons: Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 130, Mark 3:20-35
There is often a misunderstanding of the act of worship, that it lives only on Sunday mornings at church, and that we worship God for what we get out of it or to impress others. We often don’t enter church in a spirit to declare the worth of God in honest celebration and proclamation, and we rarely find ways to worship outside of the church building. By redefining our definition of what worship is, we seek to truly experience God’s presence daily, be in awe of the life-giving and life-flowing power of God that transforms our hearts, and be sent to tell others about Him! Next step: Pray and ask God to search us and give us courage to repent of anything keeping us from worshiping Him. Recognize that we worship Christ from a grateful heart that knows that He is changing us to be more like Him. Lessons: Psalm 100, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 24:50-53
The Holy Trinity is the relationship between the three persons of the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The purpose of this relationship is bring us into an eternal relationship with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our essential belief in the Holy Trinity is based on the historical experience of the apostles. We hope this message will help you understand and be able to teach our essential belief in the Holy Trinity more clearly. Lessons: Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Romans 8:12-17, Matthew 28:16-20
Because of Jesus, God lives in you. In the person of the Holy Spirit, God lives in the heart of every Christ Follower. This is the full and radical restoration of the original and blessed relationship that God intended to exist between each of us and God. It is the Holy Spirit that creates in us faith to trust Jesus, keeps us in true faith, guides us into all truth, enlightens us with his gifts, and guides us to take steps along the discipleship path to become more like Jesus. Next Step: Depending where you are in your journey with the Lord, trust in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, surrender to the Holy Spirit’s power within you, or open your thoughts, words, and actions to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Do one action that you sense the Holy Spirit directing you to do. Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 16:7-15
It is to our great and eternal benefit that Jesus ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God to judge the living and the dead. We know that a physical human being can survive in heaven. We know that that one who has all the authority to eternally judge us died to make us right with God. We know that Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us. Next Step: Next time that you say the Creed, declare the ascension of Jesus with enthusiasm and then pause to imagine what a great and eternal benefit the ascension is for you. Lessons: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53
When your behavior causes devastating or even death-consequences in your life, you can trust that God continues to work for your deliverance and salvation. Jesus is a bigger savior than you could ever be a sinner. Maybe you get engulfed in thinking you deserve this punishment. When you wrestle with those deeply hidden feelings of regret, guilt, or shame over what you have said, done, or thought (especially towards others), take them to the Lord. Learn from the wretched prophet Jonah to cry out to Jesus from that pit and trust that Jesus will deliver you and bring you salvation. God loves you so completely that God does not want you to suffer in that dark belly of engulfing feelings of regret, guilt, and shame. God wants you and empowers you to have the ridiculous faith to trust that God will deliver you and bring you salvation even when what you are suffering is because of your own running away from God. God will raise you from this death. Imagine the transforming change we can bring to others if we start sharing our Jonah-like stories of how God forgives us, delivers us from these hidden feelings, and brings us salvation. Share your faith stories. Lessons: Jonah 2:1-10, 1 John 1:5-9, Matthew 12:38-41
When your past is so daunting that there is no way you deserve someone to forgive you and yet that is exactly what God does, it takes a ridiculous faith to actually think you can be forgiven of your past sins. But not only does God forgive Paul but uses him to impact the world in such a way that we can’t even comprehend the impact he made in shaping the Christian church Next Step: When you think there is no way God can forgive you for your past, rest in the assurance that there is nothing you have done in the past that God cant forgive you for when you trust in him Lessons: Acts 9:1-15
Fully intending to complete a terrible action over which you have full control, and yet trusting that God will provide a way out takes ridiculous faith. In all his preparations and during his journey to the mountain, Abraham fully intended to follow through with the sacrifice of his only son, Isaac. Yet, Abraham believed that God would provide the lamb for the sacrifice. Even as Abraham raised the knife over Isaac’s body bound on the altar, fully intending to bring it down to kill his son, Abraham believed that God would provide the lamb. When everything around us and in us is intent on causing terrible outcomes, we trust that God is working for our good and will provide a new life for us. Next step: When everything in life is telling that all hope is lost, trust that God has a plan and will provide. Lessons: Genesis 22:1-18, Luke 24:36b-48
Trusting that a dead man rose to new life and that we will also raise from death takes ridiculous faith. We know from the reports of those who saw Jesus risen from the dead that believing what they saw and heard did not come easily or consistently. Realistic doubts filled their minds. And yet, every one of them eventually trusted that Jesus rose from the dead and they faced persecution for the rest of their lives because their faith. For us who were not eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection, trusting that he rose and that we also will rise from the dead flies in the face of death’s tangible reality. And yet, we trust that because Jesus rose, so shall we. While there are convincing proofs for the resurrection of Jesus, God leaves a step of ridiculous faith for us to take and enter into God’s eternal kingdom. Next step: If learning the proofs for the resurrection of Jesus will help you, seek to learn them. But, accept that you will still have to take a step of faith that is both reasonable because of the proofs, but ridiculous because of death’s tangible reality. If you are ready, take that step of faith. Lessons: Acts 17:31-34a, 1 Corinthians 15:1-7, John 20:19-31
- The Word of Forgiveness - “Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 - Aaron McCullough - The Word of Promise - “Today you shall be with me in
paradise.” Luke 23:43 - Laura Whistler - The Word of Love - “Woman, behold your son! Behold your
mother!” John 19: 26-27 Anthony Janutolo - The Word of Loneliness - “My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 - Abby Zaino - The Word of Suffering - “I thirst.” John 19:28 - Bob Russo
- The Word of Victory - “It is finished.” John 19:30 - Pastor Steve
- The Word of Trust - “Father, into Your hands I commend my
spirit.” Luke 23:46 - Meredith Miller
What specifically does it mean for you to wash feet? The answer to this question will vary from person to person. After exploring what it meant for Jesus to humble himself and wash the feet of his disciples, time will be given for people to reflect answer the question, where in your connection with others is God nudging you to humble yourself in order to serve the needs of the other person ahead of your own? Next step: Identify one situation where God is nudging you to humble yourself in order to serve the needs of someone else. Lessons: Leviticus 19:32-34, Galatians 5:13-14, John 13:1-17, 34-35
We all have a sacred responsibility to raise up the next generation to trust and follow Jesus. There is a persistent temptation in our lives and ministries to just finish our own race faithfully. An essential step on our discipleship path is pouring into the next generation with everything we have to effectively raise them up to trust and faithfully follow Jesus. This sermon will teach ways to effectively do this and challenge our church step up our efforts in children, student, and young adult ministries. Next step: Identify at least one person younger than you to disciple and initiate that process. In some helpful way, participate in our children, student, and young adult ministries. Lessons: Judges 2:6-15, Psalm 78:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 21:12-17
Through Christ, God kept his promise and proved He can be trusted. Christ calls us in return to follow him. It is through Jesus that we tangibly see God's love in action, fulfilling the new covenant promise he made through Jeremiah. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33
Refocus this prayer to the Lord, “Watch over and protect me/us/someone” to “No matter what, use me.” This is like when Jesus refocused his prayer in the garden from “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.” to “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” We live in a world that is broken by sin and because of this everyone suffers to some degree and dies. Sooner or later the “watch over and protect me in this life” prayer will be answered “No”. God’s mission is to seek and to save all people. We see from the experience of Jesus and most every one of his followers in the New Testament that God’s mission takes precedence over “watch over and protect me/us/someone.” Next Step: Continue to pray, “Watch over and protect me/us/someone.” but let that prayer be superseded by “No matter what, use me.” Lessons: Mark 14:32-36
Refocus this prayer to the Lord, “Forgive me.” “I forgive as you forgive me.” All of our sins, past, present, and future have already been forgiven, so our prayer response is to forgive those who have sinned against us. This is the first step on God’s path of restoring our relationships with those who have wronged us and moves us away from our self-destructive desire for revenge. Next Step: Continue to ask God to forgive you, but let that prayer be superseded by “I forgive …” Lessons: Ephesians 4:30-32, Matthew 18:21-35
When life gets hard, God brings new possibilities. When we experience loss, we grieve for what we had hoped would have been our future (Option A). At the same time, God helps us to see new possibilities that may not have happened without the loss (Option B). In an amazing juxta-position that only God can create, God helps us to see, enjoy, and fully live these new possibilities while at the same time helping us to grieve what was lost. Next Step: Identify a new possibility that grew out of a loss you experienced. Thank God for that new possibility even as you grieve what was lost. Ask God to use this experience to build greater resiliency and joy in you. Lessons: Isaiah 6:8-13, Philippians 4:10-13, Mark 9:14-29
When life gets hard, God brings more meaning in life. God works through our loss and suffering to clarify what is most important and give us a grandeur vision for our life. Next step: Identify how hard times have helped you to clarify what is most important and given you a grandeur vision. Thank God for that clarity and vision and live to fulfill that vision. Gain greater resiliency and joy from living out this grandeur vision. Lessons: Psalm 57:1-5, Romans 5:1-5, John 5:16-30
In the most mind-blowing move, God has come to live in us as the Holy Spirit. More than saying “The Lord is with you.”, now we can say, “The Lord is in you.” God is all in us. So instead of praying “God be with me.”, we refocus our prayers to say, “God, live through me to accomplish your mission.”
Next Step: Trusting the God lives in you, pray for God to live through you to accomplish his mission. Know what the mission that God desires to live through you by listening to God in prayer.
Lessons: Ephesians 3:14-21, John 14:16-20
When life gets hard, God brings deeper relationships. Truly knowing that you are not alone in your suffering deepens your relationships with those who stand with you when life gets hard. The relational bonds that are created when friends stand by each other in times of adversity are deep, abiding, and bring great comfort. God ministers to us through these deepening relationships. What are some practical steps you can take to foster and deepen relationships with those who will stand together with you when life gets hard? Next Step: Foster and deepen relationships with those who will stand with you when life gets hard.Gain greater resiliency and joy from these relationships. Lessons: Proverbs 17:17, Galatians 6:2, Luke 10:25-37
When life gets hard, God brings a deeper level of appreciation for what we have. God helps us to see with greater appreciation blessings that we normally overlook. While we still may suffer, God awakens in us a clarity to see and appreciate the many good gifts he has given us. Next Step: Start a thankful journal. Allow this discipline to build in you greaterresiliencyand joy. Lessons: Psalm 8, Hebrews 12:28, Matthew 6:25-33
Being more aware of your mortality, more deeply embrace your reconciliation with eternal God. On Ash Wednesday we are graphically reminded that we will all soon die. This convicting truth drives us to seek what only God can give, eternal life. God laid on Jesus our sin and death, so that in Jesus we would become right with God and have the assurance of eternal life. Embracing this great gift in Jesus, we can say with the Apostle Paul, “dying, and yet we live on.” Next Step: Remember that you dust, and to dust you shall return, but remember more boldly still that you are forever reconciled to God and have become the righteousness of God. Surrender your life to Jesus. Lessons: Joel 2:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2, John 6:66-69
When life gets hard, God brings personal strength to face the trials.Because this personal strength comes from God,it is beyond what we thought, it is based on what Jesus accomplished for us, and it helps us to face the future with confident hope. Next Step: Pray for God’s personal strength that builds resiliency, trust that it will grow in you, and recognize it when it happens. Allow yourself to experience joy when this happens. Lessons: Isaiah 41:8-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, John 16:32-33
Sermon Outline
Inspired by Option B, written by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, this series will teach five ways that God brings meaning to the suffering and loss we experience in life. When life gets hard, God brings post-traumatic growth through the direct ministration of His Holy Spirit and the consolation of His people. Through this, God works to build in us greater resilience and help us find joy.
This week's message:
When life gets hard, God brings meaning to lift us out of the false pits of personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence. Personalization is the mindset that I am at fault. Pervasiveness is the mindset that a hard event will affect all areas of my life. Permanence is the mindset that the aftershocks of a hard event will last forever. These stunt our recovery and hinder building God-given resiliency. (Option B, p. 16) Personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence recede as God brings meaning to our suffering and loss. In this way, God builds in us greater resiliency and joy. Next step: Identify which of the false pits of personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence has stunted your journey of grief. Ask God to bring meaning to your experience, build greater resiliency in you, and help you find joy. Lessons: Job 4:7-8, Psalm 13, Romans 6:23, Luke 13:1-5
Jesus is God’s answer to evil. God’s answer to evil is to silence it in our lives, drive it out of our lives, and ultimately defeat it through the resurrection of Jesus. Next Step: Identify what is pulling you towards false belief and despair. Trust that Jesus commands this evil to be silent and to come out of your life. Trust that all evil is ultimately defeated in the resurrection. Lessons: Genesis 3:14-15, Galatians 1:3-5, Mark 1:21-28
We see in Scriptures of people dropping everything to follow Jesus in the Bible. But what was the actual cost for them to do this? In this day and age, many people say they want to follow Jesus but are we truly willing to accept the cost of following Jesus Next Step: If we say we want to follow Jesus then we need to figure out what he is calling us to do personally in our faith and as a church body here at St. Luke. Lessons: Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:5-12, Mark 1:14-20
Warmth is to be in the DNA of our church family. The warmth of our relationships with one another is to in every cell in the body of our community. Engaging preaching, dynamic worship, excellent programs, effective outreach, and a well-kept building are important in our mission, but the warmth of our community trumps everything. Jesus said that the world will know that we are his followers by the way we love one another. Warmth in our relationships spreads which means when we are experiencing growing warmth in our relationships with one another, we more often spread that warmth to others, including guests. Next Step: Sign up to be in a life group. Lessons: Psalm 133, 1 Timothy 5:1-3, Luke 2:41-52
What happy people do is live by God’s values. Using a country music song, titled "Happy People," and Psalm 1 as a text, this sermon will teach that we experience happiness when live by God’s values, share the good news of Jesus, and help those in need. Next Step: As a step towards being happy, wisely start of 2018 living by God’s values, doing outreach, and serving others. Lessons: Psalm 1, Philippians 2:14-18, Matthew 5:1-12
Fear can completely overtake us and be the sole power controlling what we do. Even in trusting God and remaining strong in him, fear can still enter into your life. You are not alone in this, it happens to everyone. Continuing to push these fears away and putting on a brave face to the outside world does nothing but make them worse. Rather than pretending all is good in your life, Jesus encourages us to recognize these fears and allow them to show. He gives us the strength to overcome these fears because the truth is that we cannot overcome them alone. Giving them up and placing your trust in the Lord will free you from these burdens of fear that evil has placed on your heart. Lessons: Psalm 56:1-13, 1 Peter 5:5b-11, John 14:1, 15-18, 27-28
God’s answer to “Why?” is Jesus who entered into our chaos and we become God’s answer when we enter into the chaos of another. The shocking reality of Christmas is that God entered our world in a human baby born into a human family. God is experienced in family and community. Faith is lived in family and community where God enters into the chaos of others through us. Lessons: Isaiah 7:14, Galatians 4:4-5 (NRSV), Luke 2:1-20
Through forgiving our sins, Jesus made it certain that we will be with God, now and for eternity. The Jewish people clearly understood is that our rebellion against God’s values (sin) separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 This is why there was a question whether Most Holy God would dwell among sinful human beings in a temple built by human hands. Will God really dwell with us? The answer to the question is Jesus, God in human flesh, who sacrificed his body and blood for us to forgive our sins and eternally reconcile us with God. Next Step: In Holy Communion, hear, see, touch and taste the word of forgiveness, trust that it is true for you, and know that nothing can now separate you from God. Lessons: 1 Kings 8:46-51, Ephesians 3:14-17a, Mark 1:1-8
Jesus is God with us who gives us real life in tangible ways. He makes our paths straight. As Christians, we can sometimes become too focused on the life to come after we die. The Jewish people had a healthy understanding that God dwells with us now in this life and God’s dwelling with us now makes all the difference as He provides justice, restoration, and teaching to give us real life. Next Step: Decide what you need most in your life right now: justice, restoration, or teaching. Pray for God to dwell with you in your need and for you to see God’s answer to your prayer. Lessons: 1 Kings 8:31-40, Ephesians 3:17b-21, John 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon Outline Knowing that Jesus dwells with us gives us the peace and courage to face troubles in the world because Jesus is God and he has overcome the world. The Christian claim that God came to dwell with us in Jesus is shocking. Such a claim was always shocking. When Solomon built the first temple, there was some question as to whether God would actually dwell among his people in the temple. To claim that the unlimited God would actually commit to be in the temple seemed prideful to some. This is one reason Israel had not yet built a temple. How could unholy people hope to have holy God live among them? The answer to the question is Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel. Next Step: Identify a trouble in your life where it would be helpful to understand that God is with you in that trouble? Pray the “God is with me prayer” over that trouble. Lessons: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43, Colossians 1:15-20, John 14:1-3, 16:33
Christ the King Sunday
Leadership is a hot topic these days, both because of our desire to lead better and our perception of a great lack of effective leadership in our country. The way that Jesus chose to lead and reign as king was to complete the mission his Father ordained for him – dying on the cross for make us right with God and rising again to win for us eternal life. The leadership and reign of Jesus is one of a servant who gives us abundant and eternal life. For this we are thankful. Lessons: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-38
It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive. These words echo much louder than the mere act of giving our time, talents, and treasures… We will look at Jesus’ words and how the act of giving is a shadow of the God’s grace to his children. Lessons: Acts 20:25, 32-35, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Matthew 6:19-21
God doesn’t need our generosity, but we do. Stewardship isn't something we love to talk about, but the Bible teaches how important it is for us. We will look at why it is an important habit in our lives. We will learn why we are to be good stewards of our money, not because God needs it but because God knows what generosity does to our hearts and ultimately our lives.
Make a plan for your generosity in 2018.
Lessons: Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Mark 12:41-43
Sermon Outline Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus. Becoming Foundationally Evangelical After a year of prayer and discussion, we believe the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family is to increase our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This sermon will teach the strategy that we will use to move from here (not being foundationally evangelical) to there (being foundationally evangelical.) Next Step: Whole-heartedly participate when the Organic Outreach Strategy reaches you. In the meantime, develop a FRANC list, begin praying for them to trust in Jesus, and read a book on how to naturally and comfortably share the message of Jesus with others. Lessons: Revelation 7:9-17, Romans 10:9-17, Matthew 9:35-38
Sermon Outline Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus. True Freedom We have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We have been set free from all requirements of obeying the commands of God in order to be made right with God. Now we can do whatever we most want to do. We are free. What a follower of Jesus most wants to do is to love others as Christ has loved us. Next Step: Find one way this week for your faith to be active in love. Lessons: Psalm 119:41-45, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, John 8:2-11
Sermon Outline Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus. Outreach At the Last Supper, Jesus referred to the new covenant poured out in his blood. In this new covenant, Jesus shifted the motivation for our moral behavior away from trying to keep God happy with our behavior to respond to the love God has for us in Christ through serving, inviting, and giving to the meet the hopes and hurts of others. It moved from vertical morality to horizontal morality. While sacrificing to meet the hopes and hurts of others has always been pleasing to God, it simply became more of the focus in the teaching and example of Jesus. This is what love requires of us. Next Step: Give up any thought that your position with God depends on keeping God happy and simply find ways to serve others. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, 1 John 3:16-18, John 13:33-35
As we conclude this series, we will teach that occasionally we are moved to do something we don’t have to do in order to start God’s party in someone’s life. Reggie Joiner writes, “If you only do what you have to do, you will be limited in what you do. It’s the stuff that you don’t have to do that ultimately changes your faith.” Look for opportunities to go the extra mile for someone. Lessons: Leviticus 24:19-20, Romans 12:14-21, Matthew 5:38-42
In the time of Jesus, children were considered less than fully human. Yet, Jesus engaged children, held them up as examples of faith, and so identified with them that he said that when we welcome a kid, we welcome Jesus. This was shocking in Jesus’ day. We are thankfully in a significantly more kid-friendly culture and the followers of Jesus have been in the forefront of this shift in western culture. Yet, every kid is looking for an older person to engage with them and inspire them. We can start and life-change party in their lives when we take a shot at making them laugh, helping them trust Jesus, and encouraging their dreams. How we inspire and encourage a child will shape how they see God and change how we see God. Jesus tells us that in the children we will see Jesus. Find a way to inspire and encourage a kid. It is a simple and easy step to take. Lessons: Proverbs 22:6, 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Luke 9:46-48, 18:15-17
In many churches, September 24 is being observed as Freedom Sunday, an initiative led by the International Justice Mission which seeks to free those caught in slavery and human trafficking. Using the example of Jesus speaking up for the woman caught in adultery, this sermon will teach that starting a party for someone may first mean speaking up and/or acting to defend them against those that seek to oppress that person. Reggie Joiner writes, “We have a responsibility for those who are marginalized, to stand up for those who don’t have the access or influence to stand for themselves and stand beside those who are advocating for a better way and a better world. Christians should be the first to say, ‘This is not a political issue; this is a people issue.’”
Lessons: Deuteronomy 10:16-19, James 1:26-27, John 8:2-11
This former German priest became one of the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation. Luther taught that salvation is not earned by good deeds or by purchasing indulgences but only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. This formidable theological giant also confronted issues such as greed and the necessity of interpreting scripture through thorough exegetical study informed by the Holy Spirit. Luther provided future generations of theologians with the radical concept of the God from Below, the God who has special concern for the poor and oppressed. Lessons: Psalm 118, Romans 3:21-27, John 8:31-36
No one would ever think that having a party alone is a good idea. Such a party would be ridiculous, boring, and meaningless. God created us to discover and enjoy the party of life together in community. Life is simply better together. Jesus modeled this in his own ministry and Paul encourages us to do life together. One of the first moves that an effective party starter does is to invite people into the community of the party. Invite yourself and others into a life group to discover and enjoy the party of life together. Lessons: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, John 17:20-26
When God created the heavens and the earth, he made it beautiful. God did this both out of his own eternal value for beauty and as an inspiration for us to revere God. An effective party starter creates the right and beautiful environment so that the guests can enjoy the party and each other. Lessons: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14, Colossians 3:15-17, 23-24, Matthew 26:6-13
In our series, Sometimes It Takes A Party, we discover unconventional and simple ways to build relationships with others that can lead to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
When we start a party that meets someone else's dream, we reflect Christ's character and draw people closer to him.
Lessons: Ruth 1:8-18, Philippians 2:1-8, John 13:1-15
Habits of a Party Starter: Invite Someone New to the Party
We can think of a “party” has any human encounter where a follower of Jesus cares for another person in order to show that person who Jesus is. Inviting someone can be someone you may not know well, it also means inviting someone who is not like you.
Lesson: Acts 1:1-8, Galatians 3:23-29, Matthew 15:21-28
God can work through a party to break down barriers to reach lost people and encourage followers of Jesus. Through a party God can change the way we see each other, demonstrate that God cares about people who party, confirm that we are always forgiven, show that people matter more than our opinions, and teach us that everyone is invited to God’s eternal party. Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, Acts 10:9-23, Luke 5:27-32
This week features our annual look at how God is working in the lives of our students.
Lessons: Nehemiah 8:5-6, Acts 9:1-6,13-16, Luke 22:39-44
Drawing on Luther’s work on Christian Freedom we will talk about the paradox of liberty and slavery. Luther says, "A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” When we truly comprehend and internalize what Jesus has done for us, then we are compelled to serve and share the Gospel with others. Lessons: Psalm 16, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, John 8:31-47
The parables of the Sower and the mustard seed liken God’s Word to seed that is planted and grows. We as Jesus’ disciples are called to spread the seed of God’s word. However, it is easy to get discouraged when we don’t see results from our ministry. But these lessons remind u that it is God who gives the growth. Our calling is to be faithful, to continue to share the astonishing good news of Jesus Christ with our neighbors and friends, in word and deed. Lessons: 1 Corinthians 3:4-7, Mark 4:1-9; 26-34
The gospel record reports that the first reactions to the resurrection of Jesus were bewilderment, fear, and doubt. This is understandable given that someone rising from the dead is an astonishing event. Jesus continues to raise us from death to life. This is the astonishing pattern of the Christian life: we die to sin and are raised to new life.
Lessons: Mark 16:1-14, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Luke 24:36-46
When Jesus died, people were astonished that Jesus actually died. It remains astonishing that the way that Jesus brought in God’s kingdom was to die on the cross. Lessons: Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13-14, Mark 15:22-36, Luke 23:44-49
Jesus taught in a way that amazed people. The parables and various teachings of Jesus often left people astonished along a spectrum of indignation to sweet freedom. Most often what we discover in the astonishing teachings of Jesus is God’s unremitting love for those whom most religious people think are undeserving of God’s love. Lessons: Mark 1:21-28, Romans 5:6-11, Luke 15:1-7
This summer series will explore gospel accounts of Jesus that, when carefully read, leave us astonished at the behavior and teaching of Jesus. The goal of the series is to see Jesus in a way that will provoke our curiosity and as though we are seeing him for the first time. This will also help to better prepare us to share Jesus with others in a way where they will be astonished by Jesus and their curiosity about Jesus will be provoked. When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples he gave them his authority to do what only God can do, “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” and to give freely. Jesus’ purpose in doing this empowers us to be effective in reaching the lost. Lessons: Deuteronomy 6:1-6,Revelation 2:1-5a, Matthew 9:35-10:8 Sermon Outline
The gospel record reports that the miraculous signs, wonders, and healings that Jesus performed astonished people. They still astonish us. The purpose of these miraculous signs and wonders was to give witness to the astonishing truth that Jesus is God in human flesh who came to teach us that God does not keep a religious score card on us. Lessons: John 14:7-14, Colossians 2:13-15, Matthew 17:24-27
Our God is a relational God, whose love cannot be contained but shared with the world. You have been claimed and called by God in your baptism to experience and share the love of God in Christ with others. Lessons: Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20
Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian Church. When God sent his Spirit into the first Apostles it was for one reason, so that they would witness to Jesus “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts. 1:8) so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Lessons: Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23
Sometimes in our world we get so caught in what the Church is against and don't focus on what we are for. As followers of Christ we are called to be FOR our neighbors. Today we will look at what it can look like when the Church focuses on what we are FOR more than what we are against. Lessons: Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 28:16-20
Why would a loving God allow evil and suffering? The ultimate purpose and meaning that God brings to our suffering are Jesus and the eternal salvation God desires for all people. The problem of evil and suffering remains in our lives, but in the midst of that, continue to trust that Jesus is God’s ultimate answer. Lessons: Isaiah 45:5-7, Romans 3:5-9, John 9:1-11
Happy Mother's Day!
Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ.
We may sometimes fall into a pit of despair because we think that no one truly cares for us. This thinking is often driven by fears of opposition, scarcity, accusation, condemnation, and separation. In some of the greatest verses in the Bible, we learn that God is for us, God gives to us, God forgives us, God will not condemn us, and God will never leave us. In Christ, we now have security (assurance) that nothing can separate us from God.
Lessons: Acts 7:55-60, Romans 8:31-39, John 14:1-6
Sermon Outline
Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ.
For every one of us there comes times in life where we become desperate because life becomes too hard. We may be overwhelmed with suffering, loss, discouragement, disappointment, or despair. With all of creation that has been broken by sin, we suffer and groan. The great promise of God is that in all things he is working for our good. Because of Jesus, we KNOW this great promise and therefore we live now expectantly and without desperation.
Lessons: Psalm 13, Romans 8:17-30, John 10:1-10 Sermon Outline
Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ.
Most of us struggle at times with the frustration of thinking that we are never going to change. In Christ, we now have victory over the frustration we have in trying to change. We receive this victory because we have a new nature, a new power, and a new Father.
Lessons: Romans 8:4b-17, Luke 15:11-32
Sermon Outline
Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ. Most all of us struggle at times with feelings of not being good enough. Feelings of condemnation can overwhelm us. The great news is that In Christ we now have freedom from condemnation as we understand that God is not angry with us, does not punish us, does not reject us, and does not remove his blessing from us. Lessons: Psalm 103:8-14, Romans 8:1-4a, Luke 24:36-49 Sermon Outline
What do you hope for after you die? Our future resurrection remains a hope. All of us have yet to see our resurrection. This sermon will use the account of the thief on the cross who put his hope in Jesus to teach that real hope comes from a real God who really desires to spend eternity with us. In the physical resurrection of Jesus, God has given us a physical testimony that our hope for eternal life is a real hope. The resurrection of Jesus gives us the assurance of eternal life with God. This sermon will also point to the series that will start the next Sunday on having a Confident Faith. Next Step: Make your future resurrection a more real hope to you by picturing yourself in heaven and counting on it happening. You can do that because Jesus made it a real hope when he rose from the dead. Come again next Sunday to learn how you can have a more confident faith. Lessons: Acts 10:34-43, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Matthew 28:1-10
When Jesus entered Jerusalem and created a commotion, people in the crowd who were happening by asked, “Who Is This?” The answer: “This is the man who has come into your city to be arrested for crimes that were not committed by anyone, tried, tortured, and executed by crucifixion. And he planned to do exactly this all along so that you can have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed of. Also, this man is God.” Say what? Jesus’ intentional entry into Jerusalem, having predicted three times exactly what would happen to him there, is a stunningly clear window into the mind of God and how great is God love for us! Lessons: Isaiah 50:4-6, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 20:17-19, 21:1-11
The benefits we receive through faithfully receiving Holy Communion deepen our faith and offer us forgiveness, new life, and eternal life. In the Small Catechism Martin Luther gives us wise instruction on how to understand and prepare for Holy Communion. Read through Luther’s explanation of Holy Communion in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your receiving of the sacrament. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this. Lessons: Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Small Catechism
Trusting what God accomplished in your baptism deepens your assurance of salvation and points the way to more holy living. In the Small Catechism, Luther give a clear, concise, and Biblically based understanding of Holy Baptism that offers wise and helpful instruction to guide our thoughts and actions. Read through Luther’s explanation of Holy Baptism in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this. Lessons: Titus 3:4-8 Small Catechism
The Jews understood that God dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem that was the epicenter and focus of the Jewish religion. It is likely that what got Jesus killed more than anything else was his perceived challenge of the temple and the cult surrounding it. Jesus promoted a new sanctuary where we intimately experience God; the physical body of Jesus rising from the dead, the body of Christ which is the Church, and the hearts of Christ-followers where God, the Holy Spirit, dwells. We hope you will rest in the assurance that God lives in you and therefore you are holy. Lessons: John 2:13-22, Ephesians 2:14-22, Mark 11:15-18
Petitions 5-7 and the Doxology of The Lord’s Prayer. A helpful practice when praying the Lord’s Prayer is to pray it slowly, pausing to contemplate what each part of the Lord’s Prayer means and how God answers each part. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism offers wise instruction on doing this practice. Read through Luther’s explanation of Petitions 5-7 and the Doxology of The Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this. Lessons: Luke 11:1-4 Small Catechism
Jesus raised to new life those who are dead. This is where we can have that blessed assurance that if we believe in Christ as our savior and Lord then we to will be resurrected. Lessons: Psalm 16:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, John 11:38-53
The Introduction and Petitions 1-4 of The Lord’s Prayer. A helpful practice when praying the Lord’s Prayer is to pray it slowly, pausing to contemplate what each part of the Lord’s Prayer means and how God answers each part. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism offers wise instruction on doing this practice. Read through Luther’s explanation ofthe Introduction and Petitions 1-4 of The Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this. Lessons: Matthew 6:9-13 Small Catechism
Jesus led a new mission to extravagantly forgive sins and to seek and to save the lost. He expanded the saving mission of God beyond the confines of well-behaved Jewish people. Identify a person or a group of people that you may be secretly wanting to exclude from the forgiveness of Jesus. Pray for God to change your heart and for God to lead that person or persons to faith. Lessons: Isaiah 49:5-6, Acts 13:42-48, Mark 2:13-17, 3:1-7
The Ecumenical Creeds are necessary and helpful for knowing what we believe, teaching the Christian faith, and for knowing the difference between true and false beliefs. In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther gives wise instruction to flesh out what is taught in the Apostles’ Creed. Read through Luther’s explanation of the Apostles’ Creed in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that you will have a deeper understand of our core beliefs. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this. Lessons: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Small Catechism
Jesus taught a new teaching that salvation comes through faith when we are born again through God’s work in Christ Jesus. This new teaching confused and eventually angered the religious authorities and inspire their desire to kill Jesus. For us, this new teaching is of central importance, for it gives us the blessed assurance that we are saved, not by our good works, but through the work that Jesus accomplished for us in his death and resurrection. Through the Holy Spirit and the waters of baptism, God puts us to death and raises us up to a new life. We are born again.
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Revelation 21:1-7, John 3:1-17
In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther offers wise and practical instruction on applying the 10 Commandments to our daily lives. Knowing and remembering this instruction offers helpful guidance to our daily living.
We encourage you to read through Luther’s explanation of the 10 Commandments in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can guide your daily living.
Lessons: Exodus 20:1-17
Small Catechism
Our good works of generosity and serving people in need, that are the overflow from a growing faith in Jesus, are treasured by the Lord. This gives us a solid foundation for our future and a life which is truly life. After briefly teaching this truth, Steve will interview Ray, Ruth Ann, and Caroline, to give witness to this truth. We encourage you to do one serve or give good work to meet a hope or hurt of someone in need. The Be Rich Campaign offers abundant opportunities to do this. Lessons: 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 25:31-46 Be Rich Website
Wise Instruction: Wednesdays in Lent As part of our celebration of the 500 Anniversary of the Reformation, the Wednesday Lenten services will focus on understanding Martin Luther’s Small Catechism which offers us wise instruction for better understanding our faith and living in obedience to God’s Word. The honest confession of one’s sins is a necessary, wise, and helpful spiritual discipline. This discipline is practiced both corporately and privately. Luther’s Small Catechism gives wise instruction on how to best practice this discipline. The greatest benefit from an honest confession of one’s sins is hearing and believing the words of absolution that give us the assurance of our forgiveness and salvation. We encourage you to read through Luther’s explanation of Confession in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can guide and enhance your practice of confessing your sins. Lessons: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Revelation 1:17-18, Matthew 16:13-19 Luther's Small Catechism: Confession
The most surprising move that Jesus made was to release his entire mission into the hands of his disciples. After he had gathered and discipled them, he sent them out to do his mission. Incredible, given how fallible we are! What is holding you/us back from reaching the lost and restoring the hurting? Identify what is holding you back from jumping full bore into the mission of Jesus. Pray for confidence and commitment to move through that barrier and then change one behavior that will result in you more reaching out to the lost and restoring the hurting. Lessons: Acts 1:3-11, Romans 10:8-17, John 20:19-23 Sermon Outline
Jesus’ method in leading his mission was to reproduce himself by making disciples who were led to faith, called to follow Jesus, and taught to obey everything Jesus had commanded. He reproduced spiritual children. Making disciples was Jesus mission. Who disciples you and who do you disciple? The ones we seek to disciple should include those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus. Find someone to disciple you and some for you to disciple. Lessons: Acts 4:21-23, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Matthew 28:16-20 Sermon Outline
When Jesus preached his first sermon in his home church, after he had just begun to make a name for himself, Jesus used a lesson from Isaiah to state that his mission was to announce good news to those who are hurting in order to restore them. He lived this out through the rest of his earthly ministry through his healings, defending of those being oppressed, and releasing those who were held captive to spiritual and emotional bondage. Jesus taught his followers to do the same. Next to reaching out to lead the lost into a saving faith, our mission is to serve and give to restore the broken and the hurting to real and abundant life. St. Luke often does this well. Our annual Be Rich campaign will be kicking off soon. It’s a campaign where we come together to meet the hopes and hurts of others through serving and giving to our non-profit partners. Are you making room in your own practice of faith for this work? If you have not yet done so, find your ministry to unleash God’s love that will restore the hopes and heal the hurts of those in need. Lessons: Luke 4:14-30 Sermon Outline Be Rich Brochure
Jesus stated that his mission is to reach out to seek and to save those who are lost. Jesus taught this and lived it, as illustrated in his reaching out to the tax collector, Zacchaeus. This was the primary mission of Jesus. It's why he came. Our primary mission as the body of Christ, the Church, is to do the same. How effective are we doing in our mission? How many people have moved from being lost to being found (saved)? I believe, as the pastor of St. Luke, that the reformation to which God is calling each of us and our St. Luke family is to become foundationally and organically evangelical, to raise our outreach temperature through changed behavior. After hearing this sermon, we encourage you to write your own personal mission statement that includes reaching the lost and make one change of behavior that will raise your outreach temperature one degree. Lessons: Isaiah 49:5-6, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Luke 18:35 - 19:10 Sermon Outline
We sit at a very unique, and special time in human and gospel history: namely, with the questions of the prophets and kings answered by the reality and work of Jesus. This perspective causes a heightened appreciation for the scriptures, confidence in ministry/reaching out, and urgency and focus on how we use our time, energy and resources.
In light of where and when we sit, we encourage you to evaluate how you tell yourself the story of your life, and how it aligns or maybe is at times sideways to the larger story that God is writing, and completing. What could you shift to align more of your life with the grander, and better story God is carrying forward--and thus experience more joy.
