University Lutheran
700 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsA multigenerational Jesus Centered Community of Scripture, Faith, and Grace located on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL
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Episodes
What do you go back to? - Audio
June 22, 2016 20:00 - 17 minutes - 4.07 MBAbout Third Sunday after Pentecost - There is no escaping the theme of death vs life when reading these readings this week. We are called to look at the death that our sin deserves, but also to the life which Christ offers us through the justification of our souls by His suffering and death. We are called to consider that our natural lives are worth nothing, but that our lives that are found in Christ are worth everything because of the surpassing worth of His sacrifice for us.
Will you pass? - Audio
April 26, 2016 17:34 - 15 minutes - 3.58 MBAbout the Fifth Sunday of Easter: God's Kingdom is revealed in a New Heaven and a New Earth in the book of Revelation. It is described as a New Jerusalem coming down out of the heavens, where God's dwelling place is with man. This New Jerusalem is a place where there is no separation along the usual sinful lines that we are so used to in this world. In this New Jerusalem there shall be no bigotry, no racism, no cruelty. Instead, the reign of the Lamb will be one of Love, and we will know...
Who are these? - Audio
April 18, 2016 19:11 - 16 minutes - 3.68 MBAbout the Fourth Sunday of Easter: The fourth Sunday of Easter is often called "Good Shepherd Sunday" because the readings traditionally center around the image of Jesus as a shepherd. Even in the book of Revelation, Jesus is pictured as a shepherd - here a sort of ironic shepherd, a Lamb who is a shepherd. The least of the flock, the young lamb, is pictured here as leading a great multitude of all of God's people in the last days. The realities of living in a sinful world are pictured all ar...
Who is the right choice? - Audio
April 11, 2016 18:16 - 15 minutes - 3.63 MBAbout the Third Sunday of Easter: The readings this week revolve around the idea of worthiness. In the reading from the book of Revelation, we see that it is only the Lamb, who is Jesus, that is found worthy. No others are worthy of the responsibility and action of heaven. Because we learn that it is "only the Lamb", we may be struck to the heart because we are excluded. We are not the Lamb. Yet the Lamb seeks to include us, as He shows in Acts 9 and John 21 with the inclusion and restoration...
Do you have a negative theology? - Audio
March 29, 2016 19:00 - 17 minutes - 4.1 MBAbout Easter Sunday: Alleluias return to the sanctuary of University Lutheran as we consider emptiness again, but this time joyously, as we consider the empty tomb of our Lord whom death could not hold. Together with Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women and disciples, we consider the mystery of the question of the angels: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"
whats the point of the story? - Audio
March 14, 2016 20:15 - 15 minutes - 3.65 MBThroughout the lectionary readings this week, we see hints of Jesus' crucifixion and how we are called to lose our lives in His life. As Jesus was persecuted, we are given the command to give of ourselves in love as well.
Where's the party? - Audio
March 14, 2016 20:02 - 18 minutes - 4.24 MBSometimes culture views the Christian God of judgment, and while this is true about God's fairness, it neglects God's love and restoration of the human being. As we consider the God whom Jesus portrays as the father in the story of the prodigal, we consider a God who has given grace and forgiveness.
Do you need more time? - Audio
February 29, 2016 21:49 - 15 minutes - 3.61 MBThe readings this week are about repentance, and so it makes sense that we talk about how we are called to something greater than simple songs in our worship, but how we are turned around by God in our repentance.
What do you want to hear? - Audio
February 22, 2016 22:10 - 21 minutes - 4.96 MBThe Word of God is something that is central to all of these readings, and as we see in the readings, the prophetic Word of God often causes sinners to reject it when they hear it. As we consider the use of Word in worship, from the readings to the other places where God's Word shows up in our worship, we thank God that He sends us His Word and makes us His friends.
