The Town Church / Fort Collins

Welcome back to The Afterword! This week Eric, Kirsten, and Rex discuss Luke 9:51-62. They talk about God's sovereignty over salvation, what to do with Jesus's seemingly harsh words, what it means to count the cost, and Vince's facial hair. 

At the end of Luke 9, we see a few interactions that illustrate the nature of Jesus's call to follow him.

Welcome back to The Afterword! This week, Vince, Kirsten, Eric, and Rex look back at Luke 9:37-50. Topics includeGod's use of us in our weaknessHard words from JesusThe value of vulnerabilityEric's favorite color

On the heels of an amazing revelation of Jesus's glory, Luke 9:37-50 shows several stories of the disciples' failure and weakness.

This week, Vince, Kirsten, and Rex discuss the transfiguration of Jesus. Why does Jesus do this now? Why were Moses and Elijah on the mountain? How do we apply a passage that's this strange? Listen and find out!

In this passage, Jesus takes a few disciples up the mountain and strange things start to happen. All of them serve to reveal the glory of Jesus as God's son. 

This week, Vince, Kirsten, Eric, and Rex look back at Luke 9:18-27. Discussion topics includeExpectations of the MessiahThe shocking nature of Jesus's call to dieThe importance of communityFinding joy in obedienceGiraffes

Who do you say Jesus is? In this passage, Jesus explores this question and its implications with his disciples. 

This week, Vince, Kirsten, Jory, and Rex look back at Jesus's feeding of the 5000. Topics includeGod's use of people who have nothing to offerJesus's practical provision of our needsThe authority and gentleness of JesusChilis Chicken Crispers

When the disciples return from Jesus's mission, they withdraw to find some rest. Instead, Jesus gives the disciples a new, seemingly impossible task. In the feeding of the 5,000, we see that God's grace is sufficient for us and that his power is made perfect in our weakness. 

This week Vince, Kirsten, Eric, and Rex look back at the beginning of Luke 9. Topics include:The Authority of Jesus at work in his followersEvangelismSwords

In Luke 9:1-9, Jesus sends out the 12 disciples with to do what they've seen him doing. Jesus's authority was with them, and that's all they needed.

The end of Luke 8 tells of two oddly familiar stories of healing that are meant to show us the purpose of Jesus' ministry and the people that he came for.

This week Eric, Kirsten, Brock, and Rex look back at Luke 8:22-39. Topics includeWhat is Biblical Theology?Our culture's allergy to the supernatural yet desire for transcendence.How should we think about demons?The gift of God's word.An amazing pig noise.

In two separate and supernatural narratives, Luke shows us who Jesus is and why he came.

This week, Vince, Kirsten, Jory, and Rex unpack the parable of the sower. Questions include:How should we interpret parables?How should Jesus's words inform our witness? What should we do with doubts? 

In the beginning of Luke 8, Jesus tells two parables and has a strange interaction with his family. The point of this is to show us how followers of Jesus react to his word.

This week, Vince, Kirsten, Eric, and Rex dive deep into Luke 7:36-8:3. Topics include:Response vs. hoops to jump throughDuty or delight in following ChristLove vs. manufacturing gratitudeChrist's pursuit of sinnersPrairie dog revolts

Through a parable at a dinner party, we see that gratitude and love are responses to God's grace, not a way of earning the God's grace.

Vince, Kirsten, Ellie and Eric further explore -John the Baptist seeking greater certainty about Jesus (!)The meaning of v.35Some ways the text shows us what God is likeA few ideas for application

John the Baptist is looking for certainty about Jesus. Jesus answers by pointing to Scripture, holding up high the life of John, and eliciting our own response to him.

Vince, Kirsten, Jory and Eric explore and apply a bit more the themes of the two stories following Jesus' Sermon on the Plain - the centurion's faith and the raising of the widow's only son.God moving toward the outsiderJesus' authority as both cosmic and compassionatePlus, what one topping in the entire world would you put on pizza if you could only choose one?

In focusing on two interactions displaying the authority of Jesus, Luke gives us more certainty about who Jesus is.

In his conclusion to the sermon on the plain, Jesus asks the listeners to consider themselves, the fruit of their lives, and their foundation. 

This week, Eric, Kirsten and Rex talk about the beginning of the sermon on the plain. Topics include:Blessings that don't look like blessingsThe mercy of GodThe importance of communityEric's birthdayFeaturing as a special guest the spider that crawled on Rex's arm. 

