SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-I Can Begin Again-Larnelle Harris

A Study in Luke Week 24

Luke Chapter 24

Verses 1-12 – When the women arrived at the tomb of Jesus, his body was not there. As usual, when the angel appeared he evoked fear. He asked, “Why are you looking in a place for dead people for someone who is alive?” Then they explained, “He is not here. He has risen.” They reminded the women that He had told them about this. The women just had not been able process the information. They didn’t understand.

According to verse 11, the apostles thought the women were speaking nonsense and did not believe them. Even though they had been told what would happen, they had not understood it, neither had they accepted it.

The resurrection is key to the Christian experience. Without it, we are just hopeless, wishful thinkers (I Corinthians 15:12-17).

Those who don’t believe in the resurrection align themselves with the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection.

Verses 13-35 – Two “followers of Jesus” were on their way to Emmaus. They were discussing crucifixion and the events leading up to it and after it. Jesus used the Books of Moses all the way through the prophets to explain that what had happened was exactly what God had said would happen.

That is how I know that the Bible is God’s revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption. All interpretations that do not reveal these three things are dead wrong…eternally dead wrong.

Jesus acted as though He was going to “go on His way.” They invited Him to dinner.

Jesus does not invite Himself into our hearts, He waits for us to invite Him in through faith.

Jesus went to eat with the men. The moment he broke the loaf of bread, they recognized Him. Then He just disappeared.

These two men went and shared what had happened to them with the disciples and the other people.

Whereas they had been discouraged, now they were encouraged. When we meet the risen Savior, it fills us with encouragement.

Verses 36-49 – Imagine their surprise when Jesus appeared again and “stood among them.” He said, “Shalom” (peace be with you). Jesus is peace and He was with them.

The disciples struggled with what they were seeing. Jesus demonstrated that He was real by asking for some food. (Clearly He was a Baptist, as Baptists always eat when they gather together.)

Once again He reiterates that the three parts of the Hebrew Old Testament were all about Him. He also told them that repentance had to happen before they received the forgiveness of God.

Jesus tells them that “what the Father had promised” (the Holy Spirit) would be given them as they waited in Jerusalem (see what Luke wrote in Acts 2 about the Holy Spirit coming on them).

Verses 50-53 – Jesus walked with them as far as Bethany, then He blessed them and left them.

The good news in Luke’s Gospel began with Zechariah in the Temple. He received God’s promise about Jesus the Christ (Messiah). It culminates with the disciples praising God in the Temple.

They are waiting for the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to send to them.

The Christmas Story-Michael W. Smith

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-What Child is This-Andrea Bocelli (With Mary J. Blige)

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Come All Ye Faithful-Celtic Woman

Luke’s Lamb of God

Luke Chapter 2

Verses 1-7 – The birth of Jesus could not logically have happened the way it was predicted in the Old Testament, most notably in Micah 5:2.  “…one will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

No one would have expected Messiah to come out of Bethlehem unless they were very knowledgeable of the Scripture.

Joseph and Mary did not live in Bethlehem, they lived in Nazareth. The trip to Bethlehem was long and rugged and would have not even been considered by a pregnant woman.

For the Messiah to be born in the right location (Bethlehem), a series of events worked together to bring that to pass.

A pagan emperor named Caesar Augustus living thousands of miles away issues a decree that all his subjects be registered and taxed.  This order for a census is sent out far and wide.

The call is issued in Israel and Joseph takes Mary and returns to the ancestral of his family, Bethlehem.

The birth of Jesus could not have logically happened...but it did.

From this we know that Caesar may have been ruling, but God was overruling!

Why would the King of Kings be born into poverty?

2 Cor. 8:9 gives us the answer “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.”

The cloths used to wrap Jesus were the same kind used to wrap dead bodies for burial. Even in His birth we have a picture of His death.

Jesus was born in a feeding trough and became the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35.

When someone important comes near you, say a Hollywood celebrity, a governor or even the president of the United States, how comfortable do you feel? Could Jesus have come in humble surroundings so that we would feel comfortable in His presence?

Verses 8-20 – Why were the shepherds an important part of the birth of Christ?

Shepherds were hard men who had to deal with the worlds most base troubles. (Remember David had to ward off lions, wolves and bears.) They were often crude, vile men, known for their sinful lives and considered ceremonially unclean. Society considered them the lowest of the low.

What do shepherds do for a living? What was done with the lambs they shepherded? And what was Jesus called: The Lamb of God.

This picture tells us that anybody, from any walk of life can be used of God.

Why do you think God sent an angel to the shepherds?

When the shepherds went to spread the news, where did they find the courage to tell this outrageous story?

How do you think people responded to them when they told people about the Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger?


Notice that after they had seen the Christ Child, these formerly vile, vulgar, crude men returned to their flocks glorifying and praising God.

What do you think the shepherds’ lives were like following these events?

That God would send His darling Son Jesus into this world to die for sinners is a blessing beyond description.  That He would love us to that level is amazing beyond the power of words to describe.

Of course, it is nothing more than a story until you experience the power of the Lamb of God in a personal way.

You may enjoy hearing the Christmas story and you may love Christmas time, but you have missed the real meaning altogether if you have never trusted Jesus as your Savior.

Until you have received the Lamb of God as your personal Savior and until you know the power of His salvation, you will never really understand Christmas and the wonder of what God did when He provided His Lamb for the sins of the world.

Are you in a personal relationship with Jesus today?  If you are, then you know what I am talking about.

If you are not, you can come to know Him if you will come before Him and trust Him by faith.

Will you do that today?  Will you embrace Heaven’s Lamb as the Savior of your soul?  The Lamb was provided for you, but He will do you no good unless you come to Him in faith, trusting in, and only in , the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Give This Christmas Away-Matthew West and Amy Grant

A Study in Luke Week 23

Luke Chapter 23
Verses 1-7 – Pilate was in Jerusalem, not because he celebrated Passover, but because he feared unruliness from the throngs of people there. The priests and Pharisees who had brought Jesus to Pilate lied about what he had done. He had, in fact, told people to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus claims to be “King of the Jews,” but Biblical context lets us know that He referred to His spiritual kingdom, not a political one.

Learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Him to Herod. He hoped Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, would handle the Jesus problem for him.

Herod Antipas, after renouncing his first wife he married Herodias, the former wife of his half brother Herod Philip, who brought her daughter Salome with her to Antipas’ court. He’s the one who had John the Baptist beheaded.

Verses 8-12 - Herod thought of Jesus as some sort of magician and wanted Him to perform some miracles for him. However, when Jesus refused to even so much as answer his questions, Herod was not happy with Him. Herod and Pilate formed a sort of alliance.

Verses 13-25 – Pilate declared that Jesus was not guilty of the “crimes” the Jewish leaders had accused Him of. He was not inclined to execute Jesus. But the Jewish leaders persisted, so Pilate offered them a way out: choose to execute Jesus or the murderer, Barabbas. They chose to release Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

Verses 26-31 – Although Jesus was executed by Roman soldiers, we need to be very clear that Jesus was placed on the cross to pay a penalty He did not owe: the penalty of OUR sins. In verses27-30, Jesus foretells a time when the world will suffer unbearable calamity. Those times are within our view today.

Verses 32-43 – Isaiah’s prophecy that Jesus would be counted among sinners was fulfilled at the cross (Isaiah 53:12). He was crucified on a “hill” named Golgotha. “Calvary” is the Latin translation of that word. Both names mean “skull.”

When Jesus said, “Father forgive them…” he was referring to the Roman soldiers, who were only following orders. One of the others being crucified beside Jesus challenged His Messiahship. The other recognized it. One was saved. One was not.

Verses 44-49 – Lots of theories have been bandied about concerning the darkness in the land: some sort of solar eclipse, a cloud of dust and many others, but none account for what really happened.

The curtain that was torn in the temple was huge. It’s purpose was to separate the people from God. When it split, it signified that people no longer had to be separated from God because of what Jesus accomplished at the cross. Jesus’ death did not bring the expected calming of the crowds.

Verses 50-56 – Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb because He was only going to need it for three days. Most of the crucified were thrown into a common grave, but Jesus was given a tomb fit for a king.

