Lesson 28: Judging Others, Part I: Choosing Your Measure (Luke 6:37-38)
Related Media(Part I) What is it that we hope for from the Lord? Or perhaps a better/more honest question might be, “What do we expect from God?” An answer to either of those questions is likely, “grace,” though we might relay that same answer in different ways. Grace from God is something that we simply all must have if there is to be any hope at all of relationship with Him either now or in eternity. Jesus instructs us about the way in which the gift of grace works, and the main point of this sermon flows from that instruction, “Those who lavish others with God’s grace are those who will receive God’s grace. You determine the measure cup God will use to measure you.” Two simple statements then are derived from the text and help us to flesh out the key idea. The first is a negative directive: Don’t pass judgment on others. The second is of a positive nature: Do lavish mercy on others.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Grace
Lesson 26: Happiness in the Kingdom, Part II: Prestige and Persecution (Luke 6:17-26)
Related Media(Part II) In part 2 of the examination of this text we again look at the key idea of, “happy are you who find your satisfaction in Christ and His kingdom,” and particularly in this message, “…and have abandoned the quest to find satisfaction in the prestige this kingdom offers.” In this passage, we continue to observe how Jesus takes concepts that we would conceive to be categorized one way and reverses them so that we might see something of greater value to pursue in place of that concept. Pastor Daniel points out Jesus’s message that, “Blessed are you who weep,” helping us to understand that we are fortunate if the state of this present world brings us sorrow and godly discontentment. Furthermore, in studying the statement, “Blessed are you who are hated,” the challenge comes to consider ourselves fortunate if we crave the reward of our King more than the approval of rebellious fellow slaves. This is a message for those who wonder if Jesus offers something better than anything this world presents us with.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Basics for Christians, Kingdom, Spiritual Life
Lesson 25: Happiness in the Kingdom, Part I (Luke 6:17-26)
Related Media(Part I) Everyone wants to be happy, but many of our common pursuits do not yield the happiness we are seeking. Jesus, however, knows what is best for us, offering to us that which is most satisfying. In part 1 of this two-part message, we are presented with the main idea of, “happy are you who find your satisfaction in Christ and His kingdom.” As we read that we are blessed when poor and hungry, while woes are upon us if we are rich and filled, these ideas seem altogether counter-intuitive. But Christ gives us the reasons why they are yet true: He alone satisfies. From such, we learn 1) You are fortunate if you are seeking your security in Christ’s kingdom, and 2) You are fortunate if the only food that will satisfy you is the Bread of Life. Jesus has more for us than the ideas of a nice or successful life. In light of His majesty, we are able to see that we regularly delight ourselves in worthless things and simply need to turn our faces toward Him.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Basics for Christians, Kingdom, Spiritual Life
Lesson 23: Choosing the Twelve, Part I (Luke 6:12-16)
Related Media(Part I) In this two-part series, we are introduced to twelve famous (and to a small degree, infamous) followers of Jesus: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the zealot, Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot. Though all very different men from scattered backgrounds, Jesus nonetheless gathered them as one to His side. Through this, Pastor Daniel reminds us that “the effectiveness of our ministry is not dependent upon the one who was called but rather the One who called. It is Jesus who calls and through the Holy Spirit equips us.” As we examine the lives of these men, observing how Jesus interacted with them, considering the ways in which they grew into the men we observe at Pentecost and thereafter, we draw out life principles for ourselves. Their lives serve as great reminders of our need for the one true Savior who calls us out from places of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Discipleship, Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)
Lesson 24: Choosing the Twelve, Part II (Luke 6:12-16)
Related Media(Part II) Choosing the Twelve continued...In this two-part series, we are introduced to twelve famous (and to a small degree, infamous) followers of Jesus: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the zealot, Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot. Though all very different men from scattered backgrounds, Jesus nonetheless gathered them as one to His side. Through this, Pastor Daniel reminds us that “the effectiveness of our ministry is not dependent upon the one who was called but rather the One who called. It is Jesus who calls and through the Holy Spirit equips us.” As we examine the lives of these men, observing how Jesus interacted with them, considering the ways in which they grew into the men we observe at Pentecost and thereafter, we draw out life principles for ourselves. Their lives serve as great reminders of our need for the one true Savior who calls us out from places of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Discipleship, Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)
