Saint Lukes Episcopal Church

In this episode we will explore the first three stories of Jesus, how they are connected, who wrote them, and the artistry of the greatest story ever told. Discussion question: How can old stories of Jesus apply to our lives in the 21st century?

We call Jeremiah the "weeping prophet," in part because his heart was broken, and in part because he was beaten up for speaking the truth! In this podcast we will enter the prophet's world and see plenty to cry over...

Genesis 15-20 is the saga of a family who is called to be different in the way God asks us all to be different, making this the story of us. No one comes close to Jacob in detail and in adventures, and much of it is not pretty. His name means "trickster," and this podcast will explore why God chose a scheming second born to carry on the Promise.

Paul's church in Corinth has been described as the "original problem parish." In this episode we will explore how they got it wrong, the challenges of being different, and what we can learn from reading someone's mail.

This podcast will look at the Hebrew prophets in general, and Amos in particular, as the first to write it all down. We will also explore what it means to be a people of "Justice."

This semester we are going for the basics with a series called "Bible Basics." Many people want to read the Bible but don't know where to start or what it even means. In this first episode, we will look at Paul's letter to the Philippians, the meaning of the term, "Gospel," and how to show love in a tough neighborhood. Discussion question: How can showing love just be plain hard?

While it's true that the Temple was the wonder of the ancient world, someone still had to pay for it. This podcast will explore the concept of the "Temple Tax" additional offerings, and the role of money from a "God's eye" view.

Jeremiah has been called "The Weeping Prophet," in no small part because the Temple broke his heart. This podcast will look at the role of prophets in a world where people need unvarnished truth.

By the time we read of Jesus' birth, Herod the Great was the third richest man on earth, changing the Temple in Jerusalem into the Wonder of the Ancient World. He was also vile, and his cruelty would be legendary. This podcast will explore the problem with mixing our very fallen world with God's intention, and how religion can be used to hurt people.

For the entirety of Jesus' life, the Temple would be a place of pilgrimage, instruction, and worship. In this podcast we will address the Temple as backdrop of the Gospels, and a showdown for the saddest day on earth.

When the exiles unexpectedly return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding, Samaritans arrive like long lost cousins to help. When the Judeans send them packing this begins four centuries of bad relations. This podcast will explore the Samaritan religion and a unique problem surrounding their Temple. Question: Have you seen how religion can get a little wrong at first, only to be very wrong later?

Whatever started with King David was over just 100 years later, with a split kingdom and two warring countries that should be family. This podcast will explore the origins of Israel and Judah, their stories and priorities, and how the Temple looms in the background as one king has a really bad idea.Question: How do we make our religion fit our priorities?

There are two back stories in Scripture that inform all the others, "Exodus," and "Exile," and we know the first because we've seen the movie. We have chapters and chapters on the Exodus, but with the Exile there are only whispers. In this podcast we will consider what it meant for God's people to lose their homes, their Temple, and most importantly, their Ark, all while discovering God is always near.Question: How have we coped with loss? How did we get busy?How is God revealed to us in times of pain?

This episode looks at the origins of the Ark of the Covenant, which also means the origins of the Tablets of Ten Commandments, which also means the origins of writing, which also means the origins of original sin. We will consider the strategy of "God in a box" and the danger of supposing that portable means anything less than Holy.Question: How has our faith weathered in times of change?

2 Samuel 7 is the most important scripture passage no one ever talks about. King David is at the top of his game, with a unified nation and new capital city, Jerusalem. Now he wants to build God a house, a Temple. In response God's prophet pulls no punches, "I don't want a house." Temples can be trouble and worse yet distracting, and in time this Temple would be both. In this episode, we will begin the contrast between worship that is nimble and pivots (the ark), worship that is fixed (the Temple), with strengths and weaknesses of both.Reflection Questions:When it comes to our religion, how do we confuse means with ends?What is the difference between "religion" and "faith?"

While Rich is in Israel for the next few weeks gathering more podcast adventures, we will revisit three episodes from the Galilee that tell old stories in a new way, and especially through the lens of "Living Water."Last time we learned that storms happen pretty quickly on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus is master over storms. But rain and wind aren't the only kinds of storms, and in this podcast we will learn about a storm within a man's mind, and what happens next.Questions:How has God calmed your storms?What keeps us from telling the world?

