Chaos. It's a word that's hard to define but easy to relate to. It can be very personal, but it can also be communal, national, or even global. It can be an event, a season, a person, an inward feeling, and so on. It's the idea that things are unordered and out of place, not the way they're supposed to be. In Luke 8:22-39, we find one continuous story where chaos has been reigning. But the King has come and is making claims across land and sea. Evil is restrained, light invades the darkness, and...
Jul 20, 2025•47 min
Ohana is the Hawaiian phrase for our word for “family,” but our English equivalent doesn’t do it justice. While it includes those within the immediate nuclear family, it goes way beyond the traditional sense of family in our Western culture. Beyond blood or genetics, this kind of family includes friends, neighbors, even those who just share a common passion or core values. In Luke 8:19-21, Jesus radically reframes the family. It looks more Ohaha than Israel. How would this change land for Jesus’...
Jul 13, 2025•46 min
Imagine with me… You are told in a vision from God to examine the life of X (a person or a family or a church like Eternal), and to report back to him. Most of us would tremble. A few, I’m afraid, might be too eager What to look for? Behaviors? How we speak to one another? Prayer life (or its absence)? Sunday we enter the world of the OT prophets. Jesus was steeped in their parables: they always taught in parables and he will too. They did it for a reason, always looking for one thing. Know what...
Jul 06, 2025•39 min
A Pharisee, a prostitute and a parable walk into a sermon… This isn’t a joke. And you don’t have to wait for a punchline. Read Luke 7:36-50 and we’ll figure out how it all ties together this Sunday!
Jun 29, 2025•47 min
As a kid, I liked a TV show called The Twilight Zone. It imagined vivid scenarios that blew my mind, so vivid that I still remember some today. Even Sci-Fi creatures are shaped by our real world. The beings we “imagine” from “outer space” may be green or purple, but still they have arms and legs that resemble ours, most have eyes and ears, they talk and move about physically. They’re all humanoid. The coming of Jesus’s kingdom to earth was something people tried - hard - to imagine. Trouble was,...
Jun 22, 2025•41 min
This Sunday, we meet Jesus at a crossroads, literally. One crowd is following Him, full of hope and anticipation. The other is leaving a town called Nain, broken by grief and carrying a coffin. When these two processions collide at the city gate, something unforgettable happens. And it's not just a miracle, it’s a message. The Kingdom is breaking in and the world will never be the same.
Jun 15, 2025•37 min
In Hebrews 11, the so-called "faith hall of fame" includes heroic figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the judges, the prophets and the people of God. These people were exemplary in their dependence upon Yahweh. And yet, Jesus claims in Luke 7:1-10 that there's another person whose faith might be greater than them all. And of all people, it's a Roman centurian. Wait...what? "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." - Jesus What was so remarkable to Jesus about the fa...
Jun 08, 2025•40 min
“Build your house on a solid foundation.” I’ve seen the text used as marketing content for homebuilders, financial advisors, career coaches, and even by D.C. budget committees. But almost never in a reference to Jesus and the kingdom that he has dawned. But that’s how Jesus uses it. He adds two short but punchy words to the radical kingdom strategy he has laid out. After teaching us that his kingdom runs on radically different values, and telling us how those values will NOT be spread, he tells ...
Jun 01, 2025•42 min
Last Sunday, we began looking at Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. It continues what many call His Nazareth Manifesto (Luke 4) - the King’s announcement of what His Kingdom is like and how it will break into this world. But let’s be honest: this Kingdom is strange. It’s upside-down. It's Unnatural. So how will this Kingdom come? John Lennon said, “All you need is love.” Could that really be enough? This Sunday, we’ll look at how love works in Jesus’ Kingdom. Consider reading Luke 6:27-36 before you co...
May 11, 2025•46 min
This Sunday was an unplugged worship service due to a systemic power outage. We have recovered the audio recording of the sermon. The audio is poor in some spots but overall, we have been able to provide this repaired audio version of a meaningful sermon.
