Prince Of Peace

Every Sunday is a little Easter, Martin Luther once said. And it’s kind of fitting that this Sunday after All Saints Sunday, we have before us Jesus arguing with the religious leaders about resurrection. Don’t we all have these same questions about what happens in the Resurrected life? Let’s see how Jesus responds. Scripture: Job 19:23-27; Luke 20:27-38 Song: All These Memories by Blaeker Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

On this All Saints Sunday we will dwell in promises so rich and comforting that we need to keep hearing them spoken out loud. The pledge of our inheritance is signed, sealed and delivered and today we’re gonna read the fine print. Scripture: Psalm 149, Ephesians 1:11-23 Photo showed during message Song: Natural Ghost by Jay Varton Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

Jesus uses a familiar trope to teach a lesson today. There are TWO kinds of people, and then definitely doesn’t hide which one is “better.” This choice before us is familiar, as we’ve been in Luke’s Gospel for almost a year, and this theme of self-aggrandizing is a recurring theme. So what does this mean for us today? Why does it matter? Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Luke 18:9-14 Song: 3house by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream

What keeps you up at Night? Concerns about falling short as a parent, a friend, a Christian? Do financial worries keep you tossing and turning? Or maybe feelings of guilt or loss or shame? Jacob was terrified of his past catching up with him and one cold dark night it looked like his worst nightmare was about to come true. That’s when God showed up itching for a fight. Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31; Luke 18:1-8 Song: Timeless Clouds by Luwaks Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream

Today’s Gospel is a familiar one, about the ten lepers healed by Jesus. We often hear this text read at Thanksgiving, as a reminder to “be like the one who says thank you” as if that’s the main point of this text. What if that’s NOT the point? What if this story illustrated something completely different? Scripture: Psalm 111, Luke 17:11-19 Song: Gelatin Nature by Ooyy Picture referenced in today's episode Barbara Brown Taylor's Website Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream

The apostle Paul would not have done well on Twitter. He is often so wordy that translators have trouble figuring out where to put punctuation. But this passage is an exception. Each verse is Twitter worthy, self-contained little truth bomb. Let’s just see if we find what Paul calls the “good treasure!” Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 Song: Too Fast by Ooyy Support our podcast here

Ooof. This is a challenging series of texts to read all at once. But the lesson of them is not that people with money are doomed to a fiery end, but that HOW we use our money matters to God. Jesus talks about money so much in scripture. As people who live in the wealthiest nation, we can’t ignore what Jesus is asking from us (yes us) today Scripture: Amos 6:1, 4-7, 1 Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19, Luke 16:19-31 Song: Heliolingus by Ooyy Support our podcast here

In a series of parables, Luke builds the case that social status is fleeting and an unreliable source of security. My neighbor in need may also be the one who answers the call when I find myself in trouble. Scripture: Amos 8:4-7, Luke 16:1-13 Song: Valium by nothanks Movie Clip showed on Sunday TZ Video shown on Sunday Support our podcast here

In this series of parables, Jesus is responding to grumbling insiders about all the riff raff Jesus is bringing into the temple. In fact, both readings today are a reminder of who God is for, what God is about, and how God operates in the world, and it’s a reminder we need today. Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 Song: With You by Daxton Pastor Emmy Kegler's Book: One Coin Found Support our podcast here

Community can be uncomfortable, but there is always something being made new within it. So what new thing is God bringing to life here? Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7 Song: Sober Language by Ooyy Support our podcast here

The church is a big beautiful amazing place made up of flawed messy awkward people. We aren’t expected to “like” everyone and thank goodness. But we are expected to build something together, even with the people who make living in community difficult. When we say “all are welcome” do we mean it? Really? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Song: Changli by Ooyy Letter read during sermon Support our podcast here

A life with Christ calls us to the cross. And it’s a place no one really wants to go. Since crucifixion isn’t a thing we participate in anymore, what does this phrase really mean for us today? How has it been misused? How can we reclaim it, even when it makes us uncomfortable? Scripture: Mark 8:34 Song: Melancholy by Ooyy Support our podcast here

Our next series begins this week, and we are going to be talking about the Christian community, and how our call to live with each other means things can get a little… uncomfortable. Being a part of a church doesn’t mean we agree with each other all the time, or even getting exactly what we want from every church service. So what does it mean then? Why do we gather in this way at all? Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-5, 9-10 Song: Barely Floating by Ooyy Support our podcast here

We were blessed this week to be joined by Archbishop Musa Filibus. Let’s hear what he thinks about “The Good Life”.  Let’s find out as we close our final week of the good life series. Archbishop Musa is from the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, he also is the President of The Lutheran World Federation. Song: Far Away Star by Lishuid Support our podcast here

Turns out we needed yet another week of Jesus reminding us that the Kingdom of God does not look a darn thing like the world we are living in now, and not a moment too soon. Scripture: Matthew 6:19-33 Song: In-Between Heartbeats by Headlund Video showed during the sermon: Local restaurant giving free meals to homeless & less fortunate patrons Support our podcast here

“The good life” according to Jesus, doesn’t consist of fame and the approval of others, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at our world today. We are so good at presenting an image of the type of person we want to be. Only posting the best pictures. Only sharing the moments where we are winning. We like to make sure people know when we’re being awesome. Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 Song: AM by Ikson™ Video showed during the sermon: Swag Seminary Support our podcast here

The cultural understanding of “The Good Life” is usually understood to be about upward mobility and the “American Dream”: financial freedom, material abundance, success, and social status. We think happiness is determined by the next best thing. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus turns the definition of “the good life” upside down. Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12 Song: エスケープ by Ikson™ Support our podcast here

As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or to question. Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Song: Take Off by Ikson

Both of the readings today are about expectations and education. Paul is setting his church in Galatia up for what is to come, some final words as he helps them navigate what it means to live and work and worship together. Jesus sends his disciples out into the world that doesn’t always want them there. The same is true with us - what do we need to know before we are sent? Scripture: Galatians 6:7-16; Luke 10:1-11 Song: Golden Hour by Vlad Gluschenko

The disciples have had enough. They want Jesus to destroy his adversaries. Doesn’t sound very Christian, does it?  Well, what does sound Christian? Let’s ask some tough questions about following Jesus today. Scripture: Psalm 16, Luke 9:51-62 Song: Summer Moon by Kabbalistic Village