While Rich is in Israel for the next few weeks gathering more podcast adventures, we will revisit three episodes from the Galilee that tell old stories in a new way, and especially through the lens of "Living Water."The Bible doesn't tell us but the Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. This means that the lake sits in a bowl and storms come in quick. In this episode, these facts and more will add color to this place where over half the gospels take place.Reflection Question:How have you felt Jesus in a storm?

While Rich is in Israel for the next few weeks gathering more podcast adventures, we will revisit three episodes from the Galilee that tell old stories in a new way, and especially through the lens of "Living Water."Jerusalem is a problematic place to call your Capital City, especially with regards to water. In this episode we will learn why King David captured it, made Jerusalem his own, what happened next and how this 4,000 year old city lives in our hearts today.Reflection Question:When do we find it hard to pray?

Paul's letter to the Phillipians can seem so hopeful and happy, we are apt to forget what a tough spot Phillipi could be.  This podcast will explore the secret of a church that thrived with little support from the outside world. 

Read without context, 1 Corinthians chapter 8 can almost seem non sensible, or so time conditioned we can see relevance today. But this chapter is a beautiful ethic and road map for 21st century living, and we will do well to live in their world. 

Just say the word "Easter" and we conjure all sorts of memories and associations, and that could be church, bunnies, chocolate, or eggs. We all have favorite Easter hymns and many of us wear our Easter Best. This podcast highlights a mind blowing clue when it comes to Easter, and a clue found within that first encounter with Risen Jesus...

John 13 is a famous scene as Jesus washes the feet of his friends before the last supper. This podcast will consider that sometimes a wild story isn't really wild enough, and this selfless act may well be what we all need in order to understand Easter.

We all know that "Jesus Wept" is the shortest verse in the Bible. We may not know what a mind blowing idea this verse conveys. This episode will look closely at the raising of Lazarus from the dead, its significance and theology, and as a result we will consider what it means to say that God cries too.

While the Bible is a library of many different books written by many different people, there are special places that appear again and again. This episode will look at Bethel, or more precisely "Bet-El" which means house of God. It's a place both famous and infamous, with lessons for today... 

Shepherds and Sheep are frequently mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, but not in the way we usually think. This episode will look at real life shepherding with an eye towards expanding the common metaphor to a deeper relationship with God our Shepherd. 

The Death of King Saul is both fascinating and dramatic, and in no small part because it didn't have to happen. This episode will look at the dangers of unchecked appetites and how even successful people can lose their way.Question: How have our appetites skewed our reality? 

The Wilderness Temptation of Jesus is remembered by the first three Gospels so we know it's important. This podcast will look at geography, history, and even science to learn why this is key for daily living, even daily happiness.Question: When were you last living in God's Time?

John 21 is the last chapter in that Gospel and for many remains a mystery. It is after Easter, and the disciples are back fishing, and yet this feels right to me. Two clues will help us find new meaning in this beachside scene.Reflection Question: What's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

This podcast will take us to the world of Paul, which means those tiny books in the back of our Bible. Far away from the World of Jesus, Paul sets the world on fire with a new idea he calls the "Gospel," and like Jesus, this message invites trouble...Reflection Question: How is our faith costly? If not, why?

Sometimes Bible stories make sense during a Study or podcast, but when we get home they just look like words on a page. This podcast episode will step back and examine "how" to apply old stories to our daily lives.

It often surprises people to learn that over half the Gospels take place in a ten mile stretch along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This episode explores why so many stories happened in so little space, and reveal a mystery coming from the mud of the lake today!Reflection Question: Where have we found God right under our noses?

The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of the iconic forgiveness stories, but it comes with a few mysteries of its own. This podcast will explore why this was such a "hot potato" topic, and what Jesus could possibly be doing as he wrote in the dust.Reflection Question: How do we forget to "see" people?

Living Water is on break this week, but today we are sharing a favorite podcast from last year.  Please It's one thing to say Jesus loved someone, it's quite another to watch him do it. In this episode, we see what happens when Jesus calls a man to follow - a tax collector who is hated by pretty much everyone.

The story of the Walk to Emmaus is an Easter story, and only found in Luke. It is also a mystery, because there are more than one place claiming to be the town! This podcast will try to solve the mystery and use new clues from history and archeology to bring new meaning to the old story. In short, this too is the story of us. Reflection Question: Is our relationship with God more of a relationship, or a contract?

Rich and the Saint Luke's staff recently read the book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Deserve by Will Guidara. Guidara is  former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park. This book has sparked conversation amongst our office, and we wanted to share with you some of our most memorable takeaways and thoughts. Rich Webster, Rector, and Kate Clinton, Director of Communications, discuss the book, the church, and more. We hope you enjoy!

