City Light Church Sermons

SERMON SUMMARY Main Point: Seeing Jesus is an act of grace that only comes from Jesus himself. On May 31, 2026, Pastor Brian Crawford preached from Luke 18:31-43, a passage Luke intentionally placed two stories side by side: disciples who can see but cannot see, and a blind man who cannot see but sees everything that matters. The central question running through the whole sermon is simple and searching: what does it actually mean to have eyes for Jesus? The disciples were physically present but spiritually veiled. Jesus tells the Twelve exactly what is about to happen in Jerusalem, with remarkable detail. He describes betrayal, mockery, flogging, death, and resurrection. And yet Luke records three separate phrases to describe their response: they understood nothing, the saying was hidden, and they did not grasp it. Pastor Brian Crawford argues this is not casual confusion. It is a complete veiling of the eyes, one that only God can lift. The disciples had every advantage and still could not see. Seeing Jesus is never the reward for proximity or religious effort. The cross was God's deliberate plan, not a tragedy he allowed. Pastor Brian Crawford draws on Peter's sermon in Acts 2:23 to show that every person involved in the crucifixion, from the Jewish leaders to Judas to the Gentiles to the crowds, bore real guilt. And yet all of it unfolded according to God's foreknowledge and predetermined plan. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty both stand. The suffering was unbearable and real, but the resurrection on the third day makes this moment one of unspeakable joy held inside unbearable pain. Bartimaeus saw Jesus because grace was given to the humble, not the privileged. The blind beggar had no theological training, no eyewitness experience of miracles, and no social standing. Blindness in the first century meant economic ruin, social rejection, and religious shame. And yet when the crowd told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he called out "Son of David," a title packed with messianic weight drawn from 2 Samuel 7. Pastor Brian Crawford points out the stunning irony: the man with no eyes sees what the disciples with every advantage could not. Grace, he argues, lives in humility. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, and that includes the grace to see. Jesus stopping for Bartimaeus is a picture of how grace restores dignity. The crowd tried to silence the beggar. Jesus stopped. In stopping, he publicly honored a man everyone else dismissed. Pastor Brian Crawford makes the point directly: it does not matter how many people look past you. If Jesus sees you, you are seen. Faith is grace given to see Jesus rightly and ourselves honestly. Pastor Brian Crawford closes by defining faith not as willpower or religious striving but as a grace-given ability to see Jesus as the Son of David and Savior, and to see ourselves as people who have nothing to bring and everything to receive. Bartimaeus did not hide his need when Jesus asked what he wanted. He said it plainly. That kind of honest, humble confession is exactly what Jesus invites every person into, believer and seeker alike, every single day.

SERMON SUMMARY Main Point: Seeing Jesus is an act of grace that only comes from Jesus himself. On May 31, 2026, Pastor Brian Crawford preached from Luke 18:31-43, a passage Luke intentionally placed two stories side by side: disciples who can see but cannot see, and a blind man who cannot see but sees everything that matters. The central question running through the whole sermon is simple and searching: what does it actually mean to have eyes for Jesus? The disciples were physically present but spiritually veiled. Jesus tells the Twelve exactly what is about to happen in Jerusalem, with remarkable detail. He describes betrayal, mockery, flogging, death, and resurrection. And yet Luke records three separate phrases to describe their response: they understood nothing, the saying was hidden, and they did not grasp it. Pastor Brian Crawford argues this is not casual confusion. It is a complete veiling of the eyes, one that only God can lift. The disciples had every advantage and still could not see. Seeing Jesus is never the reward for proximity or religious effort. The cross was God's deliberate plan, not a tragedy he allowed. Pastor Brian Crawford draws on Peter's sermon in Acts 2:23 to show that every person involved in the crucifixion, from the Jewish leaders to Judas to the Gentiles to the crowds, bore real guilt. And yet all of it unfolded according to God's foreknowledge and predetermined plan. Human responsibility and divine sovereignty both stand. The suffering was unbearable and real, but the resurrection on the third day makes this moment one of unspeakable joy held inside unbearable pain. Bartimaeus saw Jesus because grace was given to the humble, not the privileged. The blind beggar had no theological training, no eyewitness experience of miracles, and no social standing. Blindness in the first century meant economic ruin, social rejection, and religious shame. And yet when the crowd told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he called out "Son of David," a title packed with messianic weight drawn from 2 Samuel 7. Pastor Brian Crawford points out the stunning irony: the man with no eyes sees what the disciples with every advantage could not. Grace, he argues, lives in humility. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, and that includes the grace to see. Jesus stopping for Bartimaeus is a picture of how grace restores dignity. The crowd tried to silence the beggar. Jesus stopped. In stopping, he publicly honored a man everyone else dismissed. Pastor Brian Crawford makes the point directly: it does not matter how many people look past you. If Jesus sees you, you are seen. Faith is grace given to see Jesus rightly and ourselves honestly. Pastor Brian Crawford closes by defining faith not as willpower or religious striving but as a grace-given ability to see Jesus as the Son of David and Savior, and to see ourselves as people who have nothing to bring and everything to receive. Bartimaeus did not hide his need when Jesus asked what he wanted. He said it plainly. That kind of honest, humble confession is exactly what Jesus invites every person into, believer and seeker alike, every single day.

“Now they were bringing even infants to him so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭ If we come to Jesus holding nothing, we will receive everything. If we seek to hold something to qualify us, we will receive nothing. In this passage, Luke uses a word that is reserved for infants and toddlers, rather than just “children" to characterize these that were being brought to Jesus. These children cannot hold anything, they can only be held. Their fate is in the one who is holding them. Children were seen as liabilities in this time, so it makes sense that the disciples would have rebuked parents. But the disciples were wrong, and they didn’t see the value in the children that Jesus did. Jesus was even angered that the disciples were rebuking the parents. Children are shown as our models of kingdom citizenship. They are needy, feeble and weak, and require constant attention, feeding, changing, etc. to keep them alive. And if we don’t come to the kingdom of God in the same way, we will not gain entry. We need to be children with no accolades, no riches, no protection, no accomplishments. It is not what we are holding onto that will save us, but Who is holding us! The Rich Ruler in Jesus's parable that follows represents the anti-thesis of inheriting eternal life. The ruler is wealthy, respected, important, and a keeper of the law. He shows up asking the right question, and to the right person. But his posture before Christ is wrong. Even the ruler’s address is correct - he calls Jesus “Good.” This wouldn’t have been a normal introduction during this time. So even saying “good teacher” the Ruler is attributing to Jesus the attributes that would have been reserved for God. But the ruler doesn’t understand - none of us can get there and achieve righteousness, except through God Himself! So Jesus asks him to obey one more thing -- Jesus asks him to give up the thing that makes him who he is. Money and possessions are a powerful source of delusion and identity. But this is not just about Greed. Our own identities are idols for us. The rich young ruler's actions show that he’s breaking the first commandment - worshiping his identity via his wealth as his god. The people around Jesus then ask “if this guy cannot be saved, then who?!?!” And Jesus answers, “with God, all things are possible.” When we loosen the grip on our lives, and give up our own strength, we allow God to dictate our lives. What is holding you from being held? What do we hold onto to find worth before God?

“Now they were bringing even infants to him so that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭ If we come to Jesus holding nothing, we will receive everything. If we seek to hold something to qualify us, we will receive nothing. In this passage, Luke uses a word that is reserved for infants and toddlers, rather than just “children" to characterize these that were being brought to Jesus. These children cannot hold anything, they can only be held. Their fate is in the one who is holding them. Children were seen as liabilities in this time, so it makes sense that the disciples would have rebuked parents. But the disciples were wrong, and they didn’t see the value in the children that Jesus did. Jesus was even angered that the disciples were rebuking the parents. Children are shown as our models of kingdom citizenship. They are needy, feeble and weak, and require constant attention, feeding, changing, etc. to keep them alive. And if we don’t come to the kingdom of God in the same way, we will not gain entry. We need to be children with no accolades, no riches, no protection, no accomplishments. It is not what we are holding onto that will save us, but Who is holding us! The Rich Ruler in Jesus's parable that follows represents the anti-thesis of inheriting eternal life. The ruler is wealthy, respected, important, and a keeper of the law. He shows up asking the right question, and to the right person. But his posture before Christ is wrong. Even the ruler’s address is correct - he calls Jesus “Good.” This wouldn’t have been a normal introduction during this time. So even saying “good teacher” the Ruler is attributing to Jesus the attributes that would have been reserved for God. But the ruler doesn’t understand - none of us can get there and achieve righteousness, except through God Himself! So Jesus asks him to obey one more thing -- Jesus asks him to give up the thing that makes him who he is. Money and possessions are a powerful source of delusion and identity. But this is not just about Greed. Our own identities are idols for us. The rich young ruler's actions show that he’s breaking the first commandment - worshiping his identity via his wealth as his god. The people around Jesus then ask “if this guy cannot be saved, then who?!?!” And Jesus answers, “with God, all things are possible.” When we loosen the grip on our lives, and give up our own strength, we allow God to dictate our lives. What is holding you from being held? What do we hold onto to find worth before God?

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭ In this parable we have two men with two postures, two prayers, and they leave with two different positions before God. Through this parable, Jesus outlines what genuine faith looks like. Contempt towards others is a primary fruit of self-righteousness. When we, like the Pharisee, have built our own pillars upon which we stand, we will look down on others and elevate ourselves. We will not possess the humility necessary for justification. Two people - a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisees were the powerful and religious elite (socially well-connected and the "really good church folks of the day). The tax collector would have been the social outcast and seen as a traitor. Both of these individuals went up the hill to seek after God. Two postures - The Pharisee prays about himself. He sees himself above and beyond the people who cannot reach his position. God is an accessory to this man’s prayer. The main character is himself. The prayer expresses no need. Two positions: The Tax collector is completely mournful, standing away, head down and beating his breast. He sees the gap between himself and God and knows that there is nothing in him that can close that gap. His prayer expresses His need and His desperation. Begging God to turn His judgment from him. In the end, the tax collector’s heart allows him to go home justified. But the Pharisee is not justified. There is no room in the kingdom of Heaven for those who think they are there because of themselves.

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭ In this parable we have two men with two postures, two prayers, and they leave with two different positions before God. Through this parable, Jesus outlines what genuine faith looks like. Contempt towards others is a primary fruit of self-righteousness. When we, like the Pharisee, have built our own pillars upon which we stand, we will look down on others and elevate ourselves. We will not possess the humility necessary for justification. Two people - a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisees were the powerful and religious elite (socially well-connected and the "really good church folks of the day). The tax collector would have been the social outcast and seen as a traitor. Both of these individuals went up the hill to seek after God. Two postures - The Pharisee prays about himself. He sees himself above and beyond the people who cannot reach his position. God is an accessory to this man’s prayer. The main character is himself. The prayer expresses no need. Two positions: The Tax collector is completely mournful, standing away, head down and beating his breast. He sees the gap between himself and God and knows that there is nothing in him that can close that gap. His prayer expresses His need and His desperation. Begging God to turn His judgment from him. In the end, the tax collector’s heart allows him to go home justified. But the Pharisee is not justified. There is no room in the kingdom of Heaven for those who think they are there because of themselves.