The women from Galilee saw where the *tomb was. But they had no time to prepare the body. They usually put oils, which smelled sweet, on it. Nicodemus helped Joseph to put *spices between the strips of cloth (John 19:38-40). The women wanted to finish doing this.

They went back to where they were staying in Jerusalem. The Sabbath ended at sunset on Saturday.

Sunday was on its way.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Angels We Have Hear on High-Belmont University Choir

A Study in Luke Week 22

Luke Chapter 22

Verses 1-6 – Passover was a commemoration of what God had done for the Jews in Egypt after the plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, on livestock, of boils, hail, locusts and darkness had failed to soften Pharaoh's heart.

The apostles (the 12 men whom Jesus chose to be his special helpers) were followers, but were not yet saved. We know that because Satan cannot indwell a saved person. Judas was the treasurer of the group, but actually stole from them often. He made a deal with the chief priests to turn Jesus over to them.

Verses 7-13 – Jesus instructed Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal. This will become what we call “Communion,” or more properly, “The Lord’s Supper.”

Verses 14-23 – The completion of Passover did not happen in Egypt, it happened in Christ, who became the Passover Lamb.

Verses 24-30 – The apostles still didn’t get it. They wanted to know which of them would be “greatest” in the Kingdom of God. This was the second time they had brought up this subject see Luke 9:46-48). Jesus responded that the Kingdom of God is very different from what they were expecting, and there would be no “pecking order” there.

Verses 31-34 – Simon was Peter’s name before he met Jesus, and Jesus used it to get his attention. Then he calls him “Rock,” the meaning of his name, Peter. He predicts Peter’s denial of Him.

Verses 35-38 – Jesus tells the disciples that all of the Scriptures concerning the Messiah would come true. He called Himself the Suffering Servant, from Isaiah 53:12.

Verses 39-46 – Jews prayed standing, but here Jesus falls on His knees. I do not believe He was praying about the physical pain He was about to endure, but the pain of being forsaken by His Father. The price paid for our sin is more terrible than we can begin to imagine.

Verses 47-53 – Judas led the priests and a Roman contingent of soldiers to Jesus, where he betrayed Him with a kiss. Peter cut off Malchus’ ear (John 18:10-11). Jesus healed him and put an end to the apostles’ aggression.

Jesus had given them plenty of opportunity to arrest Him in the Temple, but they didn’t want His followers to see them do it. Instead, they chose to do Satan’s work away from the crowds, in the cover of darkness…Satan’s darkness.

Verses 54-62 – Peter denied that he knew Jesus out of fear and cowardice. His denials must have seemed hollow, because some of those around him were apparently with him when he cut of Malchus’ ear.

Verses 63-65 – Jesus’ persecution and prosecution had begun. The Sanhedrin were not interested in justice. They would not call the requisite number of witnesses to testify against Jesus.

Verses 66-71 – When the Sanhedrin asked whether Jesus was the “Messiah,” they were asking about an earthly king. Jesus recognized that they would not believe Him if He told them the true nature of His being.

In verse 70 they asked Jesus a direct question about his relationship to God. He did not deny that he was ‘the’ Son of God. This had multiple meanings, including about Mary and Joseph.

Verse 71 The Sanhedrin said that this was ‘blasphemy’. They said that he was guilty. But they had broken their own laws.

Two witnesses had to agree about the person that they accused.

The Sanhedrin should not have asked a direct question.

There was another law. They could decide that someone was guilty. Then they had to wait for a day before they decided his punishment.

But they were so anxious to kill Jesus that they broke their own rules. They did not have the authority themselves to kill Jesus. So they made up charges that the Roman ruler, Pilate, would consider serious.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Do You Hear What I Hear-Mannheim Steamroller

Do You Hear What I Hear? 

Said the night wind to the little lamb 

 Do you see what I see? 

 'Way up in the sky, little lamb 

 Do you see what I see? 

A star, a star
Dancing in the night 

 With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite 

 Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy 

 Do you hear what I hear? 

Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy 

Do you hear what I hear? 

 A song, a song
High above the tree 

With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea 

 Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king 

Do you know what I know? 

In your palace warm, mighty king 

 Do you know what I know? 

A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold 

 Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold 

 Said the king to the people ev'rywhere 

Listen to what I say! 

Pray for peace, people ev'rywhere 

 Listen to what I say! 

The Child, the Child
Sleeping in the night 

 He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

A Study in Luke Week 21

 Luke Chapter 21

Verses 1-4 – Jesus was teaching in the Court of the Women, also called The Treasury.

The Court of the Women was so-called, not because its use was solely reserved for women but because this was the farthest they were allowed to proceed into the Temple.

Women, who had come to purify themselves after childbirth, as Mary did (Luke 2.24), were allowed to stand in the side opening and watch the sacrifices being offered on the altar. It was in this court also that, when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2.22), they met with Simeon and Anna the prophetess.

Israelite men could proceed through the Nicanor Gate into the Court of the Israelites to bring their sacrifices.

The Apostle Paul, who preached primarily to the Gentiles (except for his letter to the Hebrews, which was a commentary for the Jews of his letter to the Romans), and was the first to allow women directly into the place of worship and sacrifice.

Verses 5-6 – The Temple was a magnificent building. Its construction is described in I Kings, chapters 5-8. The instructions for building it were detailed and organized, as is God, Himself.

Jesus predicted the destruction of the building, and 40 years later it happened.

Verses 7-19 – In the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus is quoted as saying, “…many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ. Notice that in the KJV this word is in italics. That means the Greek word “Christos” is not in the best original texts.

In most other translations, the phrase is translated “I am he,” but the word “he” does not occur in the best original texts, either.

The actual words used here are “ego aimi” I AM. These are the same words Jesus used when He identified Himself as the “I AM,” such as in Mark 14:62 and John 18:6.

Many will come claiming to be God or the returned Christ, but we are not to be swayed, influenced or convinced by them.

There are perilous times ahead, even for Christian Americans. Today in America there is an all-out war on things Christian. There towns that no longer allow Christian displays, Christian prayers or Christian speech in public. But we must understand them as signs that the return of Christ is “near.”

Verses 20-24 – Jesus stated that the predictions of the prophets would be realized. He especially thought of expectant mothers.

Where was He when He thought of them? See above. He was in the Court of the Women, where mothers had themselves “purified” after childbirth.

Verses 25-33 – Strange things will happen to the sun, moon and stars, just as prophesied in the Old Testament (eg.: Amos 8:9 and Joel3:15) . “This generation” (verse 32) is a reference to the “church age.” Jesus’ words are eternal. They always have been true, are true now and always will be true, even after time is no more.

Verses 34-36 – If we concentrate on the circumstances of our time and spend our time in physical pursuits, we will miss the signs of His return.

His return will take place quickly, in the twinkling (not the blinking) of an eye (the speed of light).

Verses 37-38 – Jesus continued to teach in the Temple Court every morning after sleeping on the Mount of Olives. People thronged to hear His teaching.

A PUN MY WORD

1. King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.
Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it."
"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested.
"Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"
Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."

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2. Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. Unfortunately, all the Swiss League records were destroyed in a fire, and so we'll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

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3. A man rushed into a busy doctor's surgery and shouted,
"Doctor! I think I'm shrinking!" The doctor calmly responded,
"Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

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4. An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the Medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on."

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5. A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official, who apologized profusely, saying, "I must have taken Leif off my census."

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6. There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deer skin, one Slept on an elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant. The first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This just goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sum of the squaws of the other two hides.
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7. A skeptical anthropologist was cataloguing South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal elder who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the elder looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, you don't need enemas."

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Come, O Come Emmanuel-Barlow Girl

A Study in Luke Week 20

 Luke Chapter 20

Verses 1-8 – It was Jesus’ custom to teach in the Temple. His teachings were about the Good News (Greek: gospel).

The chief priests were already upset with Jesus because He had scolded them on way too many occasions and He had broken up their “racket” of selling offerings for exorbinant  prices.

Their question of Jesus authority addressed all of His contradictions of their teachings, as well as calling them hypocrites and theives.

Jesus’ response to them backed them into both a theological and a practical corner. When they pretended not to know the answer, Jesus told them he wouldn’t answer them, either.

