Even when we know what we want to do, or need to do, that's only part of the problem. The hard part might be doing it. Does God help us, or is making changes in our life up to us? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 8:9-17 in "Suffering and Glory."
God brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. Freedom is certainly far better than slavery. But it is not always easy. Freedom includes the freedom to starve, but it also includes the freedom to make mistakes and destroy relationships. We don't want to go back into slavery, but what can we do -- what can God do -- about the problems of freedom? Pastor Luke preaches from Exodus 18:13-27 in "Capable People," the concluding message in his series, "The Road Out."
Have you ever gone from the frying pan into the fire? What happens when we leave one situation and it looks like the new situation is just as bad, or even worse? When they finally got free from Egypt, this was the situation that Israel found itself in. Pastor Luke looks at Exodus 15:22-16:20 in "Fleshpots and Angel Food," part 6 of his 7-part series, "The Road Out."
We've been learning how God's nature is to help people get out of difficult situations. That's great to know. But then what? It's not like getting out of trouble means there will never be any more trouble in the future. What then? Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 13:17-14:31 in "Division," part 5 of his 7-part series, "The Road Out."
An unimaginable catastrophe is described in Exodus 12. How can we make sense of it? What does it tell us about God? What does it say about how God relates to us? Pastor Luke looks at Exodus 12:1-32 in "Muscle Memory," part 4 of his 7-part series, "The Road Out."
What happens when God's mercy toward one person means other people suffer? How can that be right? Does it even make sense? Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 4:21 in "Bricks Without Straw," part 3 of his 7-part series, "The Road Out."
What's the difference between a job and a vocation? And does it make any difference? Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 3:11-4:20 in "Mission Statement," part 2 of his 7-part series, "The Road Out."
Have you ever wanted to get out of a bad place but didn't know when or if you'd be able to leave? We're starting a new series of messages about the time when God's people found the Road Out ... the road out of Egypt. Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 2:23-3:10 in "The Road Out," the first message in a new series, "The Road Out."
The account of Easter that Peter tells Cornelius in Acts 10 lacks many of the details we are familiar with from other tellings. Even so, this story may speak most clearly to a modern audience wondering how something that happened 2000 years ago could it means we can trust all his other promises. Pastor Luke looks at Acts 10:34-43 in "Universal."
What is the best way, in light of what God has done for us in Christ, for us to live now? Are we supposed to straighten up and fly right? Does it even matter, if we live under grace? John suggests a third option in his telling of the Palm Sunday story. Pastor Luke teaches from John 12:1-17 in "Caution to the Wind."
We've been talking about false testimony. But sometimes testimony might be true, and still unacceptable? What should we do when the truth is simply insufferable? Pastor Luke preaches from Acts 26:24-32 in "Viewpoint Diversity," the concluding message in his series, "Loose Lips."
The baseball player Dizzy Dean said, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." Maybe not. But bragging (by whatever name) can still be false testimony, even if you *can* do it. Pastor Luke looks at 2 Corinthians 11:30-33 in "Blessed," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Loose Lips."
We've been studying the commandment against testifying falsely, and we've learned we don't have to be in a courtroom setting to do it. But it's possible to testify falsely without saying a single word. Pastor Luke preaches from Acts 15:36-39 in "Spin Control," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Loose Lips."
When is it okay to lie? Not in a courtroom, certainly, but how about outside? When is it acceptable to make false statements? Are there circumstances when it's wrong to tell the truth? These questions can be tricky, but fortunately, there is a simple principle Christians can be guided by. Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 12:9-21 in "Scuttlebutt," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Loose Lips."
During the season of Lent, we make an effort at repentance, at rethinking things related to God. We are focusing this year on the ten commandments, and particularly on the prohibition against giving false testimony. This might be the commandment most in peril in today's culture. Why is that? Pastor Luke preaches from 1 Kings 21:1-13 in "Loose Lips Can Sink Ships," the first message in a new series, "Loose Lips."
