St. Luke Columbus

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.

Using the gospel lesson, this sermon will teach that in inclusive 7th petition of the Lord’s Prayer we ask that our heavenly Father would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at the last hour would mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to himself in heaven. This four-word prayer may be the most complete and universal prayer to pray in any circumstance where we are facing a trial.      After hearing this sermon, we hope you will pray this prayer often when you are facing illness, suffering or a trial of any kind, understanding what a complete answer you are asking of God.    Lessons: Psalm 91:1-6, 9-12, 14-16, Revelation 21:1-7, Matthew 26:17-30, 36-46.   Sermon Outline

Contrasting the behavior of Jesus and Peter, this sermon will teach that God tempts no one to sin. We ask in the Lord's Prayer that God would watch over us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not deceive us and draw us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins. We also pray that even though we are so tempted we may still win the final victory.    After hearing this sermon, we hope that when you are tempted to sin, immediately pray for God to remove the power of the temptation and empower you to face it down.   Lessons: Isaiah 50:4-9a, 1 Corinthians 10:12-14, Mark 14:27-46, 53-56, 66-72; 15:1-39.   Sermon Outline

Through the shepherding guidance of one’s pastor, the corporate guidance of one’s church family, and the individual guidance of a spiritual director, we place ourselves in the good soil where God works in our lives to change us.      After this sermon, we hope you will be open to and value the guidance that comes from the Holy Spirit through your pastor, your church family, or spiritual director.    Exodus 20:18-19, Hebrews 10:19-25, Matthew 18:19-20.   Sermon Outline

Our sin separates us form God. We must be forgiven to be with holy God. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has graciously forgiven all our sins. In response to being forgiven, we forgive others.  After hearing this sermon, we hope you will believe that your sins are forgiven and in response forgive others.  Lessons: Isaiah 59:1-2, Hebrews 8:7-12, Luke 7:36-50. Sermon Outline

The Christian discipline of solitude puts us in the place to hear the whisper of God.    After this sermon, we hope you make time to find solitude and hear God's voice.   Lessons: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Matthew 14:13a, 22-23; 26:36-46.   Sermon Outline