Living Water is on break until January, but today we are sharing a favorite podcast from last year. The story of Mary contains a mystery that can be solved with history, context, and removing layers of tradition not found in the Bible. This podcast will seek to find the “real” Mary.. 

You might be interested to know that Samaritans are still a thing, with about 800 mostly living on Mt. Gerizim in Northern Israel. This episode will trace the origins of Samaritans, their religion, and why there is no fight like a family fight.Reflection Question: How is the term "Good Samaritan" provoctive for today.

In our Gospels we see Jesus encountering mostly invisible people, the poor and vulnerable. But in John Chapter 3, we meet a rich guy who wants to meet Jesus, and learn something about the power of starting over. Jesus calls this "Born Again" and we will see this idea baked into our Bibles from page one.Reflection Question:What do authentic apologies look like?

King Herod remains an object lesson in both genius and insanity. This episode will seek to connect the dots between his story and a much older tale, reminding us that a life of faith is different than one ruled by appetites alone.Question:Which appetites, left unchecked, will destroy us. 

In this episode, we will seek to undo what we think we know about John the Baptist, whether a hairy prophet or wild man in the wilderness, and consider John as one of the more exciting and intriguing figures in the whole Bible.Reflection Question: Where do you most feel the presence of Jesus?

The book of Exodus is more than a great escape story, it is the beginning of a people who would mirror opposite of the place they escaped. This podcast will look at burial practices (among other fun facts) of ancient people to reveal God's priorities in the practice of Good Religion.Reflection Question:How can we be more different than the world around us?

The story of Blind Bartimaeus is the last healing story recorded in Mark. It closes a chapter on Jesus' earthly ministry and begins the lonely road to Jerusalem. In this podcast we will look carefully at special details that make this one of the more interesting and important stories in the Bible. Reflection Questions:What does a life not ruled by appetites look like?Why is it hard to let go? To change?How have you seen the Kingdom of God? 

We all know that weddings are joyful, or at least they are supposed to be.  In this podcast, we will look at the wedding of Cana, considering that God cares about every corner of our existence, and trusting that no problem is too small to pray about.Reflection Questions:1. How has God shown you compassion?2. How do you feel God's presence at home?

Last time we learned that storms happen pretty quickly on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus is master over storms. But rain and wind aren't the only kinds of storms, and in this podcast we will learn about a storm within a man's mind, and what happens next. Questions: How has God calmed your storms?What keeps us from telling the world?

The Bible doesn't tell us but the Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. This means that the lake sits in a bowl and storms come in quick. In this episode, these facts and more will add color to this place where over half the gospels take place.Reflection Question:How have you felt Jesus in a storm?

Jerusalem is a problematic place to call your Capital City, especially with regards to water. In this episode we will learn why King David captured it, made Jerusalem his own, what happened next and how this 4,000 year old city lives in our hearts today.Reflection Question:When do we find it hard to pray?

Living Water is on break this weekend. In the meantime, listen to one of our favorite episodes from a previous season.  There are mysteries in the Bible that can only be solved by geography, history, and connecting the dots of a larger context. This episode shows us why Jesus and his friends strayed off the beaten path to a place far from home. Living Water returns next week. See you then!

It's common to think that ancient people were ignorant when a little context reveals we were always the same. This podcast will examine the logic behind the "Golden Calf," meet some new friends, and consider the danger of borrowing someone else's ethics...Reflection Questions:How does our belief inform our ethics?What does it mean to live a "trusting" life?

Two major backstories run through the Old Testament and set us up for the drama of the Gospels. The first is the Exodus, where a nation of slaves escape Egypt and head into a wilderness with no water. In this episode, we will look at the Exile, where God's people are attacked by another superpower and taken far form their homes and beloved Temple, only to find that God is with them always. Reflection Questions:How did your life change during the pandemic?How has God revealed Himself to you in the course of your lifetime?

Living Water is on break for Labor Day Weekend. In the meantime, listen to one of our most popular episodes from a previous season, titled Lookout Mountain. Living Water returns next week. See you then!

Water is a big deal in the Bible, and not just because it's scare and they all prayed for it. God's people were also caught between two superpowers that were big and bad, and yes, full of water. In a world like this, it can be hard to trust, and yet Scripture says we must. Discussion Questions:What does it mean in our world to "trust God?"What would it be like to have everything but still not be free?