March 16, 2017
Two “beholds.” The “behold” of old Simeon pointed to the “behold” of Jesus on the cross.
When Joseph and Mary took eight-day old Jesus up from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to be circumcised, they were met in the temple by a man who was diligently waiting for the Christ. It had been revealed to him by the Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. As soon as he saw the Child, he took him into his arms and blessed him. Then, he turned to Mary and said, “Behold… a sword will pierce through you own soul.” Now, that’s a strange thing to say to the mother at a bris! “He’s a beautiful baby, but he will cause you to feel like a sword pierced your heart!”
Surely, the “behold” of Simeon must have flashed across her memory as she stood at the cross and heard her crucified Son say to her, “Woman, behold your son.” Jesus said this to Mary as he turned her care over to his disciple John. And to John he said, “Behold your mother.”
The Spirit had revealed this day to old Simeon and now Mary saw it with her own eyes, “Behold, the Christ who dies on a cross for the sins of humanity.”
March 5, 2017
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Luke 23:32-43
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crucifixion, gospel, salvation
Last words – we will all someday speak them. The seven last words of Jesus on the cross were recorded in the four gospels. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus responded with a promise of salvation to the criminal hanging on the cross next to Him, who had called on Jesus to remember him. In Christ’s response to the criminal on the cross, He revealed the promised salvation He has for us. How can we respond to Christ’s promised word of salvation?
February 26, 2017
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Luke 23:34
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crucifixion, jesus
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
In the gospel of Luke, we have the record of Christ’s first word on the cross and it was a word of forgiveness. It was a prayer to His Father, that He would forgive those who were crucifying Him. In this prayer, Jesus revealed the boundless forgiveness He has for us.
January 29, 2017
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Luke 5:1-11
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finances, financial freedom, vocation
Do you want to be free from financial worry and stress? Why do we want to be financially free? Will it lessen our anxiety? Yes. Will it reduce our stress? Yes. But life has a way of causing us to have worry and stress anyway. Following biblical principles for financial freedom will help, but it won’t solve all of your problems. Nor is it a method of becoming wealthy for the sake of your own comfort and pleasure. God doesn’t want us to be a slave to the lender. He wants us to be free to serve the Lord. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus called Peter to follow Him, turning all that he was and all that he had over Christ. Peter obeyed and followed Christ. We can turn all that we are and all that we have over to Christ and be set free to fully follow Him.
January 15, 2017
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Luke 15:11-24
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debt, finances
Jesus told a parable that illustrates how our spiritual condition and our finances are linked. We know this story as the parable of the Prodigal Son. This parable is often taught to warn us against rebellious living or illustrate the love of the Heavenly Father and both of those applications are correct and useful. But in this sermon, we look at this story from a different angle and see that it gives us both a warning and a proper perspective on how to handle money. Here’s a man who learned lessons on financial freedom the hard way.
December 24, 2016
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Luke 2:1-20
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children, christmas
“This shall be a sign to you”…
Why was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes a sign of Christmas?
May 22, 2016
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Luke 1:26-38
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character study, faith
In the book of Luke, God spoke through the angel Gabriel to Mary to announce that she would give birth to a son who would be the Messiah, the Son of God. Mary willingly received and believed God’s Word. She became a willing vessel of God’s Word. We can have a faith like Mary’s that willing receives and believes God’s Word.
May 15, 2016
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Luke 5:1-11
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character study, faith
In the book of Luke, Jesus called Peter to make a bold step of faith to leave everything and follow Him. Peter decided to boldly follow Jesus. We can have the same kind of faith as Peter. Jesus is calling each of us to follow Him.
April 28, 2016
After the Sabbath, several women went early in the morning to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. On the way, they worried about who might move the large stone, so they could gain entrance (Mark 16:3). Yet, when they arrived at the tomb they were surprised to find that the stone was already rolled away. Matthew’s gospel reported that an angel had moved the stone (Matt.28:2). But why? Did the Lord need help getting out? Certainly not. He that could overcome death and the grave needed no help moving a stone. Besides, as John’s gospel reported, the resurrected Jesus had no need of doors anymore (John 20:19). No, the stone wasn’t moved for Jesus. It was moved for the women. It was moved, so that they might bear witness to the empty tomb. God moved the stone that they might believe that Jesus was risen just as He said.
April 26, 2016
When the Jewish council questioned Jesus concerning whether he was the Christ, they did so not to determine the truth of his identity, but to gain a confession that would justify their desire to kill him. Yet, Jesus responded by describing their real motivation. Their agnostic questions weren’t motivated by a desire to discover the truth, but were from a heart that had already rejected Christ. He knew that they “would not” believe any of his claims, nor honestly answer any of his questions. Their unbelief was an act of the will, not the result of intellectual inquiry. He told them, “You will not believe.” How have you responded to Christ’s claims? How have you answered the question concerning Him? As Jesus asked Martha, so He asks us, “Do you believe?”