Philip Burns

Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.

‘See the interaction between the prophet and the Saviour’ (Luke 7:18-35)

AudioPhilip

Luke’s record of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry is one that included the preaching activity of John (the Baptist) – an activity that soon landed him in trouble with Herod and soon after in jail. When John heard of the miraculous signs performed by Jesus, we read in Luke 7:18-35, that he sent a message to Jesus, doing so, no doubt, because he was perplexed. If Jesus was the Messiah he had proclaimed, why was he now in jail with no prospect of release? Wasn’t the Messiah meant to fix all that??

Message

Outline

• The fifteenth in this series
• Consecutive miracles of Jesus
• Back to John
• See how this interaction tells us of …

  1. The reality of John’s perplexity (v.18-21)
  2. The cause of John’s perplexity (v.22-23)
  3. The answers to John’s perplexity (v.24-35)

Perplexed at the world?
The trials of faith
Living between the now’ and the ‘not yet’

‘See the interaction between the coffin and the Saviour’ (Luke 7:11-17)

AudioPhilip

Collisions happen. People get hurt or die. But what happens when llife collides with death? Or, to put it more exactly, when the Lord of life collides with someone who is dead? In Luke 7:11-17, the situation at Nain is sad, but the ministry of Jesus gives hope – real hope in the face of death!

Message

Outline

• The fourteenth in this series
• From Capernaum to Nain
• Collisions…
• See how this interaction tells us that …

  1. Death and sorrow were heading out of town (v.11-12)
  2. Life and hope were coming into town (v.13-15)
  3. Joy and amazement went all over town (v.16-17)

Jesus and funerals…
An invitation to have confidence!
An invitation to trust Him!

‘See the interaction between the centurion and the Saviour’ (Luke 7:1-10)

AudioPhilip

After Jesus had completed his long teaching intensive, Luke records that he returned to Capernaum where His ministry had previously been well received. There, according to Luke 7:1-10, He was approached by the Jews on behalf of a Roman centurion – a man who had power at his fingertips, but no power to deal with disase and impending death. But this man saw that Jesus did have authority and submitted himself to One greater than he, implicitly trusting that whatever Jesus commanded would come to pass! Great faith indeed!

Message

Outline

• The thirteenth in this series
• Back in Capernaum
• The Roman centurion
• See how this interaction tells us of the ..

  1. Reason why Jesus could have chosen not to help the man (v.1-3)
  2. Reason why the Jews said that Jesus should help the man (v.4-6a)
  3. Reasons why the response of this man is a great help (v.6b-10)

How the story ends…
The God who is too big to fail!
What Naaman discovered…

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (4)’ (Luke 6:43-49)

AudioPhilip

In Luke 6:43-49, Jesus is finishing his teaching intensive on how His disciples ought to live. The text is very much connected to the previous versess in which Jesus spoko of making careful and merciful judgements – especially about people – and this certainly applies in the way we are to look at others and view the reality of their profession. Words are part of it, but fruit will be the greater evidence, as will the need to be hearers and doers of His word.

Message

Outline

• The twelfth in this series
• The end of His teaching intensive
• Don’t be foolish!
• See how Jesus taught that we ought remember that …

  1. Your fruit gives you away (v.43-45)
  2. Your foundation may give way! (v.46-49)

Dr Smith and Dr Smith
The bottom line
Hear and do!

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (3)’ (Luke 6:27-42)

AudioPhilip

Jesus was never one to mince words. Instead, He spoke forthrightly and to the heart, and perhaps never more so than in Luke 6:27-42, where Jesus warned His disciples against judging others in a way that would mean that they open themselves up for judgement. He also warned them against being ‘speck inspectors’ who have ‘logs in their own eyes’. It’s tough stuff. But every word of His is the truth!

Message

Outline

• The eleventh in this series
• What we’ve covered
• Are we not to judge – ever?
• See how Jesus taught that we ought …

  1. Not be hypercritical of others (v.37-40)
  2. Not be hypocritical towards others (v.41-42)

Some warning signs to consider…
Some action steps to take!

