St. Luke Columbus

Through forgiving our sins, Jesus made it certain that we will be with God, now and for eternity. The Jewish people clearly understood is that our rebellion against God’s values (sin) separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 This is why there was a question whether Most Holy God would dwell among sinful human beings in a temple built by human hands. Will God really dwell with us? The answer to the question is Jesus, God in human flesh, who sacrificed his body and blood for us to forgive our sins and eternally reconcile us with God.   Next Step: In Holy Communion, hear, see, touch and taste the word of forgiveness, trust that it is true for you, and know that nothing can now separate you from God.    Lessons: 1 Kings 8:46-51, Ephesians 3:14-17a, Mark 1:1-8  

Jesus is God with us who gives us real life in tangible ways. He makes our paths straight. As Christians, we can sometimes become too focused on the life to come after we die. The Jewish people had a healthy understanding that God dwells with us now in this life and God’s dwelling with us now makes all the difference as He provides justice, restoration, and teaching to give us real life.   Next Step: Decide what you need most in your life right now: justice, restoration, or teaching. Pray for God to dwell with you in your need and for you to see God’s answer to your prayer.    Lessons: 1 Kings 8:31-40, Ephesians 3:17b-21, John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon Outline   Knowing that Jesus dwells with us gives us the peace and courage to face troubles in the world because Jesus is God and he has overcome the world. The Christian claim that God came to dwell with us in Jesus is shocking. Such a claim was always shocking. When Solomon built the first temple, there was some question as to whether God would actually dwell among his people in the temple. To claim that the unlimited God would actually commit to be in the temple seemed prideful to some. This is one reason Israel had not yet built a temple. How could unholy people hope to have holy God live among them? The answer to the question is Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel.   Next Step: Identify a trouble in your life where it would be helpful to understand that God is with you in that trouble? Pray the “God is with me prayer” over that trouble.    Lessons: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43, Colossians 1:15-20, John 14:1-3, 16:33

Christ the King Sunday Leadership is a hot topic these days, both because of our desire to lead better and our perception of a great lack of effective leadership in our country. The way that Jesus chose to lead and reign as king was to complete the mission his Father ordained for him – dying on the cross for make us right with God and rising again to win for us eternal life. The leadership and reign of Jesus is one of a servant who gives us abundant and eternal life. For this we are thankful.   Lessons: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-38

It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive. These words echo much louder than the mere act of giving our time, talents, and treasures… We will look at Jesus’ words and how the act of giving is a shadow of the God’s grace to his children.   Lessons: Acts 20:25, 32-35, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Matthew 6:19-21

God doesn’t need our generosity, but we do. Stewardship isn't something we love to talk about, but the Bible teaches how important it is for us.  We will look at why it is an important habit in our lives.  We will learn why we are to be good stewards of our money, not because God needs it but because God knows what generosity does to our hearts and ultimately our lives.   Make a plan for your generosity in 2018. Lessons: Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Mark 12:41-43

Sermon Outline   Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus.    Becoming Foundationally Evangelical After a year of prayer and discussion, we believe the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke f

Sermon Outline   Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus.    True Freedom We have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We have been set free from all requirements of obeying

Sermon Outline   Our Reformation 2017 As we have been wonderfully celebrating the 500thanniversary of the Reformation during this last year, we have been asking, “What is the reformation to which God is calling our St. Luke family?” The great majority of the answers given to this question at the April 23, 2017 St. Luke Member Forum focused on increasing our outreach temperature and behavior so as to become foundationally evangelical. This fits with what the leaders of St. Luke have sensed in our prayer times and discussions. While this sermon series will reaffirm the pillars of the 1517 Reformation, the series will primarily focus on our reformation 2017, which is to serve, invite give to meet the hopes and hurts of others. We will be engaging in a strategy to equip every church member to naturally share the message of Jesus with those who do not yet trust in Jesus.    Outreach At the Last Supper, Jesus referred to the new covenant poured out in his blood. In this new covenant, Jesus shifted the motivatio