The Covid-19 pandemic created new puzzles for us to solve, but most people already had plenty of things to be uncertain about, things that made it hard to be decisive. When Jesus was transfigured, his disciples were puzzled about its significance. But they also learned something to help them when life gets perplexing. Pastor Luke looks at Mark 9:2-9 in "Perplexity."
Religions usually say that people have certain oblgations before their god or gods. And people who are religious know how hard it can be to fulfill those obligations. But what if, somehow, we *could* over-fulfill them? Or what if someone else could fulfill them on our behalf? Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 8:6-7 in "New Covenant," the concluding message in his series, "Bigger."
Sometimes, there are circumstances in our life that make us feel alienated from God. But God has provided priests to be the solution, and Jesus is the ultimate high priest. Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 4:14-5:4 in "Priest," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Bigger."
Christians believe that when Jesus returns he will establish his Kingdom on earth in a glorious new age free from pain and every form of oppression. But we don't have to wait for that, because Jesus taught that his kingdom is already present in this world. Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 3:1-19 in "Heaven in the Real World," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Bigger."
In this world, people have all kinds of problems. We get sick, we get tired, we feel pain, we die. Is there a solution to these problems? Some say no, all you can do is roll with the punches. Others say yes, we can escape the material world. What does Christianity say? Pastor Luke teaches from Hebrews 2:5-18 in "Angels," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Bigger."
How do you deal with problems? Big, complex, long-lasting problems? What help does God offer to people who are facing big problems? Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 1:1-4 in "Bigger," the first message in a new series, "Bigger."
Most people make New Year's Resolutions, but most resolutions don't produce the desired changes. What about people of faith? Does God help people produce change in their lives? For at least one category of activity, the answer is a resounding "yes!" Pastor Luke looks at Romans 6:1-11 in "Newness of Life."
What is the "Reason for the Season?" People, especially Christians, use those words a lot around Christmas time ... but what do they mean by it? How certain are you that you truly know "The Reason for the Season?" How would you describe it to someone who had no idea what was the reason for the season? Pastor Luke teaches from Galatians 4:4-7 in "The Reason for the Season."
From Abraham to Gideon, David to Isaiah, we see again and again the way God picks unlikely partners to bring grace and healing to the world. The familiar Christmas stories include some of the best examples of God seeking out unlikely people. When we see how God works, these stories invite us to rethink the way that we evaluate other people. Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 2:1-8 in "Attention Economy," the concluding message in his series, "Advent."
As we near the end of 2020, we may remember all the things we planned to do before the COVID-19 pandemic. We may have had to change some plans over and over again. What can we learn about planning from Joseph, the all-time champion at making new plans? Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 1:18-25 in "Plan C," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Advent."
When we think about the Virgin Mary, we mostly think about her youth, as women in that typically married in their early teens. Or we think about the responsibility of bearing a son who was doomed to die. But we should also remember her virginity. Why is the Virgin Birth important to Christians? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 1:26-38 in "Expand," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Advent."
Among the other Christmas stories is the less familiar story of a man named Zechariah. While it might not be as well known as Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men, or the Shepherds and Angels, his situation is very common. It's the story of a man whose life (or a part of it) has been a disappointment. What can he teach us? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 1:5-24 in "Hope," the first message in a new series, "Advent."
In a year like 2020, what is there to be thankful about? Pastor Luke looks at Colossians 1:11-20 in "Thanksgiving."
Christians believe in the Age to Come because Jesus said he would return and finish the work of renovation that he had begun. It's encouraging that our hope is grounded in his promise, but it leads to questions about the coming age. What will it be like? What will we be like? What can we know about it on this side of eternity? Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 65:17-25 in "Renovation," the concluding message in his series, "Resurrection."
Christians believe that the coming age will lack sickness, poverty, violence, death and everything else that makes the current age so hard. But is this just wishful thinking? That's the question a group of Bible scholars asked Jesus. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 20:27-38 in "Resurrection," the first message in a new series, "Resurrection."
