St. Luke Columbus

You demonstrate forgiveness when you respond to someone in a way that helps that person to replace shame with hope. While being guilty is part of being human, living with shame is something we choose. The greatest trick shame plays on us is alienating us from the one thing that might help – love. Every person needs to know they are more than the sum of their worst moments. When Jesus ate with Zacchaeus, Jesus modeled forgiving love. Out of that same love, God has forgiven us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Although God knows our every sin, God chooses to forgive and forget them because of Jesus. When a person makes changes to their life as a way to please someone, perform for someone, or perfect their image, those changes are often short-lived. When you demonstrate love in the face of someone’s deepest vulnerability, you answer a number of unspoken questions, like Do you think I will be okay? Do you think I still have value? Do you think I can be forgiven? We can learn to be a person who default

Something changes in a relationship when you take the time to understand someone’s everyday context. In Jesus, God entered our everyday context, becoming fully human and now fully understands what we experience. If each of us is really honest, admit that you sometimes assume that a person should feel like I feel, think like I think, and believe like I believe. When Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house, Jesus modeled empathy. You can’t force your way into someone’s heart, but you can invite yourself into someone’s world. We can “board someone else’s train” and ride through the landscape of that person’s life. When you enter someone’s world, you respect their personality, timeline, and boundaries. We can learn someone’s context by understanding where they live physically, socially, digitally, culturally, and emotionally.   Next Step: Learn how to better understand someone’s everyday context and begin to practice being empathically curious.    Lessons: Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 9:9-13   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/o

If you want to be personal, understand what really matters to someone. In order to do that, you have to understand why it mattersGod knows the desires of our hearts and what matters to us. In Jesus, God gave us what matters most.  If you are going to shift from shallow relationships to becoming more personal, you have to become interested in something that interests someone else. When Jesus stopped for Zacchaeus, Jesus modeled friendship. When Jesus showed interest in Zacchaeus, he validated Zacchaeus’ worth. You begin to know someone when you discover someone’s interests and you validate their worth. Discovering someone’s interests is a way to show they are worth liking. We can learn ways of discovering someone’s interests.   Next Step: Chose one relationship to make more personal by learning what really matters to that person.   Lessons: Psalm 37:4, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Psalm 139:1-14, Romans 8:22-28, Luke 5:1-11, Mark 2:1-12   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

Learning someone’s name is a first important step in being personal. Before we were born, God knew us by name. In our baptism God called us by name into his eternal family. Because of Jesus, our names are written in heaven. Because God knows you by your name, you ought to know others by their names. How you say someone’s name can be personal or shallow. When Jesus said Zacchaeus’ name, Jesus modeled honor. When you call someone by name, you are making a statement about a person’s existence, purpose, and value. When you say someone’s name, you are saying someone is worth remembering and identify someone in a way that communicates value. It matters if you say someone’s name, how you say someone’s name, and how often you say someone’s name. We can learn ways of remembering people’s names.   Next Step: Become better at remembering names.   Lessons: Isaiah 43:1-3a, Revelation 3:5-6, Luke 19:1-10   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

German Partnership Sunday   Our common mission is to reach the lost. Can we first see ourselves has having once been lost and now am found? If we can internalize the grace in having been lost and found, then we will have the love and the right motivation for doing whatever it takes to reach those who yet do not trust in Jesus.    Next Step: Pray the Lost and Found Prayer each morning this week.      Lessons: Exodus 32:7-14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

We find true sanctuary when we take on the easy and light yoke of Jesus - dying to ourselves so that we will live for others.   Lessons: Proverbs 22:9, Hebrews 6:7-12, John 12:20-26   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

We find true sanctuary when we enjoy life in active and fulfilling friendships with other followers of Jesus. A life group is any group of friends that regularly enjoy life together and a Christian life group also seeks to help each other grow in faithfully following Jesus. We hear this call to live God’s love in life groups often, maybe more often than you wish. We will continue to encourage being in a life group for these reasons: It is in friendships that we most tangibly experience God’s love and the tanks of our souls are filled. True friendship is the antidote to the growing loneliness that many are experiencing. Being in a life group is the most effective encouragement to faithfully follow Jesus. Our church family will be at our best when most of us are in life groups and the life groups truly become the center and heartbeat of our life together. This is the model that Jesus lived and gave to us. Take Away: Try out a life group and help to deepen the relationships in your life group.    Les

Worship is a gathering with others to be in the presence of the Living God.  It’s an opportunity to rest in the presence of the Presence, to love and be loved, to find peace in community.  We come with all of our fears, doubts, pressures, joys, and sorrows. We come as we are, and invite others to do the same, and we leave refreshed and renewed. It’s less about what we do, and more about being present and accepting God and others for who they are, not for who we think they should be.   Next Step: Quit “should-ing” on God, others, and yourself.  Start accepting and loving unconditionally.   Lessons: Isaiah 25:4-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Mark 12:28-34   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

We will find true sanctuary when we walk God’s path for us. God desires to give us sanctuary. We live in a corner of the world where many people experience being over-scheduled, over-burdened, and over-extended. Many of us desire to experience a sanctuary where we can find true rest for our souls, but being an active and growing disciple of Jesus takes time. God will not allow a Christ-follower to find restful sanctuary outside of God’s will for us. How do we become more fully devoted followers of Jesus and have a more healthy balance in our lives? When we are weary and burdened, how do we find a safe and encouraging sanctuary to experience God’s true rest and where the empty tanks of our souls are filled up with God’s inexhaustible love, grace, and truth?   Next Step: Determine what your priorities are and adjust your schedule to reflect those priorities. Make it a priority to be in worship the next three weeks to better understand how we experience true sanctuary when we learn, live, and unleash God’s love.

