Waterbrook Sermons Revisited

In Luke 6, Jesus will teach us about the Sabbath and may be much broader than what you think.  As an example, Jesus will show how King David did things thought unlawful, but the priests allowed it. Jesus will also claim to be the One who is Lord of Sabbath.  He'll go on to heal on the same day.  And, after an all night prayer session, he'll pick his team.  Ready to roll, Jesus will begin to teach the most famous of all his sermons from the Plain and the Mount.

Jesus chooses his first followers.  He also performs some healing miracles and steps on some religious toes.  And Jesus is going to throw out the double parable that is going to give scholars some issues.

Jesus will be led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where Jesus will go without food for nine-hundred and sixty hours straight. Satan will confront him and offer 3 interesting temptations.  We'll cover these in great detail. Jesus will also be teaching in the synagogues around Galilee.  He will explain a portion of a passage from Isaiah, but he'll leave a part out intentionally. There'll be a lot of very interesting reactions from his hometown, other towns, and demons. Jesus gives the boot to demons. As supernatural beings, they're privy to Jesus's identity as the Son of God and Messiah, but Jesus silences them. What's with all the hush hush?  

Luke chapter 3 picks up the Gospel story with John who's down at the Jordan River, announcing that God wants everyone to turn from wickedness and prove their commitment by being ritually washed in the river's water.  The Prophet Isaiah predicted his coming. Everyone was speculating that John is the Messiah, but he says to hang tight, the Messiah is just around the corner and is the true Passover Lamb.  In fact, he tells them that the messiah is going to have a "winnowing fork" (3:17 NRSV) that he'll use to separate the harvested grain into one a pile, but he'll burn the remaining chaff with fire that will never stop blazing. Don't be the chaff. In other news, John's been saying that Herod married his brother's wife, which is against the law (Leviticus 18:16) which was only one of many wicked acts. Herod responds by tossing John in prison. But not until after Jesus shows up with the Trinity to be baptized. Luke includes a long genealogy of Jesus, whose lineage via Mary and Joseph can be traced back all the way to Adam—yeah, that Adam—and therefore to God. It's tough to read this list, which is about as interesting as reading an old phone book, but we'll include some fun highlights. And we'll sweeten the deal by showing the Book of Ruth predicted the reign of King David over a hundred years early and ultimately, the coming of Jesus Christ and our relationship to him as the church.  

Joseph and Mary, who is still pregnant, depart from Nazareth for Bethlehem, which is King David's hometown as required by Caesar. In Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to Jesus, wraps him up all nice and cozy, and puts him in a trough because all the accommodations typically provided for travelers were booked. At night, a heavenly army angel appears to local shepherds, followed by the whole angelic Marine Corps shouting acclamations to the Commander in Chief. Glory! Peace! The shepherds decide to go check things out for themselves. Mary and Joseph present baby Jesus to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem where they meet a priest named Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, who is expecting that great things are in store for the nation. The Holy Spirit had informed Simeon that he wouldn't die until laying his eyes upon God's Messiah. Also in the temple is a prophetess named Anna, an eighty-four-year-old widow. Like Simeon, Anna recognizes the Son of God and starts to tell everyone there all about baby Jesus. When he's twelve years old, Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem after his parents go back home, where he's shocked the Temple teachers by the depth of understanding this kid has.  Like so many parents, they're frightened and upset at losing him. But they recognize that he's obeying his "father," who is God. We also talk about the silent years in Psalm 69 and the 24 Courses and how they relate to the 24 elders in Revelation 4 and 5.

