St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Omaha, NE

09/06/2026

Navigating life with other humans is not always easy. We who call ourselves the church likely know this all too well. As the church, we are called to wrestle with difficult questions about faith and life, but at times, even with the best intentions, we leave one another feeling hurt, overlooked, or misunderstood.
Jesus knew a thing or two about life in community. He knew what it was like to be betrayed by the ones he loved. Yes, despite all of this, he knew that faith is best practiced in community.
His admonition was to practice truth telling, courage and accountability. This along with compassion and love for and with one another. By God’s grace, we are invited to build a community that more truly reflects God’s love poured out for the whole world.

Navigating life with other humans is not always easy. We who call o...

08/31/2026

Jesus issues a difficult invitation to his disciples: “Take up your cross and follow me.” While the disciples may have hoped for a Messiah who would set the world right through satisfying displays of force and strength, Jesus offers them a different vision. His new kingdom or reign will not be built on traditional concepts of power and glory. It is instead a kingdom centered on the cross.
The cross reminds us that following Jesus requires nothing less than our whole lives. To follow Jesus is to love our neighbors with a self-sacrificing love, to sit in the discomfort of another’s struggle, and to be willing to lay down our power and privilege to see the world from our neighbor’s point of view.
Putting love of God and neighbor above power, prestige, and comfort is countercultural. It might even get us into trouble. But God’s love always gets the last word.

08/23/2026

https://youtu.be/aFkbk1faPnA

Jesus came to earth as God incarnate, meaning “in or having bodily ...

08/21/2026

Presiding Bishop Curry

A Call to be Trusted Messengers in this Election Season provides information and news from the ELCA.

08/16/2026

Jesus did not stay within the boundaries of his time, much to the frustration of authorities. He broke through not just geographic boundaries but religious, ethnic, and social boundaries as well.
In this reading, Jesus intentionally breaks geographic and ethnic boundaries in visiting the Canaanite communities of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman attempts to get a response from Jesus. Jesus’ response is harsh, but she persists.
In this encounter, Jesus demonstrates that God’s love cannot be held back by boundaries created by humans based on who we are, where we are from, what we have done, our background, our position in society, and more. God’s grace and restoration are available to all, with no exceptions.

08/09/2026

Fear and confusion are often a part of our lives. Today, we hear Jesus say, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
As Peter began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Maybe there are times when it’s relatively easy to trust in God - until we face something unexpected, frightening, or out of control. Then doubts immediately overwhelm us.
The good news is that Jesus hears our cries and saves us. He is with us in our weakest moments, holding us even as our spirits sink. Take heart - Jesus is always with you, bringing peace amid the storms, faith amid your doubts, and new life out of death.

08/02/2026

This is the true message of Matthew’s reading today: God gives us what we need, we share what we have with others, and in the end, we are given more that we could ever imagine. This is loving the neighbor. This is being God’s grace in the world. At no time is sending people away God’s answer. Jesus taught his disciples this important lesson, and we are invited to learn and struggle with it today. There is enough for all.

This is the true message of Matthew’s reading today: God gives us w...

07/26/2026

Today, Pastor Bob Oleson reflects on the Gospel parables. For us today, understanding God’s grace takes study, prayers for wisdom and walking the path while looking for the small things that matter. Treasures that matter.

Today, Pastor Bob Oleson reflects on the Gospel parables. For us to...

07/19/2026

Last week Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a sower scattering seed with reckless abundance. This week He shifts the image from the generosity of the sower to the patience of the landowner. The good seed has taken root, but it is not alone. An enemy has sown weeds among the wheat, and now both grow together until the harvest.
This parable will not answer every question we might ask about the origin of evil nor is it trying to explain why there are good and bad things in the world. Instead, it asks: How are the people of God to live in a world where good and evil remain tangled together?

Last week Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a sower scatterin...

07/13/2026

In this parable, Jesus tells the disciples a story of a farmer. While many people carefully plan where to plan seeds, the farmer in Jesus’ story scatters seed generously, almost carelessly.
As the disciples, familiar with farming and fishing, would have known deep within themselves, things don’t come easy in this life. Faith is the same.
This haphazardly generous farmer extends faith in the impossible places. And when rocks, sun or thorns from this world and within choke this faith that God has given us, the impossible becomes possible. God comes again and again.
Because of this never-ending abundance, every season is an opportunity to engage with God the generous farmer, whose nearness is always available and who gives the gift of faith, no matter the conditions.