Within the worldwide movement of Christ, there are various interpretations about how the parts relate to the whole. What sort of groupings exist between a local congregation and the capital-C Church, and what authority do they have? And what should Christians do when they have questions or concerns about the direction of a group they belong to? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 14:1-15 in "Pick Your Battles."

While America's Founders believed that "all men are created equal" and that God had endowed them with "unalienable rights," many of them also owned slaves. Even more of them did not believe that slavery was a great evil. Were they right, or wrong? If it is evil, why couldn't they see that? What should Christians today do about the legacy of slavery? Pastor Luke looks at Numbers 32:5-23 in "Insufficient Funds," the concluding message in his series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

America owes a great debt to the political preachers that were sometimes called the Black-Robed Regiment. But do we still need political preaching today? If we do need political preaching, who should do it? Pastor Luke looks at Micah 6:8 in "The Black-Robed Regiment," part 7 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

The Great Awakening laid groundwork for the American Revolution a few decades later. But more importantly, it taught the church a lesson about missional effectiveness and the work of the Holy Spirit. Is it time to learn that lesson again? Pastor Luke preaches from John 4:35 in "White Fields," part 6 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

At the time of independence, most of the countries in Europe had established (state) religions. So did many the former colonies in the new United States. Why don't we have them anymore? What persuaded religious people that state support for their religious activities wasn't really a good idea? Pastor Luke looks at John 18:36 in "Antidisestablishmentarianism," part 5 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

Once you’ve declared your independence, then what? When you escape tyranny, are you going to have a government? What kind of government do you want to have? What makes a government good, anyway? It turns out, you can get really good results when you think the worst of people. How were the Framers influenced by the Reformed Tradition? Pastor Luke looks at Mark 10:42-43 in "If Men Were Angels...," part 4 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

America's Founders and the public they represented were immersed in Christian doctrine which taught that "The Powers That Be are Ordained of God." How could people so well-versed in teaching about submission to civil institutions arrive at a decision to rebel against it? How do we navigate that decision in our own society? Pastor Luke preaches from Romans 13:4 in "To Throw Off Such Gov't," part 3 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

George Washington is famously described as the "Father of His Country." But should Christians honor him, or the other Founders? If Christians are called to submit to the "Powers that be" (Romans 13) how can it be right to rebel against the king? Pastor Luke looks at Acts 4-5 in "Father of His Country," part 2 of his 8-part series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

For most Americans, "don't tread on me" is one of our highest values. We often distrust the government and (depending who's running it) are tempted to be ungovernable. But Christians believe we should obey the government. How do we reconcile that as Americans? How did the Founders, 250 years ago? Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Kings 11:17 in "To Secure These Rights," the first message in a new series, "Presbyterian Rebellion."

In this installment of “Ask Me Anything,” Pastor Luke addressed four questions. This message was delivered in gathered worship on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Jewel Lake Parish in Anchorage, Alaska. TIMESTAMPS 00:14 how many Presbyterians signed the Declaration of Independence? 03:02 what is the Abomination of Desolation? 11:16 is the "fear of the Lord" really "fear" or something else? 16:06 what are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens (Note: In answering the second question, Pastor Luke misattributed some ways that Antiochus IV profaned the Temple with how Pompey profaned it. Daniel might have foreseen either, or both, or something else entirely.) Pastor Luke looks at 2 Chronicles 17:10 in "Ask Me Anything."