The sermon text for this Lord’s Day tells one of the best known and best-loved stories in the Gospels: the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Close look at the text and its context reveals that is not just a story about son who went astray, but it is primarily about a second son…
The sermon text for this Lord’s Day is Luke 15:1-10. Jesus tells two parables to an audience made up of society’s moral outcasts (tax-collectors and sinners). The two parables combine to tell a single story: Jesus’ effort to save even a single lost one (sheep or coin) and the joy that takes place in heaven…
The sermon text for this Lord’s Day is Luke 14:25-35. In it, the Lord Jesus issues a serious call to count the cost of following him. He requires full devotion, without which no one can be his disciple. We tend to minimize of ignore Jesus’ call, but the text, rightly considered, does not allow half-hearted devotion.
The sermon text for this Lord’s Day is Luke 14:15-24. In it, Jesus tells a story about a great feast. Those invited made foolish excuses and refused to attend. The host brought in an unexpected crowd to fill the banquet hall. The story rebuked the religious leaders of Israel who refused to respond to Jesus’ message;…
In Luke 14:1-14, Jesus attended a Sabbath feast at the home of a prominent Pharisee. As soon as Jesus arrived, he performed a miracle to the consternation of the host and his friends. He then proceeded to tell two stories set against the backdrop of a feast, each aimed at the pride of the Pharisees.…
In the sermon text for the Lord’s Day (Luke 13:31-35), the opposition to Jesus intensifies. Jesus continues toward the cross with unwavering resolve, but grieved, he laments Israel’s squandered opportunity to repent and believe.
This Lord’s Day, we will consider Jesus’ warning, “Strive to enter [the kingdom] through the narrow door” (sermon text: Luke 13:22-30). He explained with several declarations that would have shocked his audience. A question launched the discussion in the passage, but it turns out that the question was the wrong one. By the end of…
This Lord’s Day the sermon text of the worship service (Luke 13:10-17) describes an event that displayed the great mercy of the Lord. Jesus performed a miraculous healing on the Sabbath, sparking criticism from the self-righteous religious leaders. Jesus rebuked them for their hypocrisy and failure of mercy. The message of Jesus is a message…
Luke 13:1-9 is a passage that expands the final thought of chapter 12: “Settle accounts with God before it is too late” (Luke 12:57-59). The crowd asked Jesus a question about the problem of evil; his reply is startling (Luke 13:1-5). And to make sure no one failed to understand his point, Jesus followed it up…
The sermon text for this Lord’s Day (Luke 12:49-59) includes three paragraphs that, at first glance, seem unrelated, but closer evaluation suggests that they combine to create a powerful challenge. Jesus begins with a description of his mission that includes judgment and conflict. Next, he derides the crown for their unwillingness to see the signs…