If you've been in situations where you weren't sure you were welcome, you might have wondered the same thing about God's kingdom. Are you really welcome in it? What happens if you decline the invitation? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 14:15-24 in "Guest List," part 2 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
Many people have felt awkward or out of place in certain social settings. Jesus uses some principles about how we behave, (or might behave) at those times, to teach about God's Kingdom. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 14:1-14 in "Table Manners," the first message in a new series, "Stories for the Journey."
How can we have hope? Hope is good - modern science agrees with Christianity about that. But how can we have it? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 15:1-13 in "Hope and Glory," the concluding message in his series, "Romans."
Sometimes, people do things that annoy us. Other times, it's more serious than just being annoyed. Is it possible to get along with people we disagree with? Even for Christians? If so, how? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 14:1,13-23 in "Constructive," part 12 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
In Christ, God has made it possible for us to spend eternity with him. Should we? What if we get there and don't like it? The Apostle Paul says that we can try it out now to find out. Pastor Luke looks at Romans 13:8-14 in "First Light," part 11 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
The bulk of Paul's letter to the church in Rome describes how it is that people are brought from death to life, spiritually. How should people live if they are now truly alive? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 12:1-8 in "Transformed," part 10 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
In this installment of "Ask Me Anything," Pastor Luke addressed two questions. {1:02} If someone has been saved, is sin a voluntary decision? {6:34} It has been suggested that mystical experiences in Ancient Israel were mediated by psychoactive substances? Could those substances be used to bring about spiritual experiences today? {22:06} Revising and clarifying remarks Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 6:1-5 in "Ask Me Anything."
In Paul's letter to the Roman church, there is a section directed specifically at people who aren't Jewish -- people like most Christians in churches today. He says that they were grafted into a different tree. What does he mean by that? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 11:17-24 in "Kindness and Severity," part 9 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Christians often talk about being saved. What do they mean? What are they saved from? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 10:8-15 in "Saved From What?," part 8 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Jesus gives us new birth by his Spirit, making us new creatures. But who, Paul asks, will deliver us from the old body of sin? Paul says the answer is the Spirit, who Jesus sent to help us. How does that work? What does it look like? Pastor Luke looks at Romans 8:9-17 in "Spirit Led," part 7 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
If Jesus has set us free from sin, why do we still sin? What is it that makes sin feel so irresistible sometimes? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 7:14-25 in "Miserable," part 6 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Is the Grace of God a "Get Out of Jail Free" card? Is the gospel a blank check for sinning? The New Testament says that Christ died for everyone who has faith in him. Does that mean we can sin as much as we want to? Pastor Luke looks at Romans 6:1-14 in "Sin City," part 5 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Because we have peace with God through Christ, we might expect our lives to be smooth sailing. And when they aren't, we might wonder if we really do have peace with God. The Apostle Paul, however, says that problems help us develop our character, so we can endure and even boast about our problems. Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 5:1-11 in "Character Building," part 4 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
People can be distinguished according to race, politics, age, sex, and countless other factors. Sometimes these harden into divisions, and that seems to be taking place increasingly today. Is it possible for people to get along? Should we even try? Why? In the first century, the Apostle Paul said we can and we should. Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 3:21-30 in "Righteous," part 3 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Jesus told his followers that when he left, he would send them another helper, and sure enough, the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. But what did Jesus mean by 'helper?' What does the Holy Spirit help people do, and how does he help us? Pastor Luke teaches from John 14:8-27 in "Another Helper."
What should we think about sickness? Thinking about sickness is necessary because we all get sick, and so do the people we care about. But thinking about sickness is hard to do well. An ancient document called the Book of Job can give us a different perspective that can help us as we think about sickness. Pastor Luke looks at Job 2:3-13 in "Sickness."
In the beginning of his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul says the message of Jesus is good news for all kinds of people. People who've done wrong would welcome forgiveness. But does everyone need forgiveness? What about people who do right? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 2:1-11 in "Just Judgment," part 2 of his 13-part series, "Romans."
Paul's letter to the Romans is his most general purpose letter, and because of that, it is an introduction both to Paul and to the good news about Jesus. Not just for the people in Rome but for us too. Pastor Luke looks at Romans 1:1-7,16-17 in "Overview," the first message in a new series, "Romans."
The Hebrew Scriptures include some troublesome passages where God authorizes or even commands acts of terrible violence. But any conversation about those passages shouldn't ignore the passages where God prevents violence from taking place. Especially since God may use people for that good purpose. Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Kings 7:1-16 in "Spreading Hope."
The women who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday found some men there who asked them what must have seemed like a dumb question. They soon learned it was actually profound, not only then, but still today. What is the question? "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 24:1-12 in "The Empty Tomb."
It's easy to see when something has gone wrong and needs to be fixed. But fixing it can be difficult, especially when we are the problem, or part of it. God promised to provide a king who would rule forever and repair all the things that had gone wrong with creation. But what happens if the people reject God's solution? Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 19:28-40 in "The Last Mile."
From ancient times, followers of Jesus have affirmed that Jesus will someday return, and when he does, he will judge "the living and the dead." But nobody wants to be judged. Is there a better way to understand what that means? Is there some way to look forward to the coming judgment? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 24:21-31 in "Arrival," the concluding message in his series, "Creed II."
The ancient Christian document called the Apostles' Creed affirms many mysteries, in which the full truth lies beyond human capacity to understand fully. But one of the least mysterious things the Creed states about Jesus may still be the least understood. What is the Ascension, and why is it so misunderstood? Pastor Luke preaches from Acts 1:4-11 in "Ascended," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Creed II."
"Why did Jesus have to die?" Jesus' death is one of the central mysteries of Christianity. We may never fully understand it, but the writers of the New Testament gave us several ways to think about it. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 23:44-54 in "Dead and Buried," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Creed II."
"Why do Christians make so much about the cross?" Jesus might have been executed on a cross, but does that make the cross itself important? Would it have mattered if Jesus was executed some other way? Pastor Luke looks at John 18-19 in "Crucified," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Creed II."
"It's easy for you to say that." Isn't it frustrating when people who don't know us think they can tell us how to live anyway? But isn't that what Jesus does? After all, what we learned previously is that Jesus is the Son of God. How can someone like even understand why we do what we do, much less help us to do better? Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 4:1-13 in "Starving," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Creed II."
On Transfiguration Sunday, we remember when God told the disciples to listen to Jesus. Today, Jesus' followers listen to him through prayer, study of the New Testament and Hebrew Scriptures, and discussions with other Christians. Some Christians also refer to writings like the Apostles' Creed. Why? Where role do confessional statements have in listening to Jesus? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 9:28-36 in "His Only Son," the first message in a new series, "Creed II."
It's easy to think that since Jesus is unique, we can't do the things he did. But when he healed a man with a contagious skin disease, Jesus taught his followers how to change the world. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 5:12-16 in "Social Distancing."
What do we do when we don't know what to do? Which way should we go, if going back seems just as hard as going forward? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 5:1-11 in "Man Overboard."
Why don't we have riots in churches today? Where Jesus went, people sometimes got angry -- even early in his ministry -- and sometimes they rioted. People rioted wherever the Apostle Paul went. But we don't have riots today, at least not in Alaska. Why not? What are we doing wrong? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 4:22-30 in "For Not About."
