St. Luke Columbus

David's special message to kids about how God uses the moments in our lives to grow our faith.

Everything that happens to us in a day shapes us, C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying something to the effect of, all our decisions move us closer to Heaven or closer to Hell. There are however, some moments in our life that stand out above the rest, moments that are pivotal on our faith. It is in these moments that God moves the needle of our faith lives in tremendous ways.   After hearing this sermon we hope you will ask someone what pivotal moments in their lives that have shaped their faith. Then write some down that happened in your own life and: thank the lord for them, reflect how they shaped your faith, and share it when a loved one! Spend time praying for God to move in big and small moments in your life.   Lessons: Joshua 3:7-8, 14-17; Acts 4:8-13; Luke 9:28-36

The Bible is filled with accounts of God calling people into ministry before they thought they were ready, e.g., Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Peter, Saul of Tarsus. When we step into a ministry for which we do not feel prepared, our faith grows. Some people have called this “stepping out of our comfort zones.” It is simply the case that when we bring all that we have to Jesus and he works through what we have to make an eternal difference in the lives of others, our faith is supercharged. Everyone can serve, invite, and give in some way to meet the hopes and hurts of others.   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will volunteer for a ministry. If you are already serving in a ministry, reset your vision of what you doing to see that God is making an eternal difference through you.   Lessons: Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Acts 20:32-35, Matthew 14:13-21   Sermon Outline

Chances are you didn’t randomly just walked into a church today to see what it was about. It is more likely that someone talked to you about God, shared their story with you or maybe just invited you to come to church. No matter how you decided to come to church today God planted a seed in your mind about faith though someone. These types of encounters are what we call providential relationships and today we are going to talk about the importance of those relationships.   Who is your group of people that live life with you and help you grow in your faith? If you can’t name a group maybe it is time to hop into a life group this week.     Lessons: Genesis 2:18-22, Hebrews 10:19-25, John 15:9-16  

The private disciplines of prayer and meditating on Holy Scripture usher us into the transcendent presence of God where He speaks personally to us. There we experience intimacy with God and accountability before God in our path of faith. Our hearts are tuned into God’s heart. “There is a direct correlation between a person’s private devotional life and his or her personal faith. When God peaks to us personally through His Word or answers a specific prayer, our faith is strengthens.” (Andy Stanley)   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will begin a daily quiet time with the Lord of prayer and reading and meditating on Scripture.    Lessons: Joshua 1:7-9, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 6:5-6   Sermon Outline

Worship is a funny thing, most of us hear the word and immediately think of singing in church. While this is part of worship, it is so much deeper than this! Today we will look at how we are natural worshipers and how The Word, our songs, and mission of Christ drive us deeper into sweet and meaningful worship.    This topic hits all of the cornerstone points of St. Luke's by learning what true worship is, living it out through our faith, and unleashing the hope and excitement this brings on our world!   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will 1) take ten minutes to prepare yourself for worship—ask the Lord to prepare your heart; 2) Reflect on how you can apply what you’ve learned in the sermon to your daily life, or ask someone else how they apply what they’ve learned in a sermon to their lives.   Lessons: 1 Chronicles 16:23-31, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 2:15-20

Although we have already attained eternal life through the work of Jesus, every living follower of Jesus is not done growing in faith. Until we are with God in heaven, God is continually working to grow our confidence in Him. Continuing to grow in faith brings incredible benefits in the life of a Christian. This sermon will introduce the series and make a case for why we should continue to seek growing in faith.   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will name any barriers you have to growing in faith, confess them before God, and ask God to help you remove those barriers so as to be truly open to what will be taught in this series.   Lessons: Philippians 3:10-16, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23   Sermon Outline

God calls us to serve Him without fear. Often our pride keeps us from recognizing the privilege it is to serve God and blinds us to who it is we are serving. He has rescued us from great evil and loved us in our darkest of states. God has done this only out of His merciful compassion, it is nothing within us. If we live in light of this God, then we can go out into this world, though it is full of fearful things, with the confidence because we are certain we have been saved from our enemy’s clutches and that God will guide out feet into ways of peace. This is the good news of Christmas!   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray for what it means to serve God without fear this coming year.   Lessons: 1 Samuel 12:20-23, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 1:68-79

This is a retelling of the classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" re-written to include the Christmas Story. Enjoy!