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (2)’ (Luke 6:27-36)

AudioPhilip

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus is still teaching His disciples about their responsibility to be His people in a world that hates them. After instructing them on what constitutes ‘blessings’ and ‘woes’ for his followers, He now makes it clear that His disciples will be known by a special kind of love – one that even includes love for their enemies. What this looks like in practise and why this is necessary is also made plain!

Message

Outline

• The tenth in this series
• Something overlooked!
• The character of this ‘new Israel’…
• See how Jesus taught a kind of love and…

  1. What this love looks like (v.27-31)
  2. Why this love is necessary (v.32-36)

Corrie Ten Boom…
What our Father God is like!

‘Joshua’s defining moment – for himself and his family’ (Joshua 24:1-28)

AudioPhilip

When Joshua addressed the people of Israel at Shechem in Joshua 24:1-28, there was a large backstory to his words in Joshua 28:14-15. This was an important moment, a defining moment for Joshua and for the people of Israel. Would they serve the Lord or would they serve other gods, ones that laid less demands upon them? And what about us? Who will we serve?

Message

Outline

• A great text (v.14-15)
• Is Joshua boasting here?
• The story leading up to this last chapter…
• See how Joshua told the people of …

  1. The story that God’s grace creates (v.1-13)
  2. The claims that God’s grace implies (v.14-28)
  3. The response that God’s grace demands (v.14-15)

Serve Him!

‘The day the gospel made its way into Philippi’ (Acts 16:11-40)

AudioPhilip

We’re interuppting our studies in Luke’s Gospel this morning, to take into account another part of Luke’s writings, his second book, known to us as the ‘Acts of the Apostles’ or just ‘Acts’. In the text of Acts 16:11-40, Luke shows us the difference the gospel made as it spread into the Roman city of Philippi. There, three unlikely people became the first believers on European soil, all in different walks of life, and yet all united by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Message

Outline

• From Luke’s gospel to Luke’s other book
• Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria…the end of the earth!
• What is the gospel?
• See how at Philippi, the gospel spread….

  1. Down by the river (v.11-15)
  2. Down in the marketplace (v.16-18)
  3. Down in the prison (v. 19-40)

Where the gospel goes…
See the gospel’s sign!
What does believing the gospel bring?

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour’ (Luke 6:12-26)

AudioPhilip

When teaching what God wanted us to know, Jesus was never one to beat around the bush. He put it out there. Spoke the trusth as he saw it. In Luke 6:12-26, particularly 6:20-26, Jesus taught His disciples in what is known as the ‘Sermon on the Plain’ (which corresponds well with Matthew’s ‘Sermon on the Mount’ but a lot shorter). These verses teach us that Jesus and the world clearly value different things, almost the opposite of each other in many respects, and so, His disciples are called to have a whole new set of ‘upside-down’ priorities and values.

Message

Outline

• The ninth in this series
• This growing portrait of Jesus
• Luke – on the plain, Matthew – on the mount…
• See how Luke wants us to note…

  1. The plain-spoken contrasts He made (v.20-26)
  2. The point-blank challenges He gave (v.20-26)

‘Imagine’
The upside-down kingdom
Your greatest treasure?

‘See the food (and other) laws broken by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:33-6:11)

AudioPhilip

When Jesus and his disciples were challenged by the Pharisees over their obvious love of food (compared to them who loved to show off their fasting) and their ‘working’ on the Sabbath day (despite the strict rules the Pharisees taught and enforced), and then leaing on the Sabbath day (despite it being a work of mercy), all recorded for us in Luke 5:33-6:11, it seems that the Pharisees escaltated their hatred for Jesus and opposition to his message to new levels. But Jesus wasn’t troubled by these accustaions. Nor was he guilty of any sin! How was that so? Listen on…

Message

Outline

• The eighth in this series
• Luke’s portrait of Jesus
• Food!
• See that Luke wants us to note that Jesus was….

  1. Accused of eating when he shouldn’t! (5:33-39)
  2. Accused of eating what he shouldn’t! (6:1-5)
  3. Accused of healing when he shouldn’t! (6:6-11)

Lawbreakers!
Mercy for the guilty!
What would Jesus do….?