How important is this? - Audio
February 15, 2016 21:24 - 15 minutes - 3.54 MBThis week's readings all tell us something about the concept of worship, which kicks off our Lenten series about what worship is and how we worship. We see that throughout time - from the Israelites worshiping in Deuteronomy to Paul's understanding of the Word being near - that God works in and through worship to make us His people. God brings Himself and blesses us on earth in the worship service
Why are you here? - Audio
February 12, 2016 18:54 - 15 minutes - 3.56 MBThe “celebration” of Ash Wednesday is actually the beginning of a fast, the fast of Lent. Throughout the Bible, God’s faithful people would memorialize a time when they saw that they had to turn around and repent (the word “repent” literally means to turn around). It was a time of recognizing where one had lost their way and needed to get back to God. Of course, we don’t get back to God, God gets back to us by giving us His Son to die on the Cross for our sins. This Ash Wednesday and all of...
Why are you here? - Audio
February 12, 2016 18:54 - 15 minutes - 3.56 MBThe “celebration” of Ash Wednesday is actually the beginning of a fast, the fast of Lent. Throughout the Bible, God’s faithful people would memorialize a time when they saw that they had to turn around and repent (the word “repent” literally means to turn around). It was a time of recognizing where one had lost their way and needed to get back to God. Of course, we don’t get back to God, God gets back to us by giving us His Son to die on the Cross for our sins. This Ash Wednesday and all of...
What is your excuse? - Audio
February 01, 2016 21:47 - 15 minutes - 3.44 MBAbout the 4th Sunday after Epiphany: In this Sunday's Gospel from the lectionary we have another incidence of Jesus performing miracles, but here it is specifically His healing and demon-casting miracles that are highlighted. We consider what it means for Jesus to be not only the healer of the body, but also his divinity that has made the body and sustains it.
Who do you think you are better than? - Audio
February 01, 2016 21:44 - 15 minutes - 3.47 MBAbout the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany: This could be also be called "the Sunday of the Law", but in it, we see how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law of God, and how He has inaugurated new commandments that are in sync with God's commands to Israel.
Are you a character? - Audio
December 29, 2015 19:54 - 17 minutes - 3.89 MBAbout the First Sunday after Christmas - The first Sunday after Christmas is one in which we continue our celebration of Christ's birth and appearing, noting especially the hope that His arrival brings to us and to all people.
Why wrap presents? - Audio
December 29, 2015 19:43 - 13 minutes - 3.01 MBAbout Christmas Eve - We will be using the more traditional "Midnight" Christmas Eve readings even though our celebration will be at 7pm. Christmas Eve is a time to remember the tender grace that was born to mankind in Jesus Christ, a grace that makes its first appearance to us here but that has implications for our entire lives even into eternity.
What kind of singer are you? - Audio
December 21, 2015 19:19 - 15 minutes - 3.54 MBAbout this Sunday: Micah prophesies the coming of Jesus saying that "He shall be their peace". All of these readings give us a sense of peace as we wait, a calm that washes over us as we await the Savior who shall come and finally bring peace to this war-torn earth. This peace is the product of our waiting and the outgrowth of our patience. We need not be filled with things and trinkets because of our anxiety. Rather, we can live our lives with contentment.
What's your favorite christmas song? - Audio
December 14, 2015 22:45 - 17 minutes - 4.11 MBAbout this Sunday: We cheer together when we are filled with the expectation and hope of something good. We do not even need to see it - we can cheer in expectation. That is what this Sunday of Advent is all about, about the cheer of faith that waits but still rejoices. It is about the absolute certainty that celebrates what hasn't happened yet.
German Service 2015 - Audio
December 09, 2015 22:15 - 18 minutes - 4.25 MBEvery year University Lutheran puts on a German language Christmas service. The liturgy, readings, and hymns are in German, but the sermon is in English. This year, the sermon's major illustration was the original story of the Nutcracker - a German story by a man named Hoffman. The sermon is based on Hebrews, Chapter 1.
Would you buy a self driving car? - Audio
December 07, 2015 22:28 - 16 minutes - 3.76 MBAbout this Sunday: Our Baptisms were the first steps of our journeys to heaven, but we experience the length of the journey as we go through life. This Sunday of Advent, we look at the wisdom of knowing that the journey is not instantaneous, but that we are called to journey well as we go through life. We look forward to our arrival, but we also enjoy being on the journey of our pilgrimage toward the Resurrection.
