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‘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 logic of God’s love’ (Jonah 4:5-11)

AudioPhilip

In this last instalment on the book of Jonah, referrring specifically to Jonah 4:5-11, Rev Peter Phillips brings home the message of God’s love for people we wouldn’t expect that He would love – contrasted wth the ungrateful and unloving attitude of the prophet Jonah – who should have known and done better!

Message

Outline

• A blessing to preach this book, but deeply disturbing
• If Jonah could be so far out of step with the Lord…
• See in this text…

  1. Jonah – pity for a plant
  2. The Lord – pity for a people

Did Jonah go home happy…?
Why this book is relevant to us
God’s love and ours

‘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….?

‘Leaving your problems with God’ (2 Chronicles 20:6-12)

AudioPhilip

How do you handle your problems? There’s an incident in the life of King Jehoshaphat of Judah recorded for us in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 which relates to the biggest of all problems that the King faced. In this message on that text, Rev Dr Jared Hood, Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College, explains how the three principles at work in this incident will help us ’email’ all our problems straight to God and leave them there!

Message

Outline

How to leave your problems with God…
See that…

  1. He can sort your problems….by understanding theology (v. 6)
  2. He wants to sort your problems….by understanding history (v. 7–11)
  3. He alone can sort your problems….by understanding yourself (v. 12)

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

AudioPhilip

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)

AudioPhilip

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)

AudioPhilip

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)

AudioPhilip

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