The Town Church / Fort Collins

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. 

The dominant challenging human emotion of this prayer is fear in the face of adversaries. But that challenging emotion is held in tension with the strong seemingly opposite heart posture of trust in God as our shelter.

This week, we discuss a few key questions raised by this passage and consider what it reveals about who God is.• Why does repentance matter in the Christian life? • What is God like? • Why does this matter for us?

The life and ministry of John the Baptist are meant to reveal Jesus to the world. In the opening passage of Luke 3, we see that John’s mission, message, and ministry are all about Him.

A prayer asking God to treat his people differently than those who are not his own.

This week, we dive deeper into the story of 12-year-old Jesus at the temple and consider what it reveals about who He is.What stood out to us from this text? What is God like? How should these truths impact the way we live? 

Luke 2:41–52 gives us a glimpse of Jesus at twelve years old. As we study this passage, we consider what it means that He is fully God and fully human, living in submission to earthly parents. This truth shapes how we understand His actions and the interactions in the story.

This well-known prayer celebrates God's care for his people.

This week, we explore Jesus’ presentation at the temple in Luke 2:22–40. As we consider the faithfulness of Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna, we center our discussion around three questions:What stands out to us from this passage? What is God like according to this text? Why do the truths of this text matter? 

Our study of Luke 2:22–40 is shaped by Galatians 4:4–5. Using these verses as our framework, we see how Jesus is the true fulfillment of the law and the One sent to redeem all people.

This prayer rejoices in the joys and benefits of being kept by God - of being in relationship with him.

Welcome back to the AfterWord! Even though we are in the middle of February, we look at the story of Jesus' birth with a fresh perspective. What did we notice about the text that we haven't before? What is God like? If the birth of Jesus demands a response, how should we respond in light of who God is?

The events of Luke 1 all lead to this moment: the arrival of Jesus, the promised Messiah. In the story of His birth, we see God’s perfect timing, true humility, and the reality that the gospel is for all people. 

A prayer to remember God's holiness, what he calls his people to, and the grace of God in Jesus.