Is it ok to buy yourself a gift? - Audio
December 03, 2015 22:32 - 16 minutes - 3.86 MBAbout this Sunday: The season of Advent is a season of waiting - its discipline and wisdom. The discipline and wisdom of waiting begins with the feeling of the VOID, the feeling of emptiness that we try to fill up with all sorts of short term solutions. This Sunday we will talk about what we do in the midst of the void of Jesus being physically with us (outside of the Lord's Supper), and how the wait for Him to come into our world is something that moves us to cherish and look expectantly to ...
What are you thankful for this year? - Audio
November 23, 2015 21:49 - 16 minutes - 3.85 MBAbout this Sunday: The season of Advent is a season of waiting - its discipline and wisdom. The discipline and wisdom of waiting begins with the feeling of the VOID, the feeling of emptiness that we try to fill up with all sorts of short term solutions. This Sunday we will talk about what we do in the midst of the void of Jesus being physically with us (outside of the Lord's Supper), and how the wait for Him to come into our world is something that moves us to cherish and look expectantly...
Are you confident? - Audio
November 19, 2015 22:56 - 21 minutes - 4.86 MBAbout this Sunday: Our last Sunday in the series "Gift of the Lamb" and the second to last Sunday in the church year. During it, we begin to turn our "Advent eyes" to the dawning of the day of Jesus' returning when we will see the Lamb upon the Throne and how we are to live our lives until that time.
What do you (really) need? - Audio
November 09, 2015 22:58 - 20 minutes - 4.75 MBAbout this Sunday: The readings for this Sunday lead us to consider what it is like to be prayed for and how intercession works. As we consider the intercession of the prophet, and even the intercession of the widow, our eyes are turned to our High Priest who makes intercession for us in both sacrifice and prayer.
What happens when you die? - Audio
November 02, 2015 22:02 - 18 minutes - 4.17 MBAbout this Sunday: Like our Reformation Sunday, this celebration of All Saints continues with the readings for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. Again, the readings fit the celebration of the specific day, even if they were not tailored to do so. In this Sunday we look at the covenants of God - the Old Covenant renewed at Sinai, and the New Covenant found in the person and work of Jesus. As we remember those who have passed on before us, we remember how their lives have been hidden in Christ a...
Do you follow an outlaw? - Audio
October 26, 2015 20:51 - 14 minutes - 3.41 MBAbout this Sunday: While this Sunday is Reformation Day, we are using the readings from the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost in order to keep with the theme of the Lamb. The readings, however, are very good readings for the celebration of the Reformation - especially since the Priesthood of Jesus figured heavily into the original Reformation arguments of Jesus. As we look at these readings, we see Jesus restoring (reforming) His Church from its blindness through reminding us of His priesthood and ...
How hard are you resting? - Audio
October 19, 2015 20:59 - 17 minutes - 3.97 MBAbout this Sunday: The Sabbath or "rest of God" is something that figures prominently into the theme of Hebrews. This Sunday is our opportunity to see this theme brought before our eyes. This rest is something that we are called to remember at the heart of our lives, rather than chasing after our vanities, we are reminded to find time to sit and rest and know that God is present and active in our lives.
Is it better by yourself? - Audio
October 15, 2015 20:56 - 16 minutes - 3.8 MBAbout this Sunday: This week we see sharp contrast between the believer and the unbeliever. As we look at the Hebrews reading, we consider the stern warning to not associate ourselves with those who would rebel against God. In not associating with the rebels, those who have sold out their share with God for other things, we look to those with whom we ARE called to have fellowship with and how we attempt to have that fellowship grow stronger.
Is Jesus your brother? - Audio
October 08, 2015 22:11 - 20 minutes - 4.59 MBAbout this Sunday - This opening Sunday of our series begins with our contemplation of who Jesus is for us - family. The writer of the book of Hebrews makes the case that we are something special because Jesus came to have our flesh and blood, something that the angels cannot claim. We are special not because of our works, but because of our relation to the Lamb, who is our heavenly Brother.
How do you look naked? - Audio
September 30, 2015 16:08 - 13 minutes - 3.01 MBAbout this Sunday: Our "Selfie" series comes to a close with an affirmation of who we are as God's people. When we take the picture of ourselves, we see God in the midst of that picture, working on us and making us who we are becoming.
Where are you in the picture? - Audio
September 21, 2015 20:51 - 15 minutes - 3.59 MBAbout this Sunday: Our third Sunday of the "Selfie" is one that encourages us to look around at the way that the world operates, and separate ourselves from that picture. We are encouraged to be different and to live in a way that separates who we are from the background of the pictures that we are a part of.