Luke introduces his account about what happened through the time of Jesus.  It was in the time of Herod, King of Judea. Where there was a Priest named Zechariah serving his time in the temple, and his wife Elizabeth. But they were old, and Elizabeth was not able to conceive children. On duty, chosen by lot, Zechariah was in the temple to burn incense and the people assembled outside to pray and worship. The angel Gabriel appeared to him, and when Zechariah saw him was started and gripped with fear.  Gabriel told him that his wife, Elizabeth will bear a son, and he was to call him John. The angel, who was Gabriel, told Zechariah that he stood in the presence of God, and spoke to him to tell him the good news. Because of Zechariah's lack of faith, he would be silent until the baby was born. When Elizabeth was sixth months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Mary, a virgin, pledged to be married to Joesph (descendant of David). Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel told her not to be afraid. For God had found favor in her. The angel told her that she will bore a son, and are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and reign over Jacob's descendants forever. His kingdom will never end. The angel told Mary, who wondered how she could because she was still a virgin. The angel answered that the Holy Spirit will come on you, and the Most High will overshadow her. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

Haggai spoke some 66 years after the temple was destroyed, but very likely there were some old people who had seen Solomon's temple in its lavish glory.  God asks them to compare its glory now and see if it measures up. God also tells them to be strong, do not be discouraged, and carry on the work. God further describes the idea of clean and unclean with regards to the hearts of the people. With a change of heart, comes a restoration of blessings. Finally, a promise to Zerubbabel brings hope of the Messiah.

The hard financial times the Jews were experiencing meant God was trying to get their attention, as He warned He would (Deut. 28:15-41). God told them they would sow much and reap little (28:38) and it was happening. Their fruitful land wouldn't prosper if they refused to listen and obey. Here in Haggai they got discouraged and then found other things to do, so God tells them to “consider” their ways. They ate, but didn't have enough to eat, something else God warned about (Lev. 26:14,26; Hos. 4:10; Mic. 6:13,14). They ignored Leviticus 25:4 for 490 years, so God told them the Land would need to rest for 70 years.  They were given an all expenses paid trip to bondage in Babylon. That means all the nutrients farming takes out of land were restored, and their land should have been producing again. When it didn't, they should have known they were being judged. Just as the coats they were putting on weren't warming them, the money they were making wasn't profiting them. God warned them they'd spend their strength at work in vain (Lev. 26:14,20). So when God told them to consider their ways they should take Him seriously. It was time to go back to work on the temple.

In Israel's Post-exile history, the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther tell us the story of a people returning to the land. Post-exile prophets: Haggai, Zecharaiah, and Malachi were there to speak to them from the Lord. Through the prophet Haggai, the Lord noted that these men lived in great houses while His house was still in ruins. Haggai told the men to seriously think about the way they lived. They seemed to only care about pleasure and they had become lazy.  Their future would be one of ruin if they did not mend their ways.

Peter closes out his letter to the churches of Asia Minor with some final words. He instructs the elders about how to lead, includes how and why to live in humility with each other, and gives a final warning to be clear-minded and alert.  

When a person suffers real persecution for the sake of Jesus, it almost always profoundly changes their outlook regarding sin and the pursuits of the flesh. Peter realized we have all spent enough time living like the world. Now we are called to live like Christ. If we really understood that we live in the last days, we would spend a lot more time in prayer. Jesus reminds us in John 15, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Suffering as a Christian is nothing to be ashamed about, even though the world may despise the suffering Christian. Instead, we should glorify God in times of persecution.  Why does Peter say that persecution will begin with the house of God?  Let's find out.

The teaching about submission was especially relevant to a first century married woman who had begun to follow Jesus. She would ask questions such as “Should I leave my husband?” or “Should I change my behavior towards him?” or “Should I assume a superior position to him because now I am in Jesus?” Peter carefully observed that wives are called to submit to their own husbands and not to all men in a general sense. Male headship is God's commanded principle for the home and the church, not for society in general. Peter reminds them that God's plan is that wives impact their husbands not through persuasive lectures, but through godly submission, chaste conduct, and the fear of God. Peter described the kind of warm love that should be among the people of God. We should be compassionate, brotherly, tenderhearted, and even polite. The natural response to hostility is retaliation. This is what the terrible ethnic conflicts all over the world are all about – one group wrongs another, and dedicates the rest of its existence to repaying that wrong. Only the love of Jesus for our enemies can break the terrible cycle.  Though some have regarded the visited spirits as human spirits in 1 Peter 3:19, it is also possible that they were demonic spirits. We know that their disobedience was in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20, Gen 6). We have evidence that this was a time of gross sin for both demons and humans, when there was an ungodly mingling of humans and angels. We'll carefully review the text and see what answers we can discern.