We live in times that can terrify us. You can fill in the blank as to what is most terrifying to you in the news. In his birth, death, resurrection, and ascension Jesus took over the government of all creation. While there will always be people who terrorize others in a vain attempt to establish themselves as the ruler of the world, Christmas teaches us that that position has already been taken and “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”   In the face of terror, trust the King of Kings who is our Prince of Peace and who will give you peace. Anytime you feel terrorized, pray the Prince of Peace prayer.      Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-9 (KJV), Luke 2:1-20

We will mostly look at how much was asked of Joseph, how scary it must have been, and how decisive and trusting Joseph was. Often times having faith is difficult. Believing that God’s best is your best can be hard. We will pray that God will help us have faith in the face of all things, good, bad, and ugly.   Lessons: Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23, Matthew 1:18-25

Our faith now is revealed in mind-blowing, active, death-defying, out-of-the-box, amazing actions that reflect our confidence in what Jesus has accomplish and will yet accomplish for us.   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray each day this week the “Acting On My Faith” prayer and be ready to act on your faith where God leads you.    Lessons: Micah 6:6-8, James 2:14-26, Luke 3:7-18   Sermon Outline  

Just as Joseph believed what God spoke to him in the dream and changed his mind, so also do we act in faith when we live out the changes that God is bringing into our lives.   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will identify one change God is bringing into what you think, say or do. In faith, take the first step in living out that change.     Lessons: Matthew 1:18-25

Wilderness experiences can tear us down and making us feel unworthy of the life in which we are called but God still called out to us, faults and fortunes together, to prepare Kingdom for all.   After hearing this sermon, we hope you will ask in prayer what God has for you and wait for God to reveal your calling to your neighbor and beyond.     Lessons: Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

Just as God revealed to Simeon and Anna what they had been waiting for, so will God reveal to us clear answers for what we are waiting. Most often God’s answers are found in the ordinary events like it was for Simeon and Anna.   After you listen to this sermon, we hope that you will continue to pray the prayer that was given out on Sunday and trust what you see when God answers your prayers.   Lessons: Luke 2:21-38

Faith is Hopeful Waiting The center of what we are as Christ followers is having faith in what Jesus will do when he comes again. While our faith is based on what Jesus already did in his life, death, and resurrection, our faith now is our hopeful waiting for what Jesus will yet do to bring us into our eternal home.   After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will pray each day this week the “Hopeful Waiting Prayer” and be open to God growing your faith.    Lessons: Jeremiah 33:15-16, Hebrews 11:1 (NLT), John 14:1-6     Sermon Outline with Hopeful Waiting Prayer Text

Because of the worries of our daily lives, we sometimes forget that it is the nature of God to have every care and detail of our lives under his capable and compassionate oversight. Because of this, we need not worry but rather are moved to give God thanks in all circumstances.   After hearing this sermon, we hope that you will look at one care that is worrying you and give God thanks for having that care completely under his loving oversight.   Thanksgiving Eve Service   Lessons: Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Matthew 6:25-33

Why do we give thanks to God? The answer may seem obvious, but it is always helpful to be remind in a new way why we give God thanks. In this sermon we will reminded why we give God thanks by an ancient prayer that was spoken by Hannah whom the Lord blessed with a child after many years of not be able to conceive a child. In her prayer, Hannah beautifully and thoroughly expresses why we give thanks to Christ our King. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will make a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Christ our King.   Christ the King and Thanksgiving Sunday   Lessons: 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37

With so many worthy causes asking for our financial support, it is wise to intentionally plan out how you will give to the missions that matter most to you. In doing so we are more likely to experience joyful giving that is not frustrated with reluctance and guilt-driven compulsion. After hearing this sermon, we hope you will make a prayer-driven and intentional plan for your giving.    Lessons: Malachi 3:6-10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Matthew 19:16-26

So now that we've seen the cross and we believe in the resurrection… What do we do now. Jesus has presented us with the free gift of grace, how do we enjoy that Grace and live in that Grace forever?   Lessons: Jeremiah 3:12-14, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 23:39-47