Fear more than any other emotion stands in the way of faith. Scripture says that faith is certainty of things not seen. When God calls us to do something in faith, fear often causes us to pause. But we have no need to pause, for God is faithful. God’s faithfulness has been displayed from the beginning of time. Despite Abraham’s fears and doubts, his faith bore a great nation that stands to this day.    Jesus understands that fear and worry hold us back. In our gospel lesson, He reminds us how happy the Father is to give us the kingdom of heaven. Jesus wants us to be faithful and prepared to receive his Kingdom. When we stop worrying and live obedient to the calling God has placed on our lives (to love and serve others) we experience God’s kingdom today and are prepared to receive it when Jesus returns.   Call to action: You can't change what you don't acknowledge. Start by identifying what fears stand in the way of your doing what God wants most for you. Next, consider what God could do despite your fears. F

Generosity is the way to avoid being a rich fool. God gives us everything for our enjoyment, and yet our wealth and the pursuit of our wealth can become such a burden that life seems meaningless. Generosity is God’s way of giving a grandeur purpose to our wealth.   Next Step: Review your lifestyle and generosity and decide whether God is calling you to increase your generosity as one way of living wisely when it comes to your wealth.   Lessons: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:17-23, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 12:13-21   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

Just as Jesus made it personal with Zacchaeus and changed his life, so the church makes it personal with kids because too many people feel invisible or ignored.   Next Step:  Take the opportunity to get involved with kids and teenagers as a volunteer, to make an impact on someone’s life by making it personal.   Lessons: Isaiah 43:1-7, Philemon 1:1-16, Luke 19:1-10   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

This week we hear from some of our students and how God is working in their lives!

God opens doors when we feel confused about what to do next. We can devote ourselves to prayer and ask God to open doors for each of us to share the Gospel with people, especially those on our prayer list. When we spend time in listening prayer we will grow in wisdom and be able to more clearly see the doors that God is opening for us. With that wise foundation we will more likely make the most of every opportunity to share our faith and speak in ways that are full of grace, seasoned with sincerity and tact, and be confident that we are giving truthful answers to questions we are asked.   Next Step: Begin the practice of listening prayer by asking God, “What is a door you are opening for me to share part of my faith story?”   Lessons: Exodus 14:10-14, Colossians 4:2-6, Luke 11:1-13   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

When we allow the Word of Christ to dwell within us richly, the Lord connects us to others in life-giving and grace-filled ways.   What's Next?  Continually open your heart to the presence of Christ and the message of the Gospel.  Let God do the work in you to bring about a change in the relationships around you   Lessons: Genesis 4:1-12, Colossians 3:1-17, John 17:20-24   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

When I am rooted in faith in Jesus, I am virtually untouchable, free from worldly harm.   Next Step: Reflect upon what my roots look like and practice spiritual breathing to continually ensure we are being built up in Him   Lessons: Psalm 66:1-12, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 11:14-28   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

God holds all things together when life is falling apart. God not only created all that exists, God also continues to preserve us. God protects and guards us from every evil. Because all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, we can learn the extent to which God goes to hold all things together for us. Because of our corruption of God’s creation, our lives sometimes are falling apart, but through the work of Jesus God holds all things together for us.      Next Step: Identify one area of your life that you think is starting to fall apart. Be present with the feelings that come with this experience. But, trust the words that God is holding all things together. Pray the “God Holds All Things Together For Me” prayer when life seems to be falling apart.     Lessons: Psalm 33:1-22, Colossians 1:15-23, John 1:1-5, 14-18   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

As human beings, certain questions seem to constantly echo in our hearts and minds: What is God doing/not doing? What am I supposed to do with my life now that I have graduated/have kids/am at mid-life/am facing retirement/am retired/experience life with diminishing physical abilities? Is my life headed in the right direction?   As many of us take a vacation break from work during the summer, we have the great assurance that God continues to work for our good in all things. As we grow in our knowledge of how God works, we are compelled to love God all the more and respond by living a life that is pleasing to God, doing the fruitful work that God has for us.   Next Step:Commit to praying for someone in your life that God fill this person “with the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual wisdom and understanding” and he or she might “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.”   Lessons: Ezekiel 3:1-6, Colossians 1:3-14, Mark 1:14-28   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subsc

We all want our lives to mean something beyond ourselves. When we make time to help others through service, generosity, or telling them about Jesus, we experience what it means to unleash God's love. Next Step: Take one step towards establishing the habit of serving, inviting, and giving to meet the hopes and hurts of others. Do this in response to how Jesus has loved you and in the name of Jesus.   Lessons: Acts 2:1-21, James 2:14-17, John 15:1-7   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand   Subscribe to our Youtube channel

There are times when we all feel lonely and disconnected from other people. God didn't design us to go through life alone. Studies today indicate that we live more disconnected than ever in our culture today. One way we provide the care and connection we all need is by forming life groups. Life groups are groups that become friends who live out their faith together, which is essential as we grow to become more like Jesus.   Lessons: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-23, Hebrews 10:23-25, John 17:20-26   Watch: stlukecolumbus.com/ondemand     Subscribe to our Youtube channel