Verses 9-18 – This parable was aimed directly at the Pharisees and priests. Throughout history, God had sent men to the Jews to show them the way, but they ultimately rejected them all. So God sent His only Son, Jesus. The rejected Him, too.

According to verses 16-18, those who reject Him will be “killed,” that is, they will not go to Heaven, but will spend eternity in Hell.

Verses 19-26 – Still trying to trick and arrest Jesus, the religious leaders paid some men to go trap Him. Their question was about paying taxes (like they really cared about paying taxes to Rome).

Jesus’ answer confounded them. They simply could not trap Him. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus was a bit smarter than they were (if you’ll pardon the understatement).

Verses 27-40 – Some Sadducees, a group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in resurrection, threw another trick question at Him. The give him an elaborate hypothetical situation and ask Him to solve their theological riddle.

Jesus’ response indicated their total lack of understanding of what Heaven and eternal life was all about. He stopped them in their theological tracks.

They had wanted to make Jesus (as well as the Pharisees, who believed in a resurrection) look foolish, but they ended up with egg all over their own faces.

Verses 41-44 – In these verses, Jesus references Psalm 110 and applies it to Himself. In His statement, He was telling these teachers of the Law that Messiah was not a military hero, but was  a king whom the people would love.

He was also confirming his genealogy  not as a physical son of David, but of David’s “line” through God, Himself.

Verses 45-47 – Like I have said so often, “Be careful of theologians. They will do everything they can to confuse you and will be wrong 99.999% of the time.”

Jesus warns agains following the teachers of the Law. Their major attributes were their preoccupation with their outward appearance (long clothes), their showing off to the people and making certain that they got seats of honor at their public appearances.

As members of the New Covenant, we must remember that we are accepted based on our trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection (despite what the Sadducees thought).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAVE A THANKSGIVING DAY FILLED WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATTITUDE!

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Alpha and Omega-Gaither Vocal Band

A Study in Luke Week 19

Luke Chapter 19

Verses 1-10 

Verse 1: Jericho was a wealthy and important city. It was near a main route for trade. It was about 17 miles from Jerusalem.

Verse 2:Zacchaeus was the head of the tax district of Jericho. He would not have been popular. He worked for the Romans and had made himself rich by his job.

Verses 3-4: He had heard that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors. He climbed into a tree that grew by the road.

Verses 5-6: Jesus did not ask to stay with Zacchaeus. He said that he ‘must’ stay with him. It was part of his work for God.

Verse 7: Everyone called Zacchaeus a ‘sinner’. They did not think that Jesus should go into his home.

Verse 8: Zacchaeus stood up, as he was going to make an important statement. Jesus’ visit had changed his attitude to his wealth. He would give half of his goods to the poor people. He promised to pay back 4 times the amount that he had taken. This was far more than the Law of Moses ordered, which was original amount plus one fifth (Leviticus 6:5).

Verse 9: Jesus said that Zacchaeus was not only a physical descendant of Abraham. Because of his faith, he was a true spiritual son of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). And his whole family would benefit.

Verse 10: Jesus came into the world to look for those who had wandered away from God. He came to rescue them.

Verses 11-27 – This parable teaches that people who use their gifts find that they increase. Some people do not use the gifts that God gives. They will lose them.

Verses 28-40 – By using the Hebrew word, “Hosanna,” The people were welcoming their Messiah. The Pharisees could not stop the crowd from shouting. So, they asked Jesus to tell them to be quiet. (Verse 40) Nothing could stop the crowd. Jesus used a phrase that showed that. It was right that they should praise God. Everything that God created would praise him.

Verses 41-44 – Jesus wept over the past, the present and the future of Jerusalem. He knew that His chosen people would reject the object of their salvation. Josephus was a Jewish historian. He wrote a book called ‘The history of the Jewish war’. In it he writes, “When the Romans seized Jerusalem, they killed all the inhabitants, young and old. Titus (a leader) ordered his soldiers to destroy the city completely. Future visitors would not believe that the city had ever been there”

Verses 45-48 – In one part of the Temple, merchants had erected stalls. Animals for the sacrifices had to be perfect. People could buy them in the city for a much cheaper price. But it was safer to buy them in the Temple. Here, the merchants said that the animals were perfect. They weren’t, but the priests said they were. People had to pay the annual Temple tax in special coins. There were stalls where people could exchange their money for the special coins. The men who changed money were charging far too much. All these stalls belonged to the family of the chief priest, Annas.

(47-48) The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus for messing up their business, but dared not because of the people who wanted to hear Him.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Here I Am to Worship-Chris Tomlin

A STUDY IN LUKE WEEK 18 IS BEING REPEATED DUE TO A PRIOR COMMITMENT

Luke Chapter 18

In this chapter we are given two parables about prayer, a statement about who can be saved, the relationship of obedience to the Law to salvation, a reminder that Jesus will fulfill the predictions of the prophets concerning Him and the healing of a blind man.

Verses 1-8 – Dr. Luke tells us the meaning of the parable before he reveals Jesus’ telling of it.

As many theologians have asked, if God is omniscient and knows what we need before we ask, why does Jesus tell us to keep on praying (bothering the judge)? A) He is testing our faith; B) He doesn’t really know everything; C) He wants us to keep our focus on Him; D) He really enjoys seeing us beg.

The answer is C).

Verses 9-14 – Who were these people who were sure they were better than anybody else? The context and the illustration indicate that it was the Pharisees.

The Pharisee proceeded to explain to God all the wrong things he had not done. He referenced himself with the word “I” at least 8 times in six short sentences. He had a case of “I” trouble. All of his alleged goodness did not earn God’s favor; not his fasting, not his faithfulness to his wife, not his tithing, not his lack of greed and not his “justice.”

The “tax-collector,” on the other hand, recognized his short-comings and brought them before God, who accepted his humility and repentance.

One of those men left the Temple green and wrinkled. The other left re-born.

Verses 15-17 – The disciples didn’t get it. They thought the children would be a bother to Jesus. Jesus used them to teach us that the only way we can enter God’s kingdom is like a little child: by being trusting; by believing; and by accepting God’s gift with joy and thanksgiving.

Verses 18-30 – When Jesus asked the “rich young ruler” why he called Him “good,” that only God is good, He was identifying Himself as one with God.

The ruler claimed to have kept all of the commandments. It was not true, but he said that it was. Jesus made it clear that the keeping of the commandments would not bring him salvation. The only way he could receive salvation was to forsake all of himself and follow Jesus. That did not sit so well with the rich young ruler.

The people listening, probably including the Pharisees were astonished. They thought riches were a sign of God’s acceptance and just rewards.

Verses 31-34 – This is the third time Jesus speaks of his death in accordance with the predictions of the prophets. The disciples still did not understand. They would not understand until after Jesus’ death and resurrection…in fact, not until Pentecost (Acts 1-3).

Verses 35-43 – In this healing, Jesus did not touch the man (Bartemaus, according to Mark 10:16) or require any act of him. He just declared him healed and commended his faith.

The man’s reaction was to thank Jesus and to follow Him. The crowd praised Him, too.

Once again we see that following Jesus is about faith, not works. We see that it costs us our 100% allegiance to Him. It requires our faith in, and only in, the finished work of Jesus at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Grace Alone-Maranatha Singers

A Study in Luke Week 18

Luke Chapter 18

In this chapter we are given two parables about prayer, a statement about who can be saved, the relationship of obedience to the Law to salvation, a reminder that Jesus will fulfill the predictions of the prophets concerning Him and the healing of a blind man.

Verses 1-8 – Dr. Luke tells us the meaning of the parable before he reveals Jesus’ telling of it.

As many theologians have asked, if God is omniscient and knows what we need before we ask, why does Jesus tell us to keep on praying (bothering the judge)?  A) He is testing our faith; B) He doesn’t really know everything; C) He wants us to keep our focus on Him; D) He really enjoys seeing us beg.

The answer is C).

Verses 9-14 – Who were these people who were sure they were better than anybody else? The context and the illustration indicate that it was the Pharisees.