Lesson 46: Satisfying Bread (Luke 9:10-17)
Related MediaJesus continually showed Himself to be a provider for those in need. He did so in some of the smallest ways through personal individual relationships, it happened miraculously such as in this passage where He fed a large crowd, and it took place in a complete way for people though His work on the cross. In all cases, He showed Himself to be the bread that everyone needed. Pastor Daniel shows in this message that we, on our own accord, are unable to satisfy the physical and spiritual needs of others and ourselves; Christ is the only solution as the all-satisfying bread of heaven. He points out that Luke, in both his gospel account and the book of Acts, narrates the story of Jesus and the early church in such a way that continually displayed how instructions were given to people, how they found that they could not accomplish what was required, and that they needed the continuous flow of the life-stream of Jesus Christ for their own satisfaction and the satisfaction of others.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christian Life, Discipleship, Soteriology (Salvation), Spiritual Life
Lesson 47: Confessing the Crucified Christ (Luke 9:18-22)
Related MediaA shining moment by Peter was followed by difficult words from Jesus. The great truth that Jesus was the Messiah contained also the startling news that the same would suffer, die, and be raised. This was who Jesus was and this was what Jesus came to do. Pastor Daniel points out through this text the necessity of our coming to accept the fullness of who Jesus is and not who we are comfortable with Him being. First, it is not enough for us to confess that Jesus is a great teacher or prophet. Second, it is not enough for us to confess that Jesus is the Christ. And finally, we must confess the suffering, rejected, dying, and resurrected Christ. Daniel wraps up this message through delivering the encouragement for each and every person, on an individual basis, to recognize his/her need for a Savior. It simply is not enough to come close to the truth while never submitting fully to it.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christology, Discipleship, Soteriology (Salvation)
Lesson 48: Death and Discipleship (Luke 9:23-27)
Related MediaJesus was a master at grabbing his disciples’ attention through counter-intuitive statements and plays on words. Consider the passage at hand, “whoever would save his life will lose it…” In reality, some of the most challenging directives that He ever gave rose out of statements like this one. Being a disciple then and being one now meant and means that we are willing to have our minds bent and challenged in ways we would not have sought out on our own. Daniel shares in this message what Scripture brings out as the true meaning of discipleship, stating, “Becoming Christ’s disciple does not mean making some modifications to your current life but rather means your immediate and violent death.” In fleshing this out, he makes the following points: 1) Discipleship begins when your life ends. 2) You and your life cannot both be saved.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Discipleship, Soteriology (Salvation)
Lesson 49: Christ’s Glory Revealed (Luke 9:28-36)
Related MediaSpending time with Jesus was certainly not a run-of-the-mill experience for the disciples, but the day of the transfiguration had to be one of those moments that made the top-five list in the minds of Peter, James, and John. And while seeing Jesus, Moses, and Elijah speaking together would likely elicit a period of silence from any beholder, Simon, true to form, spoke his mind; after such, God, true to form, realigned the focus of everyone there. Pastor Daniel helps us to see from this passage how it is that we are to come to see Christ, fully God and fully man, who calls us to follow Him. God had made clear to the disciples that, while Peter (and probably any of them) would not have fitting words in the face of the glories of Christ, this Son, this Chosen One, deserved their full attention and devotion. Such is the call on anyone who would be a disciple.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Christology, Discipleship
Lesson 50: The Glory Below (Luke 9:37-45)
Related MediaJesus’s ministry was full of both beauty and mystery. The fact that He was Lord over all creation and could see into each and every soul, correctly assessing the motives of anyone He interacted with, and direct people in a certain way even though their understanding of His words were sometimes destined to be lost on them, lends to the mystery that sometimes surrounded His work. He is seen in this account healing a man while calling the people present part of a twisted generation and then calling for the attention of disciples that had His words concealed from them. What must be understood is that Jesus had an understanding of reality that nobody else had, and though he had shared the transfiguration experience with Peter, James, and John just a short time before, they and others were still struggling to really grasp this “new” reality and what it meant for ministry to the suffering while not on their “mountain-top” experience. Pastor Daniel emphasizes that the key point of this text is that “God’s majesty is not only revealed on the mountaintop; God’s glory is also revealed in the transformed lives of people who have been shattered and then restored.”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Character of God, Christology, Glory