It's easy for people to know when they're on the outside. It's almost as easy to know when we're on the inside. That experience is almost universal and it's certainly not unique to Christians. But their solution to it so revolutionary that even today, Christians still struggle to do it well. Pastor Luke preaches from Galatians 3:1-14 in "Family Reunion," part 4 of his 10-part series, "Galatians."
Can we get along with people who are wrong on important matters? An ancient debate about the markers that define God's people has real significance today, because it tells us how to get along with people we disagree with. Pastor Luke preaches from Galatians 2:11-21 in "Nothing Added," part 3 of his 10-part series, "Galatians."
Paul was shocked that people were “deserting” what he had proclaimed to follow “another gospel.” We’ll be looking at why people might desert the gospel, but first, there’s a more basic question: how do you even do that? Pastor Luke teaches from Galatians 1:18-2:10 in "Nothing Added," part 2 of his 10-part series, "Galatians."
Paul's letter to the Galatian churches may be the oldest document in the New Testament, but it's certainly one of the most significant, especially for Protestant Christians. What makes it so important? Pastor Luke looks at Galatians 1:1-17 in "No Going Back," the first message in a new series, "Galatians."
Why is Pentecost important? Because the Church is important: so important, it needs to be celebrated. Pastor Luke preaches from 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 in "Spirit and Body."
Jesus enabled his disciples to take his peace out into the world. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, peace eludes us. What then? What is the point of working for peace when we can't have it? Pastor Luke looks at Ezekiel 37:16-28 in "After the End," the concluding message in his series, "Peace."
As much as possible, we should pursue peace with other people. But despite our best efforts, peace can elude us. Sometimes the only way to have peace is by separation ... but that kind of peace can be costly. Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 13:1-18 in "Disaffiliation," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Peace."
In a chaotic and troubled world, other people can make life more enjoyable. But sometimes, they just add to the chaos. How can we have peace with other people? The answer isn't hard to understand, but it can be hard to do. Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 12:9-21 in "Pursuing Peace," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Peace."
In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke had time to address six questions. {00:50} If God already knows what’s on our heart, why pray? {05:01} Why don’t we celebrate Communion weekly? {09:30} Can we have a cursor to help with projected music? {11:32} How can we be sure we’re hearing from God? {15:36} How can someone harmed by Christians trust God? {22:20} What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? {27:30} Closing Prayer Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 11:1-4 in "Ask Me Anything."
Jesus told his disciples to take their peace out into the troubles of the world. That seems like an odd way to find peace, but suppose you do. What comes next? How does it work? Pastor Luke looks at Philippians 4:4-9 in "Transmission," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Peace."
Have you ever wanted to get away from the things that made you anxious? -- To find someplace to hole up until it all blew over? The disciples must have felt that way after Jesus was crucified. But when he was raised, he told them that's not how they could find peace. Pastor Luke teaches from John 20:19-29 in "Transmission," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Peace."
People have been hearing the story of Easter for 2000 years. All four accounts in the New Testament are basically the same. There's nothing surprising any more about Easter. But that was what Jesus intended. Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 28:1-10 in "No Body At the Tomb."
All four biographies of Jesus describe the events of Palm Sunday, but none of them explain it. What was going on that day was Jesus bringing peace to Jerusalem. Despite all the frenzy and troubles of Holy Week, what Jesus brought was peace. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 19:28-42 in "Peace in Heaven," the first message in a new series, "Peace."
During Lent we pause to consider that we have committed sins, but even more, that we are sinful people -- there is some part of us that actually wants to sin. God did not make people that way, but something has gone wrong. Looking at people with physical problems gives us a new way to think about our sinfulness problem. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 18:35-43 in "Outside," the concluding message in his series, "Breakup."
God made humans to enjoy variety, but our desire for novelty can get us into trouble. How can we satisfy that desire without making a mess of things? Pastor Luke looks at Exodus 16:21-30 in "Outside," the first message in a new series, "Breakup."
The occasion where Jesus was Transfigured appears several places in the New Testament, but it's explained in none of them. How can we understand its signicance? We have to do it the same way Jesus' first disciples did, by comparing it to similar events in the history of God's people. Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 24:1-2,9-18 in "The Rest of the Way."
Where can you find security in an uncertain world? A man who thought he knew went to Jesus about this. In their conversation, Jesus showed the man that he was trusting something that couldn't provide the security he thought it could, and suggested an alternative. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 18:18-30 in "What You Need Most."
What kinds of prayers does God listen to? Or, to be more direct, what kind of prayers does God answer? Jesus has some surprising things to say about prayer. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 18:9-17 in "Self-Promotion."
At Christmas we celebrate that God became a human being. What does that mean that God became one of us? It turns out the best way to understand Christmas might be the thing Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 3:21-23 in "Choosing a Side."
People make New Year's resolutions because they this year to be different. But it's hard for changes to become permanent. In first century culture, almost everything was permanent. Can we learn anything from them that would help us today? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 2:21-40 in "Ritual Not Resolution."
Our Advent series continues with a passage from Isaiah that has been fulfilled many times -- but promises still more yet to be fulfilled. Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 35:1-10 in "Pools in the Desert," the concluding message in his series, "The Promise of Christmas."
Our Advent series continues with a passage from Isaiah that has been fulfilled many times -- but promises still more yet to be fulfilled. Pastor Luke preaches from Isaiah 35:1-10 in "Pools in the Desert," part 3 of his 4-part series, "The Promise of Christmas."
The book of the prophet Isaiah has been described as The Fifth Gospel. But "Gospel" means "Good News" and Isaiah is a mix of good news and bad. If there's bad news, that means the good news is that much more important. What Good News does Isaiah have for us? Pastor Luke preaches from Isaiah 11:1-10 in "The Promise of Christmas," part 2 of his 4-part series, "The Promise of Christmas."
Jesus taught about the end times and the events that will take place before the age to come. What he taught can be mysterious or even distressing. But it can also inspire us with great hope. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 17:20-37 in "Lighting Up the Sky," part 8 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
In this installment of "Ask Me Anything," Pastor Luke addressed five questions. {1:00} What does the Bible say about setting boundaries to protect yourself? {4:08} Will I be able to recognize my family members in heaven? {9:07} Does the Bible say whether pets go to heaven? {11:06} What does the story about Jesus cursing the fig tree mean? {16:05} What is the biblical view of capital punishment? Pastor Luke looks at Mark 11:12-24 in "Ask Me Anything."
People benefit in a number of ways from practicing gratitude. Sometimes we don't know who to thank, however, or how. We might not even be sure if the circumstances are just the natural course of events. But Jesus has a lot to teach us about how we can practice gratitude. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 17:11-19 in "THX," part 7 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
Jesus challenged his disciples to do something very difficult, but not for a reward. In fact, he didn't really want them to do it. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 17:1-10 in "Sixpence to the Good," part 6 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
Because Jesus is a master storyteller, he was able to take a conventional idea, and give it a twist that still makes it unsettling even two thousand years later. But better still, he could make it liberating. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 16:1-13 in "Worldly Wealth," part 5 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
How does God react when someone becomes a Christian? Or when someone who's been sinning realizes they ought to stop? Does God say, "Too little, too late?" or wait first, to see how well they follow through? Not at all! According to Jesus, there's a party in heaven. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 15:1-10 in "Party in Heaven," part 4 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
Sometimes Christians are so eager to spread the good news about Jesus that they can find themselves using high-pressure sales techniques to do so. But Jesus didn't. He cautioned people not to jump into discipleship without counting the cost. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 14:25-35 in "Count the Cost," part 3 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."
