St. Luke Columbus

When we look at the heart of God in the bible, it ultimately is centered on the worship and glorification of His name. Jesus in John 6 is teaching that the needs of the people go far beyond physical, emotional, etc... Their needs terminate (thankfully) on worship and adoration of the Lord, our needs being met are a glorious by product of the Lord allowing us a way to worship Him more completely. Jesus is teaching that the Provision of the Bread is the just beginning of life eternal, it's not the end goal!   Lessons: Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 and John 6:24-35

When faced with hungry people Jesus stops preaching to physically feed them. We must never forget that our daily bread comes from God and to always receive our daily bread with thanks. Receiving our daily bread with thanks in part means to be Jesus to those who are hungry and feed them.    After hearing this sermon we hope you will recognize that all your daily bread comes from Jesus, receive it always with thanks, and consistently work to feed the hungry.   Lessons: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Acts 6:1-7, John 6:1-13.

This Sunday every year we pause and hear from the students how God is working in their lives. 

The Bible is constantly assert Gods rightful place not just as our father, but our redeemer, Shepard, Lord, and Creator. We on the other hand are constantly removing the weight of those titles, often we keep the names but find ourselves inserting other things or even ourselves into the roles that God has rightfully reserved for Himself. Today we will look and ask God to reconcile our hearts view to the reality of who He is and who we are and what that ultimately means.   Lessons: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.   Book referenced in today's message: "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" by W. Phillip Keller   Homework: Colossians 1:15-23

Given that our culture continues to define away personal sin, relativize truth, and lift up the individual into the positon of being one’s own god, this sermon will wrestle with the question whether repenting is still relevant.  After hearing this sermon we hope that regular, authentic, rigorous and gospel-centered repentance becomes habit as you seek to grow as a fully devoted follower of Jesus. In this life we are never done repenting.   Lessons: Jeremiah 3:1-14, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11a, Mark 6:6b-13.

This sermon will teach what to do to promote faith among those you love the most, especially those who may not yet believe. It appears from the gospel record that some or all of Jesus’ immediate family did not initially believe in him. We know that at least some of his family (Mary, James, Jude) became fully-devoted followers of Jesus.    After hearing this sermon we hope that you will follow the example of Jesus and the teachings of the New Testament to promote faith among those you love the most. Regularly pray for your family members, live out your faith, and be prepared to give brief testimonies to how Jesus has given you new life.   Lessons: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, Mark 3:20-21, 31-35; 6:1-7.

This podcast begins with Pastor Trover reading a letter from ELCA Bishop Eaton on the recept shootings in Charleston, South Carolina.   God's transforming power moves us from fear to faith. After hearing this sermon we hope that you will stop being afraid and go on living by trusting God's goodness to all.   Lessons: Lamentations 3:22-33 and Mark 5:21-43.

God responded to Job, and those who were listening, with a series of rhetorical questions. After quieting a storm at sea the disciples asked a deeper rhetorical question, “who is this?” Paul invites us to keep looking and asking questions until we see God, face to face. Lessons: Job 38:1-11, 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, Mark 4:35-41.   

According to Jesus' early parables, God's kingdom is everywhere, mysterious, and actual. This teaches us of the radical grace of God's rescue mission centered in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We will glance over the fence at Christian universalism, i.e. that everyone is actually saved through the work of Jesus.   After hearing this sermon we hope that you will not doubt that you are in God's kingdom and find where God's kingdom is working where you might least expect it.   Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-5, Mark 4:26-29   Sermon Outline

Being caught in a challenging position can have us backpedaling, trying to find a way to minimize our failure. But in the end, the cover-up almost always becomes worse than the original offense. With God we have the freedom to come clean, because God knows all about us in the first place. Too often we fail to recognize this and we run and hide, and cover ourselves, as if God cannot see us. True freedom, and true relationship comes with our willingness to be fully exposed before God. We may not be ready to try this out with our friends and family, but that should not stop us from trying it with God.   Living a life of open confession before God can create a freedom of our soul that allows us experience the full impact of God on our lives.   Lessons: Genesis 3:8-15, Mark 3:20-35

As followers of Jesus, we are not done learning and growing in discipleship. A fully-devoted follower of Jesus always remains teachable and continually seeks out opportunities to learn and grow with an open heart and mind.    After hearing this sermon, we hope you will evaluate what your discipleship learning agility is and add one way you will put yourself in a position to learn and grow in discipleship.    Lessons: Psalm 119:33-40, Hebrews 6:1-3, John 3:1-18.

In our culture we have become so busy and surrounded by so much noise that we can't hear what God might be telling us. In this message we will look at how we need to be still and listen to God's call to us.   Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Matthew 11:25-29.

Enough said right?  But when it comes to us, we need more words, we need more reminders, we need more images, we need more promises, we need more proof, we need deeper understanding… and when it’s all said and done, when we ask Him who He is… I Am.  Luckily He knows out weaknesses, He knows our limits, and so he gave us words, deep, broad, heavy, and powerful words to display who He is.  We will look at these words, and challenge ourselves in view of the Lord to pursue a deep intimacy with the great I Am. Lessons: 2 Samuel 22:31-37, Psalm 8, Matthew 16:13-17. My King Is Video

One way to be rich towards God is to unleash God’s love through sacrificial acts of generosity and compassion. This lessens our grip on our wealth and its grip on us, and makes an eternal difference in our lives and the lives of others. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will extend your participation in the Be Rich campaign beyond what you would expect by continuing to financially donate, serving in one of our partner organizations, and donating in-kind gifts. Lessons: Proverbs 19:16-17; 22:9; 28:27, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:21-37

The way to make sure that you hope does not migrate from God to your wealth is to pre-decide to be rich in giving a generous percentage of your income to unleash God’s love to meet the hopes and hurts of others. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will have a generosity planning session where you will prayerfully pre-decide what generous percentage of your income you will give to unleash God’s love to meet the hopes and hurts of others.    Lessons: Leviticus 27:30-34, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Mark 12:41-44  

There are unintended and destructive side effects that we may experience since we are rich. These side effects can build up to where we eventually put our trust and hope in our wealth more than in God. One way to lessen the  side effects is to be generous and serve others in response to the riches we have been given by God.   After this sermon, we hope that you will be aware of how rich you are and the potential side effects of this. To not be arrogant because you are rich or put your help in wealth. To put your hope ultimately in God. And be rich in the good deeds of generosity and serving those in need. Lessons: Proverbs 18:10-12, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:13-21. Sermon Outline

We are to witness to the resurrection of Jesus by being rich in doing the good work of being extravagantly generous and serving those in need. In this way we follow the example of Jesus and become the shining stars that point people to Jesus.    We hope you will participate in the Be Rich campaign beyond what you would expect by giving an extravagant donation above your normal offering, serving at least one hour in one of our three partner organizations, and donating in-kind gifts.   Lessons: Philippians 2:3-16a, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 24:36b-49.   Be Rich Brochure

We are going to look at as many Old Testament figures who "in faith" followed God's call wherever it led. What inhibits us from following these calls? What encourages us? How do we have faith like this? How do we join them in our world? Lessons: Jeremiah 20:7-11, Hebrews 10:32-39, and Mark 9:17-24. Music Video: When the Saints - Sara Groves

Because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, so shall we. In heaven we will experience the riches that God has prepared for us and that are beyond compare. These riches are already ours through faith in Christ.   After hearing this message, we hope you will live each day rejoicing and glad in the riches of the eternal life Jesus won for us. Let the reality of your eternal riches shape how you view your riches in this life.   Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, John 20:1-18.