“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19).
These words from the prophet Isaiah were what Jesus used to announce his mission. Luke is God’s good news for everyone, the poor, the prisoners, the blind, the oppressed. In other words, Luke reveals to us God’s good news for those who in some way are marginalized. In some way all of us have at times found ourselves marginalized as we have felt insignificant. We will discover as we dive into the Gospel of Luke that Jesus understands, he was rejected repeatedly by those he came to rescue. He was misunderstood by those to whom he was proclaiming God’s good news. Luke is God’s good news for every person no matter their status, their wealth, or their influence. Join is as we journey through Luke in 2021 and discover this good news for all people.
What if there were an investment strategy that not only promised, but also delivered a 100% return that would never run out? Everyone would be clamoring to get in. But what if the buy in were to first liquidate everything you currently had? Then there would be fewer, if any, who would want to take the risk. There is a real sense in which that is God’s investment strategy. Give all you have to Him; relinquish total ownership and he promises you will have all your needs met. Are you ready to invest?What if there were an investment strategy that not only promised, but also delivered a 100% return that would never run out? Everyone would be clamoring to get in. But what if the buy in were to first liquidate everything you currently had? Then there would be fewer, if any, who would want to take the risk. There is a real sense in which that is God’s investment strategy. Give all you have to Him; relinquish total ownership and he promises you will have all your needs met. Are you ready to invest?
In many walks of life we hear the term “optics” being used. It refers to how something will look or be perceived by the public. Optics may work as a principle in business and politics, but an expression of faith that is optics or image based is shallow. Jesus reserved his harshest rebukes for religious leaders who focused more on their optics and their self-imposed standards than the condition of their hearts. We each need to guard against developing an image based religion.
Today we will examine Luke’s account of what is often called the Lord's Prayer. However, these words are not what Jesus actually prayed, but provide a model for prayer. As we consider prayer we need to think about the one we are addressing. We need to think about what we are saying and we need to give careful thought that our God is a good God, who knows what we need, and will never violate his own character.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most familiar stories in all the Bible. The concept of a Good Samaritan has endured throughout the years and has even been in current Chicagoland headlines. The story is a response to the question: Who is my neighbor? It is a question we need to consider carefully in a time of political, racial, and social upheaval. The principles in this parable are as applicable today as they were when Jesus first told the story. Howington. Released: 2021.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it take? What is the true
Sometimes we find that we need the reality of resurrection more than others. This past year with so much uncertainty, so much death, so much unrest, it seems that we all need something that gives us hope for the future. As we will see in our passage today the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that which validates our faith. It is this one fact that reminds us that we truly do have hope. We will see in 1 Corinthians 15 that we each need resurrection, and more than just on Easter Sunday.
Jesus allowed one true public celebration of who he was on that first day of the week before his crucifixion. In a moment in which many were celebrating, Jesus weeps. These were not tears of joy. They were not tears of fear. They were tears of sadness because he knew this city that God had chosen did not even recognize God the Son as he came to them. We each need to make sure we do not miss God because of our own preconceived notions of who we think he should be.
One thing we discover repeatedly about Jesus is that while on God’s timetable, he was not in a hurry. He made time for each person. In our passage we find him in the presence of a very important man who needs help. Yet along the way, Jesus stops to pay special attention to an unnamed, poverty stricken, woman who is desperately ill with no answers. Not only do we learn that Jesus has time for everyone, we also learn the power of faith over fear.
Each person is responsible before God as to how they respond to the truth of His Word. How one responds is directly related to the “soil condition” of his or her heart. The reality is that we can do the work to prepare our hearts to be receptive to God’s truth. What is the condition of your heart today? What needs to be done to make it even more receptive?
If you have ever wondered if Jesus truly accepts outcasts, this sermon is for you. If you have pondered the depth of God’s love that could lead him to forgive you, despite anything you may have done this sermon is for you. We see Jesus forgiving one who had the reputation as a sinner, when everyone else wanted to judge her. God’s initiating love of sending Jesus to atone for our sins is the beginning point of our forgiveness.
In Luke's account of the “Sermon on the level place,” we find four key themes that should be standards for following Jesus. Choose to love our enemies. Look at our own faults before pointing out the faults of others. Let the our words and our works reflect the presence of Jesus in our lives. Live a life of obedience to the clear teaching of Jesus. These standards for living that Jesus presented nearly 2000 years ago still give us a template for living in the 21st Century.
The methods of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus and the call to commitment from Jesus are all different from what was conventional. In Luke’s sermon on the plain that we have here, we find a familiar ring to Matthew’s sermon on the mount and yet also some unique challenges. The bottom line is that the call of Jesus is inclusive in its scope and exclusive in its commitment
The methods of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus and the call to commitment from Jesus are all different from what was conventional. In these three familiar stories we discover that Jesus calls us to a new way of thinking. His teaching will not fit conventional ways of thinking. Listen to Pastor Scott's sermon, "A New Way" from Luke 5:17-38 by clicking on the link below.
A composite sketch is the result of several eye witnesses describing features of a person. Luke’s description of the early ministry of Jesus comes from a variety of sources and ultimately guided by the Holy Spirit. The result is somewhat of a composite sketch. But it is more than a portrait. In seeing how Jesus taught and ministered to people, we are left with a very important challenge that should be at the heart of our relationship with the Son of God.
Jesus went “home” to Nazareth. He was initially accepted as a leader and teacher. But his message did not fit the narrative that they had all believed. They did not want a Messiah for all, just for them and when all was said and done, they ran him out of town. We have no indication that he ever returned. How do we respond when the message of Jesus is a bit different than what we have imagined?
We view missions as a major ministry of Pleasant Hill Community Church. The vision and goal of Missons is to carry out the command of Christ’s Great Commission as we partner with individuals and agencies to make disciples of all nations.
