Jewel Lake Parish Sermon Podcast

We've seen that the story of what Jesus did isn't advice telling us what to do, it's news. But information about an event is just information unless it relates to us somehow. Before we can discuss what it means to us, first we have to see how it relates to us. Pastor Luke teaches from Gen 1:1-5 in "Agenda," part 3 of his 5-part series, "News, Not Advice."

The good news about Jesus begins with "Christ," or King, according to the Apostle Paul's summary in 1 Corinthians 15. But kings are authorities who tell you what to do. If giving advice is bad, how can an authority be better? Pastor Luke looks at Mark 10:35-45 in "The Power of Love," part 2 of his 5-part series, "News, Not Advice."

Christianity is not a system of religious teaching, or a set of rules and advice about keeping them. The Gospel means "good news," and if Christianity is good news, then it is news: information about an event that has already occurred. Pastor Luke looks at Mark 1:1,9-15 in "News, Not Advice," the first message in a new series, "News, Not Advice."

We had time for two mini-sermons in our occasional series of "extreme preaching". The first was on the divisions between (and within) Christian traditions. The second was a summary of the time when Israel was ruled by Judges. Pastor Luke looks at Judges 2:11-22 in "Extreme Preaching."

Israel lost the Ark when they were conquered by Babylon. It has never been recovered, in twenty-six centuries. Why not? If it was so important for Israel to have the Ark in the first place, why has God allowed it to be lost? Why does God sometimes allow us to lose what is dear to us? Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Kings 25:8-17 in "Lost and Found," the concluding message in his series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

King David's life was filled with highs and lows. During one of the lowest points in his life, David was given the opportunity to try to force God to help him. He chose not to. Why? What can we learn from him? Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Samuel 15:13-30 in "Uprising," part 6 of his 7-part series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

How do you get square with God? The Philistines took the Ark of God from Israel, until God persuaded them to give it back. But is giving it back enough? We all know about things we did that can't be fixed. If we can't fix things here on earth, what chance do we have to get square with God? Pastor Luke teaches from 1 Samuel 6:1-12 in "Guilt Offering," part 5 of his 7-part series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

How big is God, if he's too big to fit in a box? Christians confess a big God - "maker of heaven and earth." But sometimes we still imagine limits to how big God is, and especially, how wide God's mercy extends. Pastor Luke preaches from 1 Samuel 5:1-12 in "Hot Potato," part 4 of his 7-part series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

We can't put God in a box. We can't get God out of the box when we need some God, and stuff him back when we don't. But suppose we could. Would we want that? What if we lost the box? Pastor Luke looks at 1 Samuel 4:12-22 in "Ichabod," part 3 of his 7-part series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

Sometimes God doesn't show up when we want him to. We'd like a God we could stuff in a box and get out when we need him. But that's not the God we read about in Scripture. Why do we need a God who won't go into a box? And if we can't control what God does, and when, how do we know we can trust him? Pastor Luke looks at 1 Samuel 4:1-11 in "God in a Box," part 2 of his 7-part series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

The Old Testament is filled with stories about how God used to do amazing miracles and wonders for the people of Israel. We may wonder why God doesn't seem to do things like that today. But what if when we're waiting for God to do wonders, it's actually God who's waiting for us? Pastor Luke preaches from Joshua 3:1-17 in "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders," the first message in a new series, "The Saga of the Lost Ark."

Thanksgiving is recognizing what God has done. Will God continue to bless people who don't give thanks? If he will, why should we bother to do so? Is there a reason? Pastor Luke preaches from Psalm 40:1-10 in "Gratitude," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Planted by Water (The Psalms)."

(The audio recording quality of this message is substandard. We are working to improve the situation.) Lamentation is the process of giving our troubles to God. Trust is the process of not taking them back. Pastor Luke looks at Psalm 27:1-6 in "Trust," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Planted by Water (The Psalms)."

What can we do when our circumstances are so overwhelming that we are unable to praise God? When things get hard, is there a way to complain about them like a believer? Pastor Luke looks at Psalm 69:1-16 in "Deep Waters," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Planted by Water (The Psalms)."

Many of the Psalms call forth praise from God's people. Why? Does God need our praises? What happens to us if we don't praise God? What happens if we do? Pastor Luke teaches from Psalm 113 in "True North," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Planted by Water (The Psalms)."

The Book of Psalms is a collection of songs in the middle of the Bible, and just like a lot of music today, those songs are about the kind of things that matter to people. Is it possible to have a happy life, and if so, how? That's the subject of the very first Psalm. Pastor Luke looks at Psalm 1 in "Planted by Water," the first message in a new series, "Planted by Water (The Psalms)."

What can we do when we look at things that depress us? How can we find hope in trouble and ruin? The ancient prophet Ezekiel saw the conquest of Jerusalem and assumed it was the end of the nation. But God asked him if it could live again. Pastor Luke looks at Ezekiel 37:1-14 in "Jump Start."

People often become disciples of Jesus from desperation, and Jesus is okay with that. But he invites people who aren't desperate to become disciples too. Do we bring our troubles to Jesus, but forget to bring the parts of our lives that are working pretty well? Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 9:51-62 in "Sticker Shock," the concluding message in his series, "Discipleship."

Jesus told a rich man to give everything he had to the poor and then become his disciple, but the man refused and went away sad. Does Jesus say the same thing to us? What harm is there in being wealthy? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 19:16-30 in "Albatross," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Discipleship."

As long as Jesus has had followers, people have wondered whether to quit. One of the first to wrestle with that decision was Peter. He came up with a question that clarifies all kinds of decisions in every walk of life. But it's especially useful for people who are trying to decide whether to quit following Jesus. Pastor Luke teaches from John 6:51-69 in "Bread of Life," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Discipleship."