The Pharisee proceeded to explain to God all the wrong things he had not done. He referenced himself with the word “I” at least 8 times in six short sentences. He had a case of “I” trouble. All of his alleged goodness did not earn God’s favor; not his fasting, not his faithfulness to his wife, not his tithing, not his lack of greed and not his “justice.”

The “tax-collector,” on the other hand, recognized his short-comings and brought them before God, who accepted his humility and repentance.

One of those men left the Temple green and wrinkled. The other left re-born.

Verses 15-17 – The disciples didn’t get it. They thought the children would be a bother to Jesus. Jesus used them to teach us that the only way we can enter God’s kingdom is like a little child: by being trusting; by believing; and by accepting God’s gift with joy and thanksgiving.

Verses 18-30 – When Jesus asked the “rich young ruler” why he called Him “good,” that only God is good, He was identifying Himself as one with God.

The ruler claimed to have kept all of the commandments. It was not true, but he said that it was. Jesus made it clear that the keeping of the commandments would not bring him salvation. The only way he could receive salvation was to forsake all of himself and follow Jesus. That did not sit so well with the rich young ruler.

The people listening, probably including the Pharisees  were astonished. They thought riches were a sign of God’s acceptance and just rewards.

Verses 31-34 – This is the third time Jesus speaks of his death in accordance with the predictions of the prophets. The disciples still did not understand. They would not understand until after Jesus’ death and resurrection…in fact, not until Pentecost (Acts 1-3).

Verses 35-43 – In this healing, Jesus did not touch the man (Bartemaus, according to Mark 10:16) or require any act of him. He just declared him healed and commended his faith.

The man’s reaction was to thank Jesus and to follow Him. The crowd praised Him, too.

Once again we see that following Jesus is about faith, not works. We see that it costs us our 100% allegiance to Him. It requires our faith in, and only in, the finished work of Jesus at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Great Light of the World-Bebo Norman

A Study in Luke Week 17

Luke Chapter 17

Verses 1-2 – There are things that cause people to reject God: people killed in earthquakes; tsunamis; war, etc. That happens because of our sense of fairness. It is important to know that these things happen not because God caused them, but because of the fallen, sinful nature of the world.

That said, it is really dispicable when we are personally the cause of someone turning from God.

Verses 3-4 – If your brother sins (against you), rebuke him. “Rebuke” is an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism. Here is is from the Greek eptimao, to set a weight on. The idea here is to explain to your brother that what he is doing is contrary to God’s will.

We are to forgive the same way God has forgiven us: totally and completely; as though the sin against us had never happened.

Verses 5-6 – This is an interesting take on the “faith the size of a mustard seed” idea. What Jesus is really telling them is that they don’t need more faith.  They just need to exercise the faith they have. God will provide the faith they need, if they need more.

Verses 7-10 – When we do what we are expected to do, we do not need to be thanked. It was what we were supposed to do in the first place. When we do what we do for the recognition or the thanks, the recognition or thanks is all the reward we will ever get for that deed. When we do what we do at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, expecting no recognition, God blesses us.

Verses 11-19 – Jesuss sent the ten men with leprosy tot he priests. The priests were the “experts” who would recognize whether or not these men had really been cleansed. Sort of like a doctor examining the results of a so-called “faith healer.”

Only one of the ten came back to thank Jesus for healing him. Notice that he praised God “in a loud voice.” He was not reserved about it, he was excited!

All ten men had shown faith, but the Samaritan’s faith had led him to praise. He had both a healthy body and a healthy spirit.

Verses 20-37 – The Pharisees were up to the old tricks again. They asked when this “kingdom of God” would come. (Remember, they had already been told that they were experiencing that very kingdom in front of their own eyes).

Verse 23 tells us that many will point to the “time and date” of the kingdom, but they should not be believed.

Jesus knew that He would be executed. He knew that this was God’s purpose for having sent Him in the first place.

How much like the days of Noah are we today? People go about their daily routines with no thought of God. When Jesus returns, people will be thinking only of their ordinary lives.

In verses 34-35 we learn that Jesus could return at night, when two people are sleeping in the same bed. He could return in the day, when two people are working together. Jesus will take to heaven the person who has believed in him. The other person will remain behind and God will judge him. Each person’s attitude to Jesus will decide what happens to him or her.

The issue of who is and who is not a Christian, and which “Christians” are real and which are cults is totally determined by what they do with Jesus.

If in their doctrine He is the Son of God, one with God and part of the Godhead Trinity, they are for real. If He is anything else, they are a cult and are an abomination.

See…it is, in the end, all about Him.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-God of the Mountain-Lynda Randale

A Study in Luke Week 16

Luke Chapter 16

Verses 1-9 – This is the parable of the manager (steward) who used his position to further
his selfish ends is another parable by contrast. The children of this world are clever and crooked in the use of money. They do it for their own selfish purposes. In contrast, the children of light do not exercise the same wisdom in the use of money for the cause of Christ in the world.

The master praised the manager. He knew that the manager was not honest. He did not praise him for that reason. But he praised him because he had thought about his future and made plans.

As Christians, we should exercise care, plan effectively, be responsible in the details of our planning, using Scriptural principles as our guide for planning (the building of the temple in I Kings, the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 2-6, the laying out of the tents in Numbers 2).

Verses 10-12 – People who want to be trusted in large matters must demonstrate that they can be trusted in the details.

Verse 13 – We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve God and the government. We cannot serve God and our own climg to wealth. We cannot serve God and money.

Verses 14-18 – The Pharisees believed that wealth was God’s reward for their goodness. Jesus irritated the Pharisees again by telling them they were wrong. He made it clear that the Law has not lost its meaning, but rather is about to be fulfilled by and in Him.

Jesus deals with the Law’s approach to divorce. In this He is setting the Pharasees up to be shown that Christ will NEVER divorce His Bride (the church). The reference to marriage as a permanent relationship demonstrates this truth.

Verses 19-31 – I believe this is a real event. The people are real.

The name “Lazarus” means “God is my help.”

Lazarus was poor, yet went to Heaven.

Dives (the traditional name of the rich man), was rich and went to Hell. Neither went where they went based on their position in life, but on their willingness to forsake the things of this world for God.

The rich man was “religious,” naming Abraham as his father (ancestor). To him, a person’s life after death depended on what he did with his life.

Jesus was pointing out that his selfishness, or self-centeredness, was his downfall. He did not consider the needs of the poor man, nor did he understand the role God should have had in his life.

Verse 31 illustrates how difficult it is for “religious” people to establish a relationship with God through Christ. Religion has a way of getting in the way of salvation.

Once again, Jesus’ “philosophy” irritates and angers the Pharisees.

We must understand that our relationship to God is established and maintained by, and only by, our trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Your Love, Oh Lord-Third Day

A Study in Luke Week 15

Luke Chapter 15

This Chapter might be called, “The Parables of God’s Love”

Jesus’ contempt for the Pharisees was thorough. They did not approve of Him because He hung out with the wrong crowd and said the wrong things.

Jesus did not approve of them because their “religious fervor” was fake and misguided. Although they were educated men, they were ignorant of the real things of God.

Verses 1-2 – This group of people was infiltrated with “sinners” (see Romans 3:23). These were people who did not keep the Pharisees “religious rules.” Eating with them implied acceptance of their sinful ways.

Verses 3-7 – In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus illustrates that every individual is supremely important to God, regardless of their “station” in life.

Sheep are not too bright, and they are prone to wander away from their flock. They are analogous to lost people who need to meet Jesus. Like a good shepherd, God will search for them until he finds them.

Jesus’ reference to “good” people was directed at the Pharisees who considered themselves already good enough for God. But they were “good” only in their opinion of themselves.

Verses 8-10 – The Parable of the Lost Coin is interesting. Having 10 coins in a strand around her head indicated that a woman is married. Loosing one would be like a woman today losing her wedding ring.

She will turn her house upside down looking for one coin that falls from her strand. When she finds it, she will be ecstatic.

Although the angels do not understand the concept of salvation, they are happy when one sinner comes to salvation in Christ. God is joyful when a sinner turns to Him.

Verses 11-24 – What can be said of the Parable of the Lost (prodigal) Son that has not already been said?

The younger son was entitled to 1/3 of the father’s property and this one wanted his NOW.

