The Story of God and Man Part 5: Blessings and Curses
In God’s glorious, unfolding plan to bring salvation to the earth, he patiently worked for centuries while dealing with his chosen but very stubborn people, Israel. They were God’s treasured possession, and he longed to pour out his heavenly blessings on them, but they repeatedly spurned him and so received judgment. This eventually revealed the need for something greater—actually, Someone greater—leading us to the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.
The Story of God and Man Part 4: Promise and Covenant
In the biblical recounting creation, man’s rebellion, and the judgement of God through the flood, mankind’s core problem is starting to come into focus: “the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward” (Genesis 8:21 CSB). This week we focus on God’s initiation of a rescue plan to deliver humanity from their slavery to sin: by making a covenant with Abraham that will bless the whole world. In this, we will see God’s covenant-making with mankind is the framework of the entire Bible, helping us make sense of even the confusing stories and prophecies of the Old Testament: God offers a covenant relationship to humanity. How will we respond?
The Story of God and Man Part 3: The Flood of Noah
This Sunday we will read one of the more remarkable stories in biblical history—the Flood of God’s judgment on the entire world, saving only one man and his family. This event, while it may provoke skepticism due to its extraordinary and severe nature, is declared not only in Genesis but by the Lord Jesus as a true, historical event of judgment and mercy. It serves as a warning to a future day of judgment when Christ returns to earth and as a reminder of God’s great mercy to us when we believe in his great deliverance through his Son.
The Story of God and Man Part 2: The Fall
Have you ever wondered why so many things in this life are relentlessly so difficult, so painful, and so frustrating? Why are so many things so far from what they should be? The Bible provides an answer for all of us that can bring perspective, endurance, and hope in God’s beautiful solution to the world’s greatest problem.
The Story of God and Man Part 1: Creation
For our culture today, the most controversial thing Christians believe is that each of us was created by Almighty God, who designs and reveals our identity and purpose, and to whom we owe love, worship, and obedience. We are not our own. We belong to God. Join us this week as we marvel at the glorious truth of our wonderful, sovereign, loving creator, and the impact of that reality on our daily life.
The Story of God and Man: Series Intro
Brad introduces our series on the Story of God and Man.
Luke 24 & Acts 1,2 -Brothers, What Shall We Do?
A Look Back at Luke 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you…
Luke 24 – The Resurrection: From Suffering to Glory
Though Jesus’ own disciples were highly skeptical that he actually rose from the dead, they were persuaded when they saw him and when he proved from the Scriptures what they should have already seen and believed. This Sunday we will read about what is arguably the most important event in history: the resurrection. We’ll discover some powerful implications for us in our daily lives, such as addressing our doubts and our source for truth.
Luke 22:66-23:25 – The Trials of Jesus and the Wisdom of the Crowds
This week we come to one of the most confounding scenes in the gospel narrative, Jesus’s trial before the Jewish Council, Pilate, Herod, and the Crowds. We see Jesus rightly identified as The Son of God, the Messiah, the King of the universe. We see him falsely accused of crimes he did not commit. We see him acquitted by both Jewish and Roman political authorities. But we see him taken away by the crowd to be murdered. In all this we get a glimpse into our own sinful hearts, and marvel at Jesus’s mission to save the world.
Luke 22:39-65 – Triumphing Over Temptation
Today’s passage contains the story of how three individuals responded to temptation. One response was catastrophic (Judas), one grievously disloyal (Peter), and one heroic (Jesus). We’ll look at Jesus’ heroic triumph over temptation and seek to learn how we can prepare ourselves to endure temptation. For there will likely be times when Satan will demand to sift us like wheat.
Luke 22:1-38 – The Betrayal of the Son
SERMON POWERPOINT Sunday, July 31, 2022 Brad Barrett Luke 22:1-38 The Betrayal of the Son The setting from the text of Scriptures this morning is just hours before Jesus is crucified. Brutally murdered. A more unjust treatment the world has never seen. But it’s no surprise, for Jesus had previously told the disciples that this day was coming. Luke 9:22 ESV “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,…
Luke 21 – The Coming Destruction
In his account of Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem to finish his earthly mission, Luke focuses his narrative on Jesus’s repudiation of the injustice, corruption, and error in the temple service and the elite religious leaders. Finishing his teachings to his disciples, Jesus overhears a comment about the magnificence of the temple, which he responds to by prophesying the destruction of the temple. This prompts a question from his disciples: “When will this happen? What signs should we look for to prepare?” Jesus gives four non-signs, things that are going to happen but do not signal the destruction he’s referring to, and instead warns them: “You’ll know it when you see it. Be ready at all times.” This call to readiness is as relevant for us today as it was for them then, and for all believers throughout history.
Luke 20 – Jesus Confounds His Opponents
With brilliance and tact, Jesus confounded His opponents as they did their best to find a way to entrap Him. For the sake of His followers and potential followers, Jesus outmaneuvered them, turning the tables to expose their opposition to God and His ways. Following Jesus’ example, it’s important that we, the church, hone our responses to today’s critics and opponents so that followers and potential followers of Jesus are drawn to Jesus and strengthened in faith.
Luke 19:11-48 – Do His Business Until He Comes
Have you ever wondered, “What is God’s will for me?” Just one week before he is crucified and resurrected, Jesus tells his followers in a parable what his will for them is after he ascends into heaven. He says, “Engage in my business until I come back,” and he promises great reward to all who do. This Sunday’s passage will look at this parable plus some other words from Jesus that may surprise us, pleasantly so.
The Devotional Life: College Panel
Recommended Resources The Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life – Don Whitney Habits of Grace – David Mathis A good reading Bible(s) New Morning Mercies – Paul Tripp (devotional) The Valley of Vision – Banner of Truth (prayer book) The New City Catechism and Paired Devotional – Crossway (app also available for free in the app store ) Every Moment Holy – Douglas McKelvey / Rabbit Room (prayers, liturgies, etc. for the daily life)
Luke 18:35-19:10 – Salvation for the Outcast
Though few of us like to admit that we are weak and even lost, such an admission is a beautiful place to find intimacy, strength, and help from the God of all power and mercy. This Sunday we will look at two stories that will powerfully inspire us to humbly seek after our merciful Savior.
Luke 17:20-18:8 – Like the Days of Noah and Lot
The Pharisees ask Jesus about the timing of the arrival of God’s Kingdom on earth that He has been talking about. Jesus response to this question in the gospels is always the same: No one can know the timing, but it will happen suddenly, without warning, that is, without further warning than the one he continually gives: be ready today. In our eating, drinking, getting married, buying, selling, planting, building, sleeping, and milling, are we also praying: “Lord let your kingdom come!”
Luke 16:18-17:19 – Rich man and Lazarus, servants and lepers
Rich Man and Lazarus, Servants and Lepers
Luke 16:1-17 – God’s Economics
This week, we’ll look at a perplexing parable about a master, a manager, and money. The details are confusing to our modern understanding of business, but Jesus’s message is clear nonetheless. The problem that Jesus was pointing out was that we, like the disciples and the Pharisees, don’t know what money is really for, and we forget who it really belongs to. When we see how Jesus uses this parable to instruct the disciples and rebuke the Pharisees, we’ll gain great insight into God’s economics. How does he want us to use “our” money?