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
Saved at the Last Second (Truth Bombs Midweek 6 - Pastor Michael) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:49
Is grace actually fair? If we are honest, there is a part of us that bristles at the idea of a lifelong criminal receiving the same heavenly reward as a faithful, lifelong believer. In this midweek message, we explore th…
When Control Ends, Faith Begins (Truth Bombs 5 - Pastor Jared) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
Have you ever experienced a moment where you just missed out—on tickets, a sale, or even a "gold medal" moment in life? In this sermon, Pastor Jared Oldenberg explores the deep, often messy emotion of desperation and how…
Why Death’s Days are Numbered (Truth Bombs 5 - Pastor Steve) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
In the fifth week of the "Truth Bombs" sermon series, we explore the explosive power of Jesus over our two greatest enemies: sickness and death. This message examines two intertwining stories from Luke chapter 8 that dem…
3 Lessons from 3 Crosses (Truth Bombs Midweek 5 - Pastor Timothy) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
In this powerful midweek message, we explore the profound meaning of sacrifice and the life-changing promises found at Calvary. Drawing from the heart-wrenching account of a Vietnam veteran at the 1986 Chicago Welcome Ho…
When Death Meets Jesus (Truth Bombs 4 - Pastor Jared) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:25
In this message from the "Truth Bombs" series, we explore the powerful moment death meets Jesus at the gates of a town called Nain. A funeral procession for the only son of a widow was moving out of the city, representin…
Bloody Prayers (Truth Bombs Midweek 4 - Pastor Bill) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:23
While we often think of prayer as a simple daily routine, Jesus demonstrates that it is a serious, costly, and life-and-death matter. As the sources explain, the name Gethsemane means "olive press," a fitting location fo…
Have a Marvelous Faith (Truth Bombs 3 - Pastor Timothy) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:17
Is it possible to amaze the Creator of the universe?. In the third installment of the "Truth Bombs" series, we dive into Luke 7:1–10 to witness a rare moment where a human being "steals the breath away" from Jesus. While…
What Amazed Jesus? (Truth Bombs 3 - Pastor Steve) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:41
What does it take to truly amaze the Creator of the universe?. While the Gospels are filled with accounts of crowds being astonished by Jesus’ power to calm storms and heal the sick, there is a rare, remarkable moment in…
What Makes You Great? (Truth Bombs Midweek 3 - Pastor Mike) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:03
In this message, "What Makes You Great?", we dive into Luke 22, where even Jesus' inner circle of disciples fell victim to this "me-first" finger-pointing. As they argued over who among them was the greatest, Jesus provi…