November 10, 2019

Luke 20:19-26 - God and the Government

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people[fn]—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:
22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?[fn]
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
Related verses:
Mark 12:
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.
Romans 13:
1  Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4  For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5  Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7  Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Acts 4:
19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."

 

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

  1. What did Jesus do after the authority of Jesus was questioned by the Jewish religious leaders? What was the emphasis?
  2. What kept the religious leaders from laying hands on Jesus at that time? What were the possible feelings of the crowds towards Jesus?
  3. What were the differences between the Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish government leaders (Herodians)?
  4. Why did they form an alliance? What was their plan? What was their objective?
  5. Why do we need to pray for discernment, especially during the upcoming political season?
  6. What should we do when the ultimate authority of God clashes with the less than ultimate but still powerful authority of the government?
  7. How did these Pharisee and Herodian spies design the question so that no matter how Jesus answers someone will get offended and kill Him?
  8. Why was the method Jesus used to answer the question so impressive?
  9. What was significant about the coin itself and the tax law connected with it?
10. What does Christ’s answer teach us about when the authority of God and the authority of the government clash?
11. Why did God give us governments in the first place?
12. What two things does God say we owe our government? Why?
13. Does this mean we must honor the government no matter what?
14. What are some examples the Bible gives us to think through as we consider these difficult decisions? What do we need to remember when we make our choices?

Conclusion:
In the end Christ’s teaching about rendering or giving “to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” is a masterful response when it comes to dealing with clashes between God and the government because while this statement rightly recognizes the authority of both God and the government it also recognizes God’s final authority over the government. And so Luke 20:26 concludes by saying, “they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.” Using His unrivaled wisdom Christ’s answer didn’t offend God or the government, because Christ’s answer appropriately honored both. We as Christ’s people must seek to do the same.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

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November 3, 2019

Luke 20:9-19 - Your Responsibility to Trust the Divine Cornerstone

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.
10 “Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11 “Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12 “And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’
14 “But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’
15 “So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 “He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”
17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
      ‘The stone which the builders rejected
       Has become the chief cornerstone’? 
18 “Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

Related Scripture:
Matthew 21: 40-41
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. What is the point of the parable?
2. Who is the intended audience of the parable?
3. What is important to note about the  two very different reactions that are given at the end of this parable according to Matthew and Luke?
4. Why is the setting of this parable in a vineyard significant?
5. Although sending representatives to collect the owner's share of a harvest was typical of how things were done in the ancient world, what was atypical in the actions of the tenants?
6. While the owner hoped that the tenant farmers would recognize the authority of the beloved son, what did the tenant farmers hope to gain by doing what they did?
7. When Jesus asked the question about what would the owner do to those who had killed his son, what did the people say? Why did the Jewish leaders have a different reaction?
8. What is the break down of the symbolism from this parable. In what ways did Jesus applies Psalm 118:22-23 to Himself?
9. What are some verses where God is identified as a Rock or a Stone? Where does the New Testament say that Jesus Christ is the same as that Old Testament Rock or Stone? How does this apply to today's lesson?

Conclusion:

And this brings us back to the main point of Christ’s Parable of the Vineyard. Every single human being has a responsibility to trust and obey Jesus Crist. And one of the reasons why is because we are sinners. Your sin separates you from God even though you need God in order to obtain eternal life. Therefore you need the forgiveness of sins that only comes through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. But if you come before Christ without faith your sins will cause His holiness to either break you or crush you. And you will be left out of the glorious kingdom that is coming with the new heaven and the new earth. So quite being obstinate like the tenant farmers in this text! Humbly submit yourself to the Lord Jesus and He will save you.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

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October 27, 2019

Luke 20:1-8 - By What Authority?

1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him
2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:
4 “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then[fn] did you not believe him?’
6 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

  1. What is one of the most important characteristics about each of us? Why?
  2. Which authorities are fallible? By what authority does Jesus Christ do all the things that He does?
  3. What is significant about the day as it marks the second day of Jesus Christ teaching publically in the temple of Jerusalem.
  4. What is the most important teaching Jesus had to share as well as the most important teaching that we could ever share?
  5. With what questions do the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders confront Jesus at the end of Luke 20 verse 1? Why does it matter?
  6. How does that relate to some current political messages?
  7. Why is it important to know what kind of authority Jesus has when we are challenged when sharing the gospel?
  8. Where does Christ’s authority come from?
  9. What pressures are being applied to Christians today? What can we learn from Jesus in his response to those trying to trap him and get him into trouble?
10. Instead of being weighed down by this pressure to either cave in or remain silent, what should we do?
11. What are some current trends in government making decisions without God and what does the falling birthrate have to do with them?
12. What were the concerns of the Jewish leaders when Jesus asked the question about John the Baptist?
13. Why would saying John’s baptism and ministry were from heaven be problematic?
14. What was their response and why did that give the answer to where Jesus got his authority?

