Author: Philip
‘See the hometown rejection faced by the Saviour’ (Luke 4:14-30)
Going home is typically an experience you don’t live to regret. There are exceptions of course. In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus went home to Nazareth and worshipped in the synagogue, only to be run out of town and have his life threatened by angry townsfolk. So what happened? Why did what should have been a welcome home event become something so nasty? The answer lies in what Jesus preached as he brought Isaiah 61:1-2 to their attention, and then, based on what he did and didn’t say, the explosive situation unfolded.
Message
Outline
• The contrast between settings
• Still a conflict with the evil one
• In his hometown…
• See that Luke wants us to note ….
- The people He was among (v.14-16a)
- The sermon He preached (v.16b-27)
- The reaction it caused (v.28-30)
The Saviour has arrived!
The danger of unbelief
John 1:11-12
‘See the temptations that challenged the Saviour’(Luke 4:1-13)
When Luke records how Jesus faced temptation in the desert in Luke 4:1-13, it’s clear that he wants us to compare Jesus with Adam. Given that Luke had just traced the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam, it is logical that Luke wanted his readers to understand that Jesus hadf to be tempted just as Adam was in Genesis 3:1-13. But this time, armed with Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy, Jesus did not fall into temptation and disobedience like Adam did, proving Himself to be the Son of Adam and the Son of God!
Message
Outline
• What we’ve covered
• Who we’ve heard from
• In the desert…
• See that this incident leads us to ….
- Three questions to ask (v.1-2)
- Three facts to note (v.3-12)
- Three encouragements to glean (v.13)
The true story of Bobby Leach
Know the Scriptures!
We now face a defeated foe!
‘See the witnesses to the identity of the Saviour’ (Luke 3:21-38)
Luke, the gospel writer, made it clear in Luke 1:1-4, that his intention was to write an ‘orderly account’ of the things that Jesus did and said. In doing that, Luke also made clear who Jesus claimed to be and was. There are various witnesses to the identity of Jesus scattered through chapters 1 and 2, (Mary, the angels, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna) but these are not alone. In Luke 3:21-38, we find the witness of John the Baptist, the Father from heaven and the testimony of Jesus’ own genealogy – all adding to Luke’s understanding that Jesus is the Son of God.
Message
Oops! Due to human error (mine!) there is no recording of this message, but you can access the manuscript here. Apologies!
Outline
• Where we began our journey
• The downside of missing chapter 1 and 2
• Luke appeals to a number of witnesses
• See the testimonies of ….
- The prophet (v.1-20)
- The Father (v.21-22)
- The fathers (v.23-38)
Time magazine and Jesus
Which voice will you heed?
‘See the prophet who came before the Saviour’ (Luke 3:1-20)
Of the 4 gospels about the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, Luke has his own themes unique to his writing style and presentation of Jesus. And while his gospel does not begin at chapter 3, at the very least Luke 3:1-20 marks a signficant moment in Jesus’ ministry, when John appeared preaching repentance and baptising the people in preapration for the immediate appearing of the One he served. John’s ministry was to be a signpost to Jesus, even though for him, it meant that he would become less!
Message
Outline
• Why Luke’s gospel?
• The story begins at ch.1 not ch.3
• John’s lone voice in a noisy world
• What stands out about John? See….
- The mission he prized (v.1-6)
- The message he preached (v.7-14)
- The Master he praised (v.15-20)
The courage of John
Seen less because we’re closer to heaven!
Who are you pointing to?
‘Responding to the wonder of grace: love through welcoming each other’ (Romans 15:1-13)
Romans 15:1-13 is the end part of a very long dissertation from the pen of the Apostle Paul. It brings to an end the section of Romans 12:1-15:13 that we have been following, but also concludes his series of applications in relation to love as the response believers should have to the overwhelming grace of God. Not only are we to love all people and one another, but all this culminates in accepting each other, welcoming each other (v.7) for this glorifies God. And the church, a multi-cultural people, must be able to get over this hurdle of ‘difference’ and so effectively show the love of Christ to the world.
Message
Outline
• The twelfth in this series
• Romans 1-14 in a nutshell…
• Chapter 14: the strong and the weak
• See how Paul tells us that welcoming each other…
- Is a principle that Jesus followed (v.1-4)
- Is a principle that glorifies God (v.5-7)
- Is a principle the church is built on (v.8-13)
‘A separated family living together’
Come with an agenda!
Be the church!