Drink spiritual milk and you'll grow up big and strong and holy.  Or be like a stone.  There are some stones that the Jewish leaders didn't think were good enough for building. Jesus was one of those. Believers too. But these rejected stones will be used to build up a spiritual house, says Peter. He tells us that the stone that everyone hated will become the cornerstone—the most important piece in the whole building. That same stone will trip up those haters and make them fall, and not just the Jews.  There are many throughout history that have tripped over this chosen stone. Okay, so if you're a believer in Jesus, how should you be acting? Well, first of all, flee from sin. Also, you should try to behave yourself when you're dealing with non-believers. They may think Christians live strangely, but if everyone keeps their behavior on the up and up, it could change their mind. Also, don't go around challenging authority figures on purpose. Be respectful to the emperor and his governors. Peter doesn't want anyone thinking Christians are anarchists. Honor your leaders. Jesus didn't do anything wrong and Jewish leaders had him beaten and killed. He never even retaliated—he just trusted that God would sort it all out.

Peter is going to describe what it means to be holy.  He's going to call us saints.  Peter spent 3 years with Jesus who modeled for us what it means to live a holy life in fellowship with the Father. He wants us to live a life that is set apart as a response to God's grace.  Peter will go on to describe an internal change that will help us live in this way as we change to live as foreigners, as people preparing to go home. We must mentally engage in setting all of our hope in God's future grace for us. We should choose to act as those who are God's own people, rejecting the evil desires that once drove our actions before we knew better. He goes on to describe how we can give pure love to other Christians. It's a big part of our purpose and one way God intends for us to spend our brief lives on this side of eternity. Jesus is the living word of God, Peter writes, which is eternal.  God has a plan for you that you can only experience when your mind is being continually washed by the power of the Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine living with Jesus Christ for more than three years.  How much you could learn from the master of all creation? Because the apostle Peter had such such a close look at the life of Jesus, he would know what it looked like to live in holiness amid a hostile world. More than any other man who walked the earth, Jesus modeled that lifestyle. So Peter points his readers to Jesus Himself. In part 1 of 1 Peter chapter 1, we learn that we can have hope in troubled times because of our unique position as children of God.

In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to those who have helped him spread the message of Jesus Christ in Rome.  Paul warned his followers to beware of those people who wish to divide them by causing infighting and other troubles. Paul also mentioned that the one true God will eventually crush Satan and all his followers. He then prayed a benediction of peace and grace to those who earnestly wished to profess the word of God.

Romans 15 stresses unity within the body of believers. We are to take the encouragement from the scriptures and Christ as our example in how we live accepting one another. Paul reminds us that both Jews and Gentiles have looked forward to the coming Messiah and can both rejoice, together, that he has come.  Now it is our job to share the Gospel with others.

In romans 14, Paul turns to the issue of disputable matters with the potential to divide the church. Paul instructs those who feel free to participate in activities formally forbidden under the law not to flaunt their freedom in front of those who, by conscience, still believe those actions to be wrong. Those strong-faith Christians should be willing to set aside their freedom to keep from leading their weaker brothers and sisters into sin by violating their convictions. Paul addresses this topic with additional comments in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

Paul begins Romans Chapter 13 by addressing the issue of submitting yourselves to government rulers. He said that believers in Christ should follow the rules set forth by their government while remembering that God is the true authority and, as such, has established these governing bodies. Paul also said that followers of Christ should pay their taxes. Since the people in authority are serving God, the taxes that you pay are actually paying God. According to Paul in Romans Chapter 13, the only debt you should have is a debt of love to your fellow brothers and sisters. If you love one another, he said, you are fulfilling the law. Paul concludes Romans 13 by discussing the day of God's judgment and that nobody should be stubborn about changing their ways and doing what is right because judgment day is close at hand. 

