Fulfilling the Mission of the Messiah I. Diverse STORIES, but common THEMES. (4:31-6:11)A. The POWER to HEAL and set FREE. (4:31-44; 5:12-26; 6:6-11)B. An EMBRACE of the OUTSIDERS. (5:1-11; 5:27-32)C. Continuing CONFLICT with the INSIDERS...
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Luke – The Story of Jesus: Part 1 | Luke 4:14-30
For those who have eyes to see I. SETTING the STAGE for the text. (3:23-4:15)A. A GENEALOGY, and a TEST. (3:23-4:13)B. LOCAL boy becomes FAMOUS. (v.14-15) We’ve followed Luke’s telling of the story through Advent, and we’ve seen his focus on the...
Read moreAdvent 2021 – Christmas Sunday | Luke 2:21-40
The Slow but Sure Plan of God I. A life ROOTED in OBEDIENCE. (v.21-40)A. A NAME filled with MEANING. (v.21; 1:31)B. Every act in ACCORDANCE with the LAW. (v.21-24,39) Luke wants us to be clear on one thing. Jesus’ life was rooted in obedience...
Read moreAdvent 2021 – Week 4: Love | Luke 2:1-20
The Coming of Love…to all people I. REFLECTING on the Bethlehem JOURNEY. (v.1-7)A. The EPITOME of POWERLESSNESS. (v.1-5)B. The BEST they could with what they HAD. (v.6-7) It’s a story we hear every year. A young Jewish couple make their way...
Read moreAdvent 2021 – Week 3: Joy | Luke 1:39-56
A Sharing of Joy I. Elizabeth: A MOMENT of CONFIRMATION. (v.39-45)A. A GIVING of the SPIRIT. (v.41)B. A DEEP sense of KNOWING. (v.42-44)C. A BLESSING for BELIEF. (v.42,45) Last week Mary heard the message from God through Gabriel and surrendered...
Read moreAdvent 2021 – Week 2: Peace | Luke 1:26-38
The Pathway to Peace I. Same ANGEL, very different STORY. (v.26-38)A. A YOUNG and unmarried WOMAN. (v.26-27)B. A DIFFERENT type of QUESTION. (v.34)C. An active EMBRACING of the CALL. (v.38) This week we look at another angelic visit, once again...
Read moreAdvent 2021 – Week 1: Hope | Luke 1:5-25; 57-80
A Song of Hope I. The OTHER birth STORY. (v.5-25, 57-66)A. A FAITHFUL but BARREN couple. (v.5-7)B. A ONCE in a LIFETIME event. (v.8-17)C. Even FAILURE to believe gets USED. (v.18-25)D. “JOHN”: God is GRACIOUS. (v.13, 57-66) As Christmas...
Read moreWhy Are We Here? – Part 2 | Genesis 12:1-9
Blessed to Bless the Nations I. The 3 STAGE story of ABRAHAM. (v.1-9)A. A CALL to FOLLOW. (v.1)B. A PROMISE from GOD. (v.2-3)C. The REAL life that FOLLOWS. (v.4-9) Last week we looked at Creation in our attempt to uncover the answer to the...
Read moreWhy Are We Here? – Part 1 | Genesis 1-2
Let’s start at the very beginning I. READING the CREATION stories (PLURAL). (Gen. 1-2)A. There are MORE than ONE. (Gen. 1,2; Job 38-41; Ps. 104; Prov. 8:22-31; John 1)B. The CHALLENGES that they PRESENT. (Gen. 1-2) Today we address the biggest...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 9 | John 17:20-26
What Jesus Prays for Us I. A prayer for UNION and COMMUNION. (v.20-23)A. UNION (unity) is more than AGREEMENT. (v.21; Rom. 12:4-5)B. Glory GIVEN is the PATHWAY. (v.22; 2 Cor. 3:18)C. The FRUIT of this is MISSION. (v.21b,23) The final stage of the...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 8 | John 16:5-15; John 15:1-8
The Spirit as our Guide I. The CONTEXT of this text for the DISCIPLES. (Jn 16:5-7)A. They are HITTING the WALL. (Jn 16:5-6)B. The COUNTER – INTUITIVE gift. (Jn 16:7) Every story has a back story. While our text today looks like more of a...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 7 | Mark 5:21-43
A Saving Faith- The Inner Journey I. The DEATH Experience of HITTING the WALL (Mark 5:22-23, 25-27)A. An Experience of a DEVASTATING Loss (Ps. 10:1; 38:9-11; 72:13-14)B. RUNNING out of ANSWERS (Mark 5:23, 28) II. The FAITH Experience of FALLING...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 6 | Psalm 13
When we hit the wall… I. An HONEST prayer of LAMENT. (v.1-6)A. “How long?” is a VALID QUESTION. (v.1-2; Ps. 10:1; Ps. 22:1-2)B. A NORMAL part of the JOURNEY. (v.1-6; Ps. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9,10, 13, 14, 17, 22,25, 26, 27, etc.) Sometimes it just...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 5 | Matthew 25:14-30
Stepping up through the grace and gifts of God I. Living out the KINGDOM of HEAVEN now. (v.14-30)A. God ENTRUSTS what is His to US. (v.14-15)B. Different GIFTS for different PEOPLE. (v.15; I Cor. 12;7,11)C. Their RESPONSE and REWARD. (v.16-30)D...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 4 | I Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 9:24-27
Help in Growing as a Disciple I. Two TEXTS about TRAINING. (I Tim. 4:7-8; I Cor. 9:24-27)A. STORIES shape the HABITS of our LIVES. (I Tim. 4:7)B. The dual NATURE of spiritual GROWTH. (I Tim. 4:7; Phil. 2:11-12)C. The IMPORTANCE of our INTENTION...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 3 | Luke 19:1-10
Confidence in Christ I. A familiar THEME when it comes to JESUS. (Lk. 18:35-19:10)A. The STORY of an OUTCAST. (v.1-2)B. A JEW but not in REALITY. (v.2)C. A DESIRE to SEE Jesus. (v.3-4) Jesus seems to always stir up emotion, especially when he...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 2 | Ephesians 2:1-10
Where we were, where we are, and why the difference I. We were DEAD in SIN. (v.1-3)A. A FOLLOWING that leads to DEATH. (v.1-2)B. Our ACTIONS shaped our very NATURE. (v.3) Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “Rumours of my death have been greatly...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 1 | Psalm 23
Invitation to a Journey I. The SHEPHERD and what he PROVIDES. (v.1-3a)A. EVERYTHING that I NEED. (v.1; 2 Peter 1:3)B. SPACE for GROWTH. (v. 2; Hos. 2:14)C. A RESTORATION of WHOLENESS. (v.3a; Acts 17:28) This week we look into probably the most...
Read morePeter’s Last Words – 2 Peter, Part 3 | 2 Peter 3:1-18
What kind of people ought you to be? I. STIMULATED toward wholesome THINKING. (v.1-7)A. THINKING that flows out of SCRIPTURE. (v.1-2)B. DESPITE those who think OTHERWISE. (v.3-4)C. A RELEVANT EXAMPLE. (v.4-7) Peter wraps up his second letter to...
Read morePeter’s Last Words – 2 Peter, Part 2 | 2 Peter 1:16-2:22
The Challenges of Distorted Faith I. How do we KNOW God and the TRUTH? (1:16-21)A. The REALITY of our EXPERIENCE. (1:16-18; Mk. 9:7)B. The UNDERSTANDING from and of the TEXT. (1:19)C. SURRENDERING to an outside AUTHORITY. (1:20) We saw last week...
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