Lessons: Psalm 39:4-6, 1 Peter 1:10-12, Luke 10:21-24
We live out our purpose in our work, volunteering, and leisure. We experience real, deep, and lasting peace in our purpose when it becomes outwardly focused. When we see our primary purpose is to unleash God’s love to meet the hopes and hurts of others, we are living the purpose God wants us to live and we experience his peace in our purpose. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will evaluate your purpose in life. If it is primarily self-focused, is it giving you real, deep, and lasting peace? Make one change in how you spend your time in order to live out the purpose to serve, invite, or give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. After a time of doing this, evaluate whether you are experiencing more peace in your purpose. Lessons: Philippians 2:1-8, 1 Peter 4:7-10, Luke 6:17-19, 9:1-6 Sermon Outline
God works in our relationships to authentically resolve conflicts, provoke spiritual transparency, and foster spiritual constancy. In this way we experience real, deep, and lasting peace in our relationships. When we intentionally open our relationships to be a significant arena of life where God shapes us to live by his values (sanctification), we experience this peace in our relationships. Open up your relationships to be where God shapes you. You could begin by asking a significant person in your life one of these questions: What is something you would like me to do more often? What is an unresolved conflict that you think remains between us? What is a next step in my faith that you think would be helpful for me to take? What is a personal prayer that you would like me to begin praying for you? Lessons: Genesis 2:18-25, Ephesians 5:25-27, Matthew 5:23-24
Sermon Outline
The peace that Jesus gives is real, deep, and lasting. To have this peace with God (Up) requires that one’s god be able to deliver such peace. Learning and accepting the eternal and grace-filled love of the one true God brings this peace. To maintain our experience of peace with God requires regularly putting ourselves where God breathes his love into us. It is within this active and passionate spirituality that I have real, deep, and lasting peace about myself, my time, and my future. We hope you will accept and dwell in each moment the grace-filled love of the one true God and continually put yourself where you experience God’s grace-filled love. Lessons: Isaiah 26:3-4, Romans 5:1-5, John 14:25-31 Sermon Outline
The lives of the shepherds were, at least for a moment, reformed following a similar path that we have articulated during our Wednesday Advent services: God’s call, confusion, obedience, persistent seeking that involved movement, and giving God glory. Then we don’t hear from the shepherds again. We can only speculate what happened, but it does give us a significant question with which to wrestle: What does it take for God’s reforming of our lives to continue? Identify a way that you may be “exiting the scene” of God’s reforming work in your life and figure out how to get back into God’s narrative of reforming your life. . Lessons: Luke 2:8-20
Only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings real, deep, and lasting peace. Jesus said the peace he gives us is not the fleeting and superficial peace that the world gives, but his peace calms our fearful and troubled hearts and surpasses all human understanding (John 14:27, Philippians 4:7). It is God’s shalom in our lives. We begin to experience this peace when we trust Jesus and this peace grows in us as we learn and live by his ways. Understand that you can have real, deep, and lasting peace in your life and put yourself in a place for God to pour that peace into you.
Lessons: Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:1-20
Leprosy isn’t something that our culture deals with as much today, but it was a disease that was very prevalent during Biblical times. This disease caused many people to be ignored and treated as an outcast. While people we interact with probably don’t have leprosy the chances are that we might treat them as if they do for one reason or another. As followers of Jesus we are called to resist the temptation to treat others differently and love everyone. Lessons: Luke 17:11-19, Leviticus 13:42-46, Matthew 8:1-4
After the recent election, let’s reset our understanding of what is true greatness and how it is that we become great. In the gospel lesson, as Jesus reflects on John the Baptist, Jesus teaches that real greatness comes to those who are in the kingdom of heaven, where we are made great by the work of Jesus. As followers of Jesus we rest in the assurance that Jesus has made us great, which moves us to live lives of thankful and humble service. We live in a culture driven by hype. As followers of Jesus we can lead people to reset their understanding what it means to be great to reflect the values of Jesus, thankful and humble service to others. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will identify where you are getting caught up in the empty hype of what it means to be great. Quietly commit yourself to live by the values that Jesus teaches foster authentic greatness. Lessons: Matthew 11:2-11; Romans 8:15-17, 28-30; Mark 10:35-45 Sermon Outline
Mary followed a similar path that we articulated last Wednesday: God’s call, confusion, obedience, persistent seeking that involved movement, and giving God glory. Mary’s life was reformed. When the Holy Spirit plants (conceives) in us the seed of faith to trust Jesus, he is born into us and we become blessed even as Mary was blessed. As Mary is now called the Blessed Virgin Mary, so now we are we called Blessed. We then travel a similar path. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will rest in the assurance that, through Christ, God has chosen you and God’s call is “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Consider how you could “sing” this truth this week. Lessons: Luke 1:26-56
John the Baptist called the people of his generation to repent. This sermon will invite each of us to wrestle with this question: What is the reformation to which God is personally calling me?” The challenge in preaching on one’s personal reformation to everyone is that the reformation that God desires to bring into each person’s life is unique to them. One size does not fit all here. At this point in a person’s life, does that person need a reformation that is primarily the law (driving him to repentance), the gospel (setting her free from her bondage), or an exhortation for living a life more pleasing to God? The sermon will guide us to determine what is the personal reformation that each of us needs in our current season of life. One must be in prayerful discernment over this question because the evil one wants to convince us that what we need to hear is something opposite of what God knows we need the most. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will fearlessly and honestly determine the reformation you most need in your walk with Jesus right now and take steps to enter into that reformation. Lessons: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, Romans 8:31-39, Matthew 3:1-12 Sermon Outline
During the Wednesday Advent services we will see a similar path to Jesus that those gathered around manger of Jesus experienced: God’s unilateral and gracious call, confusion, obedience, persistent seeking that involved movement, and giving God glory. This path results in lives that are reformed and the path of lives are changed. What step of being more persistent in seeking the Lord do you need to take to more clearly see God’s work in your life and the world? Lessons: Matthew 1:18-25
“God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” We cannot lose our salvation because it is God who “calls us through the Gospel, enlightens us with his gifts, and sanctifies and keeps us in true faith.” Faith creating and faith keeping are all God’s work. God is the one who made the covenant with us and through the death of Jesus, God has kept both sides of the covenant. While everything else we hold dear passes away, the eternal life God has given us can never be taken away. For this we are most thankful. When you give thanks tomorrow, say out loud that what you are most thankful for is your eternal salvation that you cannot lose. Lessons: Romans 11:25-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 10:22-30
The New Testament was written by people who believed that they were living in the last days and that Jesus would soon return. Because of this, there is a fair amount of apocalyptic writing in the New Testament, including what the N.T. writers chose to report of the teachings of Jesus. Jesus teaches us to live our lives as though we are about to meet him face to face. Lessons: Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
God uses our sacrificial generosity to make an eternal change in us and in the lives of others. Lessons: Malachi 3:10, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Luke 10:1-9, 17-21 Sermon Outline
God works in all areas of our lives to reform us to be imitators of Jesus. The religious word for this is sanctification, which means the process of becoming holy. One of the most influential areas of our lives is our wealth. God moves a follower of Jesus to be sacrificially generous. When God works in us to become sacrificially generous, a very significant step has been taken to reform us into imitators of Jesus. Greed loses its hold on us and our hearts are freed to more wholly love God and our neighbor. That is why sacrificial generosity is described as a “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” This step into generosity is often obvious to those around us. Lessons: 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Ephesians 5:1-5, Matthew 6:19-24
On this All Saints Sunday, as we continue our Reformation quincentennial commemoration, we recall that the 16th century reformer Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg on the eve of All Saints Day in 1517. Guest preacher Joy Schroeder will talk about the life of Martin Luther and his message of justification by grace through faith.
Luther's Small Catechism
With the five pillars in place as our theological foundation, we will wrestle with this question: “What is the reformation to which God is calling you personally and St. Luke corporately?” Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 5:13-16 Sermon Outline
God’s work in Christ is 100% responsible for everyone’s salvation. Through his Holy Spirit, God alone is the author and perfector of our faith, therefore even our saving faith is 100% God’s work. Further, all our good works (sanctification) are the work of God, the Holy Spirit, working in us. Because of all of this, to God alone be the glory! Lessons: Psalm 115, Colossians 1:9-14, Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 Sermon Outline
Martin Luther described how the Word of God, for us as Christians, gives our lives their true meaning. In effect, Scripture as God’s Word interprets our lives, to reveal to us what they mean and bestow a new significance on them, in the light of Christ. A wonderful example of this is the story of Jacob at the Jabbock Brook. Lessons: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8
We live in an increasingly pluralistic culture. While this causes conflicts, it is good and enjoyable to experience the diversity of people and cultures around us. With this growing plurality comes the tension in our belief that eternal salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone. Anyone with a shred of Christ’s love in them hopes that all people will be saved, but the New Testament teaches that there is assurance of salvation only through faith in Jesus. We are motivated by the holy discontent that even one person would spend eternity separated from God. This motivates our evangelical mission to reach all people who yet do not trust in Jesus. If you have not yet done so, trust in Jesus for your salvation. If your hope or tolerance has moved you to drift into believing there is universal salvation for all people, regardless of their beliefs, then you are invited to reset your thinking that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. Let that motivate your evangelical behavior. Lessons: Acts 4:8-12, Colossians 1:15-22, John 14:1-9 Sermon Outline
Faith is the only basis upon which an eternal relationship can be built. Martin Luther said that the teaching upon which the Church stands or falls is fourth article of the Augsburg Confession which teaches that we cannot be justified before God by our own strength, merits, or work but are freely justified for Christ’s sake through faith when we believe that we are received into favor and that our sins are forgiven on account of Christ, who by his death made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in his sight. Our trust in Jesus is enough because it is 100% God’s gift to us so that we will receive God’s gift of salvation. Being saved by grace alone through faith alone means that God gives us both the actuality and the means by which to have his gift of salvation. Trust that faith in Jesus is enough for salvation. Lessons: Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 5:1-2, John 3:16-18 Sermon Outline
Salvation is 100% God’s work that he accomplished for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus and is given to us as a true gift. God planned, initiated, accomplished, and gives to us his gift of forgiveness, new life, and eternal life. Lessons: Genesis 15:1-17, Ephesians 2:1-10, Luke 23:38-43
Paul calls us to always be ready to give a defense to anyone for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Through unpacking the story of the woman at the well, we will gain a better understanding of the nature of God, his ability to overcome any barrier, and his desire for us to share our faith and make disciples of all nations. Lessons: Isaiah 59:15b-16, 1 Peter 3:13-18, John 4:1-42
The parable of the Unjust Steward may be the most difficult of Jesus’ parables to interpret, let alone find a life application. (Now, get ready for a really long, but magnificently crafted sentence.) But, if we see the Unjust Steward as Jesus who loses everything and is cast out (dies) from the employment of the rich man (God, the Father), becomes the hero (raised again) in the eyes of the rich man (God), brings all the scheming debtors (us) into the good graces of the rich man (God) by having our debt scandalously and fully paid (through his death and resurrection), and eternally changes the whole bookkeeping of the rich man (God) so that now all functions by grace (that always is disputable in the eyes of our karma-run world), then we have an interpretation that fits the context of Jesus heading to Jerusalem to die and rise again to scandalously make us right with God. A thing of beauty! This interpretation is for us incredibly good news and gives us a Savior that is considered “unjust” by the moral bookkeeping standards of the world but is a real Savior that we can connect with as one scoundrel to the other. Jesus became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13) We hope you will thankfully accept that our “Unjust Savior” has scandalously gotten you off the hook so that you “will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” that the Holy Scoundrel himself has prepared for you. Lessons: Matthew 18:21-35, Galatians 3:13-14, Luke 16:1-9
The Sabbath rest that God graciously commanded us to practice is for our benefit and yet, in our culture, we have so thoroughly turned our back on God’s gracious weekly plan for our lives. God intends that our practice of Sabbath rest and worship be a weekly reminder to us of the eternal experience of refreshment that we will enjoy in the paradise that Jesus has prepared for us. We hope you will make a plan how to have one day a week of Sabbath rest, recreation, and worship. Lessons: Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrews 4:1-3a, Mark 2:23-28
The examples of Jesus and the apostles (like Paul), the command of Jesus, the testimony of Christ followers over the last 2000 years, and the work of the Holy Spirit within us compels us to “boldly and without hindrance” preach the kingdom of God and teach others about Jesus. What holds us back from doing this? What is at stake in our reluctance? How can we overcome our reluctance? After hearing this sermon, we encourage you to name the 1-3 fears or conditions that hold you back from telling others about Jesus. Ask God to help you overcome these fears and serve you up an easy evangelism opportunity. Lessons: Acts 28:16-31, Matthew 9:35-38
We can’t do in rows what we can do in circles. It is not good for us to walk the discipleship path without the encouragement of vital friendships with other Christ followers. We encourage everyone to participate in a Life Group this fall. Lessons: Genesis 2:19-24, Galatians 6:1-2, Mark 2:1-12
Jesus’ answer to wealth inequity includes that we give to the poor. When a rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to get eternal life, the conversation led to Jesus saying to him, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor.” The earliest followers of Jesus took his teaching to heart. When Zacchaeus understood that salvation had come to his house, he responded by giving half his possessions to the poor. Acts 2 & 4 report that in the earliest Christian church that the believers were selling their possessions and goods in order to give to anyone as they had a need. The simple direction of Jesus to address wealth inequity is to give to the poor. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will figure out what you can do to give more to the poor and what we can do to bring out a more just society for those who are poor. Lessons: Isaiah 58:6-9, Acts 4:32-37, Luke 12:22-33
We are being told that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing and that wealth inequity is increasing. One sign of this may be the growing number of self-storage places where people store up their stuff. If this is true, is the growing wealth inequity just and what would Jesus say about it? In one instance (recorded in the gospel lesson) when Jesus had the opportunity to rectify the wealth inequity between two brothers, he avoided making a judgment and instead used the opportunity to teach that we are to seek first being rich towards God.
How tightly do you cling to your wealth?
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will, in prayer, ask God to guide you in taking a vigorously honest assessment at how you view your wealth. Consider using these questions to help guide your self-reflection:
- How do I react to statements about wealth inequity growing?