His wallowing with pigs illustrated his total rejection of the spiritual heritage of his father…like us rejecting Christ.

His father stood on his roof daily to see whether his son might be coming back, and when he did, it filled the father with joy; the kind of joy God has when we turn to Him in faith.

When he came home, the son received much more than his “legal” inheritance. He received the best the father had to offer.

So it is with one who turns to Christ.

Verses 25-32 – The older brother was not so happy about his younger brother’s return or the reception given him.

The older brother represented the Pharisees, a comparison not lost on them.

The father emphasized that he loved both of his sons. Like the Pharisees, he should have responded to God’s leadership but refused to do so, even after all of the times God allowed them to return to Him throughout Israel’s history.

God’s joy is un-measurable when one of us turns to Him in repentant faith, trusting in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING

1. Teaching Math In 1950s (when I was in school)   A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?    2. Teaching Math In 1960s   A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?   3. Teaching Math In 1970s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit ?   4. Teaching Math In 1980s  A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.   5. Teaching Math In 1990s A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it's OK).   6. Teaching Math In 2012  Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?   ANSWER: His profit was $375,000 because his logging business is just a front for his marijuana farm.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Trust His Heart-Babbie Mason

A Study in Luke Week 14

Luke Chapter 14


Verses 1-6 – Last week we read that Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath. In this chapter He heals a man on the Sabbath. It seems as though He was deliberately irritating the Pharisees. At that He succeeded. Once again He used the same logic pattern to refute them.

The Pharisees had put the man there on purpose to “see” what Jesus would do. He did not disappoint.

When He asked whether healing on the Sabbath was legal (which it was), they refused to answer, knowing that they would reveal their true intent, which was to trap Jesus.

Verses 7-11 – The parable of the wedding party is about humility. As people of the New Covenant, we are not led to exalt ourselves. We are only to exalt Christ.

Verses 12-14 – Here Jesus is talking about being inclusive. It’s not about forsaking relatives, but about including others as well.

The Sadducees were at odds with the Parisees in that they did not believe in resurrection after death. (That is why they were sad-u-see). Reference Daniel 12:2 and Luke 20:27.

Verses 15-24 I In the parable of the Great Dinner, Jesus was telling about who would and who would not enter the Kingdom of God.

People who make excuses for not serving Christ are most likely not in a saving relationship with God through Him. Each “guest” invited to the dinner made an excuse why he could not come.

Jesus’ first invitation was to the Jews, who did not want to come to His dinner. His second invitation was to those outside of His original invitation.

The Jews cared more about their religious rules than they did about the Messiah, and referred to those who ultimately came to the dinner as “sinners” (which they were). He was saying that the New Covenant was for Gentiles as well as for Jews…again making the Pharisees angry.

Verses 25-33 – Being a true follower of Christ is not cheap. It is free, but not cheap. It cost God everything to provide for our salvation.

This is about priorities. If your family comes first, your priorities are out of order. Jesus must come first. We must be ready to die for our faith. Tens of thousands of Christians die every day around the world today, just for being Christians.

Verses 34-35 – Again Jesus uses the illustration of His followers being “salt.” If salt looses its flavor, it is useless and might as well be thrown out. Some “followers of Jesus” are not carrying out their functions. These so-called “disciples” are of no use to God.

He then used an expression that He often used: “If you have ears to hear, listen.” The ears he is referring to are spiritually discerning ears. They are ears that not only hear the Word of God, but do what it says to do (James 1:22).

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Untitled Hymn-Chris Rice

A Study in Luke Week 13

Luke Chapter 13
Verses 1-5 – This section is about the relationship between sin and suffering in the world. Jesus makes the case that their death was not because of their particular sin, but because there is sin in this fallen world and thus bad things happen.

Death happens because of the original sin of Adam and Eve.

Verses 6-9 – The parable of the fig tree illustrates what happens when His people are fruitless, as Israel was. The extra year in the parable tells us that God gives people every possible chance to turn to and to follow Him.

Verses 10-17 – Jesus healed a woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath, an “illegal” act. Jesus simply did not keep Sabbath traditions. The official was angry because Jesus healed the woman, but rather than approach Him personally, he complained to the entire congregation about the Lord.

Verses 18-19 – The Kingdom of God had a “small” beginning…about the size of a mustard seed. Jesus illustrates that it will soon become a full grown tree with birds resting in its branches. The birds represents people of all nations who will find rest in Jesus’ Kingdom.

Verses 20-21 – This is one case when Jesus uses yeast to illustrate the way Christians will influence the world: a little at a time, but growing over time.

Verses 22-30 – There are actually few people who truly find Christ. Many will knock on the door and will be turned away because they loved His “magic” tricks, but would not commit to following Him. People will “try” to get in, but you don’t get in by trying. You get in by trusting.

Verses 31-33 – These Pharasees probably just wanted Jesus out of their town. Their warning meant nothing to Jesus. He already knew Herod’s heart and intentions. He gives a good picture of His coming trials, convictions, crucifixion and resurrection.

Verses 24-35 – The Jews largely ignored the prophets and did not consider their writings “sacred.” Jesus exalted the position of the prophets and reminds the people and the Pharissees that they not only ignored the prophets but planned to kill the one about whom they prophecied.

There will come a day when all people everywhere will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-God Is In Control-Twila Paris

A Study in Luke Week 12

 Luke Chapter 12

Verses 1-3 – In front of thousands of people, Jesus warns His disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees. This must have irritated them, to say the least. He was saying that the Pharisees pretended to be good, but they were hiding their true character: hypocrites and liars.

Verses 4-7 – We do not need to fear death, not from citizens or from the government.

What we must fear is God, Himself. The fear of God starts our journey to spiritual wisdom.

But we can trust God to be out for our good. “I have plans to prosper you, not to harm You.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God knows each little birds (which people use to buy and use for food) and counts even the hairs of your head (He has more counting to do on some than on others). This means that He knows you intimately, better than yo know yourself.

Verses 8-12 - Just saying that you are a Christian is not what makes you a Christian. Speaking ill of Jesus is “forgivable,” but speaking against the Holy Spirit is not. It is the Holy Spirit who prods you to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. If you do not respond to Him, you are doomed to Hell for eternity.

The only “real” Christian is one who has recognized sin in his life, repented of sin, trusted in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection. Christianity is not about behavior, but about a relationship to God through Christ.

Verses 13-21 – You are a free moral agent. Jesus will not force Himself upon you. The world tells you that your worth is measured by your accumulation of goods. Jesus say this attitude will leave you “poor in the sight of God,” and doomed to an eternity in Hell.

Verses 22-34 – Worry will not help solve any issues you might have. Again Jesus turns to the illustration of birds, this time to encourage faith in Him.

In verse 33, notice that once again Jesus does not use the 10% standard, but specifies the disregarding of ALL possessions. Show me your checkbook and I will tell you where your priorities are.

Verses 35-40 – Although it is not our mission in life to know when Jesus will return, we can be certain that He will, and we must be ready…even right now…this very moment.

Verses 41-48 – In answer to the Peter’s question, Jesus answers “Both.” To the disciples first and to all of His servants generally.

This is a hard concept to grasp: We are to be servants of Christ’s.  We don’t like being servants, but when our servitude is to Christ, it is the highest station in life.

Servants must be faithful, wise, good stewards and satisfied to serve. The good servant will be elevated to the highest post.

Verses 49-53 – The world is divided into two groups: Believers and Unbelievers…the saints and the ain’ts.  In the world, they will be pitted against each other (as they surely are, today). Jesus brings an inner peace that is beyond understanding, but in this world, there will be sharp division between believers and unbelievers.

Verses 54-56 – People “understand” the weather and can predict it, but they refused to understand the signs Jesus was addressing about the turmoil of the present day.

Verses 57-59 – Jesus is saying that we must decide which is right; the world’s way or His way.

A person in “debtors’ prison” must pay the debt he owes in order to get out. The debt MUST be paid.

We owe a sin debt, and it MUST be paid. In His mercy and grace, God paid the debt for us, because, like a prisoner who cannot work and pay his debt, we cannot pay it.