Romans 12 begins to describe how we should live by virtue of understanding the first 11 chapters of this epistle.  Since we now know our position in Christ by his great mercy and grace, which we did not deserve but desperately needed, how should we then respond? The answer is a life of self-sacrificing worship and service to Jesus Christ and other believers, refusing revenge and overcoming evil with good. 

Romans 11 concludes Paul's discussion about God's plan for the Jews begun in Romans 9 and 10. Paul insists that, though Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, a remnant of Jewish Christians exists by God's grace. God has hardened the rest in their unbelief until enough Gentiles have come to Him through Christ. Then God will release Israel to believe in Christ and restore His covenant with her as many individual Jews come to faith in Christ, as well. Paul stands in awe of God's vast and unknowable mind and complete ownership of all things.

Romans 10 describes Paul's desire that Israel would be saved through the Gospel of Christ, despite her commitment to saving herself through works. Why have the Israelites not confessed the Lordship of Jesus and believed in the resurrection? It's not for lack of hearing and understanding; they are being disobedient to the gospel. Paul will insist that God still opens His arms to her, offering salvation through faith in Christ.

Romans Chapter 9 considered the issue of God's promises to Israel.  Paul is going to give us a history lesson concerning the Israelites and his sovereignty over all mankind.

Paul explains, Christians live under "the law of the Spirit." Jesus did what the old law couldn't—he crushed sin and reunited believers with him again as new creatures with new natures. Because of that, we want to live under His law. Non-believers don't have this. They're unaware that Jesus offers a whole new Spiritual world.  And we are now adopted into His family with all the perks. Forever! We're his sons and daughters.. Paul understands that believers will continue to suffer. But just wait until you see the cornucopia of rewards that can be ours! If God loved us enough to send his own son to die so that we could be saved, don't you think he'll help us with all the other stuff we're going through?  

In Chapter 7, Paul gives us a model of the law and its relationship to the believer by reminding us that a woman must stay faithful when her husband is alive. But once he is dead, she can get married again. Believers in Jesus Christ are now dead when it comes to Jewish law and are free to choose the law set down by Jesus.  Paul says that while the law was good for everybody, it served as a means of temptation because it highlights the forbidden fruit that is attractive to the flesh. For example, where the law forbade coveting, it caused people to fall into this sin where they may not have even thought about it before. Paul was no exception.  He said that his flesh is constantly at war with the law. But there is a solution, Paul said. He told the Romans that the only person who could save a mortal man from a life of sin is Jesus Christ Himself.

Romans chapter 6 opens with Paul's explanation that if you're baptized in Christ, then you're baptized in his death, meaning that you symbolically die and are reborn as a new person. But you don't have to go back to being the old person you were. You're free! Either you want to serve sin as its slave or you want to serve God out of gratitude. You can't do both. Why keep working to earn death when God is giving out eternal life for free through Jesus?

We look at our new benefits of justification through faith in the righteousness of Christ in Romans chapter 5.  We learn that through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are reconciled with God.  Paul goes on to argue that the fall of Adam brought all of mankind into sin and death. But the grace of God, through the righteousness of Christ, has even more power to bring salvation through his grace, than Adam's sin had to bring suffering.

We look at old testament saints in Romans chapter 4.  Abraham was justified by his faith before the law.  David was justified by his faith under the law.  And what does this have to do with you and me?  Two of Waterbrook's teaching pastors tag team to bring this wonderful truth into focus for us.

This week we take a look at whether or not Religious Man can stand on his rituals to be saved. Paul hits this head on in Romans Chapter 3.  But Paul also demonstrates the solution to God's greatest dilemma at the end of the chapter.

Host Brian Jeffreys continues our exegetical series through the New Testament book of Romans. He presents in this episode Romans, chapter 2. 

In our premiere episode of Waterbrook Sermons Revisited, our Host, Brian Jeffreys, begins walking us through the New Testament book of Romans.