““And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Widows in Jesus's day would have been particularly isolated, and context indicates the widow in this story had no male family to offer her support- no husband, but also no brothers, no father, nor grandfather. Jesus uses this parable to instruct His church to handle troublesome days: to keep praying without losing heart. Luke gives us a bleak picture for the widow. She had no choice but to appear before a judge on her own behalf: she has no family to advocate for her. But to make matters worse - this judge is wholly unrighteous. But this widow is able to break this judge and get the mercy and justice she needed. Her persistence alone causes the unrighteous judge to relent. Jesus directs the church to exercise this same persistence. And how much more will the righteous judge care for His children? Persistence in God is all we will ever need - the unrighteous judge's phrase “beat down” in the Greek is an image of someone punching an opponet over and over until the opponent gives up. The widow with no real power wins just because she just keeps showing up. If her persistence makes the unrighteous judge give in, how much more will our persistence work with a righteous judge who also longs to bring us justice and mercy and grace and salvation? Persistence in God is all we will have when it is all said and done - this is a warning to keep praying, keep persisting and not lose heart. When we experience the terrible things in the world, it can be heavy. And Jesus asks “can I find any faith in all the earth?” He has unbelievers in mind, of course, but He’s speaking to His disciples. It’s easy for believers to fall into a series of functional unbelief. Going to service, but never going to meet God there. The lord wants the unbelievers to turn to him, but also the persistent believers to have faith through His physical absence. This woman is alone, and without power. And yet she showed up, each day delivering a single punch to the judge. She didn’t quit on the first attempt, nor the 100th. But eventually… she did win. Jesus is coming back, and He’s coming back for those who are still praying, still loving our neighbors, still blessing our enemies, and not losing heart.

““And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Widows in Jesus's day would have been particularly isolated, and context indicates the widow in this story had no male family to offer her support- no husband, but also no brothers, no father, nor grandfather. Jesus uses this parable to instruct His church to handle troublesome days: to keep praying without losing heart. Luke gives us a bleak picture for the widow. She had no choice but to appear before a judge on her own behalf: she has no family to advocate for her. But to make matters worse - this judge is wholly unrighteous. But this widow is able to break this judge and get the mercy and justice she needed. Her persistence alone causes the unrighteous judge to relent. Jesus directs the church to exercise this same persistence. And how much more will the righteous judge care for His children? Persistence in God is all we will ever need - the unrighteous judge's phrase “beat down” in the Greek is an image of someone punching an opponet over and over until the opponent gives up. The widow with no real power wins just because she just keeps showing up. If her persistence makes the unrighteous judge give in, how much more will our persistence work with a righteous judge who also longs to bring us justice and mercy and grace and salvation? Persistence in God is all we will have when it is all said and done - this is a warning to keep praying, keep persisting and not lose heart. When we experience the terrible things in the world, it can be heavy. And Jesus asks “can I find any faith in all the earth?” He has unbelievers in mind, of course, but He’s speaking to His disciples. It’s easy for believers to fall into a series of functional unbelief. Going to service, but never going to meet God there. The lord wants the unbelievers to turn to him, but also the persistent believers to have faith through His physical absence. This woman is alone, and without power. And yet she showed up, each day delivering a single punch to the judge. She didn’t quit on the first attempt, nor the 100th. But eventually… she did win. Jesus is coming back, and He’s coming back for those who are still praying, still loving our neighbors, still blessing our enemies, and not losing heart.

Sermon Notes 5/3/26 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[i] 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”[j] 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse[k] is, there the vultures[l] will gather.” Luke: 17: 20-37 We, innately, have a longing for a king and powerful leader and the influence that brings to us individually. . In this verse, Jesus starts with addressing those on the outside first - the Pharisees - telling them the kingdom is not a physical place, or one of worldly influence. Jesus says that his kingdom does not display what we assume kingdoms should. If we go looking for the kingdom of God in the places we expect a kingdom to be. Any kingdom we find that promises everything we want, and claims to have Jesus, is nothing more than a house of cards. Instead, the kingdom of God is in the “midst of you.” The Pharisees are told, point blank, that the Kingdom is not within themselves, but rather standing physically among them at that very moment! It is Christ Jesus! The kingdom of God is not locked up in political power, or a location, but in a “Who.” To see the kingdom of God, look to Jesus and not take our eyes off of Him. . Then Jesus turns his attention to the disciples. He uses this as a moment to warn us. Hardship has a tendency to make us desperate. Struggle will increase, and in your longing, false prophets will tell us “the end of your struggle is over there.” But Jesus tells us, DON’T GET DISTRACTED! Many of us define God’s will by the path of least resistance. That’s why we’re so easily distracted and lead astray. In our desperation and longing for Christ, we are easily distracted by counterfeit christs who offer us ease, and require nothing of us. Stay. On. The. Path. Don’t turn to deception in our exhaustion, because that’s when deception is at its strongest. Christ gives us several descriptions to protect us! He tells us when He comes back, everyone will know. It will be undebatable. There will be NO room for skepticism. None will foresee it, but everyone will see it at once. He also tells us that His return will come with suffering and persecution. Jesus tells us His kingdom will come through suffering. So, the return of Christ will NOT come with ease and everything we want. So we should not lose focus on Christ in our own suffering. When you suffer for Jesus, it doesn’t mean you are outside of God. It means that you are most likely, right where you need to be. And we should remain undistracted by the normal good of life. The pursuit of the normal good life can be incredibly distracting. When Christ comes back, life will be normal. We’re living, working, playing, eating and drinking, and we’re in relationships. It’s SUPER easy to build a life without Christ. People think that there’s going to be a lead up to the return of Christ - things changing, stuff start shutting down. But it’s going to be abrupt. That’s what Christ is telling us here. The normal good life carries the ability to mask our pursuit of Christ. Jesus will one day show up, and the life we live with is the life we will be judge by. The normal good life doesn’t sound too evil. But if we’re hypnotized by it, and we have no energy placed in the pursuit of Jesus when He shows up, then we’ll lose our life and the life we hoped to live. Lastly, the arrival of the Kingdom will cause separation. Many, in the end, will cling to the life behind us. We shouldn’t. In order to say hello to the kingdom of God, we must say goodbye to the kingdom of men. And not be surprised when we must cut ties with people who love us and things we love. The king you were made to long for is not any person who exists in your time. You were made to long for Christ. Keep your eyes fixed on Him through the distractions.

Sermon Notes 5/3/26 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[i] 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”[j] 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse[k] is, there the vultures[l] will gather.” Luke: 17: 20-37 We, innately, have a longing for a king and powerful leader and the influence that brings to us individually. . In this verse, Jesus starts with addressing those on the outside first - the Pharisees - telling them the kingdom is not a physical place, or one of worldly influence. Jesus says that his kingdom does not display what we assume kingdoms should. If we go looking for the kingdom of God in the places we expect a kingdom to be. Any kingdom we find that promises everything we want, and claims to have Jesus, is nothing more than a house of cards. Instead, the kingdom of God is in the “midst of you.” The Pharisees are told, point blank, that the Kingdom is not within themselves, but rather standing physically among them at that very moment! It is Christ Jesus! The kingdom of God is not locked up in political power, or a location, but in a “Who.” To see the kingdom of God, look to Jesus and not take our eyes off of Him. . Then Jesus turns his attention to the disciples. He uses this as a moment to warn us. Hardship has a tendency to make us desperate. Struggle will increase, and in your longing, false prophets will tell us “the end of your struggle is over there.” But Jesus tells us, DON’T GET DISTRACTED! Many of us define God’s will by the path of least resistance. That’s why we’re so easily distracted and lead astray. In our desperation and longing for Christ, we are easily distracted by counterfeit christs who offer us ease, and require nothing of us. Stay. On. The. Path. Don’t turn to deception in our exhaustion, because that’s when deception is at its strongest. Christ gives us several descriptions to protect us! He tells us when He comes back, everyone will know. It will be undebatable. There will be NO room for skepticism. None will foresee it, but everyone will see it at once. He also tells us that His return will come with suffering and persecution. Jesus tells us His kingdom will come through suffering. So, the return of Christ will NOT come with ease and everything we want. So we should not lose focus on Christ in our own suffering. When you suffer for Jesus, it doesn’t mean you are outside of God. It means that you are most likely, right where you need to be. And we should remain undistracted by the normal good of life. The pursuit of the normal good life can be incredibly distracting. When Christ comes back, life will be normal. We’re living, working, playing, eating and drinking, and we’re in relationships. It’s SUPER easy to build a life without Christ. People think that there’s going to be a lead up to the return of Christ - things changing, stuff start shutting down. But it’s going to be abrupt. That’s what Christ is telling us here. The normal good life carries the ability to mask our pursuit of Christ. Jesus will one day show up, and the life we live with is the life we will be judge by. The normal good life doesn’t sound too evil. But if we’re hypnotized by it, and we have no energy placed in the pursuit of Jesus when He shows up, then we’ll lose our life and the life we hoped to live. Lastly, the arrival of the Kingdom will cause separation. Many, in the end, will cling to the life behind us. We shouldn’t. In order to say hello to the kingdom of God, we must say goodbye to the kingdom of men. And not be surprised when we must cut ties with people who love us and things we love. The king you were made to long for is not any person who exists in your time. You were made to long for Christ. Keep your eyes fixed on Him through the distractions.

Sermon Notes: April 26, 2026 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19 . We all have something in our lives that makes us feel like we’re on the outside looking in. That's what these lepers are experiencing prior to this story. Leprosy meant complete exclusion in Jewish culture. This is a picture of all of us: because of sin, we are all on the outside, and all have a need we can't fulfill ourselves. The lepers in this story understood that. They refer to Jesus as "Master"--using a word that meant "one who has authority over all else." Even what they ask for specifically--not just "healing," but "mercy," shows their understanding of their complete and utter dependency on Jesus. Jesus doesn't touch them or heal them as an immediate response--instead he commands them to go to the priests, and they respond to that by submitting to his command, understanding that because of his authority the command superseded all other circumstances. The miracle met them along the way--"as they went." By having obedience and faith, they moved before understanding. This is true of our lives--Jesus often asks us to do something before it makes sense. And we must go, and we meet God along the way. Once they were healed, only the Samaritan--the one most on the outside of Jewish culture--who came back. Oftentimes, it is those who are most on the "outside" who are most receptive to mercy. And this Samaritan fully gives himself over to the praise he offered God--"praising with a loud voice" and "falling on his face." This is the posture we should adopt in our own heart when we express thanks to God for his mercy and blessings. Like this Samaritan leper, we should not separate the gifts we receive from the ones who gives it. We should not be like the nine who never returned to offer thanks. It is easy, when we ask something of God and receive it, to get caught up in living our own lives and forget the one who gave it to us. Don't forget God's mercy and be lulled into a life of forgetful comfort without taking a moment to say thank you to the Master for his Mercy. Jesus tells the thankful Samaritan his faith has made him "well," using the same word the Bible uses for salvation--all ten of the men received healing in their body, but the Samaritan received healing and deliverance for something deeper than his skin. His soul was touched.

