St. Luke Columbus

Jesus taught in a way that amazed people. The parables and various teachings of Jesus often left people astonished along a spectrum of indignation to sweet freedom. Most often what we discover in the astonishing teachings of Jesus is God’s unremitting love for those whom most religious people think are undeserving of God’s love.   Lessons: Mark 1:21-28, Romans 5:6-11, Luke 15:1-7

This summer series will explore gospel accounts of Jesus that, when carefully read, leave us astonished at the behavior and teaching of Jesus. The goal of the series is to see Jesus in a way that will provoke our curiosity and as though we are seeing him for the first time. This will also help to better prepare us to share Jesus with others in a way where they will be astonished by Jesus and their curiosity about Jesus will be provoked.    When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples he gave them his authority to do what only God can do, “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” and to give freely. Jesus’ purpose in doing this empowers us to be effective in reaching the lost.    Lessons: Deuteronomy 6:1-6,Revelation 2:1-5a, Matthew 9:35-10:8   Sermon Outline

The gospel record reports that the miraculous signs, wonders, and healings that Jesus performed astonished people. They still astonish us. The purpose of these miraculous signs and wonders was to give witness to the astonishing truth that Jesus is God in human flesh who came to teach us that God does not keep a religious score card on us.   Lessons: John 14:7-14, Colossians 2:13-15,  Matthew 17:24-27

Our God is a relational God, whose love cannot be contained but shared with the world. You have been claimed and called by God in your baptism to experience and share the love of God in Christ with others.   Lessons: Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20

Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian Church. When God sent his Spirit into the first Apostles it was for one reason, so that they would witness to Jesus “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts. 1:8) so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   Lessons: Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23

Sometimes in our world we get so caught in what the Church is against and don't focus on what we are for.  As followers of Christ we are called to be FOR our neighbors.  Today we will look at what it can look like when the Church focuses on what we are FOR more than what we are against.   Lessons: Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 28:16-20

Why would a loving God allow evil and suffering?   The ultimate purpose and meaning that God brings to our suffering are Jesus and the eternal salvation God desires for all people. The problem of evil and suffering remains in our lives, but in the midst of that, continue to trust that Jesus is God’s ultimate answer.   Lessons: Isaiah 45:5-7, Romans 3:5-9, John 9:1-11

Happy Mother's Day! Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ. We may sometimes fall into a pit of despair because we think that no one truly cares for us. This thinking is often driven by fears of opposition, scarcity, accusation, condemnation, and separation. In some of the greatest verses in the Bible, we learn that God is for us, God gives to us, God forgives us, God will not condemn us, and God will never leave us. In Christ, we now have security (assurance) that nothing can separate us from God. Lessons: Acts 7:55-60, Romans 8:31-39, John 14:1-6 Sermon Outline

Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ. For every one of us there comes times in life where we become desperate because life becomes too hard. We may be overwhelmed with suffering, loss, discouragement, disappointment, or despair. With all of creation that has been broken by sin, we suffer and groan. The great promise of God is that in all things he is working for our good. Because of Jesus, we KNOW this great promise and therefore we live now expectantly and without desperation. Lessons: Psalm 13, Romans 8:17-30, John 10:1-10   Sermon Outline

Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ. Most of us struggle at times with the frustration of thinking that we are never going to change. In Christ, we now have victory over the frustration we have in trying to change. We receive this victory because we have a new nature, a new power, and a new Father. Lessons: Romans 8:4b-17, Luke 15:11-32 Sermon Outline

Romans 8 is thought by many to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. The teaching in Romans 8 inspires in us a confident faith that is characterized by freedom, victory, expectancy, and assurance. Drawing from the teaching of Pastor Tom Holladay, the goal of this sermon series is to foster a more confident faith in the promises of God made through Jesus Christ.   Most all of us struggle at times with feelings of not being good enough. Feelings of condemnation can overwhelm us. The great news is that In Christ we now have freedom from condemnation as we understand that God is not angry with us, does not punish us, does not reject us, and does not remove his blessing from us.   Lessons: Psalm 103:8-14, Romans 8:1-4a, Luke 24:36-49   Sermon Outline

