Lesson 90: The Father Who Forgave (Luke 15:20b-24)
Related MediaIt’s tough to be a good dad, especially during those times when one’s children don’t seem all that concerned with being, well, good children. But what a picture of grace we see in the father who welcomes his wayward/prodigal son. This exuberant dad takes center stage and creates for us a picture of our heavenly Father loving the sinner who repents. The son is not able to even complete his journey or his rehearsed discourse because of this pursuing, forgiving father. We’re challenged once again in this message to join God in rejoicing when the lost repent. The next segment of this parable provides us with the opportunity to see the love of God in His work of reconciliation. It’s a love that the people of Jesus’s day would have seen as ridiculous and shameful; it’s a love that we cannot do without.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christian Life, Soteriology (Salvation)
Lesson 91: The Son Who Seethed (Luke 15:25-32)
Related MediaIt’s always been the case that some people are good at looking like good people while others seem to wear their badness on their sleeves and so automatically get the label of “sinner.” But what is said of beauty could also be said of goodness—certain kinds of it are only skin deep. The older son of this story is the “good” one from the start. He plays by the rules outwardly and looks a lot different than the younger and rebellious brother. When the younger son turns around, however, we find out just how proud the good boy was of his goodness and how miffed he became when the repentant sinner came home. He was the son who, as Pastor Daniel puts it, “seethed.” Daniel takes note of the great irony we find in this story because “the son who stayed ends up more distant from the father than the son who strayed.” In this message, we see several signs that indicate the older brother is distant from the father—signs that force us to ask, “How am I like the older brother in this parable?”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christian Life
Lesson 92: Shrewd Stewardship (Luke 16:1-13)
Related MediaA rich man who commends his dishonest manager? Jesus always told parables in such a way that more was required of his listeners than just an appreciation for a nice story. In the present account, he puts before us a man who found himself in a desperate situation; he needed to do some really good planning pronto, or the rest of his days would be a mere matter of day to day survival. Jesus then uses this parable to call His disciples to faithfulness with all that God has entrusted to them in this short life. We, like the dishonest manager, find ourselves in a situation where we have to make decisions right here and now over what is truly more valuable; how then will we invest accordingly? Pastor Daniel helps us to transition this story into the kingdom focus Jesus was aiming at by emphasizing that we, “practice shrewd, God-centered stewardship.” He maintains that our use of material possessions 1) reveals our investment strategy, 2) reveals our ability to handle truly important things, and 3) reveals our master.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christian Life, Finance
Lesson 93: God’s Unchanging Word (Luke 16:14-17)
Related MediaThe Pharisees were more trapped than they realized. The had set up a system wherein people looked to them for guidance and examples of what true piety was. But as Jesus spoke, they kept showing their true selves through the way they reacted to His teaching. More than that, their hearts were not invisible to God. And furthermore, the eternal Word of God would testify against them. In other words, in a couple short sentences, Jesus was making it clear how the deck was stacked against the Pharisees in every way. They, like us, needed to understand some core things about God and His Word. Pastor Daniel, emphasizing the central truth, “When your heart and His Word conflict, obey God,” makes these key points: 1) God’s Word is going to be distorted and rejected, 2) God’s Word calls us to abandon our own kingdom and enter His, and 3) God’s Word will always be authoritative for your life.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Bibliology (The Written Word), Christian Life
Lesson 94: God’s Design for Marriage and Sexuality (Luke 16:18, Genesis 2:18-25)
Related MediaWhen marriage is brought up in the New Testament, the authors like to go back to Genesis 2. There’s a good reason for this. God’s design for marriage began there, with Adam and Eve, and the institution was never meant to move beyond the basics of what we see exemplified there in the garden. While people have pushed against this throughout every time period in history, and the push recently has only become more pronounced, the church would do well to agree with Jesus and the apostles instead of acquiescing to those bringing their revisions. Pastor Daniel takes us to this original marriage text by explaining how 1) marriage was designed by God, 2) marriage creates a unique relationship, and 3) marriage exists to glorify God.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Lesson 95: Idolatry and Immorality, Part I (Luke 16:18, Romans 1:16-32)