Sermon Notes: April 26, 2026 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19 . We all have something in our lives that makes us feel like we’re on the outside looking in. That's what these lepers are experiencing prior to this story. Leprosy meant complete exclusion in Jewish culture. This is a picture of all of us: because of sin, we are all on the outside, and all have a need we can't fulfill ourselves. The lepers in this story understood that. They refer to Jesus as "Master"--using a word that meant "one who has authority over all else." Even what they ask for specifically--not just "healing," but "mercy," shows their understanding of their complete and utter dependency on Jesus. Jesus doesn't touch them or heal them as an immediate response--instead he commands them to go to the priests, and they respond to that by submitting to his command, understanding that because of his authority the command superseded all other circumstances. The miracle met them along the way--"as they went." By having obedience and faith, they moved before understanding. This is true of our lives--Jesus often asks us to do something before it makes sense. And we must go, and we meet God along the way. Once they were healed, only the Samaritan--the one most on the outside of Jewish culture--who came back. Oftentimes, it is those who are most on the "outside" who are most receptive to mercy. And this Samaritan fully gives himself over to the praise he offered God--"praising with a loud voice" and "falling on his face." This is the posture we should adopt in our own heart when we express thanks to God for his mercy and blessings. Like this Samaritan leper, we should not separate the gifts we receive from the ones who gives it. We should not be like the nine who never returned to offer thanks. It is easy, when we ask something of God and receive it, to get caught up in living our own lives and forget the one who gave it to us. Don't forget God's mercy and be lulled into a life of forgetful comfort without taking a moment to say thank you to the Master for his Mercy. Jesus tells the thankful Samaritan his faith has made him "well," using the same word the Bible uses for salvation--all ten of the men received healing in their body, but the Samaritan received healing and deliverance for something deeper than his skin. His soul was touched.

Sermon Notes: 4/19/26 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:1-10 In this text, Jesus is no longer speaking to the Pharisees, but is speaking to the disciples, such that they might conduct themselves in a way that would not allow sin the air to breathe. Sin is a trap: when we indulge in it, it hurts us. Jesus notes that this life will have plenty of these traps, but he also pronounces "Woe" on the one who sets the trap. He pronounces "woe" on those who would twist scripture to imply it gives the freedom to sin: to indulge in hate, lust, greed, etc. Those with power and influence who twist scripture in this way can shatter the faith of their victim, and Jesus says that it would be better if their physical body were destroyed than if they face the consequences of hurting people in this way. Jesus also notes that the family of God corrects one another AND restores one another, via forgiveness. We are called to correct our brothers and sisters, but not in a way that defeats or humiliates. We must perpetually correct and forgive. It is an indictment of the family of God when we serve a God who forgives but don't extend that forgiveness to others ourselves. When the apostles are told they must perpetually forgive they understand the implications and realize they can only do so via God's direct help. There's no way a person can live this way without God's help. Jesus says that it's only possible through faith... even faith the size of a tiny mustard seed. The passage ends with a parable of a servant given responsibilities. You do not celebrate a servant who does only what he is commanded. We are commanded to forgive and to have faith. We get no special gift or celebration for fulfilling our duty. God has done so much for us already. He owes us nothing more.

Sermon Notes: 4/19/26 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:1-10 In this text, Jesus is no longer speaking to the Pharisees, but is speaking to the disciples, such that they might conduct themselves in a way that would not allow sin the air to breathe. Sin is a trap: when we indulge in it, it hurts us. Jesus notes that this life will have plenty of these traps, but he also pronounces "Woe" on the one who sets the trap. He pronounces "woe" on those who would twist scripture to imply it gives the freedom to sin: to indulge in hate, lust, greed, etc. Those with power and influence who twist scripture in this way can shatter the faith of their victim, and Jesus says that it would be better if their physical body were destroyed than if they face the consequences of hurting people in this way. Jesus also notes that the family of God corrects one another AND restores one another, via forgiveness. We are called to correct our brothers and sisters, but not in a way that defeats or humiliates. We must perpetually correct and forgive. It is an indictment of the family of God when we serve a God who forgives but don't extend that forgiveness to others ourselves. When the apostles are told they must perpetually forgive they understand the implications and realize they can only do so via God's direct help. There's no way a person can live this way without God's help. Jesus says that it's only possible through faith... even faith the size of a tiny mustard seed. The passage ends with a parable of a servant given responsibilities. You do not celebrate a servant who does only what he is commanded. We are commanded to forgive and to have faith. We get no special gift or celebration for fulfilling our duty. God has done so much for us already. He owes us nothing more.

Sermon notes: April 12, 2026 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”Luke 16: 19-31 Jesus tells this parable to the Pharisees who use their position to justify their greed and love of money. Note the contrast between Lazarus and the rich man.. The rich man lives sumptuously. Lazarus lives in poverty, wishing only to quell his hunger with scraps from the rich man’s table.Lazarus is denied food every day. At death, the rich man is in hell and torment, but Lazarus is in heaven and finally at peace. Notice the role that the dogs play in the story: their care for Lazarus contrasts with the rich man's denial of Lazarus's worth. Also note that Jesus gives the poor man a name: “Lazarus.” It means “the one who God helps.” That is the only thing we need to know about this man. The rich man instead is known only for his money and his status and security. We must ask ourselves what name we have written on our heart. When the characters die, Lazarus “who God helps” is now helped by God into heaven. But the rich man has no one to help him. None of His possessions and wealth and status can save him when he leaves this world. The rich man asks for two things: 1)Mercy from his suffering, which is denied. Hell is what happens when the provider of life is no longer there to sustain it. This man is not in hell because he was rich, but because he trusted in his riches to keep him safe. The man even says “send Lazarus” to provide me relief. He knows the man’s name. He knew him and still ignored him. And we are shown the audacity of his pride, to ask Abraham to order Lazarus to help him. He still sees Lazarus as a servant. His heart is still prideful, even in his suffering. Make no mistake that in life, Lazarus was at the rich man’s gate - a barrier between them. And now, there is still a gate between them. 2)The second thing the rich man asks for is a warning for his family. But he’s still asking Abraham to order Lazarus! And Abraham’s answer is striking! If your family won’t believe what the forefathers said to do, they wouldn’t believe someone coming back from the dead either! We get examples of that in Jesus's ministry and even via Jesus himself. The Pharisees still reject the sign Jesus shows them, when he resurrected Lazarus during His time. And their fate is the same of everyone in our time who rejects Jesus’s own resurrection. We should identify ourselves with Lazarus - the “one who God helps.” Recognize the help you need today is not with what is in your bank account. But your greatest need is Christ Jesus, in whom we have everything we need. Don’t wait until you are on the other side, to see those around you as God sees them. By then, it’s too late.

Sermon notes: April 12, 2026 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”Luke 16: 19-31 Jesus tells this parable to the Pharisees who use their position to justify their greed and love of money. Note the contrast between Lazarus and the rich man.. The rich man lives sumptuously. Lazarus lives in poverty, wishing only to quell his hunger with scraps from the rich man’s table.Lazarus is denied food every day. At death, the rich man is in hell and torment, but Lazarus is in heaven and finally at peace. Notice the role that the dogs play in the story: their care for Lazarus contrasts with the rich man's denial of Lazarus's worth. Also note that Jesus gives the poor man a name: “Lazarus.” It means “the one who God helps.” That is the only thing we need to know about this man. The rich man instead is known only for his money and his status and security. We must ask ourselves what name we have written on our heart. When the characters die, Lazarus “who God helps” is now helped by God into heaven. But the rich man has no one to help him. None of His possessions and wealth and status can save him when he leaves this world. The rich man asks for two things: 1)Mercy from his suffering, which is denied. Hell is what happens when the provider of life is no longer there to sustain it. This man is not in hell because he was rich, but because he trusted in his riches to keep him safe. The man even says “send Lazarus” to provide me relief. He knows the man’s name. He knew him and still ignored him. And we are shown the audacity of his pride, to ask Abraham to order Lazarus to help him. He still sees Lazarus as a servant. His heart is still prideful, even in his suffering. Make no mistake that in life, Lazarus was at the rich man’s gate - a barrier between them. And now, there is still a gate between them. 2)The second thing the rich man asks for is a warning for his family. But he’s still asking Abraham to order Lazarus! And Abraham’s answer is striking! If your family won’t believe what the forefathers said to do, they wouldn’t believe someone coming back from the dead either! We get examples of that in Jesus's ministry and even via Jesus himself. The Pharisees still reject the sign Jesus shows them, when he resurrected Lazarus during His time. And their fate is the same of everyone in our time who rejects Jesus’s own resurrection. We should identify ourselves with Lazarus - the “one who God helps.” Recognize the help you need today is not with what is in your bank account. But your greatest need is Christ Jesus, in whom we have everything we need. Don’t wait until you are on the other side, to see those around you as God sees them. By then, it’s too late.

Sermon notes April 5, 2026 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:11-31 In most any documentary, the filmmaker will pull in many different people to have many different perspectives so that we get a better story. That is what is happening in our text with the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Each encounter with Jesus tells us something about living the Christian life. In the first story, Mary has an encounter with the resurrected savior as she is weeping over someone seemingly having taken the body of her Lord. Mary had been delivered and discipled throughout Jesus’s ministry. In a culture where women were second class citizens, Jesus raises their dignity and honor. Jesus calls her name, “Mary” and she recognizes His voice. And from that moment, everything immediately changes. Her posture shifts from a woman grieving to a woman who is given a message! And He tells her to give the message to “His brothers.” The resurrection of Jesus makes us all family. This is the only time that Jesus uses the word “brother” to talk about His disciples. Note that even when we, like Mary, lose sight of his plan, He still knows our name. The disciples encounter Jesus as well. Afraid for their lives, they had locked themselves inside a room. There are only ten people there. But then ten people become eleven. Jesus appears and says “peace be with you.” And Jesus shows them His wounds. Note the interesting different aspects of Jesus's resurrected body. He remains recognizable and retains His wounds, eventually he will eat with them, but he’s also moving into and out of rooms without opening the door! The emotion in the room shifts immediately! From sadness and fear to peace. And again, we see Jesus's audience transition from followers to apostles and missionaries, as He gives them a mission. Last, we have Thomas’s encounter. Thomas makes a bold statement. He is doubtful of the disciples' claim that Jesus is back alive. Thomas was grieving not only his master, but the hopes of his future. His hopes have been so damaged, that he doesn't believe the 10 men he’d spent the last 3 years of his life with when they say “Jesus is alive!” And with one incredible gesture, Jesus shows up right in the middle of His doubt, and shows Thomas mercy. Jesus doesn’t abandon the doubting. He comes after them! And Thomas calls Jesus “My Master and my Creator!” His posture moves from doubt to awe! And that’s why John closes the way He closes. “I wrote this book so that you might read and believe.” Like any good documentary, John pulls together several points of view, so we get a full picture of the story!

Sermon notes April 5, 2026 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:11-31 In most any documentary, the filmmaker will pull in many different people to have many different perspectives so that we get a better story. That is what is happening in our text with the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Each encounter with Jesus tells us something about living the Christian life. In the first story, Mary has an encounter with the resurrected savior as she is weeping over someone seemingly having taken the body of her Lord. Mary had been delivered and discipled throughout Jesus’s ministry. In a culture where women were second class citizens, Jesus raises their dignity and honor. Jesus calls her name, “Mary” and she recognizes His voice. And from that moment, everything immediately changes. Her posture shifts from a woman grieving to a woman who is given a message! And He tells her to give the message to “His brothers.” The resurrection of Jesus makes us all family. This is the only time that Jesus uses the word “brother” to talk about His disciples. Note that even when we, like Mary, lose sight of his plan, He still knows our name. The disciples encounter Jesus as well. Afraid for their lives, they had locked themselves inside a room. There are only ten people there. But then ten people become eleven. Jesus appears and says “peace be with you.” And Jesus shows them His wounds. Note the interesting different aspects of Jesus's resurrected body. He remains recognizable and retains His wounds, eventually he will eat with them, but he’s also moving into and out of rooms without opening the door! The emotion in the room shifts immediately! From sadness and fear to peace. And again, we see Jesus's audience transition from followers to apostles and missionaries, as He gives them a mission. Last, we have Thomas’s encounter. Thomas makes a bold statement. He is doubtful of the disciples' claim that Jesus is back alive. Thomas was grieving not only his master, but the hopes of his future. His hopes have been so damaged, that he doesn't believe the 10 men he’d spent the last 3 years of his life with when they say “Jesus is alive!” And with one incredible gesture, Jesus shows up right in the middle of His doubt, and shows Thomas mercy. Jesus doesn’t abandon the doubting. He comes after them! And Thomas calls Jesus “My Master and my Creator!” His posture moves from doubt to awe! And that’s why John closes the way He closes. “I wrote this book so that you might read and believe.” Like any good documentary, John pulls together several points of view, so we get a full picture of the story!

Sermon Notes 3/31/26 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11 “Who is this?” Is the question before us in the text today. The response from the crowd is very different depending on the identity they perceive. Prophecy shows us who this is - This is the first time that Jesus presents Himself as king. He fulfills the prophecy regarding the coming king of Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem, not as a random man, but a king that was centuries in the making. He knows everything about this moment! It demonstrates that he is not just a man. He is making his announcement as “the ancient of days.” If he knows everything at this moment, then it means he knows everything that is about to happen to Him. And it highlights that His love for us is not accidental. He is the King of Promise. Matthew even gives us the genealogy of Jesus, showing that he is in the line of succession of David and of Abraham. But note how He comes - not as a conquering king like Rome or Caesar. He comes on a colt, and he doesn’t even have a saddle. The cloaks on the donkey is a mark of disgraceful poverty. The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms of this world. It is not diminished by humility. Before the city even gets to ask “who is this” prophecy has already answered. Praise shows us who this is - They laid out cloaks on the ground for Him to enter and Palm branches and are shouting “Hosana.” This is a royal welcome! A welcome for a king. Hosanna is a Hebrew plea “I beg you to save (us deliver) us.” The crowd is even singing scripture aloud in reaction to what they are seeing. Yet even upon entering, he is prepared to be the “stone rejected by the builders” and in response to this, the lord tells us “if we were to keep silent, creation itself, the stones, would cry out to praise.” For all the shouting and all the branches and cloaks, the question is still asked - “who is this.” The answer that comes is "the prophet Jesus". They’re not wrong. But they’re not right either. The tragedy of this moment is that you can be near all the praise and worship, and still miss the point of it. Jesus is the king. He is worthy of praise. Lastly, Jesus shows us who He is through propitiation. The truth of his actions are loaded with meaning. The crowd crying Hosanna (which means save us) is answered by Jesus’s action. Scripture affirms itself over and over, Jesus’s mission was to save the world from sin. The king comes, but he comes to die. The triumphal entry is triumphant, but it also comes through sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrifice, the propitiation, for our sins. So the crowds cry “save us” and the Gospel answers, “I will.” If Jesus is only a prophet, we still have no peace with God. If Jesus is King and Lord and God, and sacrifices Himself as a perfect blood sacrifice for all sin - the world’s cry “Hosanna” - save us. Your answer of “who is this” changes everything. If he is king, submit to Him, and If he is Savior, trust Him.

Sermon Notes 3/31/26 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11 “Who is this?” Is the question before us in the text today. The response from the crowd is very different depending on the identity they perceive. Prophecy shows us who this is - This is the first time that Jesus presents Himself as king. He fulfills the prophecy regarding the coming king of Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem, not as a random man, but a king that was centuries in the making. He knows everything about this moment! It demonstrates that he is not just a man. He is making his announcement as “the ancient of days.” If he knows everything at this moment, then it means he knows everything that is about to happen to Him. And it highlights that His love for us is not accidental. He is the King of Promise. Matthew even gives us the genealogy of Jesus, showing that he is in the line of succession of David and of Abraham. But note how He comes - not as a conquering king like Rome or Caesar. He comes on a colt, and he doesn’t even have a saddle. The cloaks on the donkey is a mark of disgraceful poverty. The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms of this world. It is not diminished by humility. Before the city even gets to ask “who is this” prophecy has already answered. Praise shows us who this is - They laid out cloaks on the ground for Him to enter and Palm branches and are shouting “Hosana.” This is a royal welcome! A welcome for a king. Hosanna is a Hebrew plea “I beg you to save (us deliver) us.” The crowd is even singing scripture aloud in reaction to what they are seeing. Yet even upon entering, he is prepared to be the “stone rejected by the builders” and in response to this, the lord tells us “if we were to keep silent, creation itself, the stones, would cry out to praise.” For all the shouting and all the branches and cloaks, the question is still asked - “who is this.” The answer that comes is "the prophet Jesus". They’re not wrong. But they’re not right either. The tragedy of this moment is that you can be near all the praise and worship, and still miss the point of it. Jesus is the king. He is worthy of praise. Lastly, Jesus shows us who He is through propitiation. The truth of his actions are loaded with meaning. The crowd crying Hosanna (which means save us) is answered by Jesus’s action. Scripture affirms itself over and over, Jesus’s mission was to save the world from sin. The king comes, but he comes to die. The triumphal entry is triumphant, but it also comes through sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrifice, the propitiation, for our sins. So the crowds cry “save us” and the Gospel answers, “I will.” If Jesus is only a prophet, we still have no peace with God. If Jesus is King and Lord and God, and sacrifices Himself as a perfect blood sacrifice for all sin - the world’s cry “Hosanna” - save us. Your answer of “who is this” changes everything. If he is king, submit to Him, and If he is Savior, trust Him.

Sermon Notes: Luke 16:14-18 "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 'The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.'" Sermon Notes: 3/22/26 God never confronts without the intent to comfort. At first glance, this passage can feel like Jesus is just offering a handful of sayings without much cohesion, but there is a thread running thoughout. He’s exposing the unrighteousness of those who bend the Word of God to their own desires. These are a unified rebuke to the Pharisees. But this text is not just about them… it can be about us. This rebuke is to people who look the part, but their hearts cling to unrighteousness. Jesus isn’t just addressing pagans: he’s addressing those who consider themselves righteous. The text doesn’t allow us to hide. It exposes us, and allows us to openly run to Jesus as the comforter. There’s nothing wrong with having stuff.... but God weighs the heart. The righteousness of man collides with the kingdom of God. The things that are exalted before men are an abomination before God. The text, with its rebuke of the Pharisees as "lovers of money," offers a moment for us to take inventory of how we are living in our private lives. We must remember we are justified only by our reliance on Christ. And our standing before God isn’t related to our own strength, or ability, or possessions, but just Christ alone. Remember the Pharisees thought Jesus wasn’t the one that was prophesied by the law. Jesus isn’t anti-law; he is the obedient son the law required. God’s law remains the same. But that law was not just for the Pharisees, it was for us too. We often want holiness without change in who we are. The word of God stands forever. The last verse about marriage seems random and abrupt. In that day, many treated divorce with scandalous indifference. The Pharisees wanted a religious appearance without the focus required. They wanted a loophole to God's law. How close can I get to sin without calling it sin? If we have to ask these questions, we have already sinned. Kingdom righteousness says “Lord, search me.” This verse was not meant to be used as a way to harm the people of God. This verse is to confront those who treat God’s laws lightly, or those who would reshape God’s word to protect our idols. We’re doing the same thing for which God confronts the hard-hearted Pharisees. God does not let the covenant breakers hide behind technicalities. And that’s why this text is mercy - as it is better to be exposed and offer our hearts to God, than to be exposed later, never having offered Him what He’s owed.

Sermon Notes: Luke 16:14-18 "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 'The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.'" Sermon Notes: 3/22/26 God never confronts without the intent to comfort. At first glance, this passage can feel like Jesus is just offering a handful of sayings without much cohesion, but there is a thread running thoughout. He’s exposing the unrighteousness of those who bend the Word of God to their own desires. These are a unified rebuke to the Pharisees. But this text is not just about them… it can be about us. This rebuke is to people who look the part, but their hearts cling to unrighteousness. Jesus isn’t just addressing pagans: he’s addressing those who consider themselves righteous. The text doesn’t allow us to hide. It exposes us, and allows us to openly run to Jesus as the comforter. There’s nothing wrong with having stuff.... but God weighs the heart. The righteousness of man collides with the kingdom of God. The things that are exalted before men are an abomination before God. The text, with its rebuke of the Pharisees as "lovers of money," offers a moment for us to take inventory of how we are living in our private lives. We must remember we are justified only by our reliance on Christ. And our standing before God isn’t related to our own strength, or ability, or possessions, but just Christ alone. Remember the Pharisees thought Jesus wasn’t the one that was prophesied by the law. Jesus isn’t anti-law; he is the obedient son the law required. God’s law remains the same. But that law was not just for the Pharisees, it was for us too. We often want holiness without change in who we are. The word of God stands forever. The last verse about marriage seems random and abrupt. In that day, many treated divorce with scandalous indifference. The Pharisees wanted a religious appearance without the focus required. They wanted a loophole to God's law. How close can I get to sin without calling it sin? If we have to ask these questions, we have already sinned. Kingdom righteousness says “Lord, search me.” This verse was not meant to be used as a way to harm the people of God. This verse is to confront those who treat God’s laws lightly, or those who would reshape God’s word to protect our idols. We’re doing the same thing for which God confronts the hard-hearted Pharisees. God does not let the covenant breakers hide behind technicalities. And that’s why this text is mercy - as it is better to be exposed and offer our hearts to God, than to be exposed later, never having offered Him what He’s owed.

Luke 16: 1-13 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Sermon Notes: 3/15/2026 This is one of Jesus's more complicated parables, but it is ultimately about stewardship. In Jesus's time, it was normal for a slave to act as a household manager for his master. In this parable, the manager is removed from office, but on his way out the door he becomes very productive. We can tell from the large amounts that the debtors in this story are businessmen operating at a large scale. The manager makes deals with these businessmen and thus gains favor in the community even as his favor with his mater deteriorates. So even as he is kicked out, he is making arrangements to be welcomed into a new home. So regardless of his reasons, we must note that the manager is crafty and shrewd. In the end even the master tells the manager he is done well. So what are we to take from the parable? The manager, a sinner, has his eyes set on his destiny. He is operating with more shrewdness regarding temporal circumstances than Christians often operate regarding eternal circumstances. We must be more committed to making investments in the next life than the world is in making investments in this life. If we believe eternity is real, it should change our urgency and change how we operate with our resources--time, talent, and treasure! This is a diagnostic of our character. After the parable, Jesus moves from a story about stewardship to a diagnostic about how we handle money. Jesus's point is that money just unmasks who we really are. What we do with what we have reveals the state of our heart. Jesus explains that what we have in our possession is not even really ours. Even we ourselves belong to God. Jesus paid a heavy price for us. If we truly understand what we have received in Christ, it frees us to give of what we have. We realize that we are already infinitely wealthy, and thus can give generously of our time, talent, and treasure.

Luke 16: 1-13 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Sermon Notes: 3/15/2026 This is one of Jesus's more complicated parables, but it is ultimately about stewardship. In Jesus's time, it was normal for a slave to act as a household manager for his master. In this parable, the manager is removed from office, but on his way out the door he becomes very productive. We can tell from the large amounts that the debtors in this story are businessmen operating at a large scale. The manager makes deals with these businessmen and thus gains favor in the community even as his favor with his mater deteriorates. So even as he is kicked out, he is making arrangements to be welcomed into a new home. So regardless of his reasons, we must note that the manager is crafty and shrewd. In the end even the master tells the manager he is done well. So what are we to take from the parable? The manager, a sinner, has his eyes set on his destiny. He is operating with more shrewdness regarding temporal circumstances than Christians often operate regarding eternal circumstances. We must be more committed to making investments in the next life than the world is in making investments in this life. If we believe eternity is real, it should change our urgency and change how we operate with our resources--time, talent, and treasure! This is a diagnostic of our character. After the parable, Jesus moves from a story about stewardship to a diagnostic about how we handle money. Jesus's point is that money just unmasks who we really are. What we do with what we have reveals the state of our heart. Jesus explains that what we have in our possession is not even really ours. Even we ourselves belong to God. Jesus paid a heavy price for us. If we truly understand what we have received in Christ, it frees us to give of what we have. We realize that we are already infinitely wealthy, and thus can give generously of our time, talent, and treasure.

Sermon notes: 3/8/26 Luke 15: 1-10 'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ' . Two questions: 1) Who does God seek after? 2) How does he pursue those He seeks after? . Through the previous verses, we see Jesus bouncing back and forth over people who God doesn’t seek after. And He ends those parables, saying “Those who have ears, let them hear.” And this chapter starts with “the tax collectors and sinners (habitualy crooked people - rule benders, and rule abandoners) have decided to follow Christ - to “hear.” But pharisees and scribes who were in the crowd who heard Jesus’ jarring message about discipleship, and were not happy about this message. They saw the sinners and tax collectors as reprehensible, but also viewed themselves above. They don’t see themselves as equals in sin as the sinners. Jesus seeks after everyone, but those who can’t see their own lost-ness and aren’t humble about their condition will miss the glory of God. Jesus invites everyone to be restored at His table. . God goes after us “diligently” and “relentlessly,” and God is not content to let us stay lost. The lost often find themselves in many situations - lostness is equated with darkness. We’re not just IN the darkness. We WERE the darkness. If Jesus doesn’t come for us, our situation is hopeless. A lost sheep’s situation is hopeless without the shepherd coming for them. Thank God we serve a God who is a good shepherd! And when He finds us, He is joyful! This parable says that He carries the sheep back to the herd on His shoulders. This is the image of a sheep that is too weak, injured, or empty. Our lord carries the burden that we are too weak to carry ourselves. . The Pharisees and Scribes in this verse think that they are strong enough to carry their own burdens. None of us can carry the burdens of our sin. When God brings us home, there is a celebration in heaven over the return of a soul. And thank God that the Lord spends more on the party than the cost of the sheep or coin that is returned. . The joy of the Lord carries no price tag. Now look at the other souls the way God looks at us. We are all precious in his sight. Let this joy inform the way we look at those around us!

Sermon notes: 3/8/26 Luke 15: 1-10 'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ' . Two questions: 1) Who does God seek after? 2) How does he pursue those He seeks after? . Through the previous verses, we see Jesus bouncing back and forth over people who God doesn’t seek after. And He ends those parables, saying “Those who have ears, let them hear.” And this chapter starts with “the tax collectors and sinners (habitualy crooked people - rule benders, and rule abandoners) have decided to follow Christ - to “hear.” But pharisees and scribes who were in the crowd who heard Jesus’ jarring message about discipleship, and were not happy about this message. They saw the sinners and tax collectors as reprehensible, but also viewed themselves above. They don’t see themselves as equals in sin as the sinners. Jesus seeks after everyone, but those who can’t see their own lost-ness and aren’t humble about their condition will miss the glory of God. Jesus invites everyone to be restored at His table. . God goes after us “diligently” and “relentlessly,” and God is not content to let us stay lost. The lost often find themselves in many situations - lostness is equated with darkness. We’re not just IN the darkness. We WERE the darkness. If Jesus doesn’t come for us, our situation is hopeless. A lost sheep’s situation is hopeless without the shepherd coming for them. Thank God we serve a God who is a good shepherd! And when He finds us, He is joyful! This parable says that He carries the sheep back to the herd on His shoulders. This is the image of a sheep that is too weak, injured, or empty. Our lord carries the burden that we are too weak to carry ourselves. . The Pharisees and Scribes in this verse think that they are strong enough to carry their own burdens. None of us can carry the burdens of our sin. When God brings us home, there is a celebration in heaven over the return of a soul. And thank God that the Lord spends more on the party than the cost of the sheep or coin that is returned. . The joy of the Lord carries no price tag. Now look at the other souls the way God looks at us. We are all precious in his sight. Let this joy inform the way we look at those around us!

Sermon Notes 3/1/26 Luke 14:25-35 . Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This story has a lot in common with the parable before it. As the parable, the story involves a lot of people who are presumptuous and prideful. Jesus tells them that if they are not careful, and if they remain so presumptuous that they will always be accepted, that they might miss the biggest party ever. The story reveals that, while everyone is invited to Jesus's party, we don't necessarily have the right to do whatever we want there. Crowds form around Jesus for a great number of reasons, but disciples are only formed when we believe what Jesus says and believe he deserves our life which he desires. Why does Jesus tell people to hate our mother and father in this passage? Elsewhere, Jesus tells us to love our friends and family. The hatred he speaks of is not a venomous hatred: it is about priority: family should be put at such a distant second to the things of God that the difference could feel like hatred. A disciple of Jesus will live their life based on the words and ways of Jesus regardless of what friends and family say is best. The crowd may follow Jesus up to the point where people are inconvenienced, but true disciples know that when Jesus asks us to do something we must obey even if it literally strips us of everything. Crowds run from discomfort, but true disciples follow Jesus through discomfort. "Pick up your cross and follow me" is an instruction Christians cannot ignore. To get to the resurrected life, Jesus doesn't avoid suffering: he goes through it. And if we are following him, we should follow him through that suffering all the way to death itself. We are instructed to rejoice in our sufferings, as they create character and strengthen us for the life ahead of us. The Bible never promises prosperity in this life, but in fact promises suffering. We are required to carry a cross. A disciple will pick it up and carry it. But we know that Jesus will never abandon us in suffering. Crowds don't count cost; disciples do. Crowds are more interested in spectacle and energy. They never ask what it means to follow Jesus all their days. They tell themselves if it gets too hard, they can always bail out. Disciples realize that following Christ will cost everything up to and including their lives. And they still follow. Crowd's can't bring the change the world needs. Disciples are empowered by God to do just that. We can only be useful if we follow Jesus's instructions. We may stumble and recover, but those that are only half hearted are not useful. Jesus has given an invitation to his house to everyone, but we aren't able to act however we want to act and be allowed to stay there.

Sermon Notes 3/1/26 Luke 14:25-35 . Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This story has a lot in common with the parable before it. As the parable, the story involves a lot of people who are presumptuous and prideful. Jesus tells them that if they are not careful, and if they remain so presumptuous that they will always be accepted, that they might miss the biggest party ever. The story reveals that, while everyone is invited to Jesus's party, we don't necessarily have the right to do whatever we want there. Crowds form around Jesus for a great number of reasons, but disciples are only formed when we believe what Jesus says and believe he deserves our life which he desires. Why does Jesus tell people to hate our mother and father in this passage? Elsewhere, Jesus tells us to love our friends and family. The hatred he speaks of is not a venomous hatred: it is about priority: family should be put at such a distant second to the things of God that the difference could feel like hatred. A disciple of Jesus will live their life based on the words and ways of Jesus regardless of what friends and family say is best. The crowd may follow Jesus up to the point where people are inconvenienced, but true disciples know that when Jesus asks us to do something we must obey even if it literally strips us of everything. Crowds run from discomfort, but true disciples follow Jesus through discomfort. "Pick up your cross and follow me" is an instruction Christians cannot ignore. To get to the resurrected life, Jesus doesn't avoid suffering: he goes through it. And if we are following him, we should follow him through that suffering all the way to death itself. We are instructed to rejoice in our sufferings, as they create character and strengthen us for the life ahead of us. The Bible never promises prosperity in this life, but in fact promises suffering. We are required to carry a cross. A disciple will pick it up and carry it. But we know that Jesus will never abandon us in suffering. Crowds don't count cost; disciples do. Crowds are more interested in spectacle and energy. They never ask what it means to follow Jesus all their days. They tell themselves if it gets too hard, they can always bail out. Disciples realize that following Christ will cost everything up to and including their lives. And they still follow. Crowd's can't bring the change the world needs. Disciples are empowered by God to do just that. We can only be useful if we follow Jesus's instructions. We may stumble and recover, but those that are only half hearted are not useful. Jesus has given an invitation to his house to everyone, but we aren't able to act however we want to act and be allowed to stay there.

"On a Sabbath day, Jesus went to the home of a leading Pharisee to eat with him. The people there were all watching him very closely. A man with a bad disease was there in front of him. Jesus said to the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?” But they would not answer his question. So he took the man and healed him. Then he sent the man away. Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, “If your son or work animal falls into a well on the Sabbath day, you know you would pull him out immediately.” The Pharisees and teachers of the law could say nothing against what he said. Then Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit. So he told this story: “When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t sit in the most important seat. They may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, they will come to you and say, ‘Give this man your seat!’ Then you will have to move down to the last place and be embarrassed. “So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, ‘Friend, move up here to this better place!’ What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.” Then Jesus said to the Pharisee who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. At another time they will pay you back by inviting you to eat with them. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, and the blind. Then you will have great blessings, because these people cannot pay you back. They have nothing. But God will reward you at the time when all godly people rise from death.” One of the men sitting at the table with Jesus heard these things. The man said to him, “It will be a great blessing for anyone to eat a meal in God’s kingdom!” Jesus said to him, “A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse. The first one said, ‘I have just bought a field, so I must go look at it. Please excuse me.’ Another man said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of work animals; I must go and try them out. Please excuse me.’ A third man said, ‘I just got married; I can’t come.’ “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full! I tell you, not one of those people I invited first will eat any of this food I prepared." Luke 14: 1-24 In these verses, we see Jesus at a party, but the point of the event is not just to have dinner. Rabbis and preachers were invited to this meal. What’s important to know is that invitations to a party like this would be selected very specifically. Usually, care would be taken to make sure none of those invited would be unclean or risk making other guests unclean. Given that the man with dropsy was present, it’s likely the religious elite has cooked up this scene to see if Jesus would heal the man in defiance of the religious elite’s ideas of law and order. And Jesus is about to turn the tables upside down. Jesus disregards their “passivity toward the broken.” Contrary to what they perceive, Jesus knows why he was invited. So when he heals that man, he asks them a question: “What is the point of God’s law.” The lack of response to Jesus's question shows their lack of understanding, and it uncovers that they are violating the spirit of God’s law by weaponizing the letter of God’s law. We should beware of any desire to use God’s law to justify harming the broken. Jesus disregards the Pharisees' emphasis on pride. Most dinner events like this would have utilized a U-shaped table. The host would be at the center, and the least important people would have been at the tips of the U. In healing this man Jesus shows the Pharisees that they are wrong for believing they are the most important people at this dinner. It's so telling that the Pharisees were fighting for position still EVEN AFTER seeing a miracle! This miracle did not change their hearts. Jesus's parable tells us that we should remain humble in all scenarios, because we will overestimate our importance, and God will show us how lowly we are. Pride doesn’t always look like arrogance; sometimes it’s insecurity. But the most important person in the world already sees us in full. Jesus disregards misdefined priority as he turns his attention from the guests to the host. The host set up this party so that those around Him would be able to show favor toward the host. But Jesus tells the host that when we give honor by inviting guests to a party we should invite the poor, because the poor cannot repay and instead we will be repaid by heaven. The real return of any investment will be the returns we receive in heaven. Finally, Jesus disregards their “presumption.” It seems like this last person is completely oblivious that the sermon is about him directly. So Jesus tells another story - another parable - telling him, “I’m talking to you!” At this dinner party in the parable, the religious elite believe that they can reject the invitation because they’ll always be invited. And to that, the master rejects them, and invites the others, the poor the lame and sick. And tells the religious elite, that their presumption that they deserve to be at the party, is completely wrong. No one deserves to be before the Lord. It is at His mercy that we are invited, and should all consider ourselves to be the poor and sick and lame. May we all approach the Lord’s throne with humility and delight and ask Him where we should be seated!

"On a Sabbath day, Jesus went to the home of a leading Pharisee to eat with him. The people there were all watching him very closely. A man with a bad disease was there in front of him. Jesus said to the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?” But they would not answer his question. So he took the man and healed him. Then he sent the man away. Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, “If your son or work animal falls into a well on the Sabbath day, you know you would pull him out immediately.” The Pharisees and teachers of the law could say nothing against what he said. Then Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit. So he told this story: “When someone invites you to a wedding, don’t sit in the most important seat. They may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, they will come to you and say, ‘Give this man your seat!’ Then you will have to move down to the last place and be embarrassed. “So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, ‘Friend, move up here to this better place!’ What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important.” Then Jesus said to the Pharisee who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. At another time they will pay you back by inviting you to eat with them. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, and the blind. Then you will have great blessings, because these people cannot pay you back. They have nothing. But God will reward you at the time when all godly people rise from death.” One of the men sitting at the table with Jesus heard these things. The man said to him, “It will be a great blessing for anyone to eat a meal in God’s kingdom!” Jesus said to him, “A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse. The first one said, ‘I have just bought a field, so I must go look at it. Please excuse me.’ Another man said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of work animals; I must go and try them out. Please excuse me.’ A third man said, ‘I just got married; I can’t come.’ “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full! I tell you, not one of those people I invited first will eat any of this food I prepared." Luke 14: 1-24 In these verses, we see Jesus at a party, but the point of the event is not just to have dinner. Rabbis and preachers were invited to this meal. What’s important to know is that invitations to a party like this would be selected very specifically. Usually, care would be taken to make sure none of those invited would be unclean or risk making other guests unclean. Given that the man with dropsy was present, it’s likely the religious elite has cooked up this scene to see if Jesus would heal the man in defiance of the religious elite’s ideas of law and order. And Jesus is about to turn the tables upside down. Jesus disregards their “passivity toward the broken.” Contrary to what they perceive, Jesus knows why he was invited. So when he heals that man, he asks them a question: “What is the point of God’s law.” The lack of response to Jesus's question shows their lack of understanding, and it uncovers that they are violating the spirit of God’s law by weaponizing the letter of God’s law. We should beware of any desire to use God’s law to justify harming the broken. Jesus disregards the Pharisees' emphasis on pride. Most dinner events like this would have utilized a U-shaped table. The host would be at the center, and the least important people would have been at the tips of the U. In healing this man Jesus shows the Pharisees that they are wrong for believing they are the most important people at this dinner. It's so telling that the Pharisees were fighting for position still EVEN AFTER seeing a miracle! This miracle did not change their hearts. Jesus's parable tells us that we should remain humble in all scenarios, because we will overestimate our importance, and God will show us how lowly we are. Pride doesn’t always look like arrogance; sometimes it’s insecurity. But the most important person in the world already sees us in full. Jesus disregards misdefined priority as he turns his attention from the guests to the host. The host set up this party so that those around Him would be able to show favor toward the host. But Jesus tells the host that when we give honor by inviting guests to a party we should invite the poor, because the poor cannot repay and instead we will be repaid by heaven. The real return of any investment will be the returns we receive in heaven. Finally, Jesus disregards their “presumption.” It seems like this last person is completely oblivious that the sermon is about him directly. So Jesus tells another story - another parable - telling him, “I’m talking to you!” At this dinner party in the parable, the religious elite believe that they can reject the invitation because they’ll always be invited. And to that, the master rejects them, and invites the others, the poor the lame and sick. And tells the religious elite, that their presumption that they deserve to be at the party, is completely wrong. No one deserves to be before the Lord. It is at His mercy that we are invited, and should all consider ourselves to be the poor and sick and lame. May we all approach the Lord’s throne with humility and delight and ask Him where we should be seated!

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Luke 13:31-35 . Sermon notes: Feb 15, 2026 Luke 13: 31-35 . The tone and tenor of this passage conveys that Jesus is relentless in his efforts to pursue those who are unwilling to come to Him. Pay particular attention to three things: 1) Jesus's determination, 2) Jesus's devotion, 3)Jesus's declaration . In the passage, the Pharisees were trying to deter or discourage Jesus from going to Jerusalem. They tell him that Herod wants to kill Him, but Jesus knows that God is sovereign over the life and death of his people. God is in control and Jesus knows there are some things that He still has to accomplish before His death, and thus he would not be deterred. Jesus has insight into the way God enacts His plans. Jesus's path is through a narrow way. He expects us to be willing to go through a narrow way as well. Jesus endured the cross intentionally holding on to and trusting the Father. . Jesus displays a relentless devotion to His people. People in Jerusalem have gotten so caught up in their own self righteousness, that they had no clue that their hearts had become cold and callous. But we serve a God who is married to the weak, and who still who pursues us relentlessly despite our failure. It is a divine obligation that Jesus goes forward to Jerusalem, to die for us sinners. To illustrate this Jesus uses an image of a hen using her wings to cover her chicks. This is the divine protection that Jesus offers us from the dangers of sin. . Jesus also declares divine justice in the passage. There’s both curse and blessing in this utterance. Jerusalem sought to operate by its own rules, thus the curse. But the blessing is that there is a divine promise of restoration. Jesus will come back! How do we receive His divine restoration? By repenting of the sins we have done and turning to Jesus. God is calling to us right now. . Jesus is relentless in His pursuit of you and me. He’s willing to give up His life to see ours saved.

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Luke 13:31-35 . Sermon notes: Feb 15, 2026 Luke 13: 31-35 . The tone and tenor of this passage conveys that Jesus is relentless in his efforts to pursue those who are unwilling to come to Him. Pay particular attention to three things: 1) Jesus's determination, 2) Jesus's devotion, 3)Jesus's declaration . In the passage, the Pharisees were trying to deter or discourage Jesus from going to Jerusalem. They tell him that Herod wants to kill Him, but Jesus knows that God is sovereign over the life and death of his people. God is in control and Jesus knows there are some things that He still has to accomplish before His death, and thus he would not be deterred. Jesus has insight into the way God enacts His plans. Jesus's path is through a narrow way. He expects us to be willing to go through a narrow way as well. Jesus endured the cross intentionally holding on to and trusting the Father. . Jesus displays a relentless devotion to His people. People in Jerusalem have gotten so caught up in their own self righteousness, that they had no clue that their hearts had become cold and callous. But we serve a God who is married to the weak, and who still who pursues us relentlessly despite our failure. It is a divine obligation that Jesus goes forward to Jerusalem, to die for us sinners. To illustrate this Jesus uses an image of a hen using her wings to cover her chicks. This is the divine protection that Jesus offers us from the dangers of sin. . Jesus also declares divine justice in the passage. There’s both curse and blessing in this utterance. Jerusalem sought to operate by its own rules, thus the curse. But the blessing is that there is a divine promise of restoration. Jesus will come back! How do we receive His divine restoration? By repenting of the sins we have done and turning to Jesus. God is calling to us right now. . Jesus is relentless in His pursuit of you and me. He’s willing to give up His life to see ours saved.

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13: 18-30 Sermon Notes: 2/8/26 . Just prior to this passage, we saw that Jesus had no problem bucking standards and traditions when he healed on the sabbath. As he healed a woman, Christ brought forward two parables as rebuke to the religious elites: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven. In the parable of the mustard seed, a small seed grows into a large plant. The seed perseveres and grows into a huge tree. The tiny amount of leaven spreads throughout the large amount of flour. Jesus explains that the hypocrites cannot see the small, wonderful, impactful thing happening right before their eyes: His kingdom is not like what the world expects. His kingdom is anti-self. Because of the fall, all men carry self centeredness. And if we are to access the kingdom of God, it is through an act of denial of self. The kingdom of God is small to the eye, even though it is great in its effects. Jesus is moving from town to town teaching about the kingdom of God. Someone brings a question to Jesus: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” and the answer he gives is difficult to hear. . It's not a direct answer. Instead, it's an admonition that we should concern ourselves with self examination. Instead of answering the question “will those who enter be few?” Jesus answers, “will of those who enter be YOU?” He implores people to "strive," which implies a fight and struggle. As it relates to salvation, he says the way in is narrow. It is hard to achieve the kingdom. You must struggle and fight and kill your flesh. Die to self! Make yourself the right shape and size to fit through that narrow doorway. This does not contradict other texts where it is made clear that salvation is not based on our own efforts. It is an anti-self message. . These words from Christ tell us that there will be a time when the narrow doorway is closed! Many of those who knew Christ who didn’t fit through the doorway will be turned away from the door. This is purposefully uncomfortable. The Church, and the teaching of Christ is anti-self. If it makes us comfortable, and it seems easy… then it is most likely the wide door, rather than the narrow. . If you lose everything for Jesus, you will win. But if you win much for self, you will lose. Our way must be denied, and His way, we must strive and struggle and fight for access through the narrow doorway!

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13: 18-30 Sermon Notes: 2/8/26 . Just prior to this passage, we saw that Jesus had no problem bucking standards and traditions when he healed on the sabbath. As he healed a woman, Christ brought forward two parables as rebuke to the religious elites: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven. In the parable of the mustard seed, a small seed grows into a large plant. The seed perseveres and grows into a huge tree. The tiny amount of leaven spreads throughout the large amount of flour. Jesus explains that the hypocrites cannot see the small, wonderful, impactful thing happening right before their eyes: His kingdom is not like what the world expects. His kingdom is anti-self. Because of the fall, all men carry self centeredness. And if we are to access the kingdom of God, it is through an act of denial of self. The kingdom of God is small to the eye, even though it is great in its effects. Jesus is moving from town to town teaching about the kingdom of God. Someone brings a question to Jesus: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” and the answer he gives is difficult to hear. . It's not a direct answer. Instead, it's an admonition that we should concern ourselves with self examination. Instead of answering the question “will those who enter be few?” Jesus answers, “will of those who enter be YOU?” He implores people to "strive," which implies a fight and struggle. As it relates to salvation, he says the way in is narrow. It is hard to achieve the kingdom. You must struggle and fight and kill your flesh. Die to self! Make yourself the right shape and size to fit through that narrow doorway. This does not contradict other texts where it is made clear that salvation is not based on our own efforts. It is an anti-self message. . These words from Christ tell us that there will be a time when the narrow doorway is closed! Many of those who knew Christ who didn’t fit through the doorway will be turned away from the door. This is purposefully uncomfortable. The Church, and the teaching of Christ is anti-self. If it makes us comfortable, and it seems easy… then it is most likely the wide door, rather than the narrow. . If you lose everything for Jesus, you will win. But if you win much for self, you will lose. Our way must be denied, and His way, we must strive and struggle and fight for access through the narrow doorway!