- How does my reaction reflect the importance that my wealth is to me?
- How does the importance of my wealth affect my attitude towards those who are richer or poorer than me?
- What is one practical step I could take to seek first to be rich towards God?
Lessons: Ecclesiastes 2:18-23, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Luke 12:13-21
This week our students take the stage and share how God is working in their lives and through their camp experience.
Since we have been raised to a new life in Jesus, we are truly running on full and have our minds set on living a life that is pleasing to Christ. When we are running filled up with Jesus, we live lives that may seem peculiar and yet attractive to others. We know that we are running on full when … * We put to death what violates God’s values (3:5-9) * We put on the character traits and behaviors that reflect God’s heart (3:12-17) * We behave like Jesus in our relationships with others. (3:18 – 4:5)
After hearing this sermon we hope you will answer this question for yourself: “Based on what I live out in my life, am I running on full or empty?” If running on full, pick one of the 33 Christ-like character traits, behaviors and disciplines (one for each year that Jesus lived) listed in the lesson from Colossians to grow in your life. Ask God, the Holy Spirit, to help you understand how this can grow. If running on empty, ask God to help you understand why this is so and what is needed for you to be filled with Jesus. If you are ready, put yourself in the place to be filled with Christ. Lessons: Colossians 3:1-4:5, Matthew 5:14-16
When Jesus is on the throne of our lives, he fills us to overflowing. Jesus does not fill us part way, he fills to overflowing. From that overflow, we are compelled by our deep Christ-like desire for all people to be filled with Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul, we commit our entire lives to the grandeur vision that all people would be reconciled with God. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will answer this question for yourself: “Am I serving, inviting, and giving to meet the hopes and hurts of others from the overflow of Jesus in my life?” If yes, then let God’s love continue overflow to others. If no, ask God to help you understand why this is so and what is needed for you to be filled to overflowing. Lessons: Colossians 1:21-2:5, John 4:13-14
Because of our rebellion against God, we are born spiritually empty and experience the despairing void of being alienated from our Father Creator. When we try to fill (put on the throne) the great emptiness within us with anyone or anything other than Jesus, we are running on empty. Jesus is the only one who belongs on the throne of our lives and is the only one who can authentically and eternally fill us. When anything else is on the throne, it takes away and empties us. When we are in Christ, we are filled with his holiness and made perfect with God. The love that Jesus has for us compels him to fill us. This is the restoration of our intimate relationship with God that was part of God’s original blessing. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will answer this question for yourself: “What is on the throne of my life and how well is that filling me?” If it is not Jesus, identify what barriers you would have to remove for Jesus to be on the throne of your life. If you are ready, begin praying for God to help you remove those barriers and to accept that Jesus is on the throne of your life. Lessons: Colossians 1:9-23
Jesus modeled his way of being the greatest and was how human culture defines greatness. It did not involve judgmentally dividing people into “us” and “them.” It was not a grab for power. The path of following Jesus is a counter-cultural life of valuing our relationship with Jesus above everything else and sacrificing for the sake of others. While this can be a difficult path to follow, followers of Jesus continue to press forward along this path because of what Jesus did and accomplished for us. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will take the first step of thinking that nothing else matters as much as faithfully following Jesus and accepting that this will involve sacrifice. Lessons: Luke 9:46-62
In our lesson today, we see a woman who humbled herself before the Lord. She gave all she had because of her love for the Lord. Today we will dig into this story and look at how this "sinful" woman showed us what it means to lay it all down at the feet of God. Lessons: Luke 7:36-50
Prayer #5: That you would recognize that God has purposefully placed us here – at this time, in this place – for His glory. Prayer #6: That you would develop a taste for truth – even difficult ones. Prayer #7: That you would embrace Biblical Christianity – not American evangelicalism. Prayer #8: That you would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are – and that you would espouse the hope of what our lives can be. Lessons: Psalm 1, Acts 17:22-27, John 17:15-26
Our friend, David Drees, returns to St. Luke to give us his final two sermons before moving. In these next two weeks, he will preach through Eight Prayers he has for us as a church and individually. Prayer #1: That you would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere moral failure – but rather a failure to honor God. Prayer #2: That you would understand that discipline rarely brings about love – but love always brings about discipline. Prayer #3: That you would realize that children of God are not under wrath – but under mercy. Prayer #4: That you would find that the fullness of all things – including life and joy – is in Christ. Lessons: Jeremiah 2:1-5, John 10:7-11, John 17:15-26
Faith is something that is vital for a relationship with God. In our scripture lesson, we will read about how a Centurion has faith that amazes Jesus. Today we will look at faith how we can strive to have a faith that amazes Jesus. Lessons: Luke 7:1-10
We all suffer and the longer we live, the more we will suffer. According to Romans 5:1-5, one who trusts in Jesus will experience a progression of profound, extraordinary, surprising and God-given benefits when suffering is endured with faith; suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character, hope. After hearing this sermon we hope when you are in times of suffering, you will continue to practice the faith through spiritual disciplines (coming to worship, participating in a life group, reading the Bible, prayer, etc) in order to press forward in faith where you will experience perseverance, character, and hope. Lessons: Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15
While Pentecost seems like God’s conlussion of the work on the Cross, it is really far deeper. The pursuit of the “Hound of Heaven” as Francis Thompson calls Jesus, was after us from the beginning. Today we will focus on three things: We lost it all, He did it all, We get it all. Lessons: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2: 1-21, John 14: 15-18, 25-27
We are to forgive as we have been forgiven. To be able to do this we must first understand, accept, and dwell in the truth that, through Jesus, we are completely forgiven of all our sins. Forgiving someone from your heart is a process that begins with simply and sincerely saying “I forgive you.” The next steps that may follow in the process are letting something die, slowly letting go of the controlling emotions of rage and the desire for revenge, and finally being reconciled. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will prayerfully move through the “Forgiving As You Have Been Forgiven Flow Chart”. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Colossians 3:12-15, Matthew 18:21-35
Several verses in the Bible describe God as being “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” As followers of God, the Son, we want to put on this characteristic and be known as those who abound in making allowances for other’s faults. This means we are to avoid slandering others, defend them, speak well of them and explain their actions in the kindest way. In order to be a better witness of Christ, identify one place in your life where God is calling you to grow in making allowance for other’s faults and be prepared to think, speak, and behave in that way the next time you are given the opportunity.
Lessons: Jonah 4:1-4, Colossians 3:12-15, Matthew 7:1-5
The ability to put on patience rests on trusting that God has a plan is in control, and will act when God decides it is time to act. Sometimes we want to go through a door that God has not yet opened. Other times, we unfaithfully delay moving on through a door that God has opened for us. Discerning when it is time to patiently “be still” and when it is time to “move on” requires a seasoned practice of listening to and trusting God’s gentle whisper. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will begin to practice listening prayer.
Lessons: Exodus 14:13-16, Colossians 3:12-15, Matthew 13:24-30
Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach toward others' weaknesses and limitations. A gentle person still speaks truth, sometimes even painful truth, but in doing so guards his tone so the truth can be well received. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will Identify areas of your life where you have opportunities to be gentle with others weaknesses and other areas where you can speak truth into others lives or better yet ask someone to speak truth in yours… and get this, be quick to listen and slow to speak in response.
Lessons: Isaiah 42:1-4, Colossians 3:12-15 NLT, Matthew 21:12-14
Being clothed with humility is the way of Jesus. Our culture is desperately in need of a humility revolution like the early Christians led to transform western culture as the Roman Empire was beginning to decline. Humbling ourselves before the Lord is the first big step to putting on Christ, having real life with God, and the Lord healing our land. We can humble ourselves and it is far better for us to humble ourselves then to wait for the Lord to humble us, which will happen. Humbling ourselves means making planned and intentional decisions to take the lower position among others and giving God all the glory. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will, through listening to God in prayer, identify one environment in your life where God is calling you to prepare to humble yourself.
Lessons: 2 Chronicles 7:11-14, Colossians 3:12-15, Luke 14:1, 7-11
It is an extraordinary witness to the new life we have in Christ when we with kindness to someone who has wronged us. The story of Joseph and the example and teachings of Jesus point us to this extraordinary behavior. As holy people are have been raised to a new life in Jesus and clothed with kindness, we have it in use to put on the belt of truthful kindness and behave this way. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will develop the skill of looking at a conflictual situation from God’s perspective and listening to learn the story so that you can more often respond in kindness. Lessons: Genesis 50:13-21, Colossians 3:12-15, Luke 6:27-36
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our old self is put to death and we are raised to a new life in Christ. One way to understand this transformation is that we take off our old clothes and Jesus clothes us with a new fresh set of clothes. Specific character traits and behaviors come with our new set of fresh threads, one of which is tender-hearted mercy. Tender-hearted mercy is putting on the same gut-splitting compassion for others that Jesus has for us. After hearing this message, we hope you will put yourself in the dressing rooms where Jesus will continue to clothe you with the character traits and behaviors of the new life. Lessons: Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT), Luke 24:1-12
This sermon is lead by members of our congregation. Each St. Luke Preacher gives us a brief meditation based on the seven last words of Christ.
Brené Brown helps us understand that in order for forgiveness to happen something has to die. To forgive is a grief process where something has to die in order for new life to come forth. To truly forgive we have to grieve something. It may be a relationship as we have known it, the hope that something will be same as it once was, that a person you care about does not have the capacity to hurt you or wouldn’t hurt you, being right, or something else. But only through killing something off can beautiful new life come forth. The willingness to kill something off and grieve it makes forgiveness the ultimate act of love. This is what God did for us in Jesus and what we are called to do for others. After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will accept that Jesus died so that he could forgive you. Identify and kill off what you must to forgive others. Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Colossians 3:12-13, Matthew 26:17-28
This sermon starts with a narrative reading of the passion story. The sermon starts at 15:48. One of the most vivid pictures that the Bible gives us for understanding what happened to Jesus when he suffered and died is found in Philippians 2:7 where it says that Jesus “emptied” himself. Jesus emptied himself of his eternal perfection so that he could be filled with our broken rebellion and death. Now that we have been emptied of our broken rebellion and death, Jesus now fills us with his eternal perfection. Such a joyous exchange! After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will, in faith, accept Jesus empting of your broken rebellion and death and his filling you of his eternal perfection.
Lessons: Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14-23:56
Jacob experienced the transcendent presence of God as few people had before or since, even getting a glorious name change from God. And yet, Jacob continued to struggle to walk obediently with God. He was often filled with fear and doubts. He too often tried to take matters into his own hands. Given all this, God continued to walk with Jacob just as he was. The great testimony to this is that generations later, when Moses (like Jacob before him) asked God for His name, God identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and (wait for it) … Jacob, not Israel, but Jacob. This teaches us the gospel truth that, in Jesus, God will always accept us and engage with us wherever we are on our path of discipleship. God will identify with us just as we are, sinful, broken, fearful, doubting, and struggling. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will rest in the truth that, in Jesus, God meets you and identifies himself with you in the midst and mire of your sinful struggles.
Lessons: Genesis 28:10-22; 32:22-30; Exodus 3:13-15
What happened this night was no ordinary evening, for a variety of reasons… And what Jesus shows us is if any voice tells you to moderate our love for Jesus, do not listen. Let your affections for Jesus be lavish. If any voice tempts you to want to be rich in money, do not listen. Jesus is your riches, and all that money can buy cannot compare to him. If any voice tells you that his death is anything less than the triumph over death, do not listen. No ordinary meal indeed!
Lessons: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:7-14, John 12:1-8
Throughout his life, Jacob faced daily struggles that are recorded in the Bible with amazing detail. As his family, wealth, and responsibilities grew, so did his daily struggles. He did not always make wise or faithful decisions in coping with his daily struggles, but at a few poignant times he expressed his trust in God and was better able to wrestle with his daily struggles. This is not heaven and daily struggles are a part of this life that is broken by sin. Genesis 3:17-18 teaches that it is “through painful toil” that we now have our “daily bread.” Our daily struggles cause us to fear the future. There is only one place to turn with our daily struggles, and that is the Lord who promises to give us the peace that passes all understanding and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I want to make more room for questions and dialogue in this sermon. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will create a “Daily Surrender Prayer” that you can use as a daily mantra to have greater peace as you wrestle with your daily struggles.
Lessons: Genesis 33
God loves all people and desires that all people be saved. We are answering questions that we submitted on the wrestling with God cards: How should we feel about Muslims? What about Christians vs. Muslims. Although we will not limit ourselves to the relationship between Christians and Muslims, current events give us this poignant experience to seek to understand how to understand Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan when it comes to our neighbors who believe differently than us. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray for God to move us to love all people, especially Muslims, as God loves them and to desire that they be saved.
