‘See the kinds of people cared for by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:12-32)

So far in Luke’s gospel, it seems that Jesus’ ministry has only just begun. We are in the early days. But even then, a pattern begins to emerge in Luke 5:12-32, where people from all walks of life come across Jesus or He meets them – and in each of the three recorded examples of the way that Jesus dealt with these differing people, one thing is constant. It is the amazing mixture of power and authority with love and compassion that sets Jesus apart from all others who ever came before Him or who have followed on since!

Message

Outline

• The seventh in this series
• People from all walks of life
• Life in 1st century Palestine
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. His willingness to show compassion (v.12-16)
  2. His authority to forgive sins (v.17-26)
  3. His capacity to embrace outcasts (v.27-32)

Creating a portrait
What did Jesus look like?
Ambassadors of Jesus….

‘See the fisherman caught by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:1-11)

So much changed for Simon Peter in Luke 5:1-11. Although it seems likely that Peter had met Jesus before, he’d never had an encounter with Jesus quite like this one. The text relays how he went from being an unsuccesful, aware-of-of-his-own-sin fisherman type, to a follower of Jesus with a ctach full of fish as an extra bonus! What was it that Jesus did? What did he see in Peter? And what lessons do we learn from Peter’s quick and total response to Jesus’ call?

Message

Outline

• The sixth in this series
• Luke’s focus on individuals
• Jesus and Simon (so far…)
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. The change in Jesus’ field of vision (v.1-4)
  2. The change in Simon’s level of trust (v.5-10a)
  3. The change in Simon’s avenue of service (v.10b-11)

What the coach saw…
What Jesus had been aiming at!
Simon Peter’s response and yours…

‘See the public and private life of the Saviour’ (Luke 4:31-44)

In Luke 4:31-44, Luke records how Jesus’ ministry really took off. While in Capernaum after being rejected by the people of Nazareth, Jesus showed his complete and convincing authority over demons and disease. He did this in public, before the eyes of the watching people who were rightly amazed. But Luke also tells us of matters behind the scenes. How Jesus set aside time for prayer, and how that prayer influenced his actions. In Jesus we see a perfect blend of power and compassion – not always seen in others. As God’s people our task is aleays to point to Him as the Saviour of men.

Message

Outline

• The picture Luke is painting
• Jesus about to change gears
• Nazareth and Capernaum
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. The public display of His power (v.31-41)
  2. The private unveiling of His compassion (v.42-44)

Oil and water
The unique balance seen in Jesus
Our task! 1 Peter 2:9-10

‘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 ….

  1. The people He was among (v.14-16a)
  2. The sermon He preached (v.16b-27)
  3. 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 ….

  1. Three questions to ask (v.1-2)
  2. Three facts to note (v.3-12)
  3. 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 ….

  1. The prophet (v.1-20)
  2. The Father (v.21-22)
  3. 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….

  1. The mission he prized (v.1-6)
  2. The message he preached (v.7-14)
  3. The Master he praised (v.15-20)

The courage of John
Seen less because we’re closer to heaven!
Who are you pointing to?

‘The best way to celebrate and respond?’ (Luke 2:17-20)

There’s no doubt that the shepherds feature prominently in Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus, especially so in Luke 2:8-20. The fact that the angels appeared to them and not Mary and Joseph must have had a purpose in God’s plan, and Luke likes to emphasize how utterly afraid they were because of their sudden appearance. But the shepherds soon became changed men as they realized that they had been chosen by the Lord to bear witness to the Messiah’s coming – which is just what they did.

Message

Outline

• The third in this series!
• Some big contrasts to note…
• When and how we get Christmas so wrong
• Consider the responses to the news and see them…

  1. Proclaiming it with zeal (v.17)
  2. Receiving it with awe (v.18-19)
  3. Believing it with joy (v.20)

Luke’s special focus…
How will you respond to the news?

‘Peace on earth?’ (Luke 2:14-16)

One of the most common misconceptions about the birth of Jesus, especially the words of the angels in Luke 2:14-16, is that ‘peace on earth’ would be automatic. Just looking around at the world in any era of history will tell you that this didn’t happen and never will. What was the message of ‘peace’ that the angels declared, and how is that peace to be found?

Message

Outline

• The second in this series!
• Major confusion on this one…
• Angels, shepherds and …. peace??
• Consider the words of the angels about peace and see…

  1. The proper giver of it (v.14)
  2. The vital conditions of it (v.14)
  3. The direct path to it (v.15-16)

War and peace…
What did the angels know? And what do we?

‘The Virgin Birth?’ (Luke 1:26-38)

There are all kinds of things to be confused about at Christmas, but we ought not be confused about is what to believe. The virgin birth of Jesus is at the heart of the Christmas message and the gospel. But how could it have happened? And of what the critics say about it? How can we understand and defend the truth of it in this modern world? Hopefully, this message will give both some assurances and answers.

Message

Outline

• The first in this series!
• All kinds of confusion
• Lots of questions, and that one question!
• Consider the critics who question the Virgin Birth and …

  1. The reality of it (v.34)
  2. The possibility of it (v.35)
  3. The necessity of it (v.35)

The uniqueness of Jesus…
The truth of the Scriptures…