Luke 2:39-52 – Jesus Grows Up
This week we will examine the one glimpse the Bible gives us of Jesus’s childhood. That he sought to learn in the temple. That he “grew” in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man, has spoiled many formulas of theologians throughout the ages. God, incarnate, had to learn and grow! As we explore this mystery, we learn some encouraging things about our faith.
Luke 2:21-38 – Waiting Patiently
In this week’s passage, we are introduced to two faithful Israelites: Simeon and Anna, both of whom had spent their life waiting for the promised redeemer, God’s Messiah. Unlike the Pharisees who were trying to bring about the Messiah’s arrival through their good works, the Sanhedrin who had capitulated to Roman politics, the zealots who were trying to liberate Israel by force, or the Essenes who withdrew from engaging the world at all, these two faithful believers trusted God’s promises in his timing, and so found themselves in a position to meet and receive the Messiah at his arrival. The parallels for us today are obvious.
Luke 1:57-80 – Christ our Sunrise
The time of John the Baptist’s birth were days of wonder and praise, for after 400 year of silence from heaven God powerfully visited his people. Like a psalmist, Zechariah sang praises to God, declaring the mighty attributes of God and his Son and prophesying about events that would soon shake the world. This Sunday we will read of these extraordinary days and the fullness of God through his Son, learning that through this we can love him and trust him more.
Luke 1:26-56 – The Promise Keeper
This Sunday we will be looking at Mary’s response to God’s promise and we will ask the question “How do we respond to God’s Promises?
Deferred Hopes, Fulfilled. An advent reflection on Luke 1:5-25
The wise King Solomon, having understood and experienced many things, and blessed by God with great wisdom, makes a simple observation that we can all resonate with: “A deferred hope makes the heart sick.” – In our passage this week, we will watch a faithful Israelite couple have two of their deepest, deferred hopes suddenly fulfilled. Their reaction can give us great insight about ourselves, and point us to an unshakeable hope that will never fail us.
Advent: The Long-Awaited Messiah
For us today, we say, “Jesus the Messiah has already come.” But for centuries prior to that history-making day, the people were in high anticipation. This Sunday three of our pastors will have a panel discussion examining many of the remarkable Old Testament prophecies of the advent– the coming– of Jesus.
Luke 9:18-27 – Come to Jesus
Religion in general is often viewed as a system or a set of rules or teachings. But Christianity is unique because Jesus Christ is unique, and he calls us to a person, that is, himself. He calls us to “come after” him. The implications are life altering. We’ll examine what Jesus means by that and its impact on us.
Luke 9:1-17 – Jesus Sends the Twelve and Feeds the Five Thousand
In this week’s passage we see Jesus continuing to reveal his power over his spiritual enemies and bringing restoration to a world that is broken and bruised by sin and death — and he does so in dramatic fashion, feeding thousands of people with a mere five loaves and two fish. If we look closely, we will see a calling to Christ’s disciples that echoes forward to us today.
Luke 8:40-56 – Do Not Fear, Only Believe
Though overwhelming sin and circumstances can lead to an understandable fear and despair, Jesus Christ proves that trusting in him is far more reasonable. He gently and firmly calls us to such a faith.
Luke 8:1-18 – The parable of the soils
Facing increasing rejection and opposition from the religious leaders of the day, Jesus begins “hiding” his teachings in parables, so that only those who really desire to follow and learn from Jesus are able to know his meaning. This week we will focus on the parable of the sower – or, better, the parable of the soils. The parable asks us to examine our attitude toward Jesus – are we believing? connected? rejecting worldly pleasure? holding fast to his word? This parable warns us, corrects us, and shows us the way to a fruitful life of faith.
Luke 7:36-8:3 – Extraordinary Forgiveness and Love
In a remarkable story in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus powerfully contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee with a sinful woman. The man looks with disdain on her, while she reveals a deep love for Jesus that springs out of the forgiveness he has granted. What can we learn from her? She models to us humility and faith that discovers the riches of God’s grace and results in a deeper love for Jesus.