Lessons: Isaiah 49:5-6, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 10:25-37
This is not heaven. We will enter into the back-story of Jacob’s wrestling with God to wrestle with God over our own disappointments. This sermon will continue to turn the screw deeper into the understanding of the problem of evil that was introduced on Feb. 17. The deeper understanding is that we sometimes are fooled into thinking that life should be perfect and we should not experience disappointments, especially if we have been faithful. While our personal disappointments may not seem as terrible as the evil and suffering that others experience, suffering is suffering and it can lead us to wonder where God is in the midst of our disappointments. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will continue to trust that in all things God is working for your good. Lessons: Genesis 29:14b-30
The question seems simple enough, God says love your neighbor… so who is that, I sure would hate to mess that up! But the simplicity of the Greatest Commandment, makes that question completely unneeded. The better question, isn’t to ask “who should I love” but instead ask Jesus “Who am I?” You see the famous parable of the Good Samaritan is less about who represents our neighbor and more to do with, what kind of people are we?
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will ask yourself where you are reluctant to love and try to discover the root sin that underlies it. It may be painful… but it is so worth it! Lessons: Psalm 107:1-9, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Luke 10:25-37
Why is this happening to me God? I think this is a question we all can relate to whether it is break up in a relationship, losing a job, health issues, death of a loved one and so many other things that cause us to ask this question. Tonight we are going to wrestle with why do bad things happen to us and what to do in the midst of those struggles. Lessons: Matthew 7:24-28
The testimony of the Bible is that God’s heart is turned towards the poor. The Isaiah passage teaches that caring for those in need is even more important to God than our worship of him. Jesus plainly said to follow him, the rich young man had only one more step to take in order to have treasurers in heaven and begin following Jesus – “sell what you have and give to the poor.” If we desire to authentically follow Jesus, we must follow the teaching of 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and be rich in generosity with those in need. One of our particular gifts in this mission is that we are rich and can really bless organizations who are effective at helping people in need. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will give a financial donation to the Be Rich Campaign that would be generous for you. Lessons: Isaiah 1:11-17, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Mark 10:17-22
The Biblical, true, quick, but not very satisfying answer to this question is that evil and suffering are a result of our rebellion against God. The real question we have is this: Why does God allow evil and suffering? This is the classic problem of evil (the Stoic Dilemma). If God is all loving and all powerful, why do evil and suffering occur? On one hand, there is not find in the Bible a simple and clear answer to this dilemma and we will continue to struggle with this question until they day when we will see God face to face and we will know fully God’s plan (1 Cor. 13:12). But the primary truth of the whole Bible is what God accomplished for us in Jesus. Jesus is God’s answer to the problem of evil and suffering. We continue to wrestle with this because of the extreme pain we experience and our confusion and doubt over what God has ultimately accomplished for us through Jesus. After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will better understand that the problem of evil remains in our lives, but that Jesus is God’s answer.
Lessons: Genesis 3:14-19
Isaiah 58:1-7 so clearly describes many American Christians and what is God’s response to our eager efforts to “for God to come near” us. Fasting (giving up something for Lent) as often been a part of the Lenten disciplines that we do to come nearer to God. According to Isaiah 58, true fasting is “to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke, to share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.” This passage will be tied directly into what we are doing in the Be Rich Campaign. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will give, serve, and love through the steps offered in the Be Rich Campaign.
Lessons: Isaiah 58:1-7 and Matthew 25:31-46. You can check out the details of our Be Rich campaign from our website: stlukecolumbus.com/berich.
We all “wrestle” with God over particular issues or experiences in our lives and the lives of others. It could be our own suffering or the suffering of others. Our wrestling with God over these matters is a reflection of the brokenness we have because of our sin. The great truth about God is that he strives with us through our wrestling with him. God does not abandon us. The account of Jacob wrestling with God recorded in Genesis 32 will be the theme passage for Wednesdays in Lent. During the Ash Wednesday worship people will be invited to fill out and turn in cards that list the matters that move them to “wrestle” with God. In the following Wednesdays, some of those matters will be addressed in the sermons. The title for the Wednesday Lenten series is “Wrestling With God”.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will be honest with God and identify the issues or experiences over which you “wrestle” with God. Ask God to bless you through your wrestling with him.
Lessons: Genesis 32:22-32, 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Matthew 26:36-46 Sermon Outline
David's special message to kids about how God uses the moments in our lives to grow our faith.
Everything that happens to us in a day shapes us, C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying something to the effect of, all our decisions move us closer to Heaven or closer to Hell. There are however, some moments in our life that stand out above the rest, moments that are pivotal on our faith. It is in these moments that God moves the needle of our faith lives in tremendous ways. After hearing this sermon we hope you will ask someone what pivotal moments in their lives that have shaped their faith. Then write some down that happened in your own life and: thank the lord for them, reflect how they shaped your faith, and share it when a loved one! Spend time praying for God to move in big and small moments in your life.
Lessons: Joshua 3:7-8, 14-17; Acts 4:8-13; Luke 9:28-36
The Bible is filled with accounts of God calling people into ministry before they thought they were ready, e.g., Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Peter, Saul of Tarsus. When we step into a ministry for which we do not feel prepared, our faith grows. Some people have called this “stepping out of our comfort zones.” It is simply the case that when we bring all that we have to Jesus and he works through what we have to make an eternal difference in the lives of others, our faith is supercharged. Everyone can serve, invite, and give in some way to meet the hopes and hurts of others. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will volunteer for a ministry. If you are already serving in a ministry, reset your vision of what you doing to see that God is making an eternal difference through you. Lessons: Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Acts 20:32-35, Matthew 14:13-21 Sermon Outline
Chances are you didn’t randomly just walked into a church today to see what it was about. It is more likely that someone talked to you about God, shared their story with you or maybe just invited you to come to church. No matter how you decided to come to church today God planted a seed in your mind about faith though someone. These types of encounters are what we call providential relationships and today we are going to talk about the importance of those relationships. Who is your group of people that live life with you and help you grow in your faith? If you can’t name a group maybe it is time to hop into a life group this week. Lessons: Genesis 2:18-22, Hebrews 10:19-25, John 15:9-16
The private disciplines of prayer and meditating on Holy Scripture usher us into the transcendent presence of God where He speaks personally to us. There we experience intimacy with God and accountability before God in our path of faith. Our hearts are tuned into God’s heart. “There is a direct correlation between a person’s private devotional life and his or her personal faith. When God peaks to us personally through His Word or answers a specific prayer, our faith is strengthens.” (Andy Stanley)
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will begin a daily quiet time with the Lord of prayer and reading and meditating on Scripture. Lessons: Joshua 1:7-9, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 6:5-6 Sermon Outline
Worship is a funny thing, most of us hear the word and immediately think of singing in church. While this is part of worship, it is so much deeper than this! Today we will look at how we are natural worshipers and how The Word, our songs, and mission of Christ drive us deeper into sweet and meaningful worship.
This topic hits all of the cornerstone points of St. Luke's by learning what true worship is, living it out through our faith, and unleashing the hope and excitement this brings on our world!
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will 1) take ten minutes to prepare yourself for worship—ask the Lord to prepare your heart; 2) Reflect on how you can apply what you’ve learned in the sermon to your daily life, or ask someone else how they apply what they’ve learned in a sermon to their lives.
Lessons: 1 Chronicles 16:23-31, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 2:15-20
Although we have already attained eternal life through the work of Jesus, every living follower of Jesus is not done growing in faith. Until we are with God in heaven, God is continually working to grow our confidence in Him. Continuing to grow in faith brings incredible benefits in the life of a Christian. This sermon will introduce the series and make a case for why we should continue to seek growing in faith. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will name any barriers you have to growing in faith, confess them before God, and ask God to help you remove those barriers so as to be truly open to what will be taught in this series.
Lessons: Philippians 3:10-16, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Sermon Outline
God calls us to serve Him without fear. Often our pride keeps us from recognizing the privilege it is to serve God and blinds us to who it is we are serving. He has rescued us from great evil and loved us in our darkest of states. God has done this only out of His merciful compassion, it is nothing within us. If we live in light of this God, then we can go out into this world, though it is full of fearful things, with the confidence because we are certain we have been saved from our enemy’s clutches and that God will guide out feet into ways of peace. This is the good news of Christmas! After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray for what it means to serve God without fear this coming year.
Lessons: 1 Samuel 12:20-23, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 1:68-79
This is a retelling of the classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" re-written to include the Christmas Story. Enjoy!
We live in times that can terrify us. You can fill in the blank as to what is most terrifying to you in the news. In his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension Jesus took over the government of all creation. While there will always be people who terrorize others in a vain attempt to establish themselves as the ruler of the world, Christmas teaches us that that position has already been taken and “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” In the face of terror, trust the King of Kings who is our Prince of Peace and who will give you peace. Anytime you feel terrorized, pray the Prince of Peace prayer.
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-9 (KJV), Luke 2:1-20
We will mostly look at how much was asked of Joseph, how scary it must have been, and how decisive and trusting Joseph was. Often times having faith is difficult. Believing that God’s best is your best can be hard. We will pray that God will help us have faith in the face of all things, good, bad, and ugly.
Lessons: Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23, Matthew 1:18-25
Our faith now is revealed in mind-blowing, active, death-defying, out-of-the-box, amazing actions that reflect our confidence in what Jesus has accomplish and will yet accomplish for us. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray each day this week the “Acting On My Faith” prayer and be ready to act on your faith where God leads you.
Lessons: Micah 6:6-8, James 2:14-26, Luke 3:7-18 Sermon Outline
Just as Joseph believed what God spoke to him in the dream and changed his mind, so also do we act in faith when we live out the changes that God is bringing into our lives.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will identify one change God is bringing into what you think, say or do. In faith, take the first step in living out that change.
Lessons: Matthew 1:18-25
Wilderness experiences can tear us down and making us feel unworthy of the life in which we are called but God still called out to us, faults and fortunes together, to prepare Kingdom for all.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will ask in prayer what God has for you and wait for God to reveal your calling to your neighbor and beyond.
Lessons: Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6
Just as God revealed to Simeon and Anna what they had been waiting for, so will God reveal to us clear answers for what we are waiting. Most often God’s answers are found in the ordinary events like it was for Simeon and Anna. After you listen to this sermon, we hope that you will continue to pray the prayer that was given out on Sunday and trust what you see when God answers your prayers.
Lessons: Luke 2:21-38
Faith is Hopeful Waiting The center of what we are as Christ followers is having faith in what Jesus will do when he comes again. While our faith is based on what Jesus already did in his life, death, and resurrection, our faith now is our hopeful waiting for what Jesus will yet do to bring us into our eternal home. After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will pray each day this week the “Hopeful Waiting Prayer” and be open to God growing your faith.
Lessons: Jeremiah 33:15-16, Hebrews 11:1 (NLT), John 14:1-6
Sermon Outline with Hopeful Waiting Prayer Text
Because of the worries of our daily lives, we sometimes forget that it is the nature of God to have every care and detail of our lives under his capable and compassionate oversight. Because of this, we need not worry but rather are moved to give God thanks in all circumstances. After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will look at one care that is worrying you and give God thanks for having that care completely under his loving oversight.
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Lessons: Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Matthew 6:25-33
Why do we give thanks to God? The answer may seem obvious, but it is always helpful to be remind in a new way why we give God thanks. In this sermon we will reminded why we give God thanks by an ancient prayer that was spoken by Hannah whom the Lord blessed with a child after many years of not be able to conceive a child. In her prayer, Hannah beautifully and thoroughly expresses why we give thanks to Christ our King. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will make a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Christ our King.
Christ the King and Thanksgiving Sunday
Lessons: 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37
With so many worthy causes asking for our financial support, it is wise to intentionally plan out how you will give to the missions that matter most to you. In doing so we are more likely to experience joyful giving that is not frustrated with reluctance and guilt-driven compulsion. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will make a prayer-driven and intentional plan for your giving.
Lessons: Malachi 3:6-10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Matthew 19:16-26
So now that we've seen the cross and we believe in the resurrection… What do we do now. Jesus has presented us with the free gift of grace, how do we enjoy that Grace and live in that Grace forever? Lessons: Jeremiah 3:12-14, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 23:39-47
As we celebrate that through Jesus we have all been made saints in God’s eternal kingdom, this sermon will begin with a brief apologetic for the resurrection of the dead followed by a brief description of life in the resurrection. It will conclude with a teaching on living the resurrected life today. After hearing this sermon we hope you will, in prayerful contemplation, identify one area of your life that you desire to more reflect the resurrected life to come. Ask God to reveal to you the steps you can take to make it so.
All Saints Sunday Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, Hebrews 12:1-2, John 11:32-44
This sermon will walk us from our sinful state to the foot of the cross, following Jesus’ excruciating journey. We will look at the need for this and the plan for this from the beginning. We will weep for our sin and glory in His work!
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:23, 6:23a, 5:6-8
How do you account for the fact that we suffer really horrible experiences, including death itself? This Sunday, Pastor Steve, will take the next step in our sermon series "God's Work of Salvation ... Straight Up" as he answers the question, "How bad is our sin ... really?" He will teach that our rebellion against God and God's values causes us to suffer horrible experiences. Our sin is not simply mistakes that we can correct, but rather what has totally broken us and creation. We need more than a second chance, we need a second birth. We are sinners in need of a Savior.
