Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3 (read chapter 13)

INTRO: When Barb got home from work yesterday evening, the first thing she did was look for more news regarding the downed helicopter in Afghanistan

An unusual loss like that grabs our attention
– we are moved by empathy for those who died and feel like we’ve lost a part of ourselves

But I also think we have a built-in mechanism to keep tragedies like that at a distance
– “It happened far away,” we tell ourselves, or, “They were soldiers in combat,” etc.
– we look for explanations to reassure ourselves (and our children) that this kind of thing cannot happen to us Continue reading →

Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us or to everyone else as well?” Luke 12:41 (read verses 41-48)

INTRO: Peter’s question brings something to our attention

That during this teaching session, there were two groups present

– v. 1, the crowd, in which people were climbing over each other to get to Jesus, and the disciples

(in v. 13 we are reminded of the crowd, but in v. 22 Jesus addressed the disciples)

Peter’s question serves an important function: it clarifies who it is that Jesus is trying to instruct and influence

I have heard preachers relativize the teaching of Jesus by isolating passages that, they say, were meant only for the disciples, suggesting they were called to a greater commitment than the rest of his followers Continue reading →

Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Luke 12:36 (read verses 35-48)

INTRO: Try to imagine yourself in this situation:

You’re on the road tomorrow–heading out for work, the store, or vacation–and your car starts making a strange noise. A quarter mile down the road, your engine dies. When you take it into a shop, the mechanic tells you that there was extensive damage to the engine and transmission, and it is going to cost $5,000.00 to repair.

What do you feel, knowing you are without a car until you can afford $5,000.00 worth of repairs? Continue reading →

Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. Luke 12:1-2 (read verses 12:1-34)

INTRO: Here it is, summer so I thought we might briefly revisit The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

There were two weeks when Tom was bedridden with the measles
– when he was well enough to get out and about, he noticed a change in town
– people seemed melancholy
Mark Twain explains, “There had been a ‘revival,’ and everybody had ‘got religion’”

“Got religion” is a classic example of American slang Continue reading →

Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. Luke 11:37-38 (read verses 37-54)

INTRO: Have you ever worked for a boss that was a jerk?

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when a wicked man rules, people groan. (Pr. 29:2)

– in other words, a jerk with power is the worst jerk of all

What was your boss’s favorite weapon? Ridicule? Rage? Threat? Continue reading →

No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, you whole body is full of light; but when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Luke 11:33-34 (read verses 14-36)

INTRO: My plan was to begin our study this morning talking about distractions

But trying to come up with an illustration to introduce distractions became frustrating. So I browsed the Internet searching for ideas. I came across a couple of interesting news articles, but realized I was wasting time, panicked, and came back to my notes. I experimented with a couple of illustrations, but they were stupid so I got frustrated again. Then I opened my email to see if I had any new messages. Soon I panicked again because I still didn’t have an opening for the study, came back to my notes, but still no luck. I thought, maybe if I got myself a soda it would help–put some caffeine in my brain. But I still couldn’t think of a way to illustrate distractions and how they keep us from doing what needs to be done. Continue reading →

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (read Lk. 11:1-13)

INTRO: A few weeks ago, a friend asked if I saw myself as a spiritual director and I told him, “No, I talk too much”

I try to give too much help, provide too much information
– I have difficulty letting people struggle

One way to define spiritual direction is one believer helping another with his or her prayer life
– this is assuming that prayer is the central expression of our connection with God
– so spiritual direction would include bringing up all of the issues of our spiritual progress
– it is something we see Jesus doing all through the gospels and especially here Continue reading →

Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42 (read verses 38-42)

INTRO: Last week, a lawyer challenged Jesus with a couple of tough questions

First, what should he do to inherit eternal life
– since he asked about doing, Jesus sent him back to the Law
– there it is made clear that doing works of love is the path to life
Then, secondly, the lawyer tried to hide behind the old game of “define your terms”–e.g., “Yes, but what do you mean by neighbor? That is a rather complicated subject, isn’t it?”
– Jesus responded by telling the story of Good Samaritan, and then sent him off to “do the same”

This is one of the classic episodes in the story of Jesus, but it leaves a question unanswered–in fact, unasked! Continue reading →

And He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” Luke 10:27-28 (read vv. 25-37)

INTRO: As the story opens, two important themes are introduced

1. The first theme is embedded in the question, “what shall I do?”
   – Jesus forms his response around the word “do”: “do this” (v.28) and “do the same” (v. 37)
2. The other theme is the tip-off that the lawyer is being dishonest, “put Him to the test”
   – a lawyer in this context was someone who had received extensive training in the Law of God

There is more to this interaction than we see on the surface Continue reading →

All things have been handed over to me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal him. Luke 10:22 (read Lk. 10:1-24)

INTRO: Can you think of someone whose words and actions made God beautiful to you?

Has there been anyone whose words and actions made God seem terrible, oppressive, or abusive?

For me, the development of my own mature knowledge of God generated some resentments
– I found myself feeling anger towards people who had misrepresented God to me
– Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, camp counselors, and pastors who gave me the impression that God was unloving, always angry and disappointed, that every day he had to be won over-again, yet was impossible to please Continue reading →