Sermons I wrote

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Faith comes in Obedience

Text John 2:1-11
Thought : The servant’s faith was revealed through their obedience despite not understanding.

jesus-changes-water-wine-crafts-800x800Imagine that you were a server in John 2. Jesus is about to perform his first public miracle. To date, Jesus is just the son of a Carpenter (as man sees him) and has yet to reveal his power. John has proclaimed him as the Lamb of God but that is not front page news yet. So here Jesus is, at the wedding and per mother Mary’s request, he tells the servers to fill the water pots. With water. I don’t know about you but I don’t like watered down drinks. Yet this is the command, with water they are filled. To the brim. By the way a side note, Jesus never gives more than we can handle, to the brim, not more. Maybe we get panicked when we feel full to the brim but it is in these full times that he begins to work miracles. Back to the story, think about the faith of the server that followed Jesus words, dip out water (that’s what went in) and give it to the governor as wine. Now I wonder at what point the water changes, but more importantly at point did the servers change. You never can come to Jesus without change. There’s a phrase used, “but the servants knew”, see there is the change. These servants saw what Jesus did. They knew now that there was something different in Jesus. When we follow Jesus he not only will fill us to the brim but will leave us changed and ready to be used. What if the server argued that water will not work, what if he doubted the miracle. We all can learn more about Jesus as we follow his word.

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The Book of Luke- Introduction

Luke 1:1-4

Luke starts with the Birth of Jesus then he works his way through the life of Jesus and ends with the ascension of Jesus. Much like in our own lives we must be born of Christ, live for Christ and then we will ascend to heaven and be with Christ. This is a thought by thought study of the Book of Luke it will not follow the outline or restrictions of chapter and verse divisions.  Each post will be confined to about 500 words for quick reading.

Luke was written from the perspective of a physician about the great physician himself Jesus. Written around the early to late 60’s B.C.. Christ Jesus is introduced to us here as the Son of Man. The great Christmas story heard so often is found in the second book of this recording of the life of our dear Savior.  Written from the view of a Gentile to a gentile world Luke unravels the gospel through the life of Jesus and introduces us to others as well. The Gospel account of Luke is written to be clear and concise understandable and applicable lessons from Christ. A quick outline of the Book could look as this

I. The Introduction of the Son of Man

II The Ministry of the Son of Man

III. . The rejection of the Son of Man

IV. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Son of Man.

 

Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,  2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;  3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,  4 That thou mightiest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Our first thought is found in the first sentence. Luke recognizes that others have come along and written about the life of Christ but he has concerns that the story may not be right. He will “set forth in order” the “eyewitness” account of the ministry of Christ. This is truer today than ever before. How easy is to start a blog, getting a following and mis-teach and mis-lead people? We can easily read others writings and think that they are Godly when in fact they are not. Everything must be washed through the Word to find the truth. Facebook updates and tweets from a little bird can quickly mislead. We must know the Word to be discerning. “That thou mightiest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” Oh be careful what is read and heard concerning the things of Christ. One can easily be misled. Eve for example was perfect yet given a choice went the wrong direction with just a few words from a serpent.

Question? How do you chose what you read for daily devotions?