Related Media(Part I) Jesus’s one sentence on marriage and divorce in Luke 16:18 is grounded in so much more truth than He chose to share at that individual moment of teaching. Daniel brings further context to the topic through a look at Romans 1:16-32. The passage begins with a picture of great hope through the gospel and then explains why we need such a great hope by illustrating how mankind has chosen the path of degeneration through every form of idol worship. In this two-part sermon on this passage, Pastor Daniel emphasizes the central idea that “Your immorality began with your idolatry.” Coursing through the passage, two key points are highlighted. 1) Idolatry is rejecting God and worshipping ourselves, and 2) Immorality is the result of and God’s judgment on idolatry. Finally, he finishes the second sermon by returning to the beginning of the passage, maintaining that, “The gospel is God’s provision of righteousness for idolaters.”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Lesson 96: Idolatry and Immorality, Part II (Luke 16:18, Romans 1:16-32)
Related Media(Part II) Jesus’s one sentence on marriage and divorce in Luke 16:18 is grounded in so much more truth than He chose to share at that individual moment of teaching. Daniel brings further context to the topic through a look at Romans 1:16-32. The passage begins with a picture of great hope through the gospel and then explains why we need such a great hope by illustrating how mankind has chosen the path of degeneration through every form of idol worship. In this two-part sermon on this passage, Pastor Daniel emphasizes the central idea that “Your immorality began with your idolatry.” Coursing through the passage, two key points are highlighted. 1) Idolatry is rejecting God and worshipping ourselves, and 2) Immorality is the result of and God’s judgment on idolatry. Finally, he finishes the second sermon by returning to the beginning of the passage, maintaining that, “The gospel is God’s provision of righteousness for idolaters.”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Divorce, Marriage, Soteriology (Salvation), Worship
Lesson 97: What God has Joined Together (Luke 16:18)
Related MediaWhile continuing in this miniseries but turning once again more specifically to Luke 16:18, Pastor Daniel concludes by emphasizing throughout the sermon, “Marriage is a permanent, covenantal relationship…don’t divorce.” What the people of Jesus’s day were tempted to do is not all that different from what we attempt to accomplish today—find loopholes and the lowest expected standards and then pursue that path. Jesus, however, has always had so much more for us in marriage than this. Daniel speaks to people in a number of different life situations related to marriage, calling them to observe the same central principle just mentioned. He addresses 1) those who are not married, 2) those struggling in their marriages, 3) those who have decided to leave their marriage, 4) those who have been sinned against, and 5) those who have sinned by pursuing divorce.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Lesson 98: The Tragic End of Materialism (Luke 16:19-31)
Related MediaThe story Jesus told of the rich man (who goes unnamed) and the poor man named, “Lazarus,” gives us a chilling reminder of the shortness of this life’s present form and the consequences of our worship therein. It is so easy to get caught up trying to get ahead in the here and now, to live for what we choose to see, and to assume that tomorrow will simply be another day of the same. But Jesus presents us with a glimpse of the eternal state and the great divide that exists between those who live for separate kingdoms. Pastor Daniel encourages us in this message to think about our great need to “flee the materialism that abuses the poor and condemns your soul,” submitting to the Word of God and repenting of the areas of our life where materialism has taken hold.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Cultural Issues, Finance
Lesson 100: The Expectations of a Slave (Luke 17:7-10)
Related MediaThere has always been something in humanity that wants to kick against authority, and perhaps we desire that independence today more than ever. We are very tuned into our “rights,” and have sometimes turned equality into something that ends up confusing our ideas about roles, responsibilities, and just rewards. This transfers directly into how we interact with God and the ways in which we view His authority and our submission. Jesus corrects some of this wrong thinking and teaches us what our true place is as “unworthy servants” before our worthy and righteous God. Pastor Daniel encourages us to think through what are the wrong expectations of a slave and what are the correct ones. Wrong expectations include, 1) we should be served, and 2) we should be praised. Realistic expectations help us to grow in our understanding that 1) humility should be created within us, 2) obedience should increase, 3) we will be reminded of who we represent, 4) we should increase in faithfulness and perseverance, and 5) our self-perception will change.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship