Luke 18 contains a series of stories and events placed together to drive home the point that the self-reliance of Jesus’ opponents was misguided. Only those who come to Jesus with a sense of their own helplessness and need can enter the kingdom. The sermon text (Luke 18:18-30) records Jesus’ encounter with a man who…
Luke chapter 18 began with a parable that taught the disciples to pray for the coming kingdom (Luke 1-8). The sermon text for this Lord’s Day adds a second parable about prayer. This parable explains what God requires of those who enter the kingdom. We must humble ourselves before him and seek his mercy.
In the sermon text for this Lord’s Day, Luke tells the story of the birth of Jesus. He tells it briefly and without fanfare. The Lord Jesus came into the world in a humble estate. Even so, we see the hand of God at work in the simple details.
In the sermon text this Lord’s Day, Paul concludes what some call his “fool’s speech.” Since 11:1, he has “boasted” about his credentials as an apostle. However, unlike his opponents in Corinth, his boasting focuses on his own weakness. At the climax of this speech, he explains why weakness is his supreme credential.
We welcome our guest speaker, Michael Riley, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Wakefield, Michigan. His sermon text emphasizes the need to come to Christ as a child, that is, to humble ourselves.