Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-5)
Introduction Happy Lord’s Day! We have been given 52/yr. WCF 21 – The Sabbath command is: Positive – Not simply refraining from certain activities, but positivelyengaging in worship. Moral – Like all 10 Commandments. Perpetual – Not merely Old Testament law. Once again… Jesus is at odds with the Pharisees. Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath are the cause of their concern. Jesus points out their faulty practice (c.f., fasting). We’ve already seen Jesus healing on the Sabbath. But now, the…
Introduction to Judges – Pt. 2 (Judges 2:6-10)
Introduction Many pastors have carefully selected their text to fit with the occasion of Mother’s Day. Our general pattern is to preach through the next passage. Whereas many pastors are preaching about how great our mothers are, I’m going to talk about the pattern of failure that pervades Judges. Relevant? Absolutely! Every mother here (and the rest of us) knows the feeling of failure. In fact, for many of us, it’s debilitating! So here’s the message of Judges: You are…
The Newness of Christ (Luke 5:33-39)
Introduction Jim Johnston The most miserable Christians I’ve seen are those who live with a foot in both worlds. The kind of person Jesus calls to repentance is one who acknowledges his sin. The righteous have no need of Christ. His opponents respond with another question. In comparison with Matthew and Mark, there doesn’t seem to be a chronological connection between Levi’s feast and these questions. The connection is thematic. Why are Jesus and his disciples frequently at odds with…
Introduction to Judges (Judges 1:1-2)
Introduction Dale Ralph Davis The church has her way of dealing with embarrassing Scripture; ignore it. Yet that is difficult to do with Judges. It’s so interesting. Only people who take tranquilizers before sitting down can doze off while they read it. Big Picture: Promised Kingdom > Partial Kingdom > Prophesied Kingdom. Author: Multiple with final editor | single author. Context: Between Joshua and Samuel. Contemporaneous with Ruth. Israel took the land (Josh. 21:43-45). Israel demands a king (1 Sam.…
The Hospitality of Jesus (Luke 5:27-32)
Introduction What kind of people do you allow into your life? Jesus confronted the sin and sickness that surrounded him. Previously, he forgave and healed the paralytic on the account of the collective faith of him and his friends. Now, Jesus returns to the task of calling disciples that began in 5:1-11. But this time, the emphasis is upon the kinds of people Jesus calls. If we will not acknowledge our depravity, we will not hear Christ’s call to follow…
No Ordinary People (Titus 3:9-15)
Introduction It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare… It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe…
Justified by Grace (Titus 3:1-8)
Introduction WCF 9.3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation… Accepting this “bondage of the will” is prerequisite for understanding Effectual Calling (WCF 10) and Justification (WCF 11). The Cretans had a reputation for being morally corrupt (1:11). Paul has instructed Titus to establish elders to teach sound doctrine that accords with sound living. In the previous passage we learned that Jesus Christ, not Caesar,…
The Forgiveness of Jesus (Luke 5:17-26)
Introduction Jesus experienced acceptance and rejection. He has performed miracles, called disciples, and brought physical healing to many. HC Q.2 Q: How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happy? A: Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance. Read Luke 5:17-26…
Adorn the Doctrine of God (Titus 2:9-10)
Introduction Goldingay A slave has no rights and slave owners may assume they are free to do with the slave as they wish and to require of the slave whatever they wish. We have this definition in the back of our minds clouding our interpretation of passages like this. That’s typically unhelpful, because in addition to there being contextual differences, it makes the focus too narrow. Although the institution of slavery is no longer applicable, much of the instruction here…
Trained by Grace (Titus 2:11-15)
Introduction The first episode of Planet Earth 2 contains an intense chase scene. Baby iguanas hatch on a beach to everyone’s delight. They slowly open their eyes for the first time and find themselves surrounded by rocks and empty beach…except for the gigantic snakes! These iguanas literally begin their lives on the run. Only the fast and brave survive. Our lives can often feel like that little naïve hatchling. We have no idea what lurks inside the rocks, just beyond…