This Easter Sunday is Rev. Joel's last Sunday with us for a while, before he heads our for a well earned three month Sabbatical. Come celebrate the empty tomb, and let's listen for God's empowering call. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 24

We celebrate the party that was and is Palm Sunday. But why are there no palms in Luke's version? Why does he talk more about cloaks than palms? Would we still show and celebrate, and lay our cloaks, as gladly and boldly as we might wave palms? Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 19

We've been studying and learning about 12 disciplines since the beginning of the year. Some were internal, some were external, some were communal. Now what? So what? How do we live into these disciplines? What happens to us, our family, community, and church when we practice these? Which ones do we pick to do first? Jesus carefully warns the disciples how to get started, and to stay aware of the logs in their own eyes. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 6

When the younger brother is welcomed home and celebrated, the older brother refuses to join the celebration. What would it take for there to be no older and younger, no lost and found, no in-crowd and no out-crowd, but ALL to be together with the father celebrating? They kingdom come... Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 15

After Jesus, the early church had many conflicts with those OUTSIDE the church. But eventually, the conflicts and disagreements arose from INSIDE the church. How would they respond when they disagreed with one another over something very important, like the Torah, the Commandments of God through Moses? They came together, spoke honestly and humbly, listened to one another, and let Holy Spirit and one another give guidance. That ability to submit to the community and receive and offer guidance is a very important discipline, especially in these troubled times. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Acts 15

The gospel according to Luke ends differently than the other three gospels. In his telling, Jesus appears to the disciples, tells them the old stories of scripture again, then OPENS their minds to see all those old stories all over again in a new way. All the stories were always about Jesus. That means all the demand for obedience or faith, all the rules and laws, all the warnings and punishments, there were not about the disciples or their enemies. They were always about Jesus. Their response was worship. They were in the synagogue and temple constantly worshipping. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 24.

When the young man was given a share of the Father's property, and lost it all, the pathway home was wide open. But it was so hard, because it included confession. Confession is not the hard part. The failure is the hard part. Confession is simply the honesty with one's self and God and others about the failures already behind us. Confession is the moment of renewal and rebirth. Still, its so hard. Let's find a way to make confession our discipline. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 15

Jesus stood up from the Passover table and became a servant. He could have kept his seat, and been served. But he wanted to show them, and us, what it really looks like to love in the kingdom... to be a servant to others. Let's listen to him, and remember how he served, and go and do likewise. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 22

No discipline has been more misunderstood and misused... Even the church and religion have misused it and abused others with it. Submission. What does it really mean to submit? Submit to whom? What do we lay down when we submit? What did he mean when he dared us to deny ourselves and pick up a cross, or when he asked us to love our enemies? These hard lessons are about the discipline of submission, and we who seek to follow Christ need to be clear and brave as we practice submission wisely. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 6

Warning! The Audio from this podcast is not direct from the soundboard but indirect through a second microphone at the back of the sanctuary. Therefore, you will hear some other noises, like a baby cough, or a conversation. Do your best to focus and let those "tempting" voices fade away and stay with the Scripture and Sermon!

This week, we learn about the Outward discipline of Solitude. Jesus began his ministry with a trip into solitude. There, alone, he heard the tempting voices. Do you know those voices, the ones that tempt you off course? Let's talk today about facing "Ha Satan" "Ho Diabolos" "The Devil" when we are alone, and staying there until we hear the voice of God, and know we are never alone. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching Luke 4.