The good news is that Jesus has already paid the debt for us and we are free.  He paid it all and there is nothing left for us to pay.

We are brought from death to life by trusting in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Glory Giver-Annie Moses Band

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Honored, Glorified, Exalted-Praise Gathering

A Study in Luke Week 11

Luke Chapter 11

Here we find: the New Covenant approach to prayer;  The Kingdom of God vs the Kingdom of Satan; dealing with unclean spirits; Jesus’ admonition to follow God; the challenge of witnessing in the world of Satan; Light contrasted to Darkness; and New Covenant teaching contrasted to the teaching of the Pharisees.

Verses 1-4 – This is Luke’s “Readers Digest” condensed version of the model prayer. It uses the pattern: Praise; Submission; Petition; Forgiveness and Followship.

Verses 5-8 – Parable of the Midnight Friend. The point is persistence in prayer. Why does God want you to keep on asking for the same thing (a relative’s salvation – a new job – the return of a son or daughter to the Lord)? Because it keeps your focus where it belongs: on God.

Verses 9-13 – Persistence in prayer is rewarded according to what God knows is best for you.

Verses 14-23 – The driving out of a demon is treated almost nonchalantly in this passage because it is not the point. The point is that following Jesus is a matter of commitment and personal sacrifice. It is about being steadfast in difficult circumstances.

Verses 24-26 – Many people give up their sins, but do not ask God into their lives to guide them. Good thoughts and habits must replace wrong ones. Evil will return unless people protect themselves. The ‘house’ is a person’s life. He or she must have God inside their life. When the Holy Spirit lives inside a person, evil cannot get in.

Verses 27-28 – A woman in the crowd tried to compliment Jesus by telling Him how blessed His mother was. Jesus answered that to really compliment Him we have to follow His teachings.

Verses 29-32 – Even as they saw what Jesus did, people questioned and doubted, just as they do today. Folks might say, “If only God would do such-and-such I would believe. No, they wouldn’t. Thousands saw what He did with their own eyes and did not believe but got angry with Him instead.

Verses 33-36 – The Light of the World is meant to be seen, not kept to yourself. In other words, your faith is not private and personal, it is meant to be shared. The funny thing about light is that it ALWAYS drives out darkness. Fill your life with Christ (v. 36) and you will not have room for the things of Satan.

Verses 37-41 – Once again Jesus “attacks” Pharisaical thinking. They knew everything there was to know about religion, but they knew nothing about the things of God. He accused them of being fakes (vs. 39-41).

Verses 42-44 – He attacked them for thinking their tithing was pleasing to God [who demands 100%, not 10% under the New Covenant (v. 42)]. He attacked them for wanting to be seen of men rather than God (v. 43). He attacked them for “walking on graves [If a person walked on a grave by accident they became ‘unclean’ for a week. Such people could not join in any acts of worship as found in Numbers 19:16 (v44)].

Verses 45-54 – Jesus was not through with the Pharisees just yet. When they complained of being insulted by Him, He said, “You got it! You deserve to be insulted!” (Scoggins’ paraphrase).

And then He laid into them again.

Jesus told them that they purported to know everything about the Law for others but exempt themselves. (Perhaps He was looking forward to the illegal trials to which they would subject Him).

He said they pretended to honor the “prophets,” when, in fact, they did not even teach about the prophets (v. 47).

When He said they would kill a living prophet (v. 48), He was anticipating what they would do to Him.

In verses 50-51 Jesus told them they were as murderous as those who killed Zechariah and were more akin to Cain than to Abel.

Those who knew the Law should have had sense enough to know what it really meant. They also should have believed the prophets. Instead they rejected the prophets, recognizing only Genesis through II Chronicles as bone fide Scripture.

Guess what? All of this made the Pharisees angry…again. They sought to trap Him once again.

Head knowledge of Jesus is useless. Only heart knowledge leads to real followship. Only heart knowledge results in eternal life.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Sweet Beulah Land-Squire Parsons

A Study in Luke Week 10

Luke Chapter 10

Verses 1-2 – Dr. Luke realized that the number ‘72’ had an important meaning for the Christian church in the future. He would know that the Greek translation of Genesis chapter 10 lists all the 72 nations in the days of Noah. The 72 disciples would help Jesus in his present work among Jews. The time would come when all nations would receive the good news about Jesus (Matthew 28:19). That included both Jews and Gentiles.

Jesus sent the 72 disciples in pairs for two reasons. Two disciples would help and encourage each other. But also, two witnesses together proved that the good news that they brought about Jesus was true (Deuteronomy 19:15).

In verse 2 we see that there were many Jews who were ready to hear the good news. They were waiting to come into the kingdom. They were like a crop waiting for workers to harvest it.

There were few disciples. They must pray to God and ask him to send more workers. They would bring people into God’s kingdom

Verses 3-9 – Their task was dangerous. They would find enemies. They would be like weak animals going among fierce ones. They were to trust others to supply their needs. Verse 4 four indicates the urgency of the task.

Verses 10-12 – Once again Jesus tell us to share the gospel with those who are willing to hear. It.

Verses 13-16 – Korazin (Chorazin), Bethsaida and Capernaum represent those who are filled with self-pride, disobedient to the Lord and Unwilling to hear the gospel.

Verses 17-20 – Satan is the chief of all demons. The 72 disciples succeeded in throwing his minions out of people.  It was Jesus’ authority that actually cast them out.

Verses 21-24 – Jesus told the disciples that they have had a very special blessing. They have seen the Messiah and heard his words. Many prophets and kings of Israel had been expecting Jesus. But he did not come in their days. Now Jesus had made all the hopes of the Jewish nation come true.

Verses 25-35 – Luke alone records the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan.

An Expert in the law confronted Jesus to challenge Him about what was needed to “inherit eternal life. “You’re a lawyer,” answered Jesus, “You tell me what the law says.” The lawyer answered correctly according to the Old Covenant. But the lawyer got snotty and wanted to justify his life’s history with a sarcastic question: “Who IS my neighbor?” Jesus told the parable.

1. A man was beaten and robbed and left to die.
2. A religious leader (a priest, who should have know about compassion and love) passes by on the other side of the road.
3. Another religious leader (a Levite, who knew the Law inside and out and should have known that the Law required him to show love and compassion) passes by on the other side of the road.
4. But a Samaritan (hated by the Jews, who considered them half-breeds) takes care of him and demonstrates that he is his neighbor.

The lawyer was shown how shallow his understanding was, even though he was an “expert”.

Verses 36-42 – This is a lesson about what’s important, but even more it is a lesson of forsaking all to follow Jesus - the recurring theme of the New Covenant.  It’s the 100% rule of following Jesus.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-God Unchangable-Jamie Jamgochian

A Study in Luke Week 8

A Study in Luke Week 8 (Re-Published due to author's absence)

Luke Chapter 8

The events in this chapter are found in the other synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark).

Verses 1-3 – The “good news of the kingdom of god” (Greek: βασιλεία το θεο, Basileia tou Theou) is seen differently by different “theologians.” Some see it as the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19 & Daniel 4:3). It is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the “kingdom of heaven.”

For our purposes, we will use it as the totality of the kingdom over which Jesus is King, past, present and future, composed of His subjects, those who have trusted in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary, His resurrection and His soon return.

As He traveled about, Jesus had an entourage: His disciples; Mary Magdalene; Joanna; Susanna and others.

Verses 4-15 – This is the parable of the sower. The disciples didn’t grasp its meaning, so Jesus explained it to them.

Verses 16-18 – The light of which He speaks is the light of the gospel. It is not to be hidden; it is to be shared.

Verses 19-21 – Jesus had four brothers and several sisters. This contrasts with the Roman Catholic tradition which holds that these were fathered by Joseph by a previous marriage, something not at all borne out by Scripture, but a fabrication of man’s rationale.

This place was crowded, Jesus’ own mother could not get in to see Him. Jesus used the circumstance to identify His family as those who would hear Him and follow what He taught.

Verses 22-25 – Jesus calmed the storms. As one song writer, Scott Krippayne, put it: “Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.”

