Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010...Luke 21: 5-19

We had a lively discussion Wednesday evening which focused on the "end times" that the scripture alluded to.  We never really settled on whether Jesus was talking specifically about the last days or the time between His death and second coming, but we agreed that the message remains the same either way...WE ARE TO BE READY!  Jesus warns us about false teachings, about the persecution and rejection we will experience because of our faith in Him. 

We settled on the real message He has for us, as His followers, was found in verses 13 and 14..."This will give you an opportunity to testify.  So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict."  This is when "Joe Blow", the man on the street, challenged us to explain why we put our faith in the Bible and it's teaching, when there are so many versions, translations, and even differences within the same accounts in the Bible.  As different people attempted to point out the "evidence" as we see it in the Bible...historical fact, approval by theologians, etc...."Joe" was able to refute just about every argument.  It was when we directed our evidence as our faith in Jesus and our relationship with Him, that the relevance and trust in the Bible became something that Joe could not dispute.  Unless we read and search the scriptures in Christ, the truth, the love, and the promises in the Bible will not be found.

God gave us the Bible, so that our relationship with Him, through Christ, will be a source of strength and encouragement enabling us to testify to those who persecute us.  As we meet the "Joe Blows" of the world who ask us to explain why we believe, we need to pause, pray for Christ to give us the words and wisdom, and rejoice that we have been given the opportunity to testify to His love and grace which gives us, and all who come to believe, an eternal home with Him.

Sunday Oct. 31, 2010....Sermon Text: Luke 19: 11-27

This is a parable of the ten talents.  As we began to read this, we thought we were going to read the same parable as it is in Mathew 25.  But we found that this account in Luke draws a clearer picture of Christ as the ruler who returns to receive an accounting from those whom he entrusted with his kingdom.  The servants who returned the large increases were praised as trustworthy and rewarded graciously by their king.  The servant who merely return what was given to him, was not blessed by the king and had to return the coin so he had nothing.  The excuse of that servant was a topic of discussion...he was afraid and considered the ruler a harsh man, reaping what he did not sow and taking what he did not deposit.  It was brought up that we have the same problem as that servant when we claim ownership of the things God has given us, not recognizing that these blessings are a deposit that God makes in us so that we will invest them in His work.  We fear losing what he gives us instead of trusting that He has empowered us to do what we should do.  If we truly acknowledge that He is our king, then we need to faithfully and confidently trust Him.  Which servants do you think looked forward to the king returning and which one lived in fear and anxiousness?  Living with trust and faithfully serving Christ, gives us enjoyment today with a promise of riches tomorrow.

This parable also clearly points out that Jesus knows those who want Him to be ruler over their lives and those who reject Him, and the consequence of that rejection.

Sunday Oct. 24, 2010...Sermon Text: Luke 18: 9-17

This week's study covered two separate incidents, but tied together the message of humbleness and a dependence on God's goodness and mercy.  In verse 9, Jesus targets his comments to a specific group of people..."some who trusted in themselves and regarded others with contempt (looked down on everybody else..NIV).   He told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who both went to the temple.  The Pharisee stood praying thanking God that he wasn't like others, thieves, adulterers, etc. and pointed out to God how good he was because he fasted twice a week and gave a tithe to the temple.  The tax collector, in contrast, stood off at a distance and did not even look up to heaven and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."  Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified before God rather than the Pharisee.  Jesus said "...for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."  Just as Jesus targeted the self righteous around Him, this message is targeted to us who suffer with this same self righteous attitude.

The next verses talk about Jesus welcoming the children.  The disciples sternly ordered the parents to not bring the children, but Jesus welcomed them.  In our discussion we saw ourselves in the disciples.  We get busy doing Jesus' "important" work, yet we don't recognized what delights Him.  The picture of child when a parent walks into a room; the pure joy, love, excitement, and happiness is impossible not to bring delight to the parent.  That is how Jesus must react when we respond to Him like those children, making Him the center of our devotion, trust, dependence, and love.  He said, "...for it is for such as these that the kingdom of God belongs."    We felt as He was talking about himself when He talked of the kingdom of God, and we were drawn to the word "belongs".  He offers himself for us to possess, to have as our own.  He is not on loan or just for us to enjoy or experience temporarily.

In verse 17, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."  We discussed that we cannot go back and get rid of all the baggage we accumulate as we grow up, so to go back to our childhood innocence is impossible for us to do.  But Christ offers us Himself, so if we humble ourselves as the tax collector did, recognizing our need for mercy and acknowledging that we are sinners, He will see us as His children...trusting, dependent, and delighting in Him.  In our humbleness, we are justified and He freely welcomes us and we receive Him.