Conclusion:

Jesus has the authority to clear the temple of corruption and He has the authority to share the gospel by telling people to repent of their sins and trust in Him in order to receive salvation from sin, death, and hell because He is the Son of God. And Hebrews 1:1-4 speaks of the absolute authority of the Son of God when it says,

1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4  having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

So who is your final authority? Who has the final say when it comes what you think, what you say, and what you do? Everybody has a final authority, but only one has the power to comfort you on your deathbed. And that’s Jesus Christ the one who conquered death itself. So if you have not yet begun to trust in Jesus today is the day. As 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

October 20, 2019

Luke 19:41-48 - Weeping and Cleansing

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43 “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
44 “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,
48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Main Topics/Questions

  1. What are the two events at the end of Chapter 19?
  2. What are some things told in Luke 19:41-44 that the other three Gospels do not mention?
  3. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?
  4. What does this say about the people’s knowledge of God’s Word? How is this like people of today? What is the reason for this?
  5. How does the Great Commission apply to all of us? Why is what we do important?
  6. How does verse 43 match what happened during the Roman siege of Jerusalem that occurred 37 years later in 70 AD?
  7, What does “the stones will cry out!” signify about the Roman siege?
  8. What were the renovations on the temple that Herod the Great made? For what reason did Jewish religious leaders welcome the use of the marketplace?
  9. Why was Jesus upset with how it was being used? How does this lesson relate to us?
10. Beside knowing what God's Word says, what others things do we need to do to help us live as we ought to live? What can we do to help others?

Conclusion:

Are you captivated by the Word of God? Do you see the Bible for what it really is: Words of life? Do you see in Jesus the forgiveness of sins and the hope of conquering death? You need to.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

October 13, 2019

Why We Believe What We Believe About Baptism

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

  1. How did Baptists affect some early history of the US?
  2. What are some precursors of baptism mentioned in the Old Testament? According to some verses in the New Testament, what do these actions anticipate?
  3. How does the story of Naaman’s leprosy in 2 Kings Chapter 5 relate to baptism?
  4. How is the baptism of the Old Testament different from the baptism of John the Baptist?
  5. To whom was John the Baptist referring in Matthew 3:11? What changes in the practice of baptism was he predicting?
  6. What are the types of baptism Jesus instituted? How do they differ?
  7. What does it mean to baptize? What does Romans 6: 4-5 mean?
  8. Who is baptism for?
  9. What must precede baptism? What about babies?
10. Can physical baptism save or is it necessary for salvation? What about the invisible baptism of the Holy Spirit?
11. What about the two robbers who were crucified with Jesus? Where did Jesus say he would go between His death and resurrection?
12. Why is physical baptism important?

Conclusion:

Now there’s a lot more that could be said on the topic of baptism, but the most important point is one that has already been made and that’s how baptism points to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism points to the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. And when the Bible says that Jesus was dead it really means He was dead. So dead in fact that Jesus was buried. But thankfully Jesus didn’t stay dead. He came up out of the grave alive so that you too could have hope of life after death. All you have to do in order to receive this forgiveness and this hope is repent of your sins and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And should you make that decision I hope you will also take a step of obedience and step into the waters of baptism just like Tucker did.