May 04, 2025•43 min
This week we conclude our April focus of “Walking in the Way of Jesus”, having observed closely the love, compassion, surrender, sacrifice, and power through His resurrection. We come to where Jesus ascends to heaven and discover His love continues as He Still Walks With Us. But Why? How? And for what purpose? Join us this Sunday for a pastoral conversation about the love of God and how He has not left or forsaken us, “He Still Walks With Us.”
Apr 27, 2025•49 min
This Easter Sunday, we will gather to celebrate the Risen King. We’ll open to Luke’s Gospel and see how Jesus chose to spend the very first Easter. His decision might surprise you—He didn’t go to the temple or the palace. He met two discouraged disciples on the road, walking away in disappointment. Come and see what happens when the Risen Jesus walks with the doubting, the wandering, and the weary. You just might find yourself in their story.
Apr 20, 2025•50 min
This Sunday we’ll continue our four-week Easter series, "Walking in the Way." Jesus has just raised a four-day-dead Lazarus from the tomb and is now back on the road to Jerusalem with his disciples and followers. As you read the biblical narrative, you can feel the shift. It's officially on. It's actually happening. There's no turning back—and no stopping it now. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, he’s welcomed as their new King. He's finally here. The long-awaited Messiah. But will he live up to al...
Apr 13, 2025•34 min
This Sunday we’re pausing our Luke series and pivoting to a four-week focus on Easter and Jesus’ resurrection. It’s common practice to do this during Advent to prepare for Christmas, but as a church we haven’t allocated equal space and time to sit and soak in the defining feature of our faith. We’re calling this series “Walking in the Way.” Walking was the default activity for a disciple of Jesus, and perhaps it will also be a welcomed reduction of the pace of life during a busy Spring season. I...
Apr 06, 2025•46 min
I was introduced to "sabbath" when I first watched the movie/musical “Fiddler on the Roof” as a child. But it held little significance for me until 2007 when I was afforded the opportunity to visit Israel on a Holy Land trip. Our itinerary included visiting with a Messianic-Jewish family (folks raised in Judaism who have come to follow the way of Jesus) on Friday evening to witness and participate in a sabbath meal. Lighting candles. Singing songs. Eating wonderful food. Just…being. This ancient...
Mar 30, 2025•49 min
Do you remember the pressure of the lunchroom at school? Who you sat with often defined so much of your identity! By the way, not much has changed in schools today... Last Sunday, we met the Pharisees—a group who often challenge Jesus with questions. This week, they ask: “Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Their question is meant as a challenge, but Jesus uses this moment to reveal something deeper about His purpose: He has come to heal the sick. As you prepare for Sunday, I would ...
Mar 23, 2025•43 min
Jesus possesses the authority to heal both physically and spiritually. Recognizing His holiness inspires us to fully accept and pursue the transformative work He desires to accomplish in us and through us.
Mar 16, 2025•48 min
Have you or someone you love ever been in isolation in the hospital? It may be medically necessary, even life-saving, but can feel worse than the disease. Have you ever been ostracized, picked on or mocked because of your appearance, race, culture, language, or because you are neurodiverse and learn differently? Have you ever been isolated because of your sin, because you broke relationships through betrayal or infidelity, or because you picked on someone different than you? Ever been on the rec...
Mar 09, 2025•36 min
What comes to mind when you hear the word holy? It’s a word often tied to faith, yet rarely used in daily life. And yet, something stirs within us when we think of holiness. As we begin a new chapter in Luke’s Gospel, we’ll witness five powerful encounters between the holiness of Jesus and the brokenness of the world. How did people respond to the Holy One in their midst? How will we respond today? We invite you to read ahead in Luke 5:1-11 as we prepare to worship together this Sunday....
Mar 02, 2025•46 min
I like a good Western Movie from time to time. Reflecting on Luke 4 as a whole, it reminds me of a good ole western standoff. There’s a new sheriff in town (King Jesus has come) and he’s going to change things (The Kingdom of God is at work). We have dug into so much already with this important chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Thank you Pastors Jacob and Josh! Our text this week is 3 short verses (Luke 4:42-44). Luke is summarizing the first 4 chapters, establishing that Jesus IS the good news of the K...
