JLP.church Sermon Podcast

The occasion where Jesus was Transfigured appears several places in the New Testament, but it's explained in none of them. How can we understand its signicance? We have to do it the same way Jesus' first disciples did, by comparing it to similar events in the history of God's people. Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 24:1-2,9-18 in "The Rest of the Way."

Where can you find security in an uncertain world? A man who thought he knew went to Jesus about this. In their conversation, Jesus showed the man that he was trusting something that couldn't provide the security he thought it could, and suggested an alternative. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 18:18-30 in "What You Need Most."

What kinds of prayers does God listen to? Or, to be more direct, what kind of prayers does God answer? Jesus has some surprising things to say about prayer. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 18:9-17 in "Self-Promotion."

At Christmas we celebrate that God became a human being. What does that mean that God became one of us? It turns out the best way to understand Christmas might be the thing Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 3:21-23 in "Choosing a Side."

People make New Year's resolutions because they this year to be different. But it's hard for changes to become permanent. In first century culture, almost everything was permanent. Can we learn anything from them that would help us today? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 2:21-40 in "Ritual Not Resolution."

Our Advent series continues with a passage from Isaiah that has been fulfilled many times -- but promises still more yet to be fulfilled. Pastor Luke teaches from Isaiah 35:1-10 in "Pools in the Desert," the concluding message in his series, "The Promise of Christmas."

Our Advent series continues with a passage from Isaiah that has been fulfilled many times -- but promises still more yet to be fulfilled. Pastor Luke preaches from Isaiah 35:1-10 in "Pools in the Desert," part 3 of his 4-part series, "The Promise of Christmas."

The book of the prophet Isaiah has been described as The Fifth Gospel. But "Gospel" means "Good News" and Isaiah is a mix of good news and bad. If there's bad news, that means the good news is that much more important. What Good News does Isaiah have for us? Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 11:1-10 in "The Promise of Christmas," part 2 of his 4-part series, "The Promise of Christmas."

Jesus taught about the end times and the events that will take place before the age to come. What he taught can be mysterious or even distressing. But it can also inspire us with great hope. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 17:20-37 in "Lighting Up the Sky," part 8 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

In this installment of "Ask Me Anything," Pastor Luke addressed five questions. {1:00} What does the Bible say about setting boundaries to protect yourself? {4:08} Will I be able to recognize my family members in heaven? {9:07} Does the Bible say whether pets go to heaven? {11:06} What does the story about Jesus cursing the fig tree mean? {16:05} What is the biblical view of capital punishment? Pa...

People benefit in a number of ways from practicing gratitude. Sometimes we don't know who to thank, however, or how. We might not even be sure if the circumstances are just the natural course of events. But Jesus has a lot to teach us about how we can practice gratitude. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 17:11-19 in "THX," part 7 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

Jesus challenged his disciples to do something very difficult, but not for a reward. In fact, he didn't really want them to do it. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 17:1-10 in "Sixpence to the Good," part 6 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

Because Jesus is a master storyteller, he was able to take a conventional idea, and give it a twist that still makes it unsettling even two thousand years later. But better still, he could make it liberating. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 16:1-13 in "Worldly Wealth," part 5 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

How does God react when someone becomes a Christian? Or when someone who's been sinning realizes they ought to stop? Does God say, "Too little, too late?" or wait first, to see how well they follow through? Not at all! According to Jesus, there's a party in heaven. Pastor Luke teaches from Luke 15:1-10 in "Party in Heaven," part 4 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

Sometimes Christians are so eager to spread the good news about Jesus that they can find themselves using high-pressure sales techniques to do so. But Jesus didn't. He cautioned people not to jump into discipleship without counting the cost. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 14:25-35 in "Count the Cost," part 3 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

If you've been in situations where you weren't sure you were welcome, you might have wondered the same thing about God's kingdom. Are you really welcome in it? What happens if you decline the invitation? Pastor Luke looks at Luke 14:15-24 in "Guest List," part 2 of his 10-part series, "Stories for the Journey."

Many people have felt awkward or out of place in certain social settings. Jesus uses some principles about how we behave, (or might behave) at those times, to teach about God's Kingdom. Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 14:1-14 in "Table Manners," the first message in a new series, "Stories for the Journey."

How can we have hope? Hope is good - modern science agrees with Christianity about that. But how can we have it? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 15:1-13 in "Hope and Glory," the concluding message in his series, "Romans."

Sometimes, people do things that annoy us. Other times, it's more serious than just being annoyed. Is it possible to get along with people we disagree with? Even for Christians? If so, how? Pastor Luke looks at Romans 14:1,13-23 in "Constructive," part 12 of his 13-part series, "Romans."

In Christ, God has made it possible for us to spend eternity with him. Should we? What if we get there and don't like it? The Apostle Paul says that we can try it out now to find out. Pastor Luke looks at Romans 13:8-14 in "First Light," part 11 of his 13-part series, "Romans."

The bulk of Paul's letter to the church in Rome describes how it is that people are brought from death to life, spiritually. How should people live if they are now truly alive? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 12:1-8 in "Transformed," part 10 of his 13-part series, "Romans."

In this installment of "Ask Me Anything," Pastor Luke addressed two questions. {1:02} If someone has been saved, is sin a voluntary decision? {6:34} It has been suggested that mystical experiences in Ancient Israel were mediated by psychoactive substances? Could those substances be used to bring about spiritual experiences today? {22:06} Revising and clarifying remarks Pastor Luke looks at Romans...

In Paul's letter to the Roman church, there is a section directed specifically at people who aren't Jewish -- people like most Christians in churches today. He says that they were grafted into a different tree. What does he mean by that? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 11:17-24 in "Kindness and Severity," part 9 of his 13-part series, "Romans."

Christians often talk about being saved. What do they mean? What are they saved from? Pastor Luke looks at Romans 10:8-15 in "Saved From What?," part 8 of his 13-part series, "Romans."

Jesus gives us new birth by his Spirit, making us new creatures. But who, Paul asks, will deliver us from the old body of sin? Paul says the answer is the Spirit, who Jesus sent to help us. How does that work? What does it look like? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 8:9-17 in "Spirit Led," part 7 of his 13-part series, "Romans."