Scripture references:
Ceremonial laws contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers; Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38; 2 Kings Chapter 5
Acts 19:1-7
John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body––whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free––and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Mark 1:9 Jesus “was baptized by John in the Jordan”; Mark 1:10 talks about them “coming up from the water.”
Acts 8:38 says, “both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Acts 8:39 adds that “they came up out of the water.”
Romans 6:4-5 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,"
Act 2:37-38 "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Act 2:41 "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."
Acts 18:8 "Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized."
Psalm 51:5; Romans Chapter 5; 1 Corinthians Chapter 15
When David’s infant son died he said in 2 Samuel 12:23 “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
Deuteronomy 1:39 "Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it."
Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Romans 8:9 "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."
Baptism by the Holy Spirit “which now saves us” according to 1 Peter 3:21
Matthew 27:38: "two robbers were crucified with Him";  Matthew 27:44: At first, "Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him"
Luke 23:39-43: "Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'
John 16:16: "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

October 6, 2019

Luke 19:28-40 - The Entrance of a King

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage[fn] and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.
31 “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.
33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”
34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”
35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’[fn]
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. How do we know the exact dates in history when the Passion Week or Suffering Week of Jesus Christ took place? Why is this important?
2. What did Jesus send two of His disciples to do? What was the reasons for the mission? What is the lesson in this?
3. What is an additional piece of instruction which Jesus gives to His disciples? Why is this important? How does it relate to us?
4. What are the acts of service towards Christ in these verses? Who were performing these services? What does it signify?
5. What does the death of the body mean for believers?
6. How did the Pharisees react to people gathering and praising Jesus? Could our culture react in the same way?

Conclusion:

If Jesus really is who He is. If He really is King of Kings, LORD of Lords, and Savior of the World… How can we not confess and praise Jesus as such before a watching world? Because if we don’t; nature itself will testify to this fact. As Romans 1:20 says, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, Creation itself proves that there is a Creator God. And this God has further revealed Himself to us by becoming a Man named Jesus Christ. Yes it may cost you something to confess Jesus for who He really is, but remember this: It cost Jesus His life in order to save yours. Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem on Sunday, March 29, 33 AD in order to take the punishment of your sins and die on the following Friday. He did this so you could have “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And since Jesus did that for you, how could you not confess and praise Him before others?

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

September 29, 2019

Luke 19:11-28 - Responsibility while Waiting for the King

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas,[fn] and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
14 “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 “Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
18 “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’
19 “Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.
21 ‘For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.
23 ‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

 1. Despite Jesus clearly telling his disciples what would happen, what did they expect to happen?
  2. What does Jesus tell us in Matthew 24:14? How does that relate nations or people groups? What are some misconceptions about the end times?
  3. What are the differences between the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:12-27 and the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30?
  4. How did the Herod family come to have control over Jewish lands when those lands were under the authority of the Roman Empire? What does that have to do with the text? How does that compare to what Jesus will be doing?
  5. What hope does Jesus give us? What should we do in the meantime?
  6. The Bible teaches that every person in the world is a slave. Who are you a slave to?
  7. What does “Do business till I come.” mean for us?
  8. Why do some people not receive this gospel as good news?
  9. What happened after the death of Herod? How did Jesus apply Archelaus’ situation to His own? How does that relate to what is going on today?
10. What are the lessons to be learned from the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Minas?
11. How is the person who hid what he was given like people who refuse to believe in Jesus?
12. How can we apply these lessons to our lives today?

Conclusion:
In Genesis 18:25 (NRSV) Abraham asks, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” The answer is, “Yes!” The love of God and the justice of God are not compartmentalized. All the attributes of God work together. And when a person spends their whole life in rebellion against God, despite God proving His existence through nature and showing His saving grace through the Scriptures then God has no other choice. Unrepentant sin against an eternal God justly deserves eternal punishment. And we know that the love of God and the justice of God both work together because the cross is picture of both. After Jesus says these things, Luke 19:28 says Jesus went on ahead going up from the valley of Jericho to the mountains of Jerusalem. And Jesus goes to Jerusalem in order to go to the cross. And when Jesus goes to the cross He does so both because of His love and His justice.

The cross demonstrates Christ’s love because it was His love for you that compelled Christ to go there. Yet the cross also demonstrates Christ’s justice because by dying on the cross Jesus takes the punishment for your sins upon Himself. God’s love and God’s justice are not separate from each other. Instead they are united in the cross. So what is your response to Christ? Will you be about the business of discipleship until He comes or will you be destroyed in your ungrateful laziness? The decision is yours.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

September 15, 2019

Luke 19:1-10 - The Salvation of Zacchaeus

 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,[fn] and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
1. What are some interesting things the Bible has to say about Zacchaeus?
2. How does Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." relate to Zacchaeus’ misdeeds and to the sins of us all?
3. What is Zacchaeus looking for? What does he need? How does that relate to us?
4. What are some interesting things about sycamore trees? What is the important reason that Zacchaeus climbed the tree?
5. What important lessons do we learn from Luke 19:5 and John 1:12-13?
6. How do these verses relate to Luke 19:5?

