JLP.church Sermon Podcast

In Puritan times, worship services went on for hours. Even today, many people have memories of tedious worship services. Is that just the way things work? Or can we have a better worship life? If we can, how? If we do, what will be the result? Pastor Luke looks at John 4:23 in "How to Have a Better Worship Life," part 2 of his 6-part series, "A Better Life."

People have always wondered what makes for better life, and various schools of thought have answered this question differently. How have Christians answered it? And (more importantly) does Christianity offer us any help in actually attaining that better kind of life? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 6:5-13 in "How to Have a Better Prayer Life," the first message in a new series, "A Better Life."

In a material age, it's difficult to take demons seriously. But the New Testament does. Jesus did. What can we learn if we attempt to take demons seriously? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 8:28-34 in "Demons, Seriously," the concluding message in his series, "Grace Period."

In the second edition of "Ask Me Anything" we covered two or three topics\: (1) what does 'blessed' mean, especially when spoken by us about God? (2) is our fate predetermined, and if so, why should we pray? Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 5:3-10 in "Ask Me Anything."

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers there would be storms in their lives. So it's worth watching and learning as Jesus goes through a storm of his own. Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 8:23-27 in "How to Face Storms," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Grace Period."

Decision making is hard work. Following Jesus, or discipleship, is a useful way to avoid the hard work of decision-making. But often, there are areas where we want to make our own decisions, and are reluctant to follow where Jesus leads. Eventually, however, he challenges us to decide whether we will be disciples, or not. Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 8:18-22 in "How to Make Better Decisions," part...

After preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus undertook a series of healings\: a leper, a Roman officer's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and others. They don't have much in common--except one thing\: they didn't say no for Jesus. Do we do that? And if we do, how can we remember not to? Pastor Luke teaches from Matthew 8:1-17 in "Grace Period," the first message in a new series, "Grace Period."

If sin is how God sees the evil that robs people of their true humanity, what is the remedy for sin? What does true humanity even look like, and how can we obtain it? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 18:9-14 in "Sin, Part 2: the Remedy," the concluding message in his series, "Buzzwords."

In the New Testament accounts, listeners of John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul seem willing to stipulate Sin. Today, people bristle at the word, and conversation gets hung up there before it can move on to grace and redemption. Is there a better, more productive, way for Christians to talk about "sin?" Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Samuel 11:2-4 in "Sin, Part 1: the Diagnosis," part 3 of his 4-part se...

Last time, we discussed what faith means to Christians, and why it's so important. Today we talk about where faith comes from, and how. What if our faith is weak? What if we have doubts? Can our faith grow? What are we supposed to do with our faith? Pastor Luke teaches from Ephesians 2:8 in "Faith, Part 2: Where Faith Comes From, and How," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Buzzwords."

People who talk in buzzwords can be really irritating. Christians have plenty of our own buzzwords. How can we avoid being irritating? One of the buzzwords that non-Christians find most irritating is "Faith." What do we mean by it, and is there a way to get the same idea across without using buzzwords that irritate our listeners? Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 11:1 in "Faith, Part 1: What It Is," th...

Sometimes, people think Christians butt in where they have no business, and the Christians protest, no, we're just trying to be helpful. The problem might not be what they're doing as much as how they do it. Fortunately, the Apostle Paul models how Christians can influence the people around them. Pastor Luke looks at Philemon 1:1-25 in "How to Influence People," the concluding message in his serie...

Christians believe that following Jesus will make their lives better. But it probably won't make them easier. What can we do when discipleship is difficult? Pastor Luke teaches from Jude 1:1-25 in "Shifting Goals," part 4 of his 5-part series, "One Hit Wonders."

It isn't obvious at first why 3 John is in the New Testament. It's a letter from one Christian to another about a problem so small it never made it into church history. But on the other hand, the Church is always dealing with small problems ... and 3 John shows how God can use them to grow us as disciples. Pastor Luke preaches from 3 John 1:1-15 in "Growing Christians One Hit Wonders, Part 3," par...

We want to be truthful and loving, but doing both can be difficult. Is there some way to do both? Or is there a rule we can use to help us know which side to pick when truth and love are in conflict? Pastor Luke looks at 2 John 1:1-13 in "Litmus Test One Hit Wonders, Part 2," part 2 of his 5-part series, "One Hit Wonders."

Despite its brevity, the book of Obadiah can seem obscure. It depends on the readers' cultural, historical, and geographical knowledge. But the message God speaks through Obadiah is short and simple\: what you sow, you will reap. Pastor Luke looks at Obadiah 1:1-21 in "What Goes Around... One Hit Wonders, Part 1," the first message in a new series, "One Hit Wonders."

In the inaugural edition of "Ask Me Anything" (formerly "Extreme Preaching") we covered three topics\: (1) (0:53) How should Christians think about evil people like Hitler or Stalin? (2) (8:54) Jesus' teaching in Luke 9\:59-62 seems harsh. Why? (3) (15:18) What does Psalm 18:2 mean about taking refuge in the Lord? (4) (22:15) How can 'refuge' encompass the idea of God's provision? (5) (23:53) Is i...

What is the relationship between God the Son and Jesus Christ? What does it mean that God the Son changed in becoming incarnate? How can we trust a god who changes -- even if it was for our sake? Pastor Luke looks at Hebrews 2:9-17 in "The Elder Brother," the concluding message in his series, "The Trinity."

Jesus described God as a loving heavenly Father, but sometimes people see God as a stern disciplinarian. If God were really loving, they ask, how could he sit idly by while his children suffer? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 5:1-8 in "Antifragile," part 2 of his 3-part series, "The Trinity."

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was accompanied not only by tongues of fire, but also by linguistic tongues as well. To understand that phenomenon, we look back to the story of the Tower of Babel. What is its significance for us today? Pastor Luke preaches from Genesis 11:1-8 in "A City and a Tower," the first message in a new series, "The Trinity."

Humans have the ability to be disgusted, and can even transmit their disgust to others around them. How much does that overlap with religion -- for example, in purity laws and speech codes? If disgust is related to religion, what does disgust say about God? After God called him to visit a Gentile's home, the Apostle Peter needed answers to these questions. Pastor Luke teaches from Acts 11:1-18 in...

Occasionally, Christians who have a warm, comfortable faith find themselves envying people who are "on fire" with a burning faith. But there's no reason everyone can't have that kind of faith. The New Testament tells us how to get it. Pastor Luke teaches from Acts 9:32-43 in "Upscaling This Changes Everything, Part 4," part 4 of his 6-part series, "This Change Everything."

Two thousand years ago the Church was the original cross-cultural innovator. Today, Christians have spread around the world to almost every nation and people group. But that success at engaging new cultures has to be repeated every twenty years. Pastor Luke teaches from Acts 9:1-20 in "Road Through Damascus - This Changes Everything, Part 3," part 3 of his 6-part series, "This Change Everything."

Honesty is the best policy, but sometimes it can be, if not dangerous, then at least socially awkward. If we have unpopular opinions, they might be off-putting to others. But the first Christians were admired, even by their critics, for having the courage of their convictions. We can have it too, because the Resurrection changes everything. Pastor Luke looks at Acts 5:27-32 in "Fear of Public Spea...

The first Christians struggled to carry out the mission that Jesus gave the church. We still find it difficult today, for the same reason: because it requires us to cross boundaries. Sometimes, however, we are able to succeed ... because the Resurrection changes everything. Pastor Luke teaches from Acts 10:34-43 in "This Changes Everything (Part 1)," the first message in a new series, "This Change...