What do you hope for after you die? Our future resurrection remains a hope. All of us have yet to see our resurrection. This sermon will use the account of the thief on the cross who put his hope in Jesus to teach that real hope comes from a real God who really desires to spend eternity with us. In the physical resurrection of Jesus, God has given us a physical testimony that our hope for eternal life is a real hope. The resurrection of Jesus gives us the assurance of eternal life with God. This sermon will also point to the series that will start the next Sunday on having a Confident Faith.   Next Step: Make your future resurrection a more real hope to you by picturing yourself in heaven and counting on it happening. You can do that because Jesus made it a real hope when he rose from the dead. Come again next Sunday to learn how you can have a more confident faith.   Lessons: Acts 10:34-43, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Matthew 28:1-10

When Jesus entered Jerusalem and created a commotion, people in the crowd who were happening by asked, “Who Is This?” The answer: “This is the man who has come into your city to be arrested for crimes that were not committed by anyone, tried, tortured, and executed by crucifixion. And he planned to do exactly this all along so that you can have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed of. Also, this man is God.” Say what? Jesus’ intentional entry into Jerusalem, having predicted three times exactly what would happen to him there, is a stunningly clear window into the mind of God and how great is God love for us!     Lessons: Isaiah 50:4-6, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 20:17-19, 21:1-11

The benefits we receive through faithfully receiving Holy Communion deepen our faith and offer us forgiveness, new life, and eternal life. In the Small Catechism Martin Luther gives us wise instruction on how to understand and prepare for Holy Communion.     Read through Luther’s explanation of Holy Communion in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your receiving of the sacrament. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this.   Lessons: Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25   Small Catechism      

Trusting what God accomplished in your baptism deepens your assurance of salvation and points the way to more holy living. In the Small Catechism, Luther give a clear, concise, and Biblically based understanding of Holy Baptism that offers wise and helpful instruction to guide our thoughts and actions.   Read through Luther’s explanation of Holy Baptism in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this.   Lessons: Titus 3:4-8   Small Catechism

The Jews understood that God dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem that was the epicenter and focus of the Jewish religion. It is likely that what got Jesus killed more than anything else was his perceived challenge of the temple and the cult surrounding it. Jesus promoted a new sanctuary where we intimately experience God; the physical body of Jesus rising from the dead, the body of Christ which is the Church, and the hearts of Christ-followers where God, the Holy Spirit, dwells.   We hope you will rest in the assurance that God lives in you and therefore you are holy.   Lessons: John 2:13-22, Ephesians 2:14-22, Mark 11:15-18    

Petitions 5-7 and the Doxology of The Lord’s Prayer. A helpful practice when praying the Lord’s Prayer is to pray it slowly, pausing to contemplate what each part of the Lord’s Prayer means and how God answers each part. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism offers wise instruction on doing this practice.   Read through Luther’s explanation of Petitions 5-7 and the Doxology of The Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this.   Lessons: Luke 11:1-4   Small Catechism  

Jesus raised to new life those who are dead. This is where we can have that blessed assurance that if we believe in Christ as our savior and Lord then we to will be resurrected.   Lessons: Psalm 16:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, John 11:38-53

The Introduction and Petitions 1-4 of The Lord’s Prayer. A helpful practice when praying the Lord’s Prayer is to pray it slowly, pausing to contemplate what each part of the Lord’s Prayer means and how God answers each part. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism offers wise instruction on doing this practice.   Read through Luther’s explanation ofthe Introduction and Petitions 1-4 of The Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism enough to become familiar with its teaching so that it can inform and deepen your praying. Memorizing the Catechism is the best way to do this.   Lessons: Matthew 6:9-13   Small Catechism

Jesus led a new mission to extravagantly forgive sins and to seek and to save the lost. He expanded the saving mission of God beyond the confines of well-behaved Jewish people.   Identify a person or a group of people that you may be secretly wanting to exclude from the forgiveness of Jesus. Pray for God to change your heart and for God to lead that person or persons to faith.   Lessons: Isaiah 49:5-6, Acts 13:42-48, Mark 2:13-17, 3:1-7