Acts 17:30-31 says,

30  Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
31  because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

Acts 3:19,

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 2:38,

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Mark 1:15 Jesus says,

 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

7. What is the timeline of the stories of Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus?
8. How does Luke 19:8-10 relate to the following verses?

Ephesians 2:8-10

 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
 9  not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

9. What are the requirements in Leviticus 6:5 and Numbers 5:7 and Exodus 22:1 about how much thieves are required to restore? What might we learn from what Zacchaeus chose to do?

Conclusion:
Soon Jesus will be in Jerusalem where He will suffer, die, and rise again, but before that happens Zacchaeus becomes the fulfillment of many things has Jesus taught earlier. Let me give you some examples: What does Zacchaeus’ name mean again? It means “pure” or “innocent.” What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:8? Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.  Zacchaeus’ heart wasn’t pure at first, but it became pure through Christ’s forgiveness and He saw God just like all believers will see God after we take our last breath.

Here’s something else the Bible teaches us that is fulfilled in Zacchaeus: In Luke 19:9 Jesus says salvation has come to Zacchaeus because he is a son of Abraham. Now we know that all Jews (including Zacchaeus) are physically descended from Abraham, but near the beginning of our study of this book we read in Luke 3:8, "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

This teaching is further explained in Galatians 3:6-9,

6  just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
7  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
8  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."
9  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

According to Jesus whether or not you are physically descended from Abraham is irrelevant when it comes to salvation. What matters instead is you being a spiritual descendant of Abraham in that you have faith in God just like Abraham did, because only faith can save you. Salvation comes to Zacchaeus because he is a spiritual son of Abraham. Are you?
What else have we been taught that is fulfilled in Zacchaeus? Not long ago we studied Luke 18:16-17 which reads,

16  But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
17  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Zacchaeus climbed a tree just to see Jesus. And as I said before climbing a tree was considered childish behavior back then especially for someone of Zacchaeus’ status. Yet Zacchaeus did it. He looks toward Jesus as a little child looks toward their parents and that’s exactly the level of faith and trust it takes in order to be saved.
But there’s one more thing Jesus taught that is fulfilled in Zacchaeus. Look at Luke 18:24-27,

24  And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26  And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"
27  But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

The rich young synagogue ruler walked away from Jesus without salvation showing just how hard it is for the rich (as well as everyone else for that matter) to be saved. Indeed it is easier for a literal camel to go through the literal eye of a needle than for a rich person to find eternal life. And a camel going through the eye of needle alive is impossible, but things that are impossible for us are possible for the Almighty God who made us. The rich young synagogue ruler didn’t get saved, but by the almighty power of God the rich thief Zacchaeus does. And if Jesus Christ can forgive him, what makes you think that He can’t forgive you?
Jesus “has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” And if that doesn’t make you praise God I don’t know what will.

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September 8, 2019

Luke 18:35-43 - Blind Bartimaeus

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. How are the four Gospels alike? How are they different?
2. Can some details that at first glance may sound contradictory be explained?
3. What is Satan’s favorite question to use to attack us?
4. Matthew Chapter 20, Mark Chapter 10, and Luke Chapter 18 all speak of the same event. How does Mark Chapter 10 help explain the perceived difference between Matthew 20:29 and Luke 18:35 about where the event happened?
5. What is the explanation for the perceived difference in Luke 18:35 and Matthew 20:30? How does Mark 10:46  support the explanation?
6. How can many of the so called contradictions in the Bible be explained?
7. How can you find answers? Who is John Gill and how can his commentaries help us?
8. What do two articles, one from Christianity Today and the other from The Gospel Coalitio, tell us about Christian Colleges and Universities?
9.  What does this text have to say about who Jesus is?
10. What does the text teach us about the timing of our prayers being answered?
11 What happened immediately after the prayers of blind Bartimaeus and his companion were answered? Why is this important?

