Sermon Archive

Following Jesus can lead you to some unexpected places. For 72 of Jesus’s first followers, it put them out as “sheep among wolves.” Yet when they returned from their mission, they rejoiced in the power they had while out on mission. As followers of Jesus, how do we reconcile these two characterizations of our mission: one sounds vulnerable and scary, and the other sounds powerful and victorious. In Luke 11, Jesus helps us see the way the kingdom works and what are role must be as we follow him as disciples.

The Via Dolorosa (or Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem is one of the most visited parts of Jerusalem. It marks the path from Pilate’s fortress to Golgotha and the tomb where Jesus was laid. People flock to this path in order to walk the way that Jesus did and perhaps, in some way, experience the suffering that Jesus suffered on our behalf. But that “way of suffering” wasn’t always a forgone conclusion- at least not the disciples who often saw Jesus as a conquering hero, not a suffering servant. Why is the “way of suffering” such a big part of our faith and how do we live when it is much bigger than a tourist destination in Jerusalem?

When you watch a movie (or read a book), you can never replicate the first time you watch it. Once you know the entire plot line, you can’t unsee it or “unknow” it. This bit of information can either enhance or detract from your experience the next time you watch the movie or read the book. Knowing the ending necessarily impacts the way you read the story. This is true with the Bible too. Knowing the end of the story changes how we feel when we read the story. It also can make us blind to some of the more radical, jaw-dropping moments. Since we know so much more, they may not feel quite as big. In Luke 9, there are two jaw-dropping moments that happen and understanding them and where they fit in the story will help us to understand Jesus, His mission, and our place in the Kingdom of God.

Nothing can completely prepare you for the moment when you move from the driver’s seat over to the passenger’s seat so that your child can learn how to drive. It can be terrifying and no matter how good the student driver or the instructor there are sure to be moments where things don’t go as smoothly as you might like. It’s the nature of the transition. In Luke 9, Jesus begins a significant transition in his ministry where he will begin to hand over much of the work he has been doing, both the teaching and the miraculous will begin to be handled by the 12 apostles. As they are sent on mission for the first time, we hear Jesus’s instructions and exhortations. When they return, Jesus has more for them to learn on their journey as disciples.

As Luke concludes this section of teaching, he gives us one more glimpse into the power and person of Jesus. He shows us just who Jesus is- a man full of power, but also a man that took the time to care for the forgotten and the outcast.

Packages have become a normal part of our everyday life, but receiving a package is still an event that can generate some excitement. So much so, that one of the most popular genres of videos on YouTube are “unboxing” videos. These are videos that simply show people opening boxes of items and showing what is in the box. Why is it that something as simple as opening a box can generate so much excitement and interest? There are many reasons one can point to, but often it boils down to one fundamental issue…Awe. As Jesus begins to give the disciples a deeper look at who He is, awe is what begins to overtake them…but not everyone. What is the difference by those that are in awe of Jesus and those that simply miss him?

Did Jesus’s family think he was crazy? When Jesus dismisses his family’s concerns what does that tell us about what Jesus was trying to do? These questions are central to our understanding of Jesus and his mission. What we learn is that family is everything for Jesus, but his family is much, much bigger than his earthly bloodline.

Soil, seed, lampstands, and jars. What do those simple objects have to do with God’s word? When Jesus uses parables, we would do well to listen and IF we do listen- he will speak. Time and time again we are told that if we seek God, we will find him. But the twin truth to that is that if we do not give our time and attention to him, then one day we’ll find we can hear him no more.

Reading the stories of Jesus in the Book of Luke is compelling. Who wouldn’t follow a man that taught with such power, healed the sick, and raised the dead? It’s not every day (or ever) that someone like that comes along. Yet time and time again we see people reject Jesus. They walk away and even turn against him. Jesus helps his disciples to understand why this happens and how they should respond.

The filter with which we view the world can tell us a lot about our theology. What do we see when we see people? What do we see when we see Jesus? Do we see problems? Do we see theological riddles? Do we see the world as one big exercise in theological theory and we wait to see if ours plays out? That’s how the Pharisees saw the world, others around them, and even Jesus. But how about us? What do we see when we see “sinners?” Ourselves? Jesus?

Different people have different things that pop into their minds when they think of the person of Jesus. Some see kind and compassionate. Some see authority and power. The gospel writers didn’t have that dichotomy. For them, Jesus held and exercised all those characteristics and more. As Luke tells stories about who Jesus really is, he is quick to help us see that both authority and compassion are both essential to the character and nature of Jesus.

To judge or not to judge? That seems to be a popular question in our current cultural moment. When personal autonomy is the assumed right of every person, how are we to cast judgement on personal choices? Can we? Should we?

Take care how you build seems to be pretty straightforward advice. Yet that simple instruction contains a wealth of wisdom and implications. When the storms of life come (not if), how you began your building will determine it’s outcome.

So often, we can become so focused on the final product, that we fail to pay attention to how we get there. All that really matters is whether or not we get what we’re looking for. For many of us, this is how we approach the Christian faith. Doesn’t matter how we get to the end result, so long as it “looks” like Christianity is “supposed to look.” When Jesus teaches us the way Christianity is supposed to work, it’s the source of our obedience that is what’s essential. Our nature drives our obedience and when we get that backward, all kinds of things can go wrong.