Lessons: Isaiah 59:1-4, James 2:1-10, John 8:31-47
Our pursuit of the Glory of God has been infinitely frustrated because of the Fall, and our often selfish or worldly pursuit to restore our standing before the Lord has led us to run to many counterfeit idols and limited doctors which do more harm to our soul than good. Lessons: Jeremiah 2:1-8, Psalm 1, Luke 8:40-48.
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. As the Word Jesus accomplishes what he says, so when he promises that when we come to him we will find rest and peace for our souls, he does that. All the promises that Jesus made are accomplished because God’s Word does what it says and in the resurrection of Jesus all this is confirmed. Lessons: Isaiah 55:8-12a, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Matthew 11:25-30
How can we know that God exists? While in the end believing in God takes a step of faith, there are proofs for the existence of God that many have found to be helpful. In this week's sermon we will explore these proofs.
Lessons: Genesis 1:1-3, 11-12, 20-22, 24, 26-28; Romans 1:18-20, John 1:1-5.
Sermon Outline
We will present some thoughts and ask some questions on who is Jesus and what is it about him that draws us to him?
Lessons: Isaiah 35:1-7, Luke 7:18-22, John 5:1-9.
We had some technical difficulties with the first minute of this podcast. The audio quality returns to normal about one minute in.
Christian community is not an ideal but a divine reality, it is a spiritual not a human reality. This sermon will contrast authentically Christian community from all other human communities. In doing so this sermon will give testimony to the transforming growth that we experience in our life together with other believers.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will put yourself in a place where you can deepen relationships with other believers and experience transforming growth.
Lessons: Psalm 133:1-3, 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13, Mark 10:35-45.
God has designed us to live together in community and to do life together. This truth is especially vivid to us when we are going through difficult times in life.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will put yourself in a place where you can deepen your relationships with other believers.
Lessons: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, Luke 22:14-20
In his sermon recorded in John 6, Jesus’ claims about himself grew increasingly radical to the point that everyone, except the Twelve disciples, rejected and left following Jesus. The Twelve stayed and believed. This has remained the two reactions to Jesus through the centuries and still remains today.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will, In faith, embrace Jesus as the true bread of life who is the only One who has the words of eternal life. In this way you will have eternal life. Lessons: Deuteronomy 30:19-20a, 1 John 5:10-13, John 6:51-69.
Hello to our special friends from Freibrug, Germany who may be listening today! We loved having Tini back today and learning about your ministry on campus.
Jesus came to and for those who are skeptical. God works in, on, and through us to help us and others understand and experience that he is the bread of life! When we come to him with our scepsis, he will give us an answer.
After listening to this sermon we hope you will bring your skeptical thoughts/doubts to the Lord. Trust Him to reveal himself to you. In the same way, bring your skeptical friends and loved ones to Him in prayer. He will work on and in them.
Lessons: Psalm 46, 2 Corinthians 3:1-9, John 6:41-51.
When God, the Holy Spirit, has moved you to faith and given you over to truly trusting in Jesus, you cannot lose your salvation. This is the doctrine of eternal security.
After hearing this sermon we hope you will never doubt that you are saved and from that overflow do whatever it takes to lead others to trust in Jesus and be saved.
Lessons: Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 1 Peter 1:3-5, John 6:35-40.
Sermon Outline
When we look at the heart of God in the bible, it ultimately is centered on the worship and glorification of His name. Jesus in John 6 is teaching that the needs of the people go far beyond physical, emotional, etc... Their needs terminate (thankfully) on worship and adoration of the Lord, our needs being met are a glorious by product of the Lord allowing us a way to worship Him more completely. Jesus is teaching that the Provision of the Bread is the just beginning of life eternal, it's not the end goal!
Lessons: Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 and John 6:24-35
When faced with hungry people Jesus stops preaching to physically feed them. We must never forget that our daily bread comes from God and to always receive our daily bread with thanks. Receiving our daily bread with thanks in part means to be Jesus to those who are hungry and feed them. After hearing this sermon we hope you will recognize that all your daily bread comes from Jesus, receive it always with thanks, and consistently work to feed the hungry. Lessons: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Acts 6:1-7, John 6:1-13.
This Sunday every year we pause and hear from the students how God is working in their lives.
The Bible is constantly assert Gods rightful place not just as our father, but our redeemer, Shepard, Lord, and Creator. We on the other hand are constantly removing the weight of those titles, often we keep the names but find ourselves inserting other things or even ourselves into the roles that God has rightfully reserved for Himself. Today we will look and ask God to reconcile our hearts view to the reality of who He is and who we are and what that ultimately means. Lessons: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56. Book referenced in today's message: "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" by W. Phillip Keller Homework: Colossians 1:15-23
Given that our culture continues to define away personal sin, relativize truth, and lift up the individual into the positon of being one’s own god, this sermon will wrestle with the question whether repenting is still relevant.
After hearing this sermon we hope that regular, authentic, rigorous and gospel-centered repentance becomes habit as you seek to grow as a fully devoted follower of Jesus. In this life we are never done repenting.
Lessons: Jeremiah 3:1-14, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11a, Mark 6:6b-13.
This sermon will teach what to do to promote faith among those you love the most, especially those who may not yet believe. It appears from the gospel record that some or all of Jesus’ immediate family did not initially believe in him. We know that at least some of his family (Mary, James, Jude) became fully-devoted followers of Jesus. After hearing this sermon we hope that you will follow the example of Jesus and the teachings of the New Testament to promote faith among those you love the most. Regularly pray for your family members, live out your faith, and be prepared to give brief testimonies to how Jesus has given you new life. Lessons: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, Mark 3:20-21, 31-35; 6:1-7.
This podcast begins with Pastor Trover reading a letter from ELCA Bishop Eaton on the recept shootings in Charleston, South Carolina. God's transforming power moves us from fear to faith. After hearing this sermon we hope that you will stop being afraid and go on living by trusting God's goodness to all. Lessons: Lamentations 3:22-33 and Mark 5:21-43.
God responded to Job, and those who were listening, with a series of rhetorical questions. After quieting a storm at sea the disciples asked a deeper rhetorical question, “who is this?” Paul invites us to keep looking and asking questions until we see God, face to face.
Lessons: Job 38:1-11, 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, Mark 4:35-41.
According to Jesus' early parables, God's kingdom is everywhere, mysterious, and actual. This teaches us of the radical grace of God's rescue mission centered in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We will glance over the fence at Christian universalism, i.e. that everyone is actually saved through the work of Jesus. After hearing this sermon we hope that you will not doubt that you are in God's kingdom and find where God's kingdom is working where you might least expect it.
Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-5, Mark 4:26-29 Sermon Outline
Being caught in a challenging position can have us backpedaling, trying to find a way to minimize our failure. But in the end, the cover-up almost always becomes worse than the original offense. With God we have the freedom to come clean, because God knows all about us in the first place. Too often we fail to recognize this and we run and hide, and cover ourselves, as if God cannot see us. True freedom, and true relationship comes with our willingness to be fully exposed before God. We may not be ready to try this out with our friends and family, but that should not stop us from trying it with God. Living a life of open confession before God can create a freedom of our soul that allows us experience the full impact of God on our lives. Lessons: Genesis 3:8-15, Mark 3:20-35
As followers of Jesus, we are not done learning and growing in discipleship. A fully-devoted follower of Jesus always remains teachable and continually seeks out opportunities to learn and grow with an open heart and mind. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will evaluate what your discipleship learning agility is and add one way you will put yourself in a position to learn and grow in discipleship. Lessons: Psalm 119:33-40, Hebrews 6:1-3, John 3:1-18.
In our culture we have become so busy and surrounded by so much noise that we can't hear what God might be telling us. In this message we will look at how we need to be still and listen to God's call to us. Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Matthew 11:25-29.
Enough said right? But when it comes to us, we need more words, we need more reminders, we need more images, we need more promises, we need more proof, we need deeper understanding… and when it’s all said and done, when we ask Him who He is… I Am. Luckily He knows out weaknesses, He knows our limits, and so he gave us words, deep, broad, heavy, and powerful words to display who He is. We will look at these words, and challenge ourselves in view of the Lord to pursue a deep intimacy with the great I Am.
Lessons: 2 Samuel 22:31-37, Psalm 8, Matthew 16:13-17.
My King Is Video
One way to be rich towards God is to unleash God’s love through sacrificial acts of generosity and compassion. This lessens our grip on our wealth and its grip on us, and makes an eternal difference in our lives and the lives of others.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will extend your participation in the Be Rich campaign beyond what you would expect by continuing to financially donate, serving in one of our partner organizations, and donating in-kind gifts.
Lessons: Proverbs 19:16-17; 22:9; 28:27, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:21-37
The way to make sure that you hope does not migrate from God to your wealth is to pre-decide to be rich in giving a generous percentage of your income to unleash God’s love to meet the hopes and hurts of others.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will have a generosity planning session where you will prayerfully pre-decide what generous percentage of your income you will give to unleash God’s love to meet the hopes and hurts of others.
Lessons: Leviticus 27:30-34, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Mark 12:41-44
There are unintended and destructive side effects that we may experience since we are rich. These side effects can build up to where we eventually put our trust and hope in our wealth more than in God. One way to lessen the side effects is to be generous and serve others in response to the riches we have been given by God.
After this sermon, we hope that you will be aware of how rich you are and the potential side effects of this. To not be arrogant because you are rich or put your help in wealth. To put your hope ultimately in God. And be rich in the good deeds of generosity and serving those in need.
Lessons: Proverbs 18:10-12, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:13-21.
Sermon Outline
We are to witness to the resurrection of Jesus by being rich in doing the good work of being extravagantly generous and serving those in need. In this way we follow the example of Jesus and become the shining stars that point people to Jesus. We hope you will participate in the Be Rich campaign beyond what you would expect by giving an extravagant donation above your normal offering, serving at least one hour in one of our three partner organizations, and donating in-kind gifts.
Lessons: Philippians 2:3-16a, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 24:36b-49. Be Rich Brochure
We are going to look at as many Old Testament figures who "in faith" followed God's call wherever it led. What inhibits us from following these calls? What encourages us? How do we have faith like this? How do we join them in our world?
Lessons: Jeremiah 20:7-11, Hebrews 10:32-39, and Mark 9:17-24.
Music Video: When the Saints - Sara Groves
Because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, so shall we. In heaven we will experience the riches that God has prepared for us and that are beyond compare. These riches are already ours through faith in Christ. After hearing this message, we hope you will live each day rejoicing and glad in the riches of the eternal life Jesus won for us. Let the reality of your eternal riches shape how you view your riches in this life. Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, John 20:1-18.
Using the gospel lesson, this sermon will teach that in inclusive 7th petition of the Lord’s Prayer we ask that our heavenly Father would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at the last hour would mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to himself in heaven. This four-word prayer may be the most complete and universal prayer to pray in any circumstance where we are facing a trial. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray this prayer often when you are facing illness, suffering or a trial of any kind, understanding what a complete answer you are asking of God. Lessons: Psalm 91:1-6, 9-12, 14-16, Revelation 21:1-7, Matthew 26:17-30, 36-46. Sermon Outline
Contrasting the behavior of Jesus and Peter, this sermon will teach that God tempts no one to sin. We ask in the Lord's Prayer that God would watch over us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not deceive us and draw us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins. We also pray that even though we are so tempted we may still win the final victory. After hearing this sermon, we hope that when you are tempted to sin, immediately pray for God to remove the power of the temptation and empower you to face it down. Lessons: Isaiah 50:4-9a, 1 Corinthians 10:12-14, Mark 14:27-46, 53-56, 66-72; 15:1-39. Sermon Outline
Through the shepherding guidance of one’s pastor, the corporate guidance of one’s church family, and the individual guidance of a spiritual director, we place ourselves in the good soil where God works in our lives to change us. After this sermon, we hope you will be open to and value the guidance that comes from the Holy Spirit through your pastor, your church family, or spiritual director. Exodus 20:18-19, Hebrews 10:19-25, Matthew 18:19-20. Sermon Outline
Our sin separates us form God. We must be forgiven to be with holy God. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has graciously forgiven all our sins. In response to being forgiven, we forgive others.
After hearing this sermon, we hope you will believe that your sins are forgiven and in response forgive others.
Lessons: Isaiah 59:1-2, Hebrews 8:7-12, Luke 7:36-50.
Sermon Outline
The Christian discipline of solitude puts us in the place to hear the whisper of God.
After this sermon, we hope you make time to find solitude and hear God's voice.
Lessons: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Matthew 14:13a, 22-23; 26:36-46.
Sermon Outline
God has an overwhelming desire to meet us in all of our needs, not so much because we are insufficient, but more so because in our fallen state we are unable to experience life to the full without him interceding on our behalf (whether we ask for it or not!)