Conclusion:
Even if God isn’t answering a prayer you are praying right now He has answered other prayers. Indeed as soon as you prayed for the forgiveness of your sins because you believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ, that prayer was answered as soon as you made it. Blind Bartimaeus and his companion had that level of faith when they called Jesus the Son of David. Most translations of Luke 18:42 say, Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." But a more literal translation of Luke 18:42 (NRSV) reads, Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." Because of their faith in Jesus, Bartimaeus and his companion weren’t just healed from their blindness; more importantly they were saved from sin, death, and hell.

You can be too, so long as you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus. And if you’ve prayed that prayer and received this great gift of salvation then you understand why everyone in this text is praising God and also why you need to praise Him. God is worthy of worship because of all the great things He has done.

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September 1, 2019

Luke 18:31-34 - Predictions of Christ’s Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

  1. Why were those who were following Jesus fearful during this climactic journey to Jerusalem? What were some of their concerns and beliefs?
  2. What was Jesus predicting in verses such as Luke 5:34-35; Luke 9:21-22; Luke 9:44; Luke 12:50; and Luke 17:25? Did the disciples understand?
  3. According to the Bible the Messiah or Christ is the true representation of what? In what ways? What are some examples?
  4. How does Psalm 106:4, many verses in Psalm 22, and Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 relate to Luke 18:32?
  5. Why do these bad things happen to Jesus? What things happened?
  6. What was predicted in Psalm 22:14-18 and Isaiah 52:14 about the Messiah?
  7. What was predicted in Isaiah 53:4-9?
  8. Luke 18:34 uses three different phrases that all communicate the same thing in order to demonstrate what?
  9. Who is really to blame for Christ’s death?
10. How should Jews and Christians interact despite our huge disagreement as to who Jesus is?
11. What did the last part of Luke 18:33 predict about Christ?  How does Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 22: last part of 21-31;  and Isaiah 53:10-12 relate?

Conclusion:
This is what the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus is all about. It’s about our sin. It’s about the suffering and death we deserve because of our sin now as well as the eternal suffering in hell we deserve later. And there’s nothing you or I can do to make up for the evil things we’ve done. Therefore what all of us desperately need is a sinless substitute. Someone who can take our place and take the punishment for our sins even though He Himself is sinless and deserves no punishment. And that’s exactly what Jesus Christ did and He did it just as the prophets predicted hundreds if not thousands of years ahead of time.

And while some will say this is all either a coincidence or a conspiracy, it’s not. Because when we found the Dead Sea Scrolls we found copies of these prophecies that are older than the first coming of Jesus. So if all of this is true and the evidence says that it is, then you have to make a decision. What are you going to do with Jesus? You can’t stay blind anymore because now you’ve heard the truth. So are you going to keep ignoring Him? Are you going to keep fighting against Him? Or are you going to surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior? The decision is yours. I hope and pray you make the right one.

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August 25, 2019

Luke 18:24-30 - The Impossible Becomes Possible

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all[fn] and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 “who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. Why is eternal life in God’s kingdom of heaven so hard for the wealthy to obtain?
2. What are the things God cares about?
3. Why is Christianity shrinking in Europe and North America and flourishing in the poorer continents of Africa and Asia?
4. What are some explanations of what Jesus meant by “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”? What is Jesus actually saying?
5, What is one of the biggest threats to the gospel of Jesus Christ today? How did false teachers twist  the meaning of some Old Testament Scriptures and how does that relate to what some are doing today?
6. Did Israel perfectly obey God’s commands? Do any of us? What is one false teaching both then and now about being rich?
7. Why did the disciples respond to Jesus the way they did?
8. The human impossibility of salvation from sin, death, and hell becomes possible because of what?
9. According to the Bible the blessings of God are tied to what?
10.  How were the disciples obedient?
11. Our lives are a mixture of obedience and disobedience so our lives are also a mixture of what?  What are some examples?