Sermon notes: Feb 2, 2026. Luke 13: 10-17 "Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people,'There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?' As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him." Many of us suffer through pain that never goes away. Chronic suffering can completely change the way you’re thinking. This text shows us someone with chronic suffering. But your condition does not speak to your value, and Jesus sees your value despite your suffering. The text takes place in a synagogue on the sabbath. This is an ordinary woman who has suffered through this illness for 18 years, to the point her condition feels like her normal life. But Luke calls us to see her as someone deserving of attention, telling us to "behold" her. She isn't given a name, but rather she is known as a list of her conditions. Keep in mind that 18 years is long enough for people to stop asking how she is doing, because she would always be the same. She, of course, would have suffered isolation from this as well, as a condition would become seen as inability, and inability eventually becomes invisibility. But Jesus saw her, so we should see her. Jesus calls her over and heals her. He sees her, points her out, and in this moment, Jesus doesn’t just heal her, but he restores her. In that one moment, Jesus frees her in both body and mind and in society. We have a real enemy in this world, but God is sovereign and can restore everything within our suffering. Jesus restored her from a nameless, faceless list of infirmities, to a “daughter of Abraham,” which is covenant language. This name signifies her belonging to God as one of His chosen people. For 18 years she probably didn’t feel like she was a part of that. But now, she is restored in full - not just in body! The ruler of the synagogue gets mad because he feels his control and social power threatened by Jesus. So, he confronts the people rather than Jesus directly and complains that his order and control are falling apart. His indignation reveals that he prefers order over mercy and tradition over tenderness. Jesus confronts him, and everyone else like him, as hypocrites. He speaks about those who say they follow God while being empty of mercy. Mercy is meant to be a regular rhythm of our lives! So when Jesus healed this woman, He wasn’t breaking the sabbath, but rather fulfilling it, as the Sabbath is a day of reminder of man’s freedom from oppression. These hypocrites would loosen the bonds of their own livestock on the sabbath, but wouldn’t loosen the bonds of the people around them. Jesus doesn’t name us by our diagnosis, but calls us by love. Remember that Jesus didn’t shun the woman with the disabling spirit, but called her a daughter of Abraham and freed her.

Sermon notes: Feb 2, 2026. Luke 13: 10-17 "Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people,'There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?' As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him." Many of us suffer through pain that never goes away. Chronic suffering can completely change the way you’re thinking. This text shows us someone with chronic suffering. But your condition does not speak to your value, and Jesus sees your value despite your suffering. The text takes place in a synagogue on the sabbath. This is an ordinary woman who has suffered through this illness for 18 years, to the point her condition feels like her normal life. But Luke calls us to see her as someone deserving of attention, telling us to "behold" her. She isn't given a name, but rather she is known as a list of her conditions. Keep in mind that 18 years is long enough for people to stop asking how she is doing, because she would always be the same. She, of course, would have suffered isolation from this as well, as a condition would become seen as inability, and inability eventually becomes invisibility. But Jesus saw her, so we should see her. Jesus calls her over and heals her. He sees her, points her out, and in this moment, Jesus doesn’t just heal her, but he restores her. In that one moment, Jesus frees her in both body and mind and in society. We have a real enemy in this world, but God is sovereign and can restore everything within our suffering. Jesus restored her from a nameless, faceless list of infirmities, to a “daughter of Abraham,” which is covenant language. This name signifies her belonging to God as one of His chosen people. For 18 years she probably didn’t feel like she was a part of that. But now, she is restored in full - not just in body! The ruler of the synagogue gets mad because he feels his control and social power threatened by Jesus. So, he confronts the people rather than Jesus directly and complains that his order and control are falling apart. His indignation reveals that he prefers order over mercy and tradition over tenderness. Jesus confronts him, and everyone else like him, as hypocrites. He speaks about those who say they follow God while being empty of mercy. Mercy is meant to be a regular rhythm of our lives! So when Jesus healed this woman, He wasn’t breaking the sabbath, but rather fulfilling it, as the Sabbath is a day of reminder of man’s freedom from oppression. These hypocrites would loosen the bonds of their own livestock on the sabbath, but wouldn’t loosen the bonds of the people around them. Jesus doesn’t name us by our diagnosis, but calls us by love. Remember that Jesus didn’t shun the woman with the disabling spirit, but called her a daughter of Abraham and freed her.

Sermon Notes: Jan 18, 2026 "There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:1-9 With our repentance, our lives should change in a way that iimpacts the world around us. Repentance is required to follow Christ. At the very beginning of Jesus's ministry the Bible records Jesus saying “Repent!” This is not something that is up for negotiation in the life of a Christian. God calls every man and every woman to repent. Jesus’s entrance into our life brings division - it should be a shift in our allegiance away from the things we hold dear, with our topmost allegiance given to Jesus. And that will cause disruption. Repentance means “radical change of heart and mind.” The Greek word translated as repentence, "metanoia," denotes a fundamental change within the self: of mind and heart. There is no entrance into the kingdom of Jesus without a change of heart and mind. In this text, Jesus sets conditions for repentance. There is urgency in all of Jesus’s commands to repent. In the height of theological thinking of Jesus's day wasthe belief that sin can bring about your demise; that God strikes people down for their errors. We, too, are prone to this type of thinking. It helps us make sense of the world that doesn’t always make a lot of sense. But truthfully some suffering won't be neatly understood on this side of the grave. So all we can say is “His grace is sufficient.” We can’t make sense of all the suffering in the world. Nevertheless, Jesus calls us to change. He shows us that ultimately ALL suffering is because of ALL sin. And greater suffering awaits those who don’t turn from their own sinful ways. Jesus forces us away from thinking that the outcomes people encounter are equivalent to their sin. Everyone suffers. And all sin leads to all death. Without repentance, we all will face death. Without Christ, we are all 1 minute away from the worst possible eternal outcome. It is the sin in the world that ensures there will be suffering in this life. But it is sin in your life that ensures your suffering in the next life. It is with urgency that we must turn to Christ and away from our sin. Believe and repent. Unless shift away from the gods of this world towards the savior Jesus Christ, we will actually truly suffer. All of us begin life by rejecting the savior - by being a fruitless fig tree. But true repentance always comes with fruit. Repentance without fruit is self deception. Your life cannot express metanoia on the inside, without showing metanoia on the outside. The way we live our lives with those around us changes. What does it look like: Selfish people becoming more generous. Scheming people becoming more genuine. Savage people become more gentle. When our heart and mind have changed, it doesn’t just happen on the inside. It happens on the outside. In the last parable, Jesus offers us a comfort and a caution. If we lay claim to a lord, but bear no fruit as though we are not connected to that lord, then one day we will be cut off. We can say “I’ve been in church all my life” but if our life doesn’t reflect that, then one day we shall be removed. But the comfort is that we have the chance to reorient ourselves and point our lives toward Christ. He is still giving us grace through His grace, His time and His nurturing. If you do not know Christ, this is an invitation. He is so merciful and so caring. Come to know Him. Turn from your sin and repent.

Sermon Notes: Jan 18, 2026 "There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:1-9 With our repentance, our lives should change in a way that iimpacts the world around us. Repentance is required to follow Christ. At the very beginning of Jesus's ministry the Bible records Jesus saying “Repent!” This is not something that is up for negotiation in the life of a Christian. God calls every man and every woman to repent. Jesus’s entrance into our life brings division - it should be a shift in our allegiance away from the things we hold dear, with our topmost allegiance given to Jesus. And that will cause disruption. Repentance means “radical change of heart and mind.” The Greek word translated as repentence, "metanoia," denotes a fundamental change within the self: of mind and heart. There is no entrance into the kingdom of Jesus without a change of heart and mind. In this text, Jesus sets conditions for repentance. There is urgency in all of Jesus’s commands to repent. In the height of theological thinking of Jesus's day wasthe belief that sin can bring about your demise; that God strikes people down for their errors. We, too, are prone to this type of thinking. It helps us make sense of the world that doesn’t always make a lot of sense. But truthfully some suffering won't be neatly understood on this side of the grave. So all we can say is “His grace is sufficient.” We can’t make sense of all the suffering in the world. Nevertheless, Jesus calls us to change. He shows us that ultimately ALL suffering is because of ALL sin. And greater suffering awaits those who don’t turn from their own sinful ways. Jesus forces us away from thinking that the outcomes people encounter are equivalent to their sin. Everyone suffers. And all sin leads to all death. Without repentance, we all will face death. Without Christ, we are all 1 minute away from the worst possible eternal outcome. It is the sin in the world that ensures there will be suffering in this life. But it is sin in your life that ensures your suffering in the next life. It is with urgency that we must turn to Christ and away from our sin. Believe and repent. Unless shift away from the gods of this world towards the savior Jesus Christ, we will actually truly suffer. All of us begin life by rejecting the savior - by being a fruitless fig tree. But true repentance always comes with fruit. Repentance without fruit is self deception. Your life cannot express metanoia on the inside, without showing metanoia on the outside. The way we live our lives with those around us changes. What does it look like: Selfish people becoming more generous. Scheming people becoming more genuine. Savage people become more gentle. When our heart and mind have changed, it doesn’t just happen on the inside. It happens on the outside. In the last parable, Jesus offers us a comfort and a caution. If we lay claim to a lord, but bear no fruit as though we are not connected to that lord, then one day we will be cut off. We can say “I’ve been in church all my life” but if our life doesn’t reflect that, then one day we shall be removed. But the comfort is that we have the chance to reorient ourselves and point our lives toward Christ. He is still giving us grace through His grace, His time and His nurturing. If you do not know Christ, this is an invitation. He is so merciful and so caring. Come to know Him. Turn from your sin and repent.

Sermon Notes Jan 11 'I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.' He also said to the crowds,'When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.'” Luke 12:49-59 In this text, what does Jesus mean when he says he came to cast fire on the earth and what does he mean when he says “He has a baptism that He must be baptized with?” Jesus is heading to the cross, and the whole world is heading toward the dividing line of the cross: The gospel message is a fire that will purify some and consume others. The cross must be embraced and the one who hung on the cross must be embraced to avoid being consumed by that fire. Jesus will be fully immersed in the act of absorbing all the sins of the world. This is the baptism he speaks of. He carried an amazing weight for me and for you and for the world. This act on the cross will always lead to division: father against son, mother against daughter, families against family. . Now, typically, we hear of Jesus bringing peace! The best way for us to understand this challenging passage is to see Matthew chapter 10, verse 34-37, where Jesus says He has not come to bring peace, but a sword, and that whoever loves father and mother more than Him, is not worthy of Him. That’s the kind of division Christ is bringing - a shift in our allegiance. By declaring that nothing in life comes before Him, He creates division.. Christ has called us to total allegiance. He has called us to accept the lowly and the poor, to reject sexual immorality and lies. And these divisions occur when we reject the gods of cruelty and hypocrisy who are posing as Jesus Himself. . We don’t come to know God by knowing people who seem smart and socially acceptable. We come to know Jesus by looking past those playing roles the world ranks highly. The only way to come to know God is by fixing our eyes upon Him. Don’t wait until you are before the judge to accept the reality of Jesus’ work. It is urgent that you respond to the cross.

Sermon Notes Jan 11 'I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.' He also said to the crowds,'When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.'” Luke 12:49-59 In this text, what does Jesus mean when he says he came to cast fire on the earth and what does he mean when he says “He has a baptism that He must be baptized with?” Jesus is heading to the cross, and the whole world is heading toward the dividing line of the cross: The gospel message is a fire that will purify some and consume others. The cross must be embraced and the one who hung on the cross must be embraced to avoid being consumed by that fire. Jesus will be fully immersed in the act of absorbing all the sins of the world. This is the baptism he speaks of. He carried an amazing weight for me and for you and for the world. This act on the cross will always lead to division: father against son, mother against daughter, families against family. . Now, typically, we hear of Jesus bringing peace! The best way for us to understand this challenging passage is to see Matthew chapter 10, verse 34-37, where Jesus says He has not come to bring peace, but a sword, and that whoever loves father and mother more than Him, is not worthy of Him. That’s the kind of division Christ is bringing - a shift in our allegiance. By declaring that nothing in life comes before Him, He creates division.. Christ has called us to total allegiance. He has called us to accept the lowly and the poor, to reject sexual immorality and lies. And these divisions occur when we reject the gods of cruelty and hypocrisy who are posing as Jesus Himself. . We don’t come to know God by knowing people who seem smart and socially acceptable. We come to know Jesus by looking past those playing roles the world ranks highly. The only way to come to know God is by fixing our eyes upon Him. Don’t wait until you are before the judge to accept the reality of Jesus’ work. It is urgent that you respond to the cross.