Verses 26-39 – Jesus heals a demon possessed man. Scripture considers demons to be bad or evil spirits who work for Satan, the chief demon. These demons were afraid of Jesus, and when He asked them their name, they replied with a term that refers to about 6,000 Roman soldiers. Demons are ultimately doomed to eternal damnation, and these demons didn’t want to suffer what they knew was coming. Jesus cast them into 2,00 pigs, instead. The pigs drowned.

This cost the pigs’ owner a lot of money. Jesus was showing us that people are more important than money.

Verses 40-42 – This is part 1 of the story of Jairus’ daughter. Jairus was the synagogue organizer, an important man. He knew Jesus could heal, but he also knew the Pharisees hated Him. It took courage to approach Jesus in public.

Verses 43-48 – A woman in the crowd had suffered an “issue of blood” for 12 years, and was considered “unclean.” When she touched Jesus, He knew she had done so. To the Pharisees, this would have projected her “unclean-ness” onto Jesus. Jesus called her “daughter” and proclaimed that her faith had made her well. Note: It was not some magic in His garment or some “point of contact” that healed her, it was her faith.

Verses 49-56 – This is part 2 of the story of Jairus’ daughter. For the first time, Jesus gave Peter, James a special part in His work, allowing them to go into the house with Him and the mother and father. Again, Jesus used the words, “Get up!” And she did. She also ate for strength.

In verse 58, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone. Much has been made of this order by “theologians,” but it was probably His desire to see her privacy protected so she could grow up as a normal child.

Christianity is not some mystical, magic, ethereal, pretend game. It is the very power of salvation to all who will believe.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Lord, You're Holy-Karen Wheaton

A Study in Luke Week 8

Luke Chapter 8

The events in this chapter are found in the other synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark).

Verses 1-3 – The “good news of the kingdom of god” (Greek: βασιλεία το θεο, Basileia tou Theou) is seen differently by different “theologians.” Some see it as the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19 & Daniel 4:3). It is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the “kingdom of heaven.”

For our purposes, we will use it as the totality of the kingdom over which Jesus is King, past, present and future, composed of His subjects, those who have trusted in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary, His resurrection and His soon return.

As He traveled about, Jesus had an entourage: His disciples; Mary Magdalene; Joanna; Susanna and others.

Verses 4-15 – This is the parable of the sower. The disciples didn’t grasp its meaning, so Jesus explained it to them.

Verses 16-18 – The light of which He speaks is the light of the gospel. It is not to be hidden; it is to be shared.

Verses 19-21 – Jesus had four brothers and several sisters. This contrasts with the Roman Catholic traditions which holds that these were fathered by Joseph by a previous marriage, something not at all borne out by Scripture, but a fabrication of man’s rationale.

This place was crowded, Jesus’ own mother could not get in to see Him. Jesus used the circumstance to identify His family as those who would hear Him and follow what He taught.

Verses 22-25 – Jesus calmed the storms. As one song writer, Scott Krippayne, put it: “Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.”

Verses 26-39 – Jesus heals a demon possessed man. Scripture considers demons to be bad or evil spirits who work for Satan, the chief demon. These demons were afraid of Jesus, and when He asked them their name, they replied with a term that refers to about 6,000 Roman soldiers. Demons are ultimately doomed to eternal damnation, and these demons didn’t want to suffer what they knew was coming. Jesus cast them into 2,00 pigs, instead. The pigs drowned.

This cost the pigs’ owner a lot of money. Jesus was showing us that people are more important than money.

Verses 40-42 – This is part 1 of the story of Jairus’ daughter. Jairus was the synagogue organizer, an important man. He knew Jesus could heal, but he also knew the Pharisees hated Him. It took courage to approach Jesus in public.

Verses 43-48 – A woman in the crowd had suffered an “issue of blood” for 12 years, and was considered “unclean.” When she touched Jesus, He knew she had done so. To the Pharisees, this would have projected her “unclean-ness” onto Jesus. Jesus called her “daughter” and proclaimed that her faith had made her well. Note: It was not some magic in His garment or some “point of contact” that healed her, it was her faith.

Verses 49-56 – This is part 2 of the story of Jairus’ daughter. For the first time, Jesus gave Peter, James a special part in His work, allowing them to go into the house with Him and the mother and father. Again, Jesus used the words, “Get up!” And she did. She also ate for strength.

In verse 58, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone. Much has been made of this order by “theologians,” but it was probably His desire to see her privacy protected so she could grow up as a normal child.

Christianity is not some mystical, magic, ethereal, pretend game. It is the very power of salvation to all who will believe.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Gloria-Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

A Study in Luke Week 7

Luke Chapter 7

This chapter is all about faith. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul says, “By grace you have been saved through faith.” In Romans 5:1 he wrote, “We have been justifies through faith.” And in Hebrews he wrote, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith is NOT pretend.

Here in Luke, Jesus is going to give some examples of people who had great faith.

Verses 1-10 – In Capernaum, a centurion, who had helped build the very synagogue in which Jesus had earlier demonstrated his knowledge and power, had a sick or wounded Jewish slave.

The centurion understood authority and recognized it in Jesus. He humbly relayed to Jesus that he was not worthy of having Jesus in his home, but knew Jesus could heal his servant from afar. Jesus, contrasting the centurion’s faith with that of the Jews, healed his servant.

Verses 11-17 – A woman had lost her only son. He was going to be buried outside of the city limits, indicating that he was ceremonially unclean. Jesus told her not to cry, approached the coffin…an act that would have been offensive in the sight of the Pharisees, and one which caused the pall-bearers to stop short.

Jesus told the young man (probably a boy) to sit up. He did.

When Jesus speaks, even death listens. The people we, of course, amazed and spread the news.

When Jesus gives us eternal life when we deserve eternal death, the news should spread like wildfire.

Notice that there is no mention of her faith. Jesus knows our hearts and our needs, and meets them.

Verses 18-30 – John the Baptist was in prison. His disciples told of Jesus’ healing the centurion’s servant and raising the dead boy. John sent his friends to Jesus to inquire whether He was Messiah. Jesus’ answer gave all the evidence John would need. Jesus is Messiah. He was referencing Isaiah 35: 5-6 and Isaiah 61:1.

Jesus asks the crowd questions that had obvious answers and then proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah and John to be his emissary. Luke adds a cryptic note about the contrast between those who heard and responded to John’s message and those Pharisees who rejected it.

Verses 31-35 – Jesus compared those Pharisees to children playing a game of weddings and funerals. Neither would the others’ “game.”

John led a very strict life and was called crazy. Jesus enjoyed “normal” social occasions and was called a drunk who hung with the wrong kind of people.

Verses 36-50 – A Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, but because he was in a hurry to get to his point of trapping Jesus, did not take the time to perform the customary social pleasantries.

A sinful woman got wind of the dinner and crashed the party, sat weeping at His feet, washed His feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and freshened them with expensive perfume.

When the Pharisees objected, Jesus told the first of 18 parables that are recorded only in Luke.

This one was to force the Pharisee to examine his own motives and to reveal that the mission of Jesus was to bring the greatest forgiveness imaginable, the one that leads to eternal life.

Jesus forgave her sins.

This astonished and angered the other guests who questioned His authority to forgive sins.

Jesus proclaimed her free of sin and invited her to go in her new found peace.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE- Jaime Jamgochian - The Stand

A Study in Luke Week 6

Luke Chapter 6


Verse 1-5 – The disciples were hungry on that Saturday (Sabbath) and picked “heads of grain.” The Pharisees, trying to trap them, misused the Law, accusing them of doing something unlawful (working on the Sabbath). It was not unlawful to pick heads of grain (Deuteronomy 23:25).

Jesus “reminded” the Pharisees about David even ate consecrated bread when he and his men were hungry (I Samuel 21:1-6). He went on to remind the Pharisees of Leviticus 24:5 & 9, where Aaron and his sons ate bread from the altar.

Then Jesus infuriated the Pharisees once again by saying, “The Son of Man (one of the ways He referred to Himself) is Lord (Greek: κύριος kurios - God) of the Sabbath.”

This itinerant was lecturing the religious “experts” about the Law!

Verses 6-10 – Jesus healed a paralytic on the Sabbath, in the synagogue, again angering the Pharisees.

