Sermons from August 2018
“Build Your House Upon A Rock” (Luke 6:46-49)
Introduction Throughout this discourse Jesus has been addressing disciples, but it seems to go back and forth between genuine and false disciples. Blessings are followed by woes. Our love should be different than the self-serving love of the world. We should know the difference between rebuking and condemning. We should be the first to repent before calling others to repent. We come to the conclusion of Jesus’ discourse which contains a very direct question of the integrity of his audience.…
“Gideon’s Legacy” (Judges 9)
Introduction Last week we noted the unfitting end to Gideon’s life. A man worthy of great commendation for his faith, comes a hair’s width away from condemnation near the end. He declared that God was Israel’s King, but lived as if he were king, even naming his son Abimelech (“My father is king”). Gideon’s downfall was the result of: Underestimating external temptation Underestimating internal corruption Neglecting the means of God’s preservation (Holy Spirit, Prayer). But prior to that, we saw…
“Good and Bad Apples” (Luke 6:43-45)
Introduction How do people really change? What’s the secret to genuine transformation? Is it even necessary? Jesus has just finished teaching his disciples to “judge not”. We argued that this is connected to condemnation that results in shunning people rather than rebuking sin. Most people who quote this misapply it. The person who adequately removes the plank from his own eye is able to properly inspect the eye of his brother. This same principle is now applied to trees that…
“An Unfitting End” (Judges 7:24-8:35)
Introduction So far, we’ve viewed the judges as almost entirely positive. We’ve taken the interpretive lens from Hebrews 11:32, viewing these men as exemplars of faith. Othniel, Ehud, Barak, and Gideon were all called to lead the Israelites in military conquest against their oppressors. And God gave them success. Unfortunately, when we come to the end of Gideon’s life, there is no excusing much of what he did. Yes God clothed him with the Spirit and used him to deliver…
“Judge Not” (Luke 6:37-42)
Introduction Who do you follow? Not on social media, but in life. It’s an important decision to make. The religious example these disciples had prior to Jesus’ teaching was that of the Pharisees who were keen on judging and condemning everyone who didn’t quite meet their man-made standards. The Pharisees were not only hypocritical in their judgment of sin, they were entirely graceless in their condemnation of sinners. Jesus speaks to the importance of following teachers who lead with a…
“Gideon’s Divine Mission – Pt. 2” (Judges 6:25-40)
Introduction As many as 42% of U.S. adults have assumed a different religious identity from the one in which they were raised, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center study. Midianite oppression > Gideon’s call by the Angel of the Lord > conversion and offering. Gideon was from the tribe of Manassah, but his family not only worshipped Baal, his father was a priest of Baal keeping an altar at their home. Last week we noted the numerous parallels that…
“Gideon’s Divine Mission – Pt. 1” (Judges 6:25-40)
Introduction As many as 42% of U.S. adults have assumed a different religious identity from the one in which they were raised, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center study. Midianite oppression > Gideon’s call by the Angel of the Lord > conversion and offering. Gideon was from the tribe of Manassah, but his family not only worshipped Baal, his father was a priest of Baal keeping an altar at their home. Last week we noted the numerous parallels that…
“Love Your Enemies” (Luke 6:32-36)
Introduction The Golden Rule is almost universally praised, yet scarcely followed. Last week we began our look at the Golden Rule (Commandments > Examples > Rule). Now Jesus provides further illustrations of the Golden Rule in practice (29-30, 32-34) before closing with the standard stated from a divine perspective (31, 35). The Golden Rule is a standard many see as good, but it is the Christian alone who has the proper enabling and motivation to live accordingly (2 Pet. 1:4).…