“The Priority of Following Jesus” (Luke 9:57-62)
The Priority of Following Jesus (Luke 9:57-62) A few months ago we were at Costco looking at Traeger smokers. Our BBQ is on its last leg and we’ve heard good things about Traegers. After talking to the salesman, we were on the verge of leaving with one. But we decided to grab some lunch at the food court and think it over. Personally, I had every intention of going back and buying it, but after calling some folks we began…
“Dear Dead Church” (Revelation 3:1-6)
Dear Dead Church (Rev. 3:1-6) In his book, Drunk Tank Pink, Adam Altar points out the curious phenomenon known as “nominative determinism”. It’s the idea that our names can often have a profound effect upon how we live. Our name predetermines the outcome. He shows how people are often preoccupied by ideas related to their name. The Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2008-2013 was Justice Igor Judge. His colleague, Justice John Laws, was on the court of appeals…
“Dear Compromised Church” (Revelation 2:18-29)
Dear Compromised Church (Rev. 2:18-29) We now come to the fourth in this series of seven letters written to churches in Asia Minor. It is a mixed community that represents the makeup of the broader visible church in all times. It’s the longest letter, positioned right at the center of the bunch, so we would do well to pay attention to its message. Expository preaching forces me to address all kinds of sin. If I always focused on pet sins,…
“Responding to Rejection” (Luke 9:51-56)
Responding to Rejection (Luke 9:51-56) Jesus is now leaving Galilee and heading towards Jerusalem. We will see three different characters/groups (Jesus, Samaritan Village, James & John) with three different purposes. I think the goal is to evaluate whether our own mission/purposes are aligned with Christ’s kingdom purposes. We so easily focus on our own agenda to the neglect of Christ’s mission. This will also be the theme of the passage that follows. It also complements our text this morning. Take…
“Dear Worldly Church” (Revelation 2:12-17)
Dear Worldly Church (Rev. 2:12-17) Chapter one concludes with the vision of the son of man as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Chapter two transitions to letters written to seven church. There is an interesting relationship between the letters that follows a familiar pattern. A. Ephesus – Loveless B. Smyrna – Only Commendation C. Pergamum – Worldly D. Thyatira – Immorality E. Sardis – Dead ‘B. Philadelphia – Only Commendation ‘A. Laodicea – Lukewarm We will cover the escalation in…
“Eliminating Our Enemies” (Luke 9:49-50)
Eliminating Our Enemies (Luke 9:49-50) Luke is assuring his Christian readers with an orderly account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In this final conversation of Jesus’s Galilean ministry, the disciples are being humbled. They were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in heaven, and Jesus brought a child to his side as an example. Instead of taking up their cross to follow Jesus they were far more concerned with securing positions of honor. We…
“Dear Suffering Church” (Revelation 2:8-11)
Dear Suffering Church (Rev 2:8-11) John has been commissioned by Christ to write these letters to the seven church in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. What he writes addresses the specific needs of these particular churches, but Jesus also has in mind the broader, universal Church which spans time and place. The Lord is informing the churches of persecution that they will face. Some of that tribulation has already begun, but a more intense form…
“Who Is the Greatest?” (Luke 9:46-48)
Who Is the Greatest? (Luke 9:46-48) We have come to the final accounts of Jesus’s Galilean ministry. Chapter nine has focused on the question: Who is Jesus? The answer is that “He’s the glorious and majestic Messiah.” Peter could say this, but then prove his ignorance about what this actually meant with regard to Christ’s ministry. The irony of this passage is that it follows after the display of the majesty of Christ in his authority (casting out a demon)…
“Dear Loveless Church” (Revelation 2:1-7)
Dear Loveless Church (Rev. 2:1-7) This may be one of the most important sermons I ever preach regarding the longterm viability of Grace Clovis. I’m convinced there is something very important for all of us to hear in this letter to Ephesus. At some point in the next thirty minutes all of us should feel targeted by this passage. These are not words the Lord has for a handful of individuals. This is a message for us all. I am…