Healing was allowed on the Sabbath only to save a life, certainly not to do something as mundane as healing a paralyzed hand (although it probably did not seem mundane to the paralytic).

Verses 11-16 – Jesus chooses a “motley” group as His disciples (those who would discipline themselves to follow Him).

Verses 17-26 – These are the Beattitudes. They are found also in Matthew 5. Jesus dared to preach the same message twice! In fact, He probably preached it dozens, if not hundreds, of times.

As Christians, we only have one message: the message of salvation through repentance (changing one’s mind about who Jesus is), trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary and belief in His resurrection. All of that other tripe that passes as “topical” preaching is nothing more than “theosophy” and vain imaginations as noted in Romans 1:21 (dialogismos-reasoning in speech) and 2 Corinthians 10:5 (logismos-reasoning in mind).

Verses 27-36 –Here is a description of the way God loves us (who were his enemies in sin). We are to emulate Him.

Verses 37-42 – This is the often misused section on judging others. We often confuse judging with discernment. We are instructed to exercise discernment (Philippians 1:10).

Verses 43-45 – The fruit you plant is the fruit you get. You don’t get figs from thorn bushes or grapes from briers. The fruit you produce in your life is an image of your heart.

Verses 46-49 – The point of this passage is that our lives must be built on the foundation of Jesus, Christ. If you are a Christian, you must practice the Christian mind set, quite apart from the Law. It must be a matter of your heart.

Failure to build your life with Christ as its foundation will result in its complete and utter destruction, no matter what other “good” it might produce.

1. What do you see about the character of God in this chapter?

2. What do you understand about His love for His creation in this chapter?

3. What did you learn about His plan for He creation’s salvation?

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Word of God Speak-Mercy Me

A Study in Luke Week 5

Luke Chapter 4B & 5

Chapter 4(b)

Verses 14-20 – Remember, Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit (4:1) and returned to Galilee in His Power.

The power of Jesus would become evident as his ministry continued.

Here the custom was for the leaders to ask a worshiper to read the Hebrew Scriptures, which Jesus did. They gave Him the Isaiah scroll. Jesus opened to the Scripture He wanted them to hear: “The Holy Spirit is upon me, because He has chosen me to bring good news to the poor (the unsaved).” [Isaiah 61:1-2]

When He finished reading, He rolled up the scroll and sat down. He must have really impressed them, for they were fixated on Him.

Verse 21-30 – He then said the words that set the tone for His ministry and for the Pharisees, who recognized immediately what He had claimed for Himself. “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The people were amazed and excited.

Here we have the completion of His third wilderness test: to impress the people with a mighty act. Instead, He almost insulted them by recalling how Elijah had been treated by his own people. Jesus was saying these people would treat Him the same way.

They were furious and, encouraged by the Pharisees, tried to push Him off a cliff. But He walked through them unscathed. Those who reject the Word of the Holy Spirit do not get a second chance.

Verses 31-37 – Jesus cast out a demon not by “witch-doctoring,” but by His Word.

Verses 38-44 – He healed many people, but He did not stay in Capernaum, for He had to speak the good news of the Kingdom of God to others. He spoke in synagogues, continuing to proclaim Himself as the Anointed One. Isn’t it interesting that the demons recognized who He was, but the people doubted.

Chapter 5

Verses 1-11 – Jesus calls Simon Peter after He (a carpenter) told Peter how to do his job. After his fishing success, Simon pulled up his net, left everything (not 10%) and followed Jesus. He began the discipling process of Peter.

Verses 12-16 – Luke describes the leper as “full of leprosy,” meaning a very virulent form of the disease. Nobody would dare touch him. But Jesus touched him. Then He told the man to go to the priest to be declared healed. Jesus had violated the Sabbath traditions, but he obeyed the law of Moses (See Leviticus 14:1-32).

Verses 17-26 – When Jesus healed the paralytic, the healing of the physical was obvious. When He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” the Pharisees were incensed! Jesus heard their hearts and responded by castigating them for their adherence to stupid traditions devoid of the love of God they should have been emphasizing.

Verses 27-34 – Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to stop his usurious practice as a tax collector and to follow Him. The Pharisees were again angry, accusing Him of cavorting with sinners. Jesus’ answer was not kind to them. He was saying that they were self-proclaimed righteous (healthy) and there was no hope for them as long as they continued in their narcissism.

Verses 35-39 – Jesus responds to accusations that He did not fast. He used a marriage example to tell them that one does not fast in the presence of the bridegroom at the wedding feast.

Jesus’ message would destroy the religion of the Pharisees. Their rules limited people’s freedom and did not give them any joy. Jesus said, “I am come that your joy might be full.”

A HOLE IN THE SOUL

There is a hole in the soul of our country.

A demented man goes to the opening of "The Dark Knight Rises" and starts shooting, killing 12 people and wounding many others.

There is a hole in the soul of our country.

The liberal media immediately starts in on how he must have been a conservative Tea Party maniac.

There is a hole in the soul of our country.

The Tea Party and conservatism had nothing to do with this atrocity.
 
For the sake of argument, let's say he proclaimed himself to be a conservative and did the dastardly deed.
 
Just saying you're a conservative does not make you a conservative.
 
No more than saying you're a fighter jet makes you a plane.
 
And if there are conservatives who think he did this despicable act because he is some leftist liberal, they are no better than the liberal media making him out to be representative of conservatives.
 
This is not about liberalism and conservatism. It is about depravity.
 
I have never met a liberal who thinks it is appropriate to shoot a child and a baby in the back. Never.
 
Neither have I ever met a conservative who thinks so.
 
But this I can say with confidence: There is a hole in the soul of our country.
The trouble is, most of our country does not recognize the source of that hole.
 
Psychiatrists will be called in to analyze this guy's psyche. They'll probe his childhood, his attitudes, his loner-ship, his bad influences and all of the other psychobabble they espouse.
 
Gun control advocates will rush in to take away more liberties from Americans and in the process will render them even less able to defend themselves.
 
I wonder how many people might have been saved if one or more of that crowd had been licensed carriers of a fire arm.
 
Some actually think it is better that he did what he did, rather than have people who knew how to defend against such acts take action.
 
A few nights ago, a couple of men who were illegally in possession of guns tried to rob a place. A 71 year old licensed carrier pulled his gun, shot one of the robbers and chased them right out of the place.
 
How much better would it have been to have just let them have the money and maybe shoot whoever they decided to shoot?
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


We have witnessed Columbine, Fort Hood, and many, many other inexcusable actions by crazed gunmen and stood idly by with our socio-psychological pablum and just watched it happen, without even beginning to realize what the real source of these issues is.
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


We have watched in horror as radical Islamists carried out a diabolical plot and brought down the Twin Towers in New York and blew away part of the Pentagon.
 
And we dare not place the blame squarely on the shoulders of those horrible radicals who celebrated the deed.
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


We will continue to teach our children that absolute tolerance of every aberrant life-style is the only "moral" way to go. And they will grow up believing it, never realizing the unintended consequences of that attitude.
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


And far too many Americans cannot fathom the source of that hole. They will bristle if you even try to point it out.
 
We have politicians who stoop so low as to attack the wife of one running for president because she rides horses as a part of her therapy for MS. And "lock-steppers" join right in with them, with such vile attitudes that I hesitate to consider them Americans in any sense of the word.
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.



We have people who believe, and indeed many who practice, injecting saline into the womb of an expectant mother because "she has the right to do what she wants with her own body," even though DNA proves beyond any shadow of a scientific doubt that a pre-born baby is not a part of the woman carrying him/her.
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


Where once people felt free to express themselves spiritually in every venue, including public and government places, now they are relegated to certain areas and excluded from others in the name of a mythical "separation of church and state."
 
There is a hole in the soul of our country.


There is a solution to the hole in the soul of the country.
 
It is neither difficult nor secret.
 
It IS hated, however, for it reveals the overwhelming attitude of the populace that each person should be able to say, "I want what I want, when I want it, where I want it, how I want it and I want it right now. And if you have it, so should I and I shouldn't have to work for it like you did. I should just be able to take it, by force or by government edict."
 
How low must we get before we realize that There is a hole in the soul of our country, and we need the Filler more than we need anything else in the Universe?