Luke 7:18-35 – The One Who is and is to Come
While in prison, John the Baptist hears reports of Jesus’s ministry. Many things line up with his expectation of the Messiah, but many things do not. He sends his followers to ask Jesus directly “are you indeed the Messiah, or are we waiting for someone else?” Jesus’s unusual response inspires trust in God for those who believe and repent, but for those who are righteous in their own mind, no response he could give would be sufficient.
Luke 7:1-17 – The Authority and Compassion of Christ
In our passage this week, we will see Jesus in action once again, this time in two remarkable stories, one of healing a dying man, and the other raising a dead man to life. We must ask, who is this Jesus? Who else speaks and acts with such authority that is combined with tender compassion? The answer: there is no one like him, no one else who is worthy of our trust and admiration.
Luke 5:33-6:11 – Fasting & Sabbaths
SERMON POWERPOINT Sunday, September 19, 2021 Brad Barrett Luke 5:27-6:11 The Physician of our Souls Series: Luke Sermon: The Physician of our Souls Luke 5:27-6:11 Verse: Luke 5:32 ESV I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Description: If someone is familiar with the Bible and you want to stab them in their heart, there is one word that will do it: Call them a Pharisee. The Pharisees were a Jewish religious order in the first century, and…
Luke 5:1-26 – We Have Seen Extraordinary Things Today!
In this week’s passage, we are introduced to four sets of people: the first disciples, a leper, a paralytic and his friends, and the pharisees. Through his interactions with these four very diverse people, Jesus shows us that he has the power, willingness, and authority to heal and forgive sin for anyone who comes to him in faith.
Luke 4:31-44 – The Good News of the Kingdom of God
We all long for a world where chaos, brokenness, and death are no more. 2000 years ago someone came to earth declaring such a world, actually a new kingdom. Jesus of Nazareth came revealing an other-worldly power and authority—the kingdom of God—to restore all that is broken in us and in our world. This Sunday we will see Jesus and worship him as the King who has come and is coming again soon to reign over his glorious kingdom and make all things new and right.
Luke 4:16-30 – Bring Your Nothing
In this week’s passage, Jesus proclaims that the long awaited “year of the Lord’s favor”, is here! In his very brief sermon he tells his hometown, the people he grew up with, that he is, in fact, the Messiah. In two strange analogies to Old Testament stories, he tells them the surprising nature of his ministry: God’s grace is free, is open to the gentiles, and we should receive it as humbly as a widow and a leper. This shocking claim enrages the town. And we should ask ourselves, how do we respond?
Luke 3:23-4:15 – The Last Adam
In this week’s passage, we will Jesus, the descendant of King David, and of all our “father” Adam, and also, most importantly, the Son of God, face temptation from our adversary, the devil himself. We will be encouraged as Jesus faces temptation, just as Adam did, and just as we do: as a human. Using the same resources we have available to us, the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit, and reliance on God’s promises and commands in his word.
Luke 3:1-22 – Preparing the Way for the Lord
After more than 400 years of silence from God and enduring much political and moral upheaval, Israel was presented with an extraordinary moment. God sent a prophet named John (a.k.a., the Baptist) whose message was one of repentance, baptism, and forgiveness to turn hearts toward God in preparation for a coming Savior who would change the world. This Sunday we will look at God’s remarkable faithfulness and mercy and also see how John’s message is just as relevant for us today as it was centuries ago.
Luke 3:23-4:15 – That We May Know Him
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series diving into the great story of the Savior of the world, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, written by a man named Luke. The author’s purpose for writing is clear: he wants the reader to have greater certainty of what he has heard about Jesus. Whether you are a member of Stonebrook or simply seeking to understand who Jesus really is, we will read Luke’s Gospel to know Jesus better and to trust him more, for we will discover there is no one like him.
First of all, Pray. The Effect of the Gospel on the Gathered Church
First I’ll set the stage, the context of the letter. The Apostle Paul had an interesting problem on his hands. He had spent three years with the church he started in Ephesus, living with them and instructing them night and day, imparting to them the whole counsel of God. After this he wrote them a definitive letter reminding them of The Gospel and instructing them in how they were to conduct themselves. Now, just a few short years…