Conclusion:

This isn’t the prosperity gospel. This isn’t about multiplying mansions for yourself. This is about Christian brothers and sisters rallying together despite our faults to serve the One Great God who saved us. This is about the blessings of Christian fellowship both in this life and in the life to come. The only question is: Do you have these blessings? It’s so hard to get to heaven it’s actually impossible for you to earn your way in. But you can still get in because of the work of Christ so long as you repent of your sins and trust in Him.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

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August 18, 2019

Luke 18:18-23 - The Rich Young Ruler

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
20 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”[fn]
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

  1. How does the story about the interaction between Jesus Christ and a person known as the rich young ruler illustrate the need for good Bible study habits as well as good Biblical teaching and preaching? Why is this important?
  2. Why are there some slight differences in the story told in Matthew, Mark, and Luke? What are those finer details? How is the meaning still very much the same?
  3. In what way was this man a ruler?
  4. What was the rich young ruler’s question? How important is this question?
  5. What is the big assumption in the question that can be problematic? How do you know what is truly good?
  6. What does the secular world try to tell us about what is good?
  7. Why does Jesus answer the way he does ? Why doesn’t Jesus quote commandment number ten?
  8. What are the dangerous assumptions in the young ruler's statement: “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth up; what am I still lacking?” How do we make the same assumptions today?
  9. How is commandment number ten (do not covet) different from commandments 5 - 9?  How does it deal with our thoughts in regards to other commandments?
10. What is the biggest problem the rich young ruler has?
11. What does the response of Jesus to the young ruler's statement (correcting him) show us about true love?
12. The gospel only requires repentance of sin and faith in Christ, so why does Jesus ask the rich young ruler to sell all that he has?
13. How does this apply to us? Does Jesus want us to sell all that we have?
14. What are examples of things we might need to do to bring us to a place of repentance and faith?

Conclusion:

Don’t make the mistake of the rich young ruler. Because the three Gospels record that after he heard what Jesus said he became very sad, his facial expression fell, and he went away grieved, for he was extremely rich owning much property. The rich young ruler weighed his current lifestyle in balance against eternal life in God’s heaven and decided that his best life now was better than eternal life in paradise in the future, but he was dead wrong. The problem is the rich young ruler’s mistake is very common. You and I love our sins and we don’t want to give them up even though they hurt us. We convince ourselves that life in the pig sty is good and we put any thoughts of death and eternity out of our minds. We don’t think about things like the fact that George Washington will have been dead for 220 years this coming December. George Washington has already been dead more three times longer than he was alive. How much longer does he have to go?Wouldn’t you agree that the place where George Washington is spending eternity is much more important than how he lived his life? And if that’s true for George Washington it’s also true for you. Where will you go? Will you experience eternal life in heaven or eternal death in hell? The rich young ruler made the wrong choice while the ones who came for baptism today made the right one. What about you? No one knows when death will come for them.

Are you safe in the hands of Christ?

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August 11, 2019

Luke 18:9-17 - Responses to the Gospel

 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13 “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
  1. What is the most persistent type of challenge the Church has faced in every era? Why is this not surprising?
  2. What is one of the oldest and most persistent challenges to the gospel?
  3. What are the two responses to the gospel in this parable?
  4. How did the Pharisees, Samaritans,  Sadducees and tax collectors differ?
  5. The Pharisees better understanding of what was right and what was wrong made the vulnerable to which more subtle sins?
  6. What’s wrong with the prayer of he Pharisee? How do we fall into the same trap?
  7. Fasting and tithing can be good. When is it bad? What does legalism add to the law?
  8. Who is Joshua Harris and how does he relate to legalism?
  9. Rather than be self-righteous or a legalist, what type of person should we be?
10. What do the verses about Jesus and the little children have to do with your proper response to the gospel?

Conclusion:

There are a lot of challenges to the gospel. There are a lot of improper responses to the gospel. These include self-righteousness, legalism, pride, and among many other things. But what is your response? Is it a response of humble repentance of sin? Is it a response of complete dependence and trust? If your response hasn’t been along those lines, it needs to be starting today.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

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August 4, 2019

Luke 18:1-8 - The Power of Persistent Prayer

1. Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2. saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3. “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4. “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5. ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6. Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8. “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
1. What does Christ teach us in the prayer he gave us as a model (Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:2-4)?
2. Jesus teaches us to pray for His kingdom to come, so why don’t we pray for that as often as we should?
3. Jesus tells us the meaning of this parable right up front. What is it?
4. How did the Lord answer Paul's prayer that He would take away the thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)?
5. Continual prayer is the antidote to what?
6. What can we deduce about the character and position of the judge and the widow from the parable? What did the widow do instead of giving up in despair? Why does Jesus tell us in verse 6 to pay attention?
7. What point is Jesus making?
8, How will people behave in the last days? What about those of faith?

