St. Luke Anglican Church

How do we move past the familiarity of the Christmas Story? How do we not get distracted by "what comes after the service?" Jesus is not only the Son of God, but in his presence, vulnerability, and with-ness, we are brought back to his glorious divine character.

James continues with Isaiah and the longing for kingdom come, exploring the God with Us passage, as well as the story of Jesus' birth.

When we consider the kingdom coming, we recognize that we all long for some version of delight, glory, restoration, and direction. But then we are drawn towards loves of doubt, becoming easily offended, resistant, or outright denial. What do we do, and how does the scriptures point us to life with God in the kingdom coming? The book of James and Coach Saban have some things to share.

What does Dr. Seuss's classic, The Lorax, have to do with the prophet, Isaiah? Quite a lot it turns out. Pastor James unpacks how the prophetic word to the people of Israel (and to the land of the Truffula Trees) reveals the stump, scepter, and stupifying presence of God in Jesus Christ.

Kimberley kicks off our Advent series, "Kingdom Come," with a special invitation to involve congregation members in the sermon series. Join us as we begin walking towards the coming of our Savior.

On Christ the King Sunday, James unpacks our Jeremiah passage given recent accusations that have come to light concerning several bishops within the ACNA. With an understanding of his own brokenness, he calls all leaders to guide with a spirit that gives away power and fosters creativity, similar to God's generous creation in Genesis 1.

James takes a side quest into the book of 2 Kings to demonstrate how the Kingdom of Dallas shows up; not just in the book of Ruth, but in other places of the Bible too. Looking at the leprosy and healing of Naaman the Syrian, we see how the healing power of the Gospel transforms the 6 elements of social righteousness which hinder Naaman and us.

Kimberley concludes our Part I of the Kingdom of Dallas series, focusing in particular how legacy, the impact across time and generations, can be imagined in the Kingdom of God. Looking at the genealogies tying Ruth's faithfulness to King David, as well as the genealogy of Jesus, we see a part of God's larger plan than our own kingdom.

James continues detailing how Boaz and Ruth's nuptials eventually lead to a child being born! Children are a gift, a sign of God's blessing and favor, yet in the Kingdom of Dallas they can become pawns on a chessboard for status and significance. What does Jesus have to show us regarding his kingdom and the role of children within it?

We continue moving through the book of Ruth, now looking at charisma, or "the way to speak and act" in the Kingdom of Dallas. Understanding the written and unwritten rules is key to building status, and we see this directly through Naomi and Boaz as they orchestrate Boaz's future nuptials to Ruth. How does the Gospel and knowing social rules allow for subversive Christ-like living?

James continues walking through the Kingdom of Dallas, outlining the surprising gloriousness of exclusivity. Yet also, he teaches that there is a perilousness lurking when exclusivity goes wrong. Touching upon Ruth, gleaning, and being invited to dine, we explore how the Gospel and its application through Miroslav Volf's work, Exclusion and Embrace, can help us to walk faithfully in the steps of Jesus.

Pastor James continues the Kingdom of Dallas series, this week by looking at relationships. Citing Ruth's entry into the gleaning fields, we see how her relationship with Boaz, a man of high repute, transformed her life and status, moving her from the margins to the heart of the meal with Boaz and a midday meal.

Blake Schwarz, present of New City Commons, preached a powerful guest sermon unpacking our ability to live as faithful believers in a time of potential cultural exile. Citing the need to avoid cultural isolation or assimilation, Blake points us to faithful kingdom living in Christ while seeking the welfare of the city

Pastor James continues the Kingdom of Dallas series by examining how bread in Ruth's context actually serves as a near perfect analogue to money in our present economy. By allowing us to be, do life, and thrive, we see that food, like money, is a part of everything we do in the Kingdom of Dallas.

What is the Kingdom of Dallas? Pastor James unpacks the systems and powers at work in the city of Dallas, primarily working through the book of Ruth and today, passages in Ephesians. In a city that asks the question, "What do you have," to determine status and worth, how does the Gospel offer a different narrative for a more beautiful kingdom?

Beginning with Epiphany and Jesus' baptism, St. Luke began a new series looking at the different character attributes of God. In Epiphany, we ask the question, "What is God revealing to us about himself. Surprisingly, in Jesus' baptism we see that God wants us to him as a family man, someone who is part of a loving home. Do we want to be a part of God's home, or the broken home of Herod? These are the options that James puts forward for us to consider from our text.