When Jesus tells us not to worry, he does not dismiss our needs, fears, and anxieties. Jesus provides reassurance that God knows our needs and meets them. Chapter 12 of Luke’s Gospel calls us to use our energy to pursue God’s kingdom, allowing ourselves to be recipients of God’s blessing along the way.

The eleventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel sees Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. In the simplified version of The Lord’s Prayer, we are given a pattern for prayers of all kinds. Using this pattern, Jesus teaches us how to bring every aspect of our lives before God in prayer.

So far, Luke’s Gospel has told us that Jesus is the savior of all - but what exactly does Jesus save us from? In three brief stories, chapter 8 reveals Jesus’ power to save humanity from natural disaster, evil, sickness, and death. The salvation offered in Christ assures us of the life to come, but begins with the problems we face here and now.

The seventh chapter of Luke's Gospel challenges us to reconsider our understanding of the relationship between faith, forgiveness. and healing. In presenting contrasting stories of faith and healing, Jesus reveals God's will to liberate the sick, dying, and grieving regardless of whether or not the recipient is deserving.

Chapter 6 in Luke’s Gospel begins the Sermon on the Plain. Significantly, Jesus leaves the confines of the synagogue to deliver his best remembered teaching. In this challenging sermon, we are called to do the impossible. But through the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, everything is possible for us.

Chapter 5 in Luke’s Gospel introduces us to Jesus’ first disciples. In order to follow Jesus Pete, James, and John must leave everything - prosperity, safety, and familiarity. They are called to practice a discipleship that is built on sacrificial faith. The church today is called to this same costly discipleship.

Our series on Luke’s Gospel continues with a look at Jesus’ hometown sermon. Following the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus offers a mission statement for his earthly ministry - naming the things God has sent him to do. Pastor Jon asks whether the Church has confused the mission of the Gospel for the Gospel itself.

Between now and Easter, we will take a deep dive into the Gospel of Luke with an eye toward what makes Luke’s account unique, how it speaks to us today, and how it helps us answer the question: what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Beginning a summary of Luke’s first 3 chapters, Pastor Jon uses Luke 4:1-13 to explain how Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel, the second Adam, and the culmination of God’s plan.

On the First Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Jon opens the Prophet Isaiah (61:10-62:3) to explore God’s unifying plan of salvation - from the particular to the universal; from Israel to all of humanity; and from Adam to Jesus. The central narrative of all scripture, from the time of Isaiah until now has been God’s story of restoring humanity to right-relationship with himself.

With Christmas Eve comes the Incarnation of the Word - God made flesh. The truth of Immanuel - God with us - is manifest in a stubborn joy that overcomes the darkness of the world. Over and against happiness, which comes and goes, the stubborn joy that Jesus brings with His birth carries us through the challenges of this life. Jesus stubbornly loved humanity so that we might have stubborn joy through him.