Conclusion:

The truly faithful are few in number. And again part of the reason for this is because the world is totally committed to the injustice of discouraging you from following Jesus. This is why we need this text. Don’t get discouraged. No matter what the world throws at you don’t get discouraged. Keep praying for Christ’s return. Keep praying for Jesus to come back and fix this broken world. He will keep all of His promises. Promises to not only give you justice, but also to give you eternal life so long as you have repented of your sins and truly trusted in Him.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

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July 28, 2019

Luke 17:20-37 Teachings about the Kingdom

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 “And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.
24 “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.
25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.
32 “Remember Lot’s wife.
33 “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 “Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.
36 “Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. What do we know from passages such as Matthew 24:36? What does Jesus tell us in Luke 17:20-37 that let's us know that questions about the Kingdom of God are even more complex than we might think? What does Jesus mean by saying the Kingdom of God is now (in its incomplete form) “within you” or “in your midst”?
2. What are some things Jesus does give His disciples or students to consider about when the Kingdom of God is going to come in its fullness?
3. What are some statistics about Christians and "people groups" that relate to these verses:
Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Revelation 7:9 going into verse 10 (ESV), 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
4. What are some examples of people saying Jesus (the Messiah) has already returned? How does the end of verse 23 going into verse 24 (ESV) let us know these were false messiahs and crackpot prognosticators? “Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.”
5. What was Jesus referring to in Luke 17:25 that “first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” What are the goals tied to each of His visits to earth?
6. What are some other things we need to know in regards to His second coming?
7. What other events does Jesus compare to His second coming?
8. How do the words of 2 Peter 3:3-7 describe our present situation?
3  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4  and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
5  For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6  by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7  But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. What should we do when the end of all things finally comes upon us? What should we not do? Why?
9. How does Luke 17:34-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Matthew 24:27-31 & 37-42 relate?
10. What is the significance of Jesus giving examples of some people doing daytime activities and some people doing nighttime activities when he returns again? (17: 34-35; Matthew 24: 40)
11. What will happen to believers when Jesus returns? What will happen to those left behind?

Conclusion:
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin (what we earn from sin) is death and the only way we can be saved is if we receive the free gift of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,

13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (or died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (or are dead) in Jesus.
15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (or dead).
16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Believers in Jesus aren’t perfect (I’m not perfect), but we are forgiven of our sins and thus we have hope. But those who do not believe in Jesus have no hope, because there is no way to overcome death apart from Christ. So what’s going to happen to you? Will you be taken or will you be left?

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

July 21, 2019

Genesis 11:1-9 The Relevancy of the Tower of Babel

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.
3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.
4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.
7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.
9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. Why is the story of the Tower of Babel significant? What is its continuing relevancy?
2. What events lead up to the Tower of Babel?
3. What does true love require? What does God want? What happened because when choices were made by some angels and by Adam and Eve?
4. What was God's promise to Eve?
5. What are the main points of Genesis Chapters 1-3? What are the main topics of Genesis Chapters 4-5? What happens about 1,600 years after creation? How does this relate to sedimentary rock layers and fossils?
6.  Where did the descendants of Noah decide to settle? Why did they build the city and the tower? How was this rebelling against God? How does this relate to events in that happened later? Biblically speaking, Babylon is the definition of what?
7. What other things does the Tower of Babel signal? How are the Table of Nations related to the nations of today? How does the approximate number of language families compare to the number of people who scattered in Genesis 10 after the Tower of Babel?
8. What does God say to Abraham after the nations scattered from Babel about 300 years earlier? What was God's plan in this directive?
Who is the major focus of God’s plan (the seed or descendant) who will bless all the nations or all the families of the earth? What is the blessing?
9. Babel not only confused languages, but divided people in what other ways?

Conclusion:
Thankfully by the power of the Holy Spirit the sin of Babel is overcome. It’s overcome at Pentecost as Acts 2:9-11 says,

9  Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11  Cretans and Arabs––we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

But even greater still is how Babel is overcome in the end according to Revelation 7:9-10,

9  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10  and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

If America is a melting pot of many different peoples the Kingdom of Heaven is an even greater one. So why do a VBS on the Tower of Babel? Because salvation history goes through the Tower of Babel all the way to every nation and people group on earth.

