Jesus's sending out of the twelve disciples marks a transition in his ministry. Having spent most of his time in the towns of Galilee, Jesus would increasingly turn his attention to Judea and the suffering that awaited him. It would be a hard lesson for his disciples to understand.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Chapter 8 of Luke's gospel recounts some of the most powerful miracles in Jesus' ministry. It also recounts one of the smallest. We take a closer look at the surprising compassion of Jesus and his willingness to see even those overlooked needs.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having calmed the storm at sea, Jesus arrived at the far side of the Sea of Galilee. He was immediately met by a man possessed by a legion of demons. But the encounter does not develop as Jesus' disciples might have expected. The encounter gives us another opportunity to see how people respond to the revelation of Jesus' true identity.…

As a part of our Easter worship, we take a look at Jesus' conversation with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. We discuss the surprise of resurrection and how this truth reworks our lives and future.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

As they crossed the sea of Galilee, Jesus slept. Even through the storm, he did not wake. But as the boat began to take on water, his disciples woke him in a panic. We take a look at this familiar story and what it teaches us about faith and the storms we all face in life.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

We have been looking at how various people respond to Jesus. In this week's sermon, Joshua Kansiewicz explores how Jesus uses common sayings to express spiritual truths, including Jesus' image of a light not being hidden from the world. Jesus final advice was to be careful how we hear.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Jesus continued to gather followers as he taught throughout Galilee, but those followers would increasingly recognize the crowd's and the leaders' rejection of Jesus. Warning them not to lose hope, Jesus offered them an everyday image—a parable—about seed and soil.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Luke has been trying to show us the kind of humility required to understand Jesus. That humility often came from unexpected people. In this week's passage, we get another example of humility but also a Pharisee who, though he appears to be humble, is revealed to be proud and unable to recognize Jesus.…

Somewhat unexpectedly, Luke turns our attention back to the character of John the Baptist. John would die in prison, and he seems to have been confused by the news of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. We take a closer look at our own expectations of Jesus and how we can recognize his true identity.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having finished his sermon on the plain, Luke records another two miracles in the region of Galilee. But these miracles stand out from those so far recorded in Luke's gospel. We take a closer look at the Centurion's servant and the widow's son.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

As we finish our study of Jesus' sermon on the plain, we take a closer look at two images: the fruit tree and the house. Jesus explained that it is the good plant that produces good fruit and that only a house that has been built upon a solid foundation can withstand the flood.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

We are taking a closer look at Jesus' sermon on the plain. Jesus's warning about judgment is perhaps among his most well-known words. But do we really understand what Jesus was saying? We reexamine this section of Jesus' sermon and heed his warning to pay close attention to the log in our own eye.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having begun his sermon on the mount with the beatitudes, Jesus next turned his attention to the topic of love. And not just any love. Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies. We take a closer look at how to love and Jesus' logic for the real source of loving enemies.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. Coming down, he gathered his twelve disciples and, before the crowd, laid out a surprising series of blessings and warnings. Jesus spoke with remarkable clarity, neither distracted by the crowd's approval nor by the scribe's opposition.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Controversy continued to build around Jesus. The Pharisees watched Jesus's disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath and asked why they did not keep it holy. The controversy grew worse when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand. But Jesus saw things very differently. Quoting from the scriptures, he explained that "the son of man was lord of the sab…

The Pharisees continued their objections. Jesus may have come to call sinners to repentance, but his ministry didn't look like one of repentance. Jesus's disciples were busy eating and drinking. So Jesus turned to the image of marriage and God's promise to restore his bride.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

As Luke records the crowds continuing to grow and the Pharisees increasingly suspicious, he also records Jesus's recognition of certain individuals whom he called to be his disciples. We have seen Jesus's call of Peter who was cleaning his nets, in this weeks passage we look at Jesus's call of Levi who sat at his tax booth.…

Frank Kendrick shares his story of God's faithfulness as we wrap up our Immanuel series this Christmas season.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

