Jewel Lake Parish Sermon Podcast

When we become Christians, we become part of the body of Christ and the family of the children of God. Those names may sound better than another name: the Church. The problem with the Church is that it has people in it. And since people are all different, it's not always easy to figure out where we fit in relation to them. Pastor Luke preaches from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 in "Microbiome," the concluding message in his series, "Down to Earth."

"What on earth am I here for?" That's a good question for anybody, but it's especially important for Christians. Some answers are 300 pages long, but one answer is a single line, and it's been around a lot longer. Pastor Luke teaches from Psalm 100 in "Serious Joy," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Down to Earth."

If Christians have been born again, who are they now? The answer is that they are children of God. And that's more than just a label. Pastor Luke teaches from Ephesians 1:3-14 in "Adopted by Grace," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Down to Earth."

Easter, or the Resurrection, is the most important element of the Christian faith. It's why Christianity is still relevant to us today and not just people who lived two thousand years ago. And it's all about eternal life and the Kingdom of God. Pastor Luke teaches from John 3:1-17 in "Down to Earth," the first message in a new series, "Down to Earth."

In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke addressed seven questions. This message was delivered in gathered worship on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Jewel Lake Parish in Anchorage, Alaska. TIMESTAMPS 00:40 What is Pastor Luke's favorite hymn 02:38 How can we "Be perfect like your heavenly father?" (Matthew 5:48) 07:08 How does the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) relate to us today? 12:15 How are "Saints" like Augustine and Thomas viewed in the Reformed Tradition? 16:50 Will we see the people we love when we die if they don't believe in God and Jesus? 21:24 Will we see animals in heaven? 23:30 Are cruel and tyrannical rulers really ordained by God? (Romans 13:1) Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Corinthians 12:2 in "Ask Me Anything."

Like us today, Jesus' followers could see that there is a lot wrong with the world, but they believed God's promise to send an Anointed One, or Christ, to fix everything. When he died, they assumed he must not have been the Christ. But on Easter morning, something happened that changed their understanding of what the Anointed One would do. Pastor Luke teaches from John 20:1-18 in "Regenerative Agriculture."

Holy Week is an outsized part of all four gospel accounts. But while the different accounts speak of many of the same events, they focus — often at great length — on different details. This is what makes them still significant almost two thousand years later. Matthew's account of Palm Sunday is a great example of how. Pastor Luke preaches from Matthew 21:1-17 in "The Master Plan."

Why does God involve us in giving? If what we have comes from God, why doesn't God give everyone enough? It seems inefficient for God to give too much to some people so they can give that to others. Why doesn't God just eliminate the middleman? Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 in "All Things At All Times," the concluding message in his series, "Spring Planting."

Why do you come to church? Unlike under the Old Testament Law, Christians aren't required to worship in a particular place or offer sacrifices according to a particular schedule. So why come to church? Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 in "Intentions and Actualities," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Spring Planting."

You don't have to look hard to find a church scandal involving money. Some involve criminality but many are done with the blessing of the church leadership. But that's nothing new. Even the Apostle Paul had to contend with people who'd been burned by religious hucksters. What can we learn from Paul? Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 in "Security Apparatus," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Spring Planting."

The Old Testament Law provided for a system of giving centered around the tithe. In its place, Jesus gave us something that is much simpler, but we can still get tangled up. What should Christians understand about giving? Pastor Luke teaches from 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 in "I Was Told There Would Be No Math," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Spring Planting."

What does the New Testament have to say about giving? Lent is the season for repentance, which means changing how you think about something. How should we think about giving? Pastor Luke looks at 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 in "Spring Planting," the first message in a new series, "Spring Planting."

Jesus' Transfiguration appears in three Gospel accounts and one epistle. Clearly it was significant to the early church at the time the New Testament was written. But none of the accounts explain what it means. But the Old Testament story of Moses gives us a good idea. Pastor Luke teaches from Exodus 34:29-35 in "Extraordinary."

Children have no trouble forming friendships, but finding community becomes more difficult as we become adults. Fortunately, Jesus told the church how we can do it. Pastor Luke teaches from John 15:7-19 in "Confidants," the concluding message in his series, "You Are...."

Jesus told different audiences about the greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself. But he also gave another great commandment just for the church. Pastor Luke teaches from John 13:12-17,33-36 in "The Other Great Commandment," part 5 of his 6-part series, "You Are...."

Most of us aren't habitual liars. But ... there are some areas we avoid talking about, or we edit, or we emphasize or downplay, in order to make what we say more appealing to others. Why do we do that? Should we? Would it be better to just tell the truth? Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 10:24-31 in "Many Sparrows," part 4 of his 6-part series, "You Are...."

Have you ever wondered what God sees in someone? Maybe someone else ... or maybe yourself? Why are there people like that in the Church? Pastor Luke preaches from Ephesus 2:17-22 in "Incorporated," part 3 of his 6-part series, "You Are...."