What did your last text say? - Audio
September 16, 2015 16:16 - 16 minutes - 3.69 MBAbout this Sunday: Our second Sunday of the "Selfie" sermon series is about seeing ourselves in the lens of possibility. All of the readings point to the realm of possibility, even including the father of the mute boy who says "I believe, help my unbelief". During this Sunday we will be talking about the gift that God gives us to be able to do things in His power and with His Word.
Who are you wearing? - Audio
September 02, 2015 20:13 - 18 minutes - 4.26 MBThere is something emboldening and celebratory about the gathering of a sports team or even a military unit that knows that it is going to win a contest. It is this sense of celebration that we are invited to take into "the lockerroom" of our faith as we don the armor of God to fight in a contest that He has already won in Jesus Christ. We are invited not to take on abstract pieces of armor, or abstract rules from Deuteronomy, but rather, these pieces of armor point to the totality of what Pa...
Are you a referee - Audio
September 02, 2015 16:54 - 15 minutes - 3.6 MBThis section of Ephesians 5 is wildly unpopular among many brides. The notion of submission in a marriage is a stumbling block that it is very hard for us to overcome, the clear reason for this is that like in Mark 7, "submission" is so often couched in the external "law" of submission that has nothing to do with this verse. Instead, this verse seeks to show a wonderful relationship between two lovers: Christ and His Bride the Church. We transition to talking about how we "Celebrate Gifts Giv...
How much do you want your life to matter? - Audio
August 21, 2015 20:39 - 14 minutes - 3.42 MBIt can be hard to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. This was no less true when Paul was writing to the Ephesians than it is today. Paul's letter here shifts the focus of how we live in community with one another (gifting one another with community) as the Church to how we live in the community of our everyday lives which are mixed with believers and non-believers. As we consider Paul's words, we consider their wisdom and how we might use them to "walk not as unwise, but as wise" i...
what is eternitys effect on you? - Audio
August 14, 2015 21:49 - 13 minutes - 3.14 MBThere are many whom we can give ourselves to as gifts, and we can give of ourselves in many different ways – but the “Gifting” of living in Church community with one another is a distinct kind of gift that we can share with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. We can share in a counter-cultural community that seeks to give grace instead of punish wrongdoing, but also provides wisdom for living together in community. In this new life, we are fed and nourished by the Body of Christ, those who ar...
What is God doing in Kenya? - Audio
August 14, 2015 21:48 - 13 minutes - 2.99 MBMissionary to Kenya, Rev. Dennis Meeker shares his sermon about what God is doing in all congregations in the world in His power. Visit Rev. Meeker’s site, 4kenyaskids
Is "church" plural? - Audio
August 14, 2015 21:47 - 14 minutes - 3.43 MBGod’s gift of Communion or the Lord’s Supper is a particularly powerful gift, as it unites us with the “breadth and length and height and depth” of the love of Christ that we may find our root in Him. This gift is a miraculous gift – every bit as miraculous as walking on water or sending a flood, and like the rainbow in the sky, is a sign of God’s covenant faithfulness with His people, encouraging us to believe His Word.
How did you get what you need? - Audio
August 14, 2015 21:45 - 13 minutes - 3.16 MBWe continue our “ReGifted” series with a consideration of our Baptisms, looking at what it means to be granted access to the Trinity in one Spirit, as well as to be united with brothers and sisters in Christ through this sacrament. We were once far off, but God has granted to us His gift of inclusion so that we might be included in His sheepfold and shepherded by Jesus Christ. The other readings have an overt “Shepherding” theme, which leads us to consider how we are being shepherded in our B...
Where is your happy place? - Audio
June 29, 2015 21:31 - 12 minutes - 2.79 MBGod's love for us never ceases, but there are times at which we might question the compassion of God when we see the suffering of people around us. Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentation as he was watching his people being carried off into exile, but he was still able to have hope in God's provision for his people. As we see Alexa and Wyatt baptized this morning, we reflect on the hope that we have for their lives, and how God will show them compassion - even in those times when they will suf...
