Love God Most (God.LGBTQ.You. 1 - Pastor Mike)

Love God Most (God.LGBTQ.You. 1 - Pastor Mike)

Author: 922 Ministries April 13, 2026 Duration: 39:07

This series aims to move beyond social media snippets and explore Christianity and sexuality with biblical depth, empathy, and "dripping compassion".
The Question Before the Questions Before diving into the complex "what abouts" regarding pronouns, policies, or specific Bible passages, this sermon poses one fundamental question: "Do you love God the most?". Drawing from Matthew 22, Pastor Mike highlights Jesus’ teaching that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This means placing God’s Word above personal desires, cultural trends, and even church traditions.
The sermon outlines two primary reasons why we must prioritize God’s perspective in the conversation on sexuality:
1. God always speaks the truth: Unlike human experiences or cultural shifts that can be mistaken, God's Word is always right, true, and faithful.
2. God always acts in love: God is the definition of love, demonstrated most clearly through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, who took on the "muck and mire" of our sin so we could be washed pure.
Pastor Mike shares the stories of individuals like Beckett Cook, St. Augustine, and Rachel (a lesbian student at Yale), all of whom discovered that finding God was "bigger and better" than their sexual passions. Their lives testify that when we are persuaded by God's character of truth and moved by His gospel of love, we are finally ready to navigate the nitty-gritty questions of identity and orientation.

What to Expect in This Series: This sermon is a commitment to a holistic, five-week journey. In the coming weeks, the church will tackle:
* Imitating the God of love in our hospitality and mercy.
* Imitating the God of truth regarding specific passages in Genesis, Leviticus, and the New Testament.
* Practical questions regarding same-sex attraction, gender identity, and how the church should respond to the LGBTQ community today.
Join us as we commit to being here for the "whole thing," starting not with ourselves, but with God.


Each week, the communities of St. Peter Lutheran and The CORE in Appleton, Wisconsin, gather to explore faith, life, and scripture. This audio feed brings those weekly sermons directly to you, offering a consistent source of reflection and teaching grounded in Lutheran Christian tradition. You'll hear messages that connect ancient biblical wisdom to the realities of modern living, tackling topics from everyday relationships and personal struggles to the broader call to community and service. The voices from 922 Ministries-The CORE & St. Peter Lutheran aim to provide more than just information; they seek to foster a deeper understanding and a practical, resilient faith. Whether you're a long-time member, a spiritual seeker, or someone simply curious about a thoughtful perspective on Christianity, this podcast serves as an accessible way to engage with these teachings on your own schedule. It’s like having a regular, grounded conversation about what it means to live with purpose and hope, drawn directly from the heart of a Wisconsin ministry. Tune in for a straightforward, substantive addition to your weekly routine.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

922 Ministries - The CORE & St. Peter Lutheran
Podcast Episodes
Love All (God.LGBTQ.You. 2 - Pastor Mike) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:24
In a culture where the temperature on faith and sexuality is often "turned up to 1000 degrees," Pastor Mike continues the five-week series, "God, LGBTQ, and You," by focusing on the second greatest commandment: Love your…
Breaking Generational Dysfunction (Bad Parents 2 - Pastor Bill) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
Have you ever noticed that certain traits—both good and bad—seem to run in your family?. In week two of our "Bad Parents of the Bible" series, Pastor Monday explores the messy history of the patriarch Jacob and the gener…
The Trap of Control (Bad Parents 1 - Pastor Jared) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:22
Are you parenting out of trust or control?,. In the kickoff of our new sermon series, "Bad Parents of the Bible," we take an honest look at the messy family dynamics of Isaac and Rebekah,,.Parenting is often an exhaustin…
Don’t Forget Easter (Truth Bombs Easter - Pastor Mike) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
Why do millions of people—from the devoutly committed to the deeply skeptical—show up for Easter Sunday? In this message, we explore how Easter is much like Super Bowl Sunday: a massive cultural moment where people gathe…
Easter is for Everyone (Truth Bombs Easter - Pastor Jared) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:55
Explore why the resurrection of Jesus is not just a philosophy or a collection of religious beliefs, but a life-altering historic event that changes everything for everyone. Whether you are stepping into a church for the…
What Jesus Refused to do (Truth Bombs Good Friday - Pastor Michael) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:01
In this Good Friday message, we journey through the final 20 hours of Jesus’ life—from the agony of Gethsemane to the finality of the tomb. While we often focus on what Jesus did, this sermon explores the profound signif…
Seven Burdens (Truth Bombs Good Friday - Pastor Bill) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:18
In this unique Good Friday service, we gather to contemplate the "Seven Words" spoken by Jesus from the cross. Each word serves a divine purpose: to lift the specific burdens that weigh down our souls—burdens of guilt, d…
A Timeless Supper (Truth Bombs Maundy Thursday - Pastor Steve) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:17
What would you choose to eat to commemorate the greatest thing that has ever happened in human history?. While our holiday traditions often involve specific foods like Easter ham or St. Patrick’s Day corned beef to tell…
Faith That Won’t Quit (Truth Bombs 6 Palm Sunday - Pastor Mike) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Does your faith depend on your circumstances, or is it built to last?In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the stark contrast between the joyful "Hosannas" of Sunday and the "Crucify him!" of Friday. Why did the same c…
Peace Has a Name (Truth Bombs 6 Palm Sunday - Pastor Jared) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:13
Are you waiting to get "around the corner" to finally find peace?In this Palm Sunday message, we explore the historical journey of the Jewish people—from the promises made to Abraham and the leadership of Moses to the go…