What's wrong with a lukewarm faith? Isn't it a good thing to have moderation in all things? Pastor Luke teaches from Revelation 3:14-22 in "Room Temperature," part 2 of his 6-part series, "You Are...."

Not everyone wants to be famous, but everyone does want to be influential. We want people to respect us even if they disagree with us. We don't want our lives to be insignificant. Jesus says they aren't because we are influencers. Pastor Luke looks at Matthew 5:13-16 in "You Are...," the first message in a new series, "You Are...."

Many of us have begun working on goals of some kind, and some are working on New Year's Resolutions. When making plans of our own, wouldn't it be helpful to know what God's goals are? The Apostle Paul tells us what they are. Pastor Luke preaches from Ephesians 1:3-14 in "Plans and Purpose."

In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke addressed five questions. This message was delivered in gathered worship on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at Jewel Lake Parish in Anchorage, Alaska. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 What should be done with old Bibles that are falling apart? 03:36 Why does the Reformed Church not subscribe to the doctrine of Transubstantiation? 08:25 What kind of drug and alcohol problems did they have in Jesus' time? 11:32 What does Jesus say about homelessness? 20:35 What is the "third heaven" in 2 Corinthians 12:2? Pastor Luke looks at 2 Corinthians 12:2 in "Ask Me Anything."

We sing about "joy" a lot at Christmastime. What do we mean by it? People often use "joy" as if it mean "happiness," but that can't be exactly right. So what is "joy?" Pastor Luke preaches from Luke 2:1-20 in "The Sounding Joy."

God told Abraham that a nation would come from his descendants, and through it, all the other nations of the earth would be blessed. Over the centuries, that nation, Israel, proved that it wasn't up to the job. But God's promise would still be fulfilled. How? According to the prophet Isaiah, Israel would be saved by God's Servant. What servant? And what does this have to do with Christmas? Pastor Luke teaches from Isaiah 49:1-9 in "Light to the Nations," the concluding message in his series, "Isaiah in Advent."

The prophet Isaiah foretold that God would liberate the people who were exiled in Babylon. But we aren't prisoners, and we certainly aren't in Babylon. Is Isaiah's message still good news for us? How? Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 61:1-11 in "A Blessed People," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Isaiah in Advent."

God promised comfort to his people, but we aren't always comfortable. When will we really have that comfort, and what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Pastor Luke preaches from Isaiah 40:1-11 in "Extra! Extra!," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Isaiah in Advent."

The season of Advent is meant to be a time of preparation for the return of Christ. But do we even want him to return? Really? Or would we be okay if Jesus took his time? Pastor Luke looks at Isaiah 64:1-9 in "Praying for an Earthquake," the first message in a new series, "Isaiah in Advent."

The book of Revelation uses the term "Babylon" to signify not just a particular kind of evil in the world, but the darkness that stands behind every source of evil. Near the end of the book, it provides two dramatically different perspectives of the defeat of Babylon. Which vision you prefer says a lot about why Christ is King. Pastor Luke looks at Revelation 19:6-16 in "The Almighty Reigns."

Have you wondered if what you were doing was aligned with God's will? How can we discover God's will? Pastor Luke teaches from Ruth 3:1-5 in "Uncover Discover," the concluding message in his series, "Ruth."

Jesus warned us that we would have troubles in this world, but he established the church to help us get through them. Because the church is made up of people, and when things go bad, people make it better. Pastor Luke looks at Ruth 1:1-18 in "Chesed," the first message in a new series, "Ruth."

People resist the idea of stewardship because we like to think we deserve to have the things we've obtained. But that sense of entitlement can keep us from appreciating what we've been given. Pastor Luke preaches from Mark 12:38-44 in "Lopsided."

Divorce rates have been going down for decades, but so have marriage rates. Is that a good thing? What does our faith tell us about marriage and divorce? Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 10:1-16 in "One Flesh," the concluding message in his series, "Restoring Harmony."

Divorce rates have been going down for decades, but so have marriage rates. Is that a good thing? What does our faith tell us about marriage and divorce? Pastor Luke looks at Mark 10:1-16 in "One Flesh," the concluding message in his series, "Restoring Harmony."

Have other Christians ever done something that made you cringe? Where you don't know what's in their heart but you wish they would find a different way to live out their faith? Yeah. Jesus tells us what to do when that happens. Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 9:38-50 in "Doing It Wrong," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Restoring Harmony."

In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke had time to address three questions. This message was delivered in gathered worship on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Jewel Lake Parish in Anchorage, Alaska. TIMESTAMPS 00:29 Why did Jonah get eaten by a whale? 06:00 How do we know that God is real? (a repeat) 06:25 What's the status of the recent overtures from the PC(USA) General Assembly? 13:50 Who are the 'holy ones' mentioned in Jude 14-15? Pastor Luke looks at Jonah 1:1-17 in "Ask Me Anything."

