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This week, we continue our study of the minor prophets in the book of Joel. The book of Joel shows us that our Creator and Redeemer God is a God of judgment but also a God of mercy who stands ready to restore His people when they come before Him in repentance. This book also points to a time when the Spirit of God would be present in all God's people.Main Points:1. The Day of the Lord is a Day of JudgmentJoel 1–2:11A locust plague devastates the land.This is a covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:38).It is a foreshadowing of an even greater judgment (Babylonian invasion).Israel is being treated like Egypt for covenant unfaithfulness.

Last week, we talked about our Spirit empowered witness. This week, we continue in Acts by looking at Acts 2:41-43, exploring what it means to be a Spirit empowered church.

Luke 24:1-12This sermon focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the climax of Luke's gospel and the foundation of Christian faith. The resurrection is presented as an unshakable historical fact demonstrated through Jesus' honorable burial, the empty tomb, His appearances, the rise of Christianity, and the change in tradition to gathering on Sunday. The resurrection also provides believers with an unshakable living hope, as expressed in 1 Peter 1:3-4, offering the promise of resurrection life in the new heavens and earth with Jesus. Finally, the resurrection gives believers an unshakable everyday purpose to live faithfully, abound in the work of the Lord, and share the good news with others, following the example of the faithful women at the tomb.

Luke 23:44-56Tyler began our time together by reading 1st Corinthians 15:3-5. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the twelve.” The reality of Jesus' death on the cross and His burial is crucial to the fulfillment of God's story. In this week's passage, we explore what it means that Jesus suffered and gave His life, not only to cover our sin but to lead us into a new life.

Luke 23:32-43This week, Drew walks us through the Crucifixion of Jesus. We see this beautiful and profound act of mercy, as Jesus accomplishes His work to bring sinners with Him to Paradise. In this passage, we see His saving power, His extraordinary forgiveness extended to His enemies and the redemption that is secured for those who trust in Him. 

Luke 23:26-31Luke has set out to create written records of a historical person, Jesus the Christ. Luke's records are careful, intentionally chosen, and are meant to document the life and teachings of Israel's long-awaited Messiah and all of humanity's welcome into God's redemption story. Here, we have followed Luke to the very moment for which he has been preparing his readers.In Luke's record of Barabbas (shared last week), we arrive at the climax and focus of the whole gospel. “All sinners, all rebels, all the human race are invited to see themselves in this figure of Barabbas, and, as we do so, we discover how Jesus takes our places, under condemnation for sins and wickedness, big and small.” (see N.T. Wright's Luke for Everyone)This morning, we're introduced to a second character, likely never expecting an enduring place in history. Simon, on pilgrimage to Jerusalem from one of the Jewish communities in North Africa, becomes a model for all those who, “in devotion, holiness, and service,” follow behind King Jesus in humility and in pain. Simon of Cyrene's activity, in this brief retelling, teaches those following Jesus today that small labors and sufferings for the Kingdom are not meaningless.

Luke 22:63-71As we near the conclusion of Luke's gospel account, we focused today on Luke 22:63-71. Jesus has been arrested and taken into custody by the Jewish leaders. An illegal trial takes place at the residence of the high priest where Jesus is mocked and beaten as well as questioned by the leadership. Looking back at Luke 1:3-5, we are reminded that Luke wrote his gospel “so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” The emphasis of Luke's gospel account has been to present the evidence that Jesus is in fact the Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God. 

Luke 22:47-53The Kingdom of God is upside down to the kingdom of the world.

Luke 22:39-46As Jesus' arrest and crucifixion approached, He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Anticipating the suffering to come, He sought the Father in His agony with prayers for strength and for the salvation of the lost to be accomplished to God's glory. In the Garden, Jesus submitted to the Father's will and triumphed over the devil's temptation not to drink the cup of wrath.

This sermon focuses on aligning our hearts with Jesus during the election season by following five principles: preserving unity within the church, pursuing God's kingdom through prayer, living out Christ-like character, proclaiming the gospel, and engaging faithfully in politics. 

Luke 22:24-38In this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples about true greatness. While the world views greatness as having others serve you and being recognized for your service, Jesus reveals that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is humbly serving others without seeking recognition. Jesus modeled this through His own service to His disciples, and even though the disciples repeatedly failed, Jesus commended their faith. Jesus continues to serve His disciples today, praying for them and forming them through their failures.

Luke 21:5-24Impressive, dazzling, magnificent, an architectural wonder — these are just a few ways Herod's Temple has been described by historians. It was massive, and it symbolized power, strength, and immense wealth. In Luke's account, as the Galileans are marveling at the beauty and artistry as well as the magnitude of the Temple, Jesus turns again to his followers with an “upside-down kingdom” prophecy: this symbol of worldly power and dominance would be destroyed. And, as prominent and awe-inspiring as the Temple was, Jesus did not hesitate to claim that He was greater. Perhaps the Temple, with all of its symbolic power and greatness, began to mean more to the people than God meant to them. Perhaps their awe at its splendor and its security of power meant more to the people than their trust in God. What do you think Jesus was doing in predicting the destruction of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem? How do you see earlier accounts in Luke building up to this prophecy?

Today, we had the privilege of having Jean Baptiste from Mustard Seed Church in Burundi, deliver our message on Luke 20:27-44. Following a series of questions asked of Jesus by the religious leaders, Jesus is asked one last question. They give Jesus a question concerning marriage in the resurrection (afterlife). Again, Jesus confounds them with His answer and verse 40 tells us that they no longer dared to ask Him any questions. Jesus then turns the tables on them and asking them a question. Jesus challenges us by His responses and questions to live a Kingdom lifestyle in honor of our True King.

Luke 19:1-10Zacchaeus was drawn to Jesus. What about Jesus do you think compelled Zacchaeus to climb a tree just to get a view of this man?Three of Luke's regular themes: the “problem of riches and what to do about it, Jesus identifying among sinners, and faith that recognizes Jesus as Lord and results in new life”* are found in this story! Do any of these three themes resonate with you and your community? What does Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus teach us about the Kingdom of God?

We continue this week's sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 18: 31-43. This passage allows us to explore the contrast between spiritual blindness and physical blindness as we see the disciples, the crowd and the blind beggar's response to Jesus.