Sermon Notes Jan 4th, 2026 Luke: 12: 35-48 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. Luke: 12: 35-48 The people of God are the Family of God. The word to focus on in this passage is “Awake.” The enemy is active in our lives in many ways that can cause us to be lulled to sleep, believing that he is not there. The enemy has devices and schemes he applies to God’s people. We are to stay awake for the eventual return of Christ. “Stay dressed for action” or “Gird up your loins” is the phrase used here - meaning there is action to be completed. Jesus describes the people who are in this parable as eagerly preparing for His return. They are so ready that when there is a knock on the door, they immediately open the door because they’ve been waiting. The knock on our door doesn’t wait for our old age. We cannot afford to be unprepared. Jesus called those who are awake “Blessed.” Those who are awaiting the knock and are in an alert posture for the master's return are actually served by the master! He will return that blessing of service back to those who are ready. We serve a God who delights to attend to us! The caution here is that we should be following Christ because we love Him. Not just when it’s convenient, or because everyone else is. Lastly, we should stay awake in our “assigned lane.” Peter has to ask: “Jesus, is this parable for the crowd or for us?” And Jesus answers “whatever lane you are in, just be ready!” Whatever task or lane He has appointed us to walk, we are to do our job and be ready. For those who misuse their authority or who don’t do what they’re supposed to do, there will be consequences. There are two ways this plays out. 1) Debauchery - the master isn’t here and he ain’t coming back, so I have to get my own comfort. And 2) injustice - the master isn’t here to protect you, so give me what you have. But here is what this posture forgets - the master is coming back! And there will be accountability!

Sermon Notes Jan 4th, 2026 Luke: 12: 35-48 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. Luke: 12: 35-48 The people of God are the Family of God. The word to focus on in this passage is “Awake.” The enemy is active in our lives in many ways that can cause us to be lulled to sleep, believing that he is not there. The enemy has devices and schemes he applies to God’s people. We are to stay awake for the eventual return of Christ. “Stay dressed for action” or “Gird up your loins” is the phrase used here - meaning there is action to be completed. Jesus describes the people who are in this parable as eagerly preparing for His return. They are so ready that when there is a knock on the door, they immediately open the door because they’ve been waiting. The knock on our door doesn’t wait for our old age. We cannot afford to be unprepared. Jesus called those who are awake “Blessed.” Those who are awaiting the knock and are in an alert posture for the master's return are actually served by the master! He will return that blessing of service back to those who are ready. We serve a God who delights to attend to us! The caution here is that we should be following Christ because we love Him. Not just when it’s convenient, or because everyone else is. Lastly, we should stay awake in our “assigned lane.” Peter has to ask: “Jesus, is this parable for the crowd or for us?” And Jesus answers “whatever lane you are in, just be ready!” Whatever task or lane He has appointed us to walk, we are to do our job and be ready. For those who misuse their authority or who don’t do what they’re supposed to do, there will be consequences. There are two ways this plays out. 1) Debauchery - the master isn’t here and he ain’t coming back, so I have to get my own comfort. And 2) injustice - the master isn’t here to protect you, so give me what you have. But here is what this posture forgets - the master is coming back! And there will be accountability!

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

Romans 1:1-7 This passage highlights the significance of Advent. Greetings can be glimpses into the souls of who is both the greeter and the receiver. . The word “Apostle” means the “one who was sent.” Paul was specifically assigned to the Gentiles by God: not randomly. God can use our successes AND failures to set us up right where he has called us to be. Paul describes himself as a servant - which is a glimpse into the Christian life. We accept Christ by laying claim to Christ, BUT also allowing Christ to lay claim to us! We cannot be brought as servants to Christ’s family and still do whatever we want. What part of your life are you still holding onto for yourself and not handing over to God? . Paul tells us that the Gospel/Good News, was promised before the beginning of the world. God promised us provision from the beginning of our fallen state all the way until the end of time. When Jesus came he was not only spiritual offspring but the physical offspring of David as well. We need someone.who not only loves us deeply but has deep power as well. Jesus possessed that: he canceled our debt through his death, but also showed that he can take that cancellation all the way to the Throne of God by resurrecting on the third day. . This greeting is filled with words of confidence: If God is powerful enough to do what He has done in the person of Jesus through the stretches of time, and bring Jesus out of the tomb, then he can navigate your life for the next 24 hours and beyond. . Christ has given an assignment to us. We have not received redemption just to watch. We have received redemption to share the word of that redemption. In light of Jesus’s life death burial and resurrection, anything that Christ assigns to us, ANYTHING, is grace to us! Do you know the kind of nerve you have to have to complain about the assignment you’ve been given by an almighty amazing Holy God - To be assigned work in the kingdom, and then complain about it? Anything the Lord assigns us should be taken as Grace! . We are called to belong in Christ. Just as Paul opens the text here describing how he belongs as a servant of Christ.

Romans 1:1-7 This passage highlights the significance of Advent. Greetings can be glimpses into the souls of who is both the greeter and the receiver. . The word “Apostle” means the “one who was sent.” Paul was specifically assigned to the Gentiles by God: not randomly. God can use our successes AND failures to set us up right where he has called us to be. Paul describes himself as a servant - which is a glimpse into the Christian life. We accept Christ by laying claim to Christ, BUT also allowing Christ to lay claim to us! We cannot be brought as servants to Christ’s family and still do whatever we want. What part of your life are you still holding onto for yourself and not handing over to God? . Paul tells us that the Gospel/Good News, was promised before the beginning of the world. God promised us provision from the beginning of our fallen state all the way until the end of time. When Jesus came he was not only spiritual offspring but the physical offspring of David as well. We need someone.who not only loves us deeply but has deep power as well. Jesus possessed that: he canceled our debt through his death, but also showed that he can take that cancellation all the way to the Throne of God by resurrecting on the third day. . This greeting is filled with words of confidence: If God is powerful enough to do what He has done in the person of Jesus through the stretches of time, and bring Jesus out of the tomb, then he can navigate your life for the next 24 hours and beyond. . Christ has given an assignment to us. We have not received redemption just to watch. We have received redemption to share the word of that redemption. In light of Jesus’s life death burial and resurrection, anything that Christ assigns to us, ANYTHING, is grace to us! Do you know the kind of nerve you have to have to complain about the assignment you’ve been given by an almighty amazing Holy God - To be assigned work in the kingdom, and then complain about it? Anything the Lord assigns us should be taken as Grace! . We are called to belong in Christ. Just as Paul opens the text here describing how he belongs as a servant of Christ.

"Be patient therefore, Brothers, until the coming for the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives early and late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, Brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold the judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." James 5:7-11 In this passage, Biblical patience is illustrated via the picture of a farmer. Note that a farmer is patient, but he is not idle. He is always weeding, repairing tools, buildling walls, etc. A farmer cares for what has been entrusted to him. Likewise, while we wait on God, and his perfect timing, we also must work. When we reap the benefit, the wait-time will seem short. We wait with hope and joy, anticipating the coming relief. How we wait is important: we must establish and strengthen our heart to have spiritual resolve and not waiver. Discouragement can make you want to give up, but in the passage, James gives us motivation. He tells us to "be patient, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." Our fulfillment isn't far off! Each moment brings us closer to Jesus's return! And how should we shore up our resolve? By preaching the gospel to ourselves! Impatience can tempt us to grumble and complain, and can be a joy killer that spreads to others in the community. When Jesus comes back, would we want him to find us being miserable and causing one another to be miserable? Of course not. A heart filled with negativity will displease our father in heaven. Remember that the end of the story is blessing, and those who are patient will be blessed.

"Be patient therefore, Brothers, until the coming for the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives early and late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, Brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold the judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." James 5:7-11 In this passage, Biblical patience is illustrated via the picture of a farmer. Note that a farmer is patient, but he is not idle. He is always weeding, repairing tools, buildling walls, etc. A farmer cares for what has been entrusted to him. Likewise, while we wait on God, and his perfect timing, we also must work. When we reap the benefit, the wait-time will seem short. We wait with hope and joy, anticipating the coming relief. How we wait is important: we must establish and strengthen our heart to have spiritual resolve and not waiver. Discouragement can make you want to give up, but in the passage, James gives us motivation. He tells us to "be patient, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." Our fulfillment isn't far off! Each moment brings us closer to Jesus's return! And how should we shore up our resolve? By preaching the gospel to ourselves! Impatience can tempt us to grumble and complain, and can be a joy killer that spreads to others in the community. When Jesus comes back, would we want him to find us being miserable and causing one another to be miserable? Of course not. A heart filled with negativity will displease our father in heaven. Remember that the end of the story is blessing, and those who are patient will be blessed.

Sermon notes - 12/7/25 Romans 15 4-13 . Check us out at: https://citylightvicksburg.org/ Or check us out here: https://www.facebook.com/citylightvicksburg . "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Crhst has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, 'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.' And again it says 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.' And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.' And again Isaiah says, 'The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.' May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15: 4-13 This text serves as Paul’s last official instructional moment for the people of God at Rome. It is a text that is calling us to remain bound to Christ, but also bound to one another. When we think about biblical peace, it’s more than the absence of conflict. Biblical peace represents wholeness and completeness. The arrival of Jesus means the arrival of “Shalom” wholeness of peace between God and His people. Jesus arrived with peace, but when he ascended, he left peace behind with us! We’ve been given this peace with God because the Holy Spirit and salvation has been left with us and his word has been left with us. Because of this, peace may exist among all the faithful. This peace is one aspect of our testimony to the world as we wait for Jesus's Second Coming. So we must ask ourselves: What does it mean to be the kind of people who profess a God who came with peace, left peace and is coming with peace? The groups that Paul is writing to here are a people disrupted by class, ethnicity, etc. but Paul is showing us that there is hope for peace within all that division. Paul argues that strong gospel minded Christians have an obligation to bear with and carry their weak Gospel minded Christian siblings. We are to lovingly bear with our brothers and sisters who may be too tied up with laws and restrictions of conscience.With intentionality, we are to uplift our Christian siblings who we could easily be divided from over these matters of conscience. You and I need help to do this, so we should pray! It’s going to take endurance to live this life, but it takes God to give that endurance and encouragement. It is to God we must appeal over and over in order to live in harmony with our fellow Christians. If your life is empty of seeking endurance from the one who holds it, is it surprising that you are lacking the endurance you need? We are to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Accept one another as Christ has accepted us: in our differences. Why should we accept all these differences? Because Christ accepts us. Who are we to erect higher standards for kinship than Christ? We might disagree on matters of politics or culture, but we have the same Savior by faith. So we accept those who are different than us, because Christ has accepted us and them as well! And why should we do this? Because God is glorified when Christians are able to disregard our partisanship and accept our fellow brothers and sisters. We have been given the power to live lives that are filled with gospel peace/shalom. The joy in our peace comes through our dependence on Christ's actions on the cross. You and I have no excuse to live on as division makers. We have been given holy power to live peacefully despite our differences, which will make others outside of the faith say “there’s something different and awesome about those people! I want that too!”