How can you be great? History is filled with people who long for power and status and never achieve it, but Jesus teaches that it's not hard to become great. And it's usually fun to do. Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 9:33-37 in "Who is Great?," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Restoring Harmony."

Jesus has overcome the darkness in the world, but there's still a lot of it hanging around. How can the church shine the light of Christ in this still-dark world? Pastor Luke preaches from Mark 8:1-10 in "Compassion & Foolishness," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Restoring Harmony."

The ability people have to team up and work on a common goal is a huge part of our success. But the stronger the bonds in the group, the bigger a barrier it is to others. Jesus shows us how to navigate crossing those barriers. Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 7:24-37 in "Breadcrumbs," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Restoring Harmony."

Where do our problems come from? We live in a world full of bad influences. People do terrible things to other people and sometimes to us. Isn't that the answer: our problems come from people around us? According to Jesus, it isn't. Pastor Luke looks at Mark 7:1-23 in "Guardrails," the first message in a new series, "Restoring Harmony."

Christian Hope is about Eschatology, the doctrines related to the Last Things when Jesus returns to bring this age to a close. Does that make sense? Because most people have hopes about this age -- maybe for this week! Why should our hope be rooted in the age to come? Pastor Luke teaches from Romans 8:9-11,18-23 in "The Resurrection of the Body," the concluding message in his series, "Creed III."

Jesus came to forgive sins. Christians have believed this truth from the very first. What does the doctrine of forgiveness have to do with the Holy Spirit? And why is it included in the third article of the Apostles' Creed? Pastor Luke preaches from John 6:7-15 in "The Forgiveness of Sins," part 3 of his 4-part series, "Creed III."

Spiritual experiences can be intense, and church might pale in comparison to them. But the New Testament tells how, even so, church life is meant to be superior to those "mountaintop" experiences. Pastor Luke looks at Luke 5:27-35 in "The Communion of Saints," part 2 of his 4-part series, "Creed III."

Some people hear God's promises about eternal life and wonder if they can be trusted: After all, you don't know until ... eternity. Other people have more immediate concerns: will God give me any help this week, or today? The Holy Spirit answers both types of questions. Pastor Luke looks at 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 in "I Believe in the Holy Spirit," the first message in a new series, "Creed III."

It can be hard to forgive someone — especially a family member — when they've hurt you. But when you're the one who did the hurting, accepting forgiveness from the one you've hurt can be even more difficult. Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 33:1-17 in "Family Reunion," the concluding message in his series, "Stairway to Heaven."

It's wise to look back occasionally to see where you've come from, as people often learn from experience. If we believe God is at work in that history, it can also give our lives meaning. Jacob found this out the night that he wrestled with God. Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 32:21-32 in "On the Ropes," part 5 of his 6-part series, "Stairway to Heaven."

In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke addressed eight questions. This message was delivered in gathered worship on Sunday, June 30, 2022 at Jewel Lake Parish in Anchorage, Alaska. TIMESTAMPS 00:15 What is the peace that passes all understanding? 07:54 What is a theophany? 11:29 What is 'third wave?' 11:46 What doctrine is worth fighting over? 12:03 What color was Jesus' robe at the crucifixion? 16:00 How did the Bible come together and who put it together? 23:31 How can we offer sacrifices today and should we? 26:49 Can Christians lose their salvation? Pastor Luke teaches from Philippians 4:4-8 in "Ask Me Anything."

No matter how bad (or good) your circumstances might be, there's one thing you can do—something you'll probably do automatically without even trying—that is guaranteed to make them worse. The good news is you don't have to do that. You can do something else instead. Pastor Luke looks at Genesis 29:31-30:24 in "Father's Daze," part 4 of his 6-part series, "Stairway to Heaven."

The story of Jacob and Leah and Rachel is more of a cautionary tale than fairy tale. But underneath everything, it is a love story. Pastor Luke looks at Genesis 29:14-30 in "Surprise Party," part 3 of his 6-part series, "Stairway to Heaven."

Christians are acutely aware (most of us) how far we are from being like Christ. Maybe we struggle to be better, and maybe we don't. Do you think people like that belong in church? Why or why not? Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 28:10-22 in "Heaven's Gate," part 2 of his 6-part series, "Stairway to Heaven."

Some people like us a lot, but others like us not-so-much. Even within families, parents sometimes have favorites. Is God like that? Are some people his favorites, while he doesn't like others? Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 25:19-34 in "Reinvigorated," the first message in a new series, "Stairway to Heaven."

Some people like us a lot, but others like us not-so-much. Even within families, parents sometimes have favorites. Is God like that? Are some people his favorites, while he doesn't like others? Pastor Luke looks at Genesis 25:19-34 in "Stirring Up Trouble," the first message in a new series, "Stairway to Heaven."

Some people like us a lot, but others like us not-so-much. Even within families, parents sometimes have favorites. Is God like that? Are some people his favorites, while he doesn't like others? Pastor Luke preaches from Genesis 25:19-34 in "Stirring Up Trouble," the first message in a new series, "Stairway to Heaven."