David Roush kicks off our Immanuel series by sharing his testimony of how God has been with him even in unseen times.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Kristen Kansiewicz continues our Immanuel series by exploring what it means follow a "with us God," and how we can place our lives daily in his presence.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

The crowds came because Jesus was doing miracles. Even the religious leaders came having heard about his power and authority. But Jesus turned their attention to sin and his desire to forgive sins. We take a closer look at our tendency to overlook sin and why it was central to Jesus's ministry.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having been rejected in Nazareth and misunderstood in Capernaum, another crowd formed around Jesus at the sea of Galilee. But Jesus's attention quickly shifted to a few fishermen and their boats. Luke gives us the calling of Peter as an example of how true followers should respond to Jesus.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having left Nazareth, Jesus continued teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. There, he did many miracles, including casting out demons and healing the sick. Yet Jesus saw something in the response of the people, which caused him to raise another point of objection. Even after all they had witnessed, they did not understand why Jesus had really com…

Luke records with a brief summary that Jesus was teaching and preaching throughout Galilee. He was being warmly received, that is, until he taught in his hometown of Nazareth. We take a closer look at Jesus's message and how his friends and family could shift from praising him to attempting his execution.…

Jesus began his ministry by moving into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan. The passage gives us a sense of Jesus's faithfulness and the depth of his knowledge of scripture. Pastor Barry walks us through the passage and helps us think about Jesus's responses and our own.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, and while the gospel writers recognize it as the start of Jesus's ministry, Luke draws our attention also to Jesus in the posture of prayer. It was while praying that Jesus received the Holy Spirit. In this week's sermon, we take a closer look at how Jesus was prepared for the work ahead.…

Luke recognizes John as the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus. But John's preparation is one of warning. Jesus will come as a judgment; that is, he will come as one revealing hearts and motivations. Jesus comes as a sword, ax, and threshing fork. Still, for those willing to receive him, even that word of judgment comes as good new…

Luke narrates the growth of Jesus in a single story. From the infancy of the child to the emergence of his public ministry, Luke overs just one story. Jesus was lost. It took his parents three days to find him. When they did, he was in the temple discussing scripture. Like all parents, Mary seemed both relieved and frustrated by the situation. Jesu…

Mary and Joseph went up to the temple to present Jesus and to make their sacrifice of purification. But the Spirit had brought Simeon to meet them. Simeon came with a prophecy and also a hard word. Jesus would be a sign rejected, not even Mary would escape the sword of his words. We take a closer look at Simeon and Anna and their words about Jesus.…

Perhaps the most striking thing about Jesus's birth was how unremarkable the event actually was. So far, Luke's gospel has been full of angels, miracles, and the Holy Spirit, but Jesus's birth comes like almost every other birth. Jesus has come into the world as we all come into the world. It is the shepherds in their fields that welcome us into th…

Having heard of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Mary went with haste to visit. As she entered, John, just six months in Elizabeth's womb, leaped for joy. Central to the theme of Luke 1 is the work of the Holy Spirit. We take a look at the role of the Spirit and the joy and worship the Spirit initates.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having announced the birth of John to Zechariah, the angel Gabriel next traveled to Nazareth, where he announced a second birth. Mary would conceive a child. He would be great and establish the throne of David for eternity. His name would be called Jesus. In spite of the complexity and uncertainty this announcement must have created, Mary responded…

Luke opens his gospel by placing the story in the time of Herod, but Luke also introduces us to the humble and righteous priest Zechariah. Those were two names that would not normally have been in the same sentence. Herod was known all around the Roman empire for his power, wealth, building projects, and violence. Zechariah was unknown. But God app…

We begin a new series this week on the gospel of Luke. We explore the background of the book as well as Luke's introduction to the work. Luke wrote Jesus's story so that we might have greater certainty and conviction about who Jesus is, what he taught, and what he has done for us.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

As we conclude our look at Ezra and Nehemiah, we come across an unexpected chapter. The story does not resolve as expected. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to find the people slipping back into the same sins. His anger explodes, and the book concludes with the simple but poignant prayer, "Remember me, O my God, for good."…