This passage begins Jesus's Sermon on the Plain. In it, Jesus shows the blessing of following Him, the sorrow of following self, and the overarching call to love in the Christian life. 

This week, Vince, Kirsten, and Rex look back at Luke 6:12-19. Topics includeThe diversity of the apostles (and the Church!).God's pursuit of those far from him.Roller skating through IKEA as the world ends.

In Luke 6:12-19, we see Jesus intentionally choosing a diverse, unlikely group of men who would serve as his apostles. 

This week, Eric, Jory, and Rex look back at Luke 6:1-11. Topics include:What makes someone a Pharisee?Why did Jesus choose to heal someone who didn't ask for it?Why does Jesus call him self "The Son of Man" so much? How can we keep our guards up against dead religion?What is the correct way to use a microphone?

When religious rules overshadow God's compassion, true rest becomes impossible. The beginning of Luke 6 contrasts the joyless legalism of the Pharisees with the healing authority of Jesus, the true Lord of the Sabbath.

This week, Eric, Vince, Kirsten, and Rex talk through the end of Luke 5. Topics include:Jesus' pursuit of those far from himWhat it means that Jesus came for the sickHow to find joy and awe as a response to JesusDutch Bros coffee

The final section of Luke 5 shows how Jesus intentionally pursues those who are far from him. Through the story of Levi the tax collector, we discover that turning away from sin and turning toward Christ naturally results in a life of celebration rather than joyless legalism.

This week, Jory, Kirsten, Vince, and Rex look further into Jesus' healings in Luke chapter 5. Topics include:Faith and healingJesus' pursuit of the outcastJesus' presence with us nowHazelnuts

Luke 5:12-26 describes the continuation of Jesus' ministry. Through the accounts of the leper and the paralyzed man, we see a Savior who offers both physical restoration and the ultimate healing of forgiveness.

Psalm 67 asks God to be gracious to us and bless us - not only for our own benefit,  but that ALL may know our good and gracious God who is worthy of praise.

In this episode, Vince, Kirsten, Ellie, and Rex talk through Luke 5:1-11. Topics include:What does it mean that Jesus invites his disciples into his mission? What does that calling look like day to day?How does this play out in community?

In Luke 5, we see Jesus invite the first disciples into his mission.

This prayer helps us to plea for protection from those who would do us evil and also serves as a reminder of God’s unmerited favor upon us - even though there is no good innately in us.

In this (late) episode of the Afterword, Vince, Kirsten, Betty, and Rex talk through the authority of Jesus. Topics include:The interplay of our faith with God's authorityHow to think about God's authority to say "No" to our prayersThe reality of spiritual evilFish and Chips

Luke 4:31-44 is all about Jesus' authority: in teaching, over demons, over sickness and affliction, and over his mission.

This prayer is David’s well-known plea to God to cleanse him after his sin with Bathsheeba. This prayer may help to give you words as you seek the Father in your own sin. 

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives believers what he says is of first importance: Christ died, Christ was buried, and Christ rose. What does that mean for us?

This is a prayer to express to God your anguish AND to remind your heart where your hope remains.

Jesus began his ministry by teaching in his home town. At first people loved what he had to say, but when Jesus pressed them they tried to throw him off a cliff! This week we consider:Why did the people change so drastically in their response?What happens when we "make God in our image" by only accepting the word of Jesus that we like? What does this passage show us about God?How do we apply this today?

Luke 4:14-30 marks the beginning of Jesus' teaching ministry. In this passage, those from His hometown are faced with the choice of accepting Jesus as who he says he is or rejecting him for not being who they wanted him to be. 

This prayer celebrates the goodness of confessing our sin to God and being forgiven by him! Might this psalm give you words when you feel hesitancy to confess your own sin.

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness raises many important questions. This week, we focus on just a few:Why would God allow Satan any power?What does it mean that Jesus was tempted?Why does this text matter for us as readers?What does this passage reveal about who God is?

Luke 4 begins with Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness. As we explore this passage, we seek to answer one important question: How does the Son relate to the Father? 

This prayer celebrates the awe-inspiring glory of God, zeroing in on the power of simply God’s voice.

Luke 3 ends with Jesus's baptism and genealogy. While it seems dry, Luke uses this list of names to establish Jesus as the new Adam and as our hope for new life.