We hope you will identify where you are dependent on God now, where you are NOT dependent on God, and where you think you “got it covered”, and give all of these over to God with thanksgiving and prayer!
Lessons: Psalm 63:1-11, Exodus 16:1-7, 13-15, 19-20, Matthew 6:25-34
Sermon Outline
The Christian discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style. Simplicity is freedom and brings joy and balance. Duplicity is bondage and brings fear and stress. The evil one is choking us with our abundance.
We you will consider making 10 moves that flesh out the outward expression of living simply as listed in the sermon outline.
Lesson: Matthew 6:19-33
Sermon Outline
The purposes of fasting are to glorify God, deepen our understanding that God is primary in our lives, and to place ourselves in the good soil where God will change us. Although “fasting” from things other than food will be mentioned, this sermon will teach the Biblical understanding of fasting from food.
After this message we hope you will try fasting from food for a 24-hour period of time.
Lessons: Zechariah 7:1-6, Acts 13:1-3, and Matthew 4:1-4, 6:16-18.
Sermon Outline
The Kingdom of God comes in three ways: 1) Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; 2) When Christ comes again to defeat the evil one and his legions; 3) Every time a person, through the work of the Holy Spirit, hears and believes the gospel, repents and takes a next step along the path of discipleship to live a godly life.
After this message we hope you will pray that God's kingdom will come to you though God's gift of the Holy Spirit so that you will believe God's holy Word and be changed to live a godly life here on earth now and in heaven forever.
Lessons: Revelation 19:11-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, and Luke 17:20-25
Sermon Outline
The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us. God’s will is done when he hinders and defeats every evil scheme and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful self. And God’s will is done when he strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in his Word as long as we live.
After hearing this message, we hope you will rest in the assurance that what God wants most is to spend eternity with you. Then, identify people you for whom you will pray for the good and gracious will of God to be done and that they would come into a saving faith. Finally, do whatever it takes to convince other people of the truth that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reveal that what God wants most is to save all people. Lessons: Isaiah 55:6-11, 1 Timothy 2:1-6a, and John 12:20-33
Sermon Outline
Wednesdays during the season of Lent, Pastor Steve will explore five of the spiritual disciplines described by Richard Foster. This message focuses on the practice of Christian Meditation.
Lessons: Psalm 119:97-104 and Mark 1:35-39
Sermon Outline
God's name is powerful and represents God. God's name is holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy. God's name is hallowed whenever his Word is taught in it truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it.
After hearing this message, we hope you will call upon the name of the Lord and keep His name holy by regularly hearing his word and living according to it.
Lessons: Ezekiel 36:18-23, Romans 10:13-17, and Matthew 6:6-13.
This Ash Wednesday, Pastor Steve kicks off a new midweek series titled, "Celebration of Discipline". This message sets the stage for an indepth look at five of the spiritual disciplines described by Richard Foster. We hope you'll come away from this series with a greater understanding of how practicing spiritual disciplines can grow your faith, and incorporate these disciplines into your everyday life.
Sermon Outline
Lessons: Psalm 42:1-2, 7-8, Galatians 5:16-26, and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.
Today is Transfiguration Sunday and we are concluding our sermon series titled, "Christ Is Sufficient." We hold up the truth that our God is suffient for us as he comes to us personally and extraordinarily in prayer when we cry, Abba, Father.
Lessons: Isaiah 49:13-16a, Galatians 4:1-7, and Mark 9:2-9.
God has not only saved us, raised us, and redeemed us for eternity, he has called us to conform to His likeness here on Earth. He has given us the Spirit to prompt and sanctify but our hopes, prayer and desires are to be constantly turned to a purpose of sanctification here on Earth.
Readings: Leviticus 19:1-11, Romans 12:1-2, and John 13:31-38.
Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off. God will step in when we are not drowning or dying, but rather dead and breath new, everlasting life into us. We will take away a greater understanding of our reality before and after the Breathe of the Spirit was breathed into us!
Lessons: Ezekial 37:1-14, Ephesians 2:1-7, and Luke 7:11-17.
Christ, in his humanity, provides us with the only successful construct for Christian spirituality. Jesus emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. This submission to the Father's will necessitated Jesus to live in total dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit-led and empowered Messiah lived in perfect obedience to the Father and, in so doing, communicated the life of the Father in Him through the Holy Spirit.
After hearing this message, we hope you will surrender your will to God and live in obedience to His Word.
Lessons: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11, and Mark 14:32-42.
The previously invisible God has been manifested in Christ. The universe exists and operates according to the One who made it and He has been revealed in the Son. The meaning of life and the significance of that meaning is centered in Christ. The foundation for Christian spirituality is Jesus Christ.
We hope you will live everyday with the meaning of life that Christ provides.
Lessons: Philippians 3:4b-11 and John 1:43-51
This sermon will introduce the series "Christ Is Sufficient" with the understanding that Christ is sufficient because he is God. The baptism of Jesus is the first understood manifestation of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit at one time. This teaches us that Jesus is fully God.
We hope you will accept that Jesus is enough because he is fully God and that we do not need to look for another.
Lessons: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 and Mark 1:4-13
Our greatest wisdom and revelation is simply knowing God. To know God is to know the hope of His calling, to know that we are considered His valuable inheritance and to know the immeasurable greatness of His power. Lessons: Ephesians 1:15-19 and Matthew 16:13-23
The Angel's first word's to the terrified shepherds was, "Fear not!", the same words spoken to Mary. The perfect love of God, manifest in the birth of Jesus, takes away our fears. This Christmas we hope you will begin to let the perfect love of God in Christ take away your fears.
Lessons: Luke 2:1-20 (RSV) and 1 John 4:1-5, 15-18a
Jesus came as our Lord and king, to establish God's kingdom which brings radical obedience. This radical obedience we see in both the prophet Isaiah and the Virgin Mary. Radical obedience we live out when God call us.
Gospel lesson: Luke 1:26-38
When God's kingdom comes, sick people are cured, disable people are made whole, demon-possessed individuals are freed, and even the dead are raised. In short, God's kingdom brings healing. Lessons: Isaiah 61:1-3, James 5:13-16, Mark 1:21-34
When God's kingdom comes into our broken world, social, economic, and political justice for the poor and the oppressed are fostered. Today's Gospel lesson comes from Luke 1:39-56
John the Baptist came preaching, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near!" When God's Kingdom comes to us, it leads us to true repentence. In this message, Pastor Steve outlines three phases of true repentence. Repentence in our thought, in our heart, and in our behavior.
Today's Gospel lesson comes from Matthew 3:1-12.
When God's Kingdom comes into our lives, we reevaluate our material wealth to see it not only as our ultimate security but rather as a resource to help others.
Gospel lesson: Mark 10:17-31
God's Kingdom has already come through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Yet, we continue to live in the tension of the "already come - yet to come" Kingdom of God as we wait for the Second Coming of Jesus. This message will focus on what the Bible has to say about The Second Coming of Jesus.
When we consider all that God has given us, our obvious response is to give him thanks. This week our Youth Pastor, Greg Osborne, will conclude our sermon series by focusing on how we give God our thanks by unleashing his love to meet the hopes and hurts of others.
When we consider all that our good God has done for us, our obvious response is to give thanks.
Today, as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday next week, we're going to learn helpful moves in being generous when we're giving God thanks with our treasure.
Scripture lessons: Malachi 3:6-10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Matthew 25:14-30
When we consider all that our good God has done for us, our obvious first response is to give Him thanks.
We are beginning a new sermon series today entitled, "Give God Thanks" and we're very excited to have our good friend David Drees here to kick off the series. In this month of thanksgiving it is appropriate for us to explore more deeply how and why it is that we give God our thanks.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught with words and by his own example that in God’s economy those who are considered blessed are not those we would expect to be lifted up as people who are blessed and noteworthy. It is the little, the least, the last, the lost, and the dead who are lifted up as blessed saints. Today Pastor Steve explores how we don’t become saints through heroic actions, but rather we are lifted up as saints through being forgiven our sin and brokenness.
If you would like to follow along with the sermon outline for this message, please visit our website: stlukecolumbus.com/messages.
We apologize for the little pops and crackles in the sound audio this week. We are working to fix the problem.
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus sets us free from our bondage to sin, death, and the power of the evil one. On this Reformation Sunday, Pastor Steve refreshes this basic understanding of the Christian faith, what we call the gospel message.
David Drees returns to St. Luke this week to conclude our series, Simplify: Practices to Unclutter Our Souls. How do you view the Bible? What place does it hold in your daily life? Through the Holy Scriptures God teaches, disciplines, sanctifies, and grows us in righteousness and yet we often neglect the ready and study of God's Word. Today, as we conclude our series, Simplify: Practices that Unclutter Your Soul, David Drees will help us understand that the Bible is a pathway into the heart and soul of the Lord, and we have been given access to it! Lessons: Psalm 1, Colossians 3:1-4, 15-17, and Matthew 4:1-11
Do you have someone in your life that you find it hard to forgive? If you do, then you probably know how this can complicate your spiritual journey and clutter up your soul. In this sermon, Pastor Steve uses the text from Matthew 18:21-35 to help us understand the practice of making room for forgivenss.
In our lives that often are overly-complicated, the simple value of being surrounded in vibrant friendship with other Christ followers so often is what sustains us on the discipleship path. Pastor Steve encourages us to grow in Christian friendship in a life group or deepen the friendships you have.
Fear can really complicate our inner life. Pastor Steve will explore the ways God helps us to face down our fears. Gospel lesson: Matthew 14:22-33
One of the great sources of stress, dissatisfaction and unneccessary noise and busyness in our lives is our fretting over our jobs and money. This week we will learn from the Apostle Paul about the secret of being content in all things, includingo our jobs and our income.
We learn from the testimony of Scripture and the example of Jesus, it is in the deserted places in our schedule where God fills our buckets. Pastor Steve encourages you to identify what streams of life-giving water that you can use to fill your bucket in those times you feel empty.
Pastor Steve walks through Matthew 16:21-28 and contrasts the Theology of the Cross (the things of God) with the Theology of Glory (the things of men). Download the sermon outline here: http://bit.ly/1kz13ET
"Who do you say that I am?" The answer to this question lays the foundation for the Christian church. In this message, Youth Pastor, Greg Osborne, explores three key foundations of the church.
All of us are leaders in some area. Today, Pastor Steve will teach through John 2:1-11 and share lessons from the Global Leadership Summit to encourage all of us to become the leader God is calling us to be.
How do I know if God is speaking to me? Does God still speak directly to people? How would I know? This sermon will use the accounts in 1 Kings 19:9-18 and Matthew 14:22-33 to help us to understand how to hear God’s direct revelation and encourage us to do what God tells us to do. A sermon outline for this message may be found on-line at stlukecolumbus.com.
The everyday grace that comes when we live in God’s time helps us avoid the manic frenzy to accomplish that is our unholy ethic.
What does it mean to live on God's time?
What is one step you can make to live more in God’s time?
Pastor Steve concludes our sermon series, "FAQ: Ask And It Will Be Given You - Answering Frequently Asked Questions" by addressing the questions, "Are Not All Religions the Same?" Some of the similarities among the religions will be acknowledged as a way of pointing to the reality and omnipresence of God. Christianity will be shown to be unique among all the religions because we are saved by grace.
We encourage you to lay down whatever other “religion” you are holding unto to justify yourself and rest in God’s Amazing Grace centered in Jesus Christ.
The sermon this week was provided by guest Pastor Wayne Harrison.
Our Christian lives are in response to God's gift of Himself, as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We respond with our gift and acts of love not to earn God's, but because God has already loved and given.
The sermon this week was provided by guest preacher, David Drees, former Young Life Director at Ohio State.
This week we are looking at the story of Lazarus and how in it Christ displays his compassion, his perfect timing, and all around love for his people. The ultimate goal is for people to start to deal with where they see disappointment in their life and ask "if only you..." to God. And how we can start to work through that and see God is not only for us, but actively proving this to us!
Pastor Steve introduces our new sermon series: FAQ: Ask And It Shall Be Given You - Answreing Frequently Asked Questions.
The only basis for an eternal relationship with God is faith, not proof. Therefore, while God has proven himself to us in many ways, God has purposely designed it so that we in the end must embrace him by faith alone.
Pastor Steve continues our sermon series: FAQ: Ask And It Will Be Given You - Answering Frequently Asked Questions.
We need community to survive physically and spiritually. It is not good for us to be alone and so God created us and recreated us to live in vital relationships with others. To not be a part of a Christian Church is to be a spiritual orphan.
We welcome Pastor Gary Sandberg back to St. Luke as we continue our sermon series: FAQ: Ask And It Will Be Given You - Answering Frequently Asked Questions.
Jesus does not shy away from calling out people concerning divorce. But, in Mark we see these strict commands tempered by the compassion that he shows to children. We need to encourage each other to work to keep mariages strong, including our own.