Why? - Audio
June 23, 2015 21:47 - 15 minutes - 3.54 MBJob asks God for an answer, and when God gives Job the answer, we may wonder if Job regretted ever asking the question. At times it may feel to us that God has not really answered our questions in the way which we would like them to be answered. We want small answers, but God gives us big ones. God gives us answers that cause us to ask new questions and marvel at the new world in which we live, as the disciples must have when they saw Jesus calm the storm.
What's Inside? - Audio
June 11, 2015 20:11 - 18 minutes - 4.2 MBAs we enter into the Sundays after Pentecost, our attention within the series shifts to the Epistle lesson, specifically when St. Paul talks about the "Spirit of Faith" who gives us faith. This is especially contrasted with the Gospel reading and its threats against the "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit".
How much do you need to know before you go? - Audio
June 02, 2015 22:14 - 15 minutes - 3.44 MBWe continue our conversation about the Holy Spirit, especially in the Spirit's relationship to the Father and the Son, and how that relationship helps us to understand our relationship with the Trinity ourselves. We are born into the kingdom of God by the work of the Holy Spirit, especially through the new birth offered us in Baptism.
Who you gonna call? - Audio
May 19, 2015 20:24 - 15 minutes - 3.46 MBAbout Easter 7/Matthias – Matthias is our last disciple in “Cameo”, and we know the least about him. Nevertheless, his story is not without meaning for us. Matthias is the ultimate cameo as his story gives the ultimate in witness of Jesus Christ, that the Church is not built upon the foundation of the disciples ultimately, but upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Would you share your mother? - Audio
May 12, 2015 19:28 - 15 minutes - 3.57 MBAbout Easter 6/John – John is the disciple who is known as “the beloved” and possibly the last living disciple out of the Twelve. As we consider John from his first letter, we consider what it is to “overcome the world” as one of Jesus’ disciples.
What do you see? - Audio
April 14, 2015 20:52 - 17 minutes - 4.06 MBAbout Easter 2/Thomas - Thomas is a conflicted disciple. We first hear him ready to give his life for Jesus in the story of Lazarus, but when we catch up with him in John 20, he is unwilling to even muster the faith and belief to accept Jesus' Resurrection. As we look to Thomas' story, we find our own story of conflicted faith in the presence of a hard-to-swallow Resurrection from the dead, and we see the larger picture of the Risen Jesus.
What do you see? - Audio
April 14, 2015 20:52 - 17 minutes - 4.06 MBAbout Easter 2/Thomas - Thomas is a conflicted disciple. We first hear him ready to give his life for Jesus in the story of Lazarus, but when we catch up with him in John 20, he is unwilling to even muster the faith and belief to accept Jesus' Resurrection. As we look to Thomas' story, we find our own story of conflicted faith in the presence of a hard-to-swallow Resurrection from the dead, and we see the larger picture of the Risen Jesus.
HE’S ALIVE! ARE YOU? - Audio
April 06, 2015 20:44 - 16 minutes - 3.84 MBAbout Easter: Our celebration of Easter begins with the Psalmists’ words “Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous!” and continues with the themes of steadfast love from Good Friday, proclaiming that we shall not die but we shall 118horizweblive! As we recount the story of Jesus’ passion anew in Psalm 118, we do so with special emphasis on the celebration of our new lives.
What is beneath the surface? - Audio
March 30, 2015 20:49 - 8 minutes - 2.02 MBAbout Palm Sunday: Palm Sunday is now concurrent with the celebration of the Sunday of the Passion (these used to be two separate liturgical celebrations). As such, the story is not only of Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, but is also concerned with the entire Passion (Suffering) of Jesus. We open the series in the middle of Psalm 118 where the Psalmist proclaims "Open to me the gates of righteousness that I may enter through them," and we can imagine Jesus going through those gates...
DO YOU HAVE A KANYE SPIRITUALITY? - Audio
March 23, 2015 20:16 - 18 minutes - 4.2 MBAbout the Fifth Sunday in Lent: We approach the end of our fast with humility, and considering the humility of Jesus, who connected the status of the least with the status of the greatest in His suffering the death of a thief and traitor upon the cross. We are given the gift of seeking to be least and humiliating ourselves, and in this, finding the blessing of God as we walk in the shoes of the Son.