September 18, 2016. Today's sermon begins with a skit dramatizing the Parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16:1-13. Pastor Penny then asks us why Jesus told this story, and what we are meant to learn. She compares us to the title character in the movie The Truman Show, who thought he lived in a natural world, but found out by accident that he was really trapped in a reality TV show. Are we in some ways trapped too, in a life we see as being all about ourselves and our success? Truman found a way out of his predicament. Can we find a way out too? Can we become what Jesus called Children of Light? To answer this question, Jesus offers us two pieces of advice and a promise. His answer is all that we have, but it's also all we need. *** [Keywords: God Karen Wood Katrina Lynn Luke 16:1-13 Parable of the Shrewd Manager Roger Rose Steve McCarty Truman Show accident actors adjusting loans advice all we have all we need broadcasting buying friends Children of Light community dishonest wealth dramatization eternity expense of others fired focused forgive get involved managers money new identity observant ocean own our lives persistent promise reality TV share shrewd simulated weather ski skit snorkel support take risks this generation trapped two worlds wealth welcome welcoming winner]

September 4, 2016. Following Jesus is not a joyride, but rather a new kind of lifestyle. It's a commitment that comes with a cost: potentially being at odds with your family, your community, and the world. But Pastor Keith says that maybe we should stop thinking of it as a "cost" and instead think of it as a "choice." When Jesus suffered and died, he paid the cost. We choose to be in relationship with him and accept the opportunity to receive this gift and follow him. We want to reflect his love and goodness, and the abundant care of God in all our relationships with others. *** [Keywords: Carolyn Lewis Jacob Labor Day Leah Martin Luther New Orleans Onesimus Paul Philemon Rachel abundant care choice commitment cost crowds discipleship fair wages goodness hate identity Jesus joyride king love marriage new kind of lifestyle perpetual polygamy sacrifices second place slave tower unconditional war wedding ring of faith workers]

August 21, 2016. Today Pastor Penny preaches on the story of Jesus healing the disabled woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath, in Luke 13:10-17. If laws are allowed to be broken, the whole system can fall apart. But what if blindly following laws results in some people in society becoming invisible to us? What if we end up seeing only one side of an issue, the side that benefits us and does not challenge our beliefs? How can we free ourselves of this? Jesus' answer to the synagogue leader's indignance was to point out his hypocrisy. Might Jesus be an answer for us as well? *** [Keywords: African American Angela Martin Broken Windows theory Luke 13:10-17 Native Americans Philando Castile Sabbath St. Paul, Minnesota Whitney Plantation, Louisiana beliefs benefit bent over bridge challenge criminology daughter of Abraham deceiver disability disabled ex-con freed gay healed healing hypocrisy hypocrite insulated invisible issue judgement killing law lesbian liar one side one thing leads to another police pretender selfish selfishness share slave status suicide synagogue leader woman]

August 7, 2016. Guest pastor Rebecca Boardman, from Lutheran Campus Ministry, brings us a message today on bearing the weight. If we took on all the pain and all the hurt in the world, we would be crushed under the weight of it. Sometimes we can become insensitive, complacent, or apathetic to the world around us. But the Gospel beacons us to be ready. God meets us in the broken places, not in the perfection of what we will receive. We are all in the family of God, and he calls us to love and cherish one another. *** [Keywords: Advent Ferguson God doesn't require anything of us God is already there God meets us in the broken places Gospel beacons us to be alert Heavenly reward Houston Islamophobia LCM Lutheran Campus Ministry Muslim North St. Louis Olympics Planned Parenthood ROTC Roger Ruff Roock family Sudan Syria Texas Washington University academic achievement apathetic backpack culture be awake bears who hibernate in winter body of Christ break bread brokenness all around us calendar campus house carry around the weight catastrophe chemotherapy coffee shop comfy couches competing complacent connection crushed under the weight death dorm elderly find ways to be ready first week of school heavy bag homeless hospitality of the heart hot and humid house renovation humanity hungry inner city program insensitive keeping up with the Joneses library love and cherish one another not in the perfection of what we will achieve opening ceremonies opposite ends of the spectrum our story is about losing life perfection preoccupations preparing for Jesus reconciliation refugees respect responsibility safe place season of waiting and preparation share the weight of our backpacks share wine sick so much pain and hurt and hate in this world space at the table state of readiness story of Chris and Olivia students summertime toughen up to vastness of evil around us tragedy trivia tunnel vision turbulence unexpected vacation we are all in the family of God we need to be in relationship with our neighbor who is absent from your life widow winning the gold withholding forgiveness]

July 24, 2016. In Genesis 18:20-33, God listens to Abraham as he begs for Sodom. Today, Pastor Penny talks about how not only does God listen to our prayers, but she suggests that perhaps he also needs our prayers. Prayer can be dangerous but is also the safest thing we can do, because by praying we're putting ourselves at God's disposal in building his kingdom and opening ourselves to the needs and concerns of others. Pastor Penny then invites Noah Hornbeck to share his thoughts on the recent trip to Papua New Guinea, what his stay there was like, and what might the people there pray for for us, and what we might pray for for them. *** [Keywords: Abraham Australia Central States Synod Genesis 18:20-33 God needs our prayers God's kingdom I am your parent Islam Jesus Jesus Christ Lord's Prayer Luke Luther Matthew Noah Hornbeck Our Father who art in heaven Papua New Guinea Pastor Penny Holste Small Catechism Sodom St. Louis United States amazing way of life answer to our own prayer at God's disposal audacious bamboo bartering session boat ride brothers and sisters build the kingdom building his kingdom built us a house call me Father call me Mother dangerous death and resurrection depend on each other different state of life disdain dispassionate distant don't lose their way of life facebook feet gift hallowed be thy name hands heart hearts and minds are open held holy homeless person hospitable hospitals hurtful inflict harm on each other killing merciful master mouth needs and concerns of others newspaper organizations organized chaos pray for us prayer purpose receive reciting for our own benefit rough places safer arms safest thing we can do schedule seminary servants someone else's prayer someone we cannot see someone who mourns speaking stamina supporting technology third world country thoughts thy kingdom come tragedies trouble praying turbulent world unconditional love used car lot voting vulnerable walking streets youth representatives]