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.