Jewel Lake Parish Sermon Podcast

What is the "Reason for the Season?" People, especially Christians, use those words a lot around Christmas time ... but what do they mean by it? How certain are you that you truly know "The Reason for the Season?" How would you describe it to someone who had no idea what was the reason for the season? Pastor Luke preaches from Galatians 4:4-7 in "The Reason for the Season."

From Abraham to Gideon, David to Isaiah, we see again and again the way God picks unlikely partners to bring grace and healing to the world. The familiar Christmas stories include some of the best examples of God seeking out unlikely people. When we see how God works, these stories invite us to rethink the way that we evaluate other people. Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 2:1-8 in "Attention Economy," the concluding message in his series, "Advent."

As we near the end of 2020, we may remember all the things we planned to do before the COVID-19 pandemic. We may have had to change some plans over and over again. What can we learn about planning from Joseph, the all-time champion at making new plans? Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 1:18-25 in "Plan C," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Advent."

When we think about the Virgin Mary, we mostly think about her youth, as women in that typically married in their early teens. Or we think about the responsibility of bearing a son who was doomed to die. But we should also remember her virginity. Why is the Virgin Birth important to Christians? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 1:26-38 in "Expand," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Advent."

Among the other Christmas stories is the less familiar story of a man named Zechariah. While it might not be as well known as Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men, or the Shepherds and Angels, his situation is very common. It's the story of a man whose life (or a part of it) has been a disappointment. What can he teach us? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 1:5-24 in "Hope," the first message in a new series, "Advent."

In a year like 2020, what is there to be thankful about? Pastor Luke preaches from Colossians 1:11-20 in "Thanksgiving."

Christians believe in the Age to Come because Jesus said he would return and finish the work of renovation that he had begun. It's encouraging that our hope is grounded in his promise, but it leads to questions about the coming age. What will it be like? What will we be like? What can we know about it on this side of eternity? Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 65:17-25 in "Renovation," the concluding message in his series, "Resurrection."

Christians believe that the coming age will lack sickness, poverty, violence, death and everything else that makes the current age so hard. But is this just wishful thinking? That's the question a group of Bible scholars asked Jesus. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 20:27-38 in "Resurrection," the first message in a new series, "Resurrection."

Jesus crossed social boundaries with great ease, but it can be surprising difficult for us to do so. What can we learn from the time when Jesus' crossed the boundary around a man named Zacchaeus? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 19:1-10 in "Reputation Management," the concluding message in his series, "Faith."

We often do things in order to influence other people. We might want them to help us, or give us jobs, or just to like us. Can we influence God? And if we can, how? Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 18:9-14 in "Influencer," part 2 of his 3-part series, "Faith."

Faith is central to Christianity. But what is it? What does it look like? Jesus taught a series of lessons about faith to help us understand what kind of faith God desires. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 18:1-8 in "Persistence," the first message in a new series, "Faith."

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, we've been wondering about the "new normal." What will the new normal be like? How will we know when we get there? What should we do in the meantime? Centuries before Christ, God spoke through prophet Jeremiah to encourage people with questions pretty similar to ours. Pastor Luke preaches from Jeremiah 29:1,4-7,10 in "New Normal."

When the church in Thessalonica was facing many difficult challenges, the Apostle Paul gave them instructions to help them in their troubles. When we face our own challenges — as so many are this year — the same advice can help us. Pastor Luke teaches from Thessalonians 5:12-28 in "Engaging," the concluding message in his series, "Brand-New Testament."

Christians hope in the better world that Jesus will inaugurate when he returns. What sustains our hope between now then? Until Christ returns, how do we keep our hope alive in all the troubles of this world, amid all its sickness, violence, and death? Pastor Luke preaches from Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 in "Rapture," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Brand-New Testament."

The Apostle Paul said that the Church — the community of Jesus' followers — was a family. What images does that bring to mind for you? What does it mean — what ought it mean — for the Church to be a family? Pastor Luke teaches from Thessalonians 4:1-12 in "Dedicated to God," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Brand-New Testament."

Why do we take the Apostle Paul seriously? Or perhaps a better question is, why did people in the first century take him seriously? What can we learn from Paul about being taken seriously today? Pastor Luke looks at Thessalonians 2:1-12 in "Being Serious," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Brand-New Testament."

Paul wrote the letters to the church in a Greek town called Thessalonica to encourage people he loved but could not be with. They found what he said was so encouraging, they kept the letter, and circulated to others who needed encouraging. They shared it in turn, and after a couple of centuries of being shared to encourage people, this letter -- likely the oldest surviving Christian document -- became part of the New Testament. Can it still encourage us today? Pastor Luke teaches from Thessalonians 1:1-10 in "Brand-New Testament," the first message in a new series, "Brand-New Testament."

We conclude our conversation about Christians and Society, with a lesson about economic inequality. How can Christians show God's love in a society where some are so rich, and others so poor? Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 16:19-31 in "Economic Inequality," the concluding message in his series, "Counter Culture."

We continue our conversation about Christians and Society, and how we can show God's love in a society that is hurting. This week we're talking about the police power, and especially police violence. Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 12:18-13:7 in "Christians and Civil Authority," part 2 of his 3-part series, "Counter Culture."

Jesus never used the words "race" or "racism." But his teaching is clear, from the opening of the Hebrew Scriptures to the close of the New Testament, that racism is a sin. Pastor Luke preaches from Ephesians 2:10-14 in "The Sin of Racism," the first message in a new series, "Counter Culture."