Having repented and renewed their covenant with God, the people gathered to dedicate the new walls of Jerusalem. They did so by worship. The city was filled with the sounds of worship, and it produced a joy that was heard far outside of Jerusalem. We explore how repentance has its natural end in a surprising experience of joy.…

Having reminded the people of God's steadfastness and having repented of their own unfaithfulness, Ezra led the people in renewing the covenant. We take a closer look at God's covenant with his people and how the story of Nehemiah helps us recognize the covenant we have received.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

Having celebrated God's faithfulness, the people were finally ready to consider their own unfaithfulness. On the twenty-four day of the month, they came together in sackcloth and ashes to repent before the Lord. But even in their repentance, God's mercy and steadfast love were at the center. Chapter nine offers a long prayer of repentance and remem…

Having completed the wall, the people of Jerusalem began to gather. They called for Ezra to return and read the law. As the law was read, they began to weep, but Ezra commanded them to stop. Instead, he reminded them that the joy of the Lord was their strength. We take a closer look at those familiar words and how they sustained the people of Jerus…

Nehemiah had faced opposition before. He often faced threats and risks from the neighboring nations, but suddenly Nehemiah found opposition coming from within the walls of Jerusalem. We take a look at how Nehemiah responded to betrayal from friends and learn why God can be trusted in times of our own difficulties.…

In the previous chapter, we saw a picture of unity. God's people shared the work, protected one another, and sacrificed to build a better city. But it didn't take long for things to fall apart. Soon they were taking advantage of one another in ways that aligned them with their pagan neighbors. It's a warning about how quickly we pick up the ways of…

Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem began to rebuild the city. Each family took their section of the wall and built it together. But, as has been the pattern, opposition soon emerged. First, it was taunting and then the threat of violence. But the people did not give up. They guarded one another, encouraged greater faith, and committed to seeing t…

When Nehemiah learned of the disrepair of Jerusalem, his heart was broken. He longed to rebuild the city, but Nehemiah also served the king of Persia. His loyalties would be questioned, and his life would be at risk, but Nehemiah prayed, trusted, and sought to return to the city. We take a closer look at the man, his situation, and the complexity o…

As we look at the final chapter of the book of Ezra, we ask some hard questions about the book's final image. The book has taken us from the stirring of their hearts by the Spirit to men sitting in the cold rain negotiating the abandonment of wives and children. The final image of Ezra is a complicated question of our unfaithfulness, our need for a…

Having arrived in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many of the priests and leaders were marrying their foreign neighbors who worshiped pagan Gods. We take a closer look at the situation and Ezra's prayer of intercession. We consider why this sin continually plagued Israel and how Ezra builds our expectations for Christ's intercessions.…

Having been introduced to Ezra and his plans to return to Jerusalem and teach the law, we are next given the details of his preparation. Though he returned with a group of Jews, they were small and worried about the dangers of their trip. Ezra wanted to turn their attention back to God. He called for a fast and prayer to overcome their fear. They n…

With Ezra 7, we begin the second story of Israel's return. This return would be led by Ezra, a scholar and expert in the Law. He was commissioned to teach the Jews the Law and to see that they obeyed it. No move of God or church project is complete if it does not include new attention to God's word and a commitment to live it.…

With the support of the prophets and a new decree from the king, Israel completed the construction of the temple. They joined together in a new Passover feast that welcomed many of their converted neighbors. We are reminded of God's ability to turn the heart of the Persian king and also God's ability to fill his people with joy. There was gladness …

With progress stopped, God sent prophets to speak to Israel and call them back to their task. We look at the role of the Old Testament prophets and how the words of Haggai and Zacheriah help us learn to respond to God's word in our own day.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle

After so much progress and celebration, the rebuilding of the temple grinds to a halt. The people became discouraged and afraid of the mounting pressure around them. We take a closer look at how the fear of man can cause us to withdraw from the work of God and how to find courage for our times.저자 Pastor Chase Replogle