BLC Message Series Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brookfield Lutheran Church
Brookfield Lutheran Church (BLC) is a Christ-centered, vibrant, growing and compassionate family of faith that ethnically and generationally reflects the diversity of the community we serve. Through relationships we connect people to life in Jesus wherever we go. With focused passion and creativity we continually equip believers to seek and engage those not yet connected to Jesus.
“What is it?” The Israelites asked this when they saw the flaky substance covering the ground as they began their wilderness journey. The answer is that it was God’s miraculous, daily provision of bread for His people for 40 years. “Who is it?” People want to know who Jesus is, what He offers, why we “need” Him. The answer is that Jesus is God’s miraculous, daily provision for life today and forever.
Your boss stops by and says, “You did a great job! I’m so glad you are on our team.” Your mom says, “I’m really proud of you. You used your gifts so well.” Most people love to hear words of affirmation. At the end of our lives it will be wonderful to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Our series “Good and Faithful” helps us understand what this means in relation to all of life and life’s resources.
“Rules were made to be broken.” So says the person who loves to break rules. But rules serve a valuable purpose and reveal an order that comes ultimately from God for our good.
There is no “I” in “team,” so the saying goes. There are so many ways to apply this concept to our lives. It is especially true when it comes to our faith and the mission God has given us. If we are going to “win” (last week’s message), it is going to happen as a team.
Our guest preacher for this morning is Dr. John Oberdeck. He begins our series “Play to Win,” focusing on the purpose for which we exist and the attitude with which we live.
Jesus tells Peter to “feed my sheep.” He refers to caring for people who were or would become followers of Jesus. This is our charge as well, and so we feed them the food that gives life and peace and joy…PIZZA! Just kidding, we feed them with the love, truth and hope of Jesus.
What proof do you need in order to believe that something is absolutely true? Thomas did not believe the words of the women and the other disciples; he wanted to see and touch Jesus for himself to believe that Jesus was alive. Jesus delivered BIG TIME! Do you believe it?
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love” (Jackie DeShannon). What the world needs now is true love, the sweet love of Jesus. And we are the ones who deliver it. Sweet love.
Why do we worship Jesus? Because He makes (AND KEEPS) promises that no one else can deliver. Jesus says He is the resurrection and the life and He proves it by raising a person who was dead. I don’t know anyone else who can do that. Do you?
Jesus says that He will set us free. But if a person is already free, why do we need Jesus? That is what Jesus addresses in John 8.
Why did Jesus come here? What was His ultimate goal? John 3:17 summarizes this perfectly: not to condemn the world, but to save the world. As a church devoted to the mission of Jesus, this is our focus as well.
Light and darkness. Rejection and reception. Law and grace. There is a broad spectrum of what a person experiences when they meet Jesus. This is true today as we encounter Jesus in our lives and introduce Him – His love, truth and hope – to others.
Along the coast of Lake Michigan lie many hulls of ships that never reached their destination. The numerous wrecks are a testimony to the powerful forces of nature and the weakness of human beings. At various times you may get beaten, battered and even wrecked by the things going on in your life. In every instance God is there, ready and able to rescue.
People cannot live in peace with one another for long unless they forgive each other. This affects families, schools, teams, places of work, nations…our entire world. Thankfully, we know the source of forgiveness and what we freely receive from Jesus we freely give.
Why do people do the things they do, even “good Christians”? God gives us the answer in His Word, the answer that leads us to view ourselves and others with greater compassion and Jesus with greater appreciation.
Do you rejoice when a sinner repents? How bad can the sinner be and still be welcome? “Older brothers,” get ready for part two of Jesus’ story.
The Prodigal Son. The Lost Son. The Dead Son. The Imperfect Son. The story Jesus tells in Luke 15 is well-known and loved by many. It is a wonderful picture of grace. If you have ever felt yourself in the place of this younger son, then hear, know, receive, rejoice in the limitless grace of the Father.
What do you think of when you hear the word “imperfect”? Often it carries the idea of less than, not good enough. So we try to hide our mistakes, cover up the fact that we are not perfect. NO MORE! Only in accepting our imperfections can we fully understand God’s work to love and save us. Right now, right here, I declare it, “I am imperfect!”
Hanging on by a thread. Made it by the skin of your teeth. Just squeaking by. These are all phrases that capture how we often feel. We might make it through the day, or a project, or an event, but just barely. What if you actually made it by a mile, won by a landslide, there was no contest, it was a blowout? That is what it means to be “more than conquerors.” And that is who we are because of Jesus.
Love the sinner, hate the sin. It sounds like a true statement, something that God might even have said. But in what ways is that message heard? Today we look at this statement to determine if there is a better way to reflect total truth.