Jewel Lake Parish Sermon Podcast

Jesus was often confronted by people challenging his teaching. Matthew recorded one of those confrontations in his biography of Jesus, and in it Jesus gives us a clear answer to the question, "What does God want from us?" So often, we are told that salvation is a free gift, and we can't do anything to earn God's favor. How does that square with what Jesus said in this parable Matthew records about two sons? Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 21:23-32 in "Who Goes First?," the first message in a new series, "(Untitled Series)."

Jesus told his followers to shine before others, so they would see our good works and praise our Father in heaven. In his biography of Jesus, Mark gives us an example of what it looks like when we do that. But his example also gives us an amazing insight, that tells us how we can experience the power of Jesus at work in our own circumstances. Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 8:1-13 in "Good Works."

Jesus said his followers are "a city on a hill." What did he mean? Is "city on a hill" something you can do? How? Understanding what Jesus meant here is vital in order to understand the mission of the church. What is it? Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 5:13-16 in "Acropolis Now."

Pentecost is the birthday of the church, but "if this is a birthday, where are the presents?" The coming of the Holy Spirit was marked by an outpouring of spiritual gifts. What were those gifts, and how did the early church use them? How does the Holy Spirit work in the church today? Pastor Luke teaches from Acts 2:1-21 in "Poured Out."

Jesus described how God's "Kingship" works in our lives, but what if we're already happy with how our lives are? Or at least, mostly happy, with most of our lives? Is there a way to get God to work on the broken parts of our lives and leave the rest of us alone? Jesus answered questions like that with a couple of parables. Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 13:44-46 in "Treasure," the concluding message in his series, "Kingdom of God."

Jesus said the Kingdom of God--God's power at work in our lives--has come near. But sometimes, it doesn't feel that way. Sometimes, we're more aware of our brokenness than of God's power to fix it. Why do some people have such powerful conversion experiences, while others struggle, and often fail? Jesus answered that question, as he so often did, by looking at a seed. Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 4:26-29 in "Coming Up," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Kingdom of God."

The Kingdom of God, or God's rule working in our lives, can be hard to envision, and often we see it best in hindsight. Jesus taught that it is powerful, producing 100, 60, or 30-fold fruitfulness in our lives. But he also warned of things that keep us from enjoying all of God's power that we might. What are they? Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 in "Extravagant," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Kingdom of God."

Whenever we have problems, we wonder, "Where is God?" That's true when accidents or natural disasters strike, but it takes on a special urgency when the problems are the deliberate work of evildoers. This week, terrorists exploded bombs at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and maimed or injured 178 more. Did God know that would happen? If he did, why does he permit it? Jesus answered all these questions in one of his most challenging parables. What did he teach us, and how can we apply it in our lives? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 in "An Enemy Did This," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Kingdom of God."

The kingdom of God Jesus talked about is when people give God authority in their lives. When we do that, we will have better (not always easier) lives. But what will that look like? How will we know when it's happening? Jesus taught what the kingdom of God is like in the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Pastor Luke looks at Mark 4:30-32 in "The Greatest Shrub," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Kingdom of God."

After Easter, then what? The good news of Jesus is that he became human and lived for us, died for us, and was raised to life again for us. But not long afterwards, Jesus ascended to heaven. Where does that leave us? What are we supposed to do now? And how are we supposed to do it? When the first disciples asked Jesus that question, he laid out his program for them and for us. What did he tell them? Pastor Luke looks at Acts 1:3-8 in "Restoring the Kingdom," the first message in a new series, "Kingdom of God."

Is Easter relevant to us today? It's fascinating to learn that Jesus was raised from the dead, but does it matter to us? The answer, as you might guess, is 'yes, Easter is relevant.' Easter changes everything! Jesus promised he would die and be raised, and if he was able to keep that central promise, it means we can trust all his other promises. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 24:1-12 in "Looking for the Living."

What is the Church? The night before he was crucified, Jesus told his disciples what they should do when he was gone. "Love one another," he said, "and everyone will know you are my disciples." What did he mean by that? How should we do it? Pastor Luke looks at John 13:1-17,31-35 in "A New Commandment."

Why do we celebrate Holy Week, the final week of Lent? It's hard to celebrate anything after six weeks of fasting, and the gloomy events of Jesus' final week before his crucifixion, are depressing. Even the first day of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, reminds us that crowds cheered Jesus only days before they called for his execution. So why celebrate Palm Sunday? Pastor Luke preaches from Mark 11:1-11 in "Slo-Mo."

Who is beyond God's grace? Is there such a thing as being "God-forsaken?" Have you ever wondered? Peter, a leader in the early church, didn't wonder--he knew! He'd been taught that whole nations of people were beyond saving. But one day, Peter suddenly realized that couldn't true, because Jesus had been hung on a tree. Why did that matter? Pastor Luke looks at Acts 10:34-42 in "Hung on a Tree," the concluding message in his series, "Gardens."

Nobody likes to be judged: even by our family, much less by our friends and neighbors, and especially not by God. Since God is able to enforce his judgments, it's easy to see things that happen in our lives as God's judgment at work. Good things mean good approves, bad, that God disapproves. Jesus says that's a mistake, though, and offers a different way to look at God's judgment. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 13:1-9 in "One More Year," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Gardens."

Why was Jesus crucified? One of the main reasons has to be his encounter with the religious authorities at the Temple after he drove out the money changers. What were the religious authorities doing wrong, and why were they insulted by what Jesus said? More importantly, what attitude of theirs must we guard against in the church today? Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 21:33-41 in "Vineyards," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Gardens."

One day, Jesus got upset with what was going on in the Temple and he began flipping over tables. What was it that made him angry? Earlier that same day, he cursed a fig tree. Was it the same thing that got him angry? Are these stories even related? They are, and there's a tool that helps modern readers see how large chunks of the Bible combine to communicate a key teaching. So what is the teaching that combines money changers and fig trees, and how does it affect us today? Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 11:12-21 in "Fruitless," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Gardens."

Everybody's heard about the Adam and Eve and the snake and the apple and fig leaves, even people who aren't Christians or Jews. But it's a kind of a downer. What does that old story about the first man and woman teach us today? Is the garden of Eden just a grim reminder of human failing, or is there some good news in it? Pastor Luke looks at Genesis 3:1-8 in "Eden," the first message in a new series, "Gardens."

The season of Lent is concerned with repentance and reflection, and, often, with fasting. What makes for a good fast? Pastor Luke preaches from Isaiah 58:1-12 in "Scrub Up."

In the Bible, the Transfiguration of the Lord is described four times: once in a letter, and three times in the biographies of Jesus. So it's a important. But it's also very weird. Why? Is there some way to cut through the mysterious aspects of the story and arrive at an understanding that helps us know how to be better disciples today? Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 9:28-43 in "Morph."