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Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

July 14, 2019

Luke 17: 11-19 - The Ten Lepers

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
1. What was the response of the Pharisees to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? How is the resurrection of Lazarus, the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7:11-17 as well as Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8:49-56 related to the main point of the passage today?
2. How does the map of Israel today compare to the area 2,000 years ago? What was the typical route Jews would take to travel from Galilee to Judea? Why did Jews take this roundabout route?
3. What did Solomon do that caused problems when he drifted away from God? Although Solomon got right with God shortly before he died, he didn't have time to undo his mistakes. What happens when Solomon's son, Rehoboan continues with the same path making the problems worse instead of changing course and fixing the problems?
4. Who were the Samaritans and how did they fit in?
5. Where did Jesus meet the ten lepers? What is leprosy? What were lepers expected to do to keep from spreading the disease?
6. What is the significance of the lepers addressing Jesus as Master? What did Jesus instruct them to do? Why would this be unusual for one member of the group?
7. What actions of the ten show that each has some level of faith? What actions showed one had a faith that saves from sin? How does the different levels of faith in the story relate to what goes on today?

Conclusion:

But verse 19 is really the key verse for this entire passage (listen to what Jesus says), "And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."' The NAB translates it this way: "Then he said to him, 'Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.'" Both translations work, but the last one is better because while all ten had faith to be healed only one had faith to be saved from sin. When it comes to salvation your ethnic background isn’t ever an issue. The only issue is what kind of faith do you have? Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is Jesus just a genie in a bottle that you call upon to grant your wishes? Or is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior who died to forgive you of your sins and rose again to give you the hope of everlasting life? Do you try to obey the commands of Jesus in order to try to get points to earn you favor? Or do you seek to obey the commands of Jesus out of gratitude for what He has done for you? One faith saves, but the other does not. What kind of faith do you have?

Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.

If the player doesn't work, you can listen to the sermon on Google Drive.

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

June 23, 2019

Four Lessons for Disciples

Luke 17:1-10
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you,[fn] saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
8 “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?
9 “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
1. Why does Jesus tell us that it is impossible that no offenses or stumbling blocks will come?
2. How do people react when a scandal comes? How should we react?
3. How serious is it to offends or scandalizes the "little ones"? What does that mean? Who are the "little ones"?
4. What should you do when someone sins against you? What should be our goals when we confront someone? What are some things we should not do?
5. What is possible for you and I to do with only faith the size of a mustard seed? How?
6. How is the slavery (indentured service) mentioned in these verses different from the chattel slavery practiced in early American history and the sex trafficking slavery of today? How are verses 7 - 10 like what many of us experience today? How should we view what we do?

Conclusion:

There is honor in serving others for Christ. There is honor in serving your family for Christ. So quit looking for ways in which you can be thanked or praised. Instead think about how you can honor Christ in your work and in your family and you will live a much more fulfilled life.

What a tremendous duty and honor it is to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ since He is the one who loved us so much that He died to forgive us of all our sins.

Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.

If the player doesn't work, you can listen to the sermon on Google Drive.

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

June 16, 2019

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
20 “But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[fn] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
28 ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:
1. How is this parable different from other parables?
2. How do we know the Lazarus of this parable is not the Lazarus in John Chapter 11?
3. What is the main point Jesus is making in Luke 16:19-21?
4. What happens after a believer dies? What happens to non-believers?
5. How do some people misunderstand the Parable of the Rich Man? What is humanity’s biggest problems?
6. What is hell like? In what areas does it appear Jesus is using figurative language?
7. What is the most important point Jesus wants to teach us?

Conclusion:

This is the biggest of the many teaching points here in Christ’s parable. Do you want to encourage people to repent? Do you want people to come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you want people to go to heaven instead of hell? Give them Scripture. Teach them God’s Word. Preach what the Holy Bible has to say. Because if the Bible doesn’t convince people to repent and believe, nothing else will. Not even a miracle. Without faith in God’s Word even miracles will be misinterpreted. It is only when you believe in Scripture to begin with that miracles make sense and strengthen your faith. So if you want to see the Holy Spirit move in a genuine way give people the Bible the Holy Spirit inspired. Yes it is a stumbling block to some. Yes it is foolishness to others. But to the rest it is the power of God to salvation. So don’t focus on the fluff. People need the Lord and they only get to Him through the Word.

Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.

If the player doesn't work, you can listen to the sermon on Google Drive.

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.