As we conclude this series, we will teach that occasionally we are moved to do something we don’t have to do in order to start God’s party in someone’s life.   Reggie Joiner writes, “If you only do what you have to do, you will be limited in what you do. It’s the stuff that you don’t have to do that ultimately changes your faith.”   Look for opportunities to go the extra mile for someone.   Lessons: Leviticus 24:19-20, Romans 12:14-21, Matthew 5:38-42

In the time of Jesus, children were considered less than fully human. Yet, Jesus engaged children, held them up as examples of faith, and so identified with them that he said that when we welcome a kid, we welcome Jesus. This was shocking in Jesus’ day. We are thankfully in a significantly more kid-friendly culture and the followers of Jesus have been in the forefront of this shift in western culture. Yet, every kid is looking for an older person to engage with them and inspire them. We can start and life-change party in their lives when we take a shot at making them laugh, helping them trust Jesus, and encouraging their dreams. How we inspire and encourage a child will shape how they see God and change how we see God. Jesus tells us that in the children we will see Jesus.   Find a way to inspire and encourage a kid. It is a simple and easy step to take.    Lessons: Proverbs 22:6, 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Luke 9:46-48, 18:15-17

In many churches, September 24 is being observed as Freedom Sunday, an initiative led by the International Justice Mission which seeks to free those caught in slavery and human trafficking. Using the example of Jesus speaking up for the woman caught in adultery, this sermon will teach that starting a party for someone may first mean speaking up and/or acting to defend them against those that seek to oppress that person. Reggie Joiner writes, “We have a responsibility for those who are marginalized, to stand up for those who don’t have the access or influence to stand for themselves and stand beside those who are advocating for a better way and a better world. Christians should be the first to say, ‘This is not a political issue; this is a people issue.’” Lessons: Deuteronomy 10:16-19, James 1:26-27, John 8:2-11

This former German priest became one of the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation. Luther taught that salvation is not earned by good deeds or by purchasing indulgences but only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.   This formidable theological giant also confronted issues such as greed and the necessity of interpreting scripture through thorough exegetical study informed by the Holy Spirit. Luther provided future generations of theologians with the radical concept of the God from Below, the God who has special concern for the poor and oppressed.   Lessons: Psalm 118, Romans 3:21-27, John 8:31-36

No one would ever think that having a party alone is a good idea. Such a party would be ridiculous, boring, and meaningless. God created us to discover and enjoy the party of life together in community. Life is simply better together. Jesus modeled this in his own ministry and Paul encourages us to do life together. One of the first moves that an effective party starter does is to invite people into the community of the party.    Invite yourself and others into a life group to discover and enjoy the party of life together.    Lessons: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, John 17:20-26

When God created the heavens and the earth, he made it beautiful. God did this both out of his own eternal value for beauty and as an inspiration for us to revere God. An effective party starter creates the right and beautiful environment so that the guests can enjoy the party and each other.   Lessons: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14, Colossians 3:15-17, 23-24, Matthew 26:6-13

In our series, Sometimes It Takes A Party, we discover unconventional and simple ways to build relationships with others that can lead to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. When we start a party that meets someone else's dream, we reflect Christ's character and draw people closer to him. Lessons: Ruth 1:8-18, Philippians 2:1-8, John 13:1-15

Habits of a Party Starter: Invite Someone New to the Party We can think of a “party” has any human encounter where a follower of Jesus cares for another person in order to show that person who Jesus is. Inviting someone can be someone you may not know well, it also means inviting someone who is not like you. Lesson: Acts 1:1-8, Galatians 3:23-29, Matthew 15:21-28

God can work through a party to break down barriers to reach lost people and encourage followers of Jesus. Through a party God can change the way we see each other, demonstrate that God cares about people who party, confirm that we are always forgiven, show that people matter more than our opinions, and teach us that everyone is invited to God’s eternal party.    Lessons: Isaiah 25:6-9, Acts 10:9-23, Luke 5:27-32

This week features our annual look at how God is working in the lives of our students. Lessons: Nehemiah 8:5-6, Acts 9:1-6,13-16, Luke 22:39-44