While Jesus was still sitting at the dinner table of one of the Pharisees, he further extended the converation by responding to the comment of one of the guests who spoke of the joy that waits those who will feast in the coming Kingdom of God. To this, we find in Luke 14:15-24, that Jesus responded with a wonderful parable that is applicable on so many levels. Why do the invited not want to come? Who are the ones who aren’t invited byut do come? Who are the ones who were invited that Jesus said will miss out? The door is open. Don’t miss the invitation.

Message

Outline

• The forty-fifth in this series
• The places we’ve been with Jesus
• From dinner to a banquet
• See the parable Jesus told that spoke of the master’s …

1. Unrestricted invitation (v.15-16)
2. Understandable anger (v.17-22)
3. Unmatched generosity (v.23-24)

The most expensive banquet ever
A birthday cake for Agnes
The open invitation!

In Luke 14:1-14, Jesus sits down at the dinner table at the invitation of a Pharisee. Luke has already made clear that when Jesus sits at a dinner table, many things happen. On this occasion, a Sabbath day, after he healed a man from his illness, he had some choice words to say to his hosts, the guests and then all who hear him. His words centre around the theme of extending hospitality (and therefore love, welcome and grace) to those who are on the outer when it comes to the social scale – the unloved and unlovely. It’s a great challenge to think and do and be like Jesus in this way.

Message

Outline

• The forty-fourth in this series
• Jesus ‘doing’ and ‘teaching’
• At the dinner table
• See how Luke tells us that Jesus had …

1. A reply for his critics (v.1-6)
2. A direction for the guests (v.7-11)
3. A challenge for his host (v.12-14)

Rosaria Butterfield
Radically ordinary hospitality
Thinking and doing like Jesus

The Lortd Jesus was often in direct confrontation with the religious leaders of his day, and the event recorded in Luke 13;10-21 is a prime example of that. When Jesus healed the crippled woman on the Sabbath in the synagogue, things quickly got heated. The legalistic ruler of the synagogue got angry that jesus had healed on the Sabbath, which only caused Jesus to grow angry at the ‘fruitlessness’ of those in charge, and the extent to which their legalism caused such spiritual blindness.

Message

Outline

• The forty-second in this series
• Connecting to last week’s text
• The ‘fruitlessness’ of the religious leaders
• See how Luke tells us about …

1. A significant healing (v.10-13)
2. A legalistic response (v.14)
3. A compelling challenge (v.15-21)

Fake news
Three things to see
The fruit of repentance

After dealing with the varied responses that came Jesus’ way in Luke chapter 12, we find that in Luke 13;1-9, Jesus was confronted with the reality of the question of tragedy and what His response to it would be. Rather than seeking to give a classic excplanation of the cause of human tragedy, or even tackle the question why some face an unexpected, swift end to their life, Jesus turned the question around to make clear the urgency of repentance. Tragedy calls upon us to remind us that life is short and eternity follows!

Message

Outline

• The forty-first in this series
• That note of urgency
• An imaginary press conference
• See how Luke tells us that Jesus …

1. Asked a question to put life into perspective (v.1-5)
2. Told a parable to underline the need for repentance (v.6-9)

Death all around us
Tragedy while God’s word was preached!
D L Moody’s words…!

Still speaking to the crowds about the dangers of living lives where money is the only object, Jesus warned his listeners about the dangers of being unprepared for His coming and the dangers of overlooking the signs of the times. In Luke 12:49-59, He points out that his first coming was not necessarily for the purposes of bringing peace to the earth, but division, and then also that people should be much more aware of the nearness of His second coming and act urgently to prepare for it. That note of urgency in his words makes listening to and doing what He says, all the more important!

Message

Outline

• The fortieth in this series
• The variety of situations in chapter 12
• Coming closer to the cross
• See how Jesus spoke so we would have …

1. No misunderstanding about his purposes (v.49-53)
2. No mistaking the need for readiness (v.54-59)

People who use a lot of words
The art of ‘doublespeak’
The clear and urgent words of the Saviour!

When asked to intervene in a family dispute over an inheritance, Jesus, rightly and carefully explained that ‘a man’s life does not consist of the things he owns’. A far cry from ‘he who dies with the most toys wins’!! To make his point, in Luke 12:13-34, we find that Jesus not only told the parable of the rich farmer, but that he also had other things to say about wealth and greed and the love of money which are all so relevant to our wealth-hungry world! And yet at the time, Jesus spoke to people who were much poorer than we will ever be. How much more should we take heed of his warnings!

Message

Outline

• The thirty-eighth in this series
• Jesus responding to questions
• A parable and well-known words
• See how Jesus taught that his disciples should…

1. Beware of pursuing earthly things (v.12-21)
2. Resist worrying about earthly things (v.22-30)
3. Earnestly seek for heavenly things (v.31-34)

What would you do for $10million?
Keeping wealth in perspective
The parable of the three friends…