Feb 23, 2025•55 min
“They say Aslan is on the move—perhaps has already landed... At the name of Aslan, each one of the children felt something jump inside.” - C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece introduces us to a world where “it’s always winter but never Christmas.” But as the story unfolds, the ice begins to melt—spring is coming. After so many years of weariness, what has changed? The King is on the move. In Luke 4:31-41, the King is on the move. Having announced Himself as ...
Feb 16, 2025•55 min
This week in Luke we get to see Jesus give his first public teaching. He’s visiting his old stomping grounds in Nazareth, so his first audience is friendly. And yet, it doesn’t stay that way for long. By the time our passage is over, his own hometown will want him dead. Homecoming...over. What did Jesus say that caused those who knew him to go from friends and acquaintances to attempted murders? If you fancy yourself a Jesus-fan, how can this answer help you avoid the same violent change of hear...
Feb 09, 2025•41 min
After the mountain-top moment of His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He will face "every temptation." How will this new Adam remain faithful where all others have failed? And why does it matter? Because our redemption is on the line. As you prepare for Sunday, take some time to read through Luke 3:23-38 and Luke 4:1-13. Why does Luke go to such great lengths to trace the genealogy of Christ? How does it connect both to His baptism and His temptation in the wilderne...
Feb 02, 2025•48 min
This week in Luke 3 we're going to be all about baptism. We get to see John the Baptist get his start dunking people in the Jordan in the name of "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." We'll see Jesus show up and submit to John's baptism of repentance (which raises a few questions). And then we'll get to see some of our own congregation profess faith in Jesus and we'll have baptisms right before our eyes! So to prepare, read Luke 3:1-22 and ask yourself these questions: 1. What w...
Jan 26, 2025•40 min
As Luke continues to add brushstrokes to the canvas of his gospel, he introduces us to a 12 year old boy who finds himself completely captivated by the teachers of the temple in Jerusalem. What parent wouldn't be delighted to find their child sitting in church attentively? Perhaps the one who had traveled many miles away assuming their child was with them! In the events of Luke 2, we are given a unique insight into the early days, weeks, and years of the life of Jesus. Furthermore, Luke records ...
Jan 19, 2025•45 min
I love paintings of mountains, forests, and other outdoor scenery. I'm not an artist. It’s hard for me to imagine such incredible pieces of art beginning with an empty canvas and with one stroke of a brush. But every painting, like every story, must begin somewhere. This Sunday we will see the first brushstrokes of the picture of Jesus that Luke is painting in his gospel.
Jan 12, 2025•34 min
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties." - Sir Francis Bacon (a science guy, not a BBQ guy...) In today’s culture, certainty is often seen as a sign of arrogance and uncertainty is praised as true humility. Is certainty something we should strive for? Is it arrogant to claim to know "the truth"? As we begin our study of the Gospel of Luke this week, we’ll explore the tension between certainty and ...
Jan 05, 2025•26 min
When the angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds, he proclaimed good news of great joy, “For All the People”. Luke 2:8-15 This Sunday, we will be focusing our attention on that phrase. What does it mean that Jesus, the Savior, is “For All the People”? Key to understanding those words is Jesus title of “Christ” in the New Testament and “Messiah” in the Old Testament. We are going to step back into Genesis to see where that title originates and what it means for us. From beginning to end, Gen...
Dec 22, 2024•44 min
At the time of Jesus' birth, the world was under the rule of Pax Romana, a system that promised order but could never deliver true peace. The birth of Jesus was a direct challenge to that system. Why is the birth of Jesus "good news"? Perhaps the answer lies in the kingdom He brings. Join us this Sunday as we look at three different announcements of the birth of this baby king.
Dec 15, 2024•44 min
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." Proverb 9:10 "Fear not..." ~ the angel to the shepherds in Luke 2 So are we supposed to fear God, or not be afraid of God? What gives? Shepherds. Angels. Fear. Advent week #2 has it all.
Dec 08, 2024•45 min
