Christ, Christians, and the Necessity of the Cross

Luke 9:18–26

Sermon Notes

  1. The Christ of God, 18–20
  2. The Christ of the Cross, 21–22
  3. The Servants of the Cross, 23–26

Reflection questions

  1. Judas Iscariot was present with Peter and Jesus during Peter’s great confession, v.20. What does Scripture tell us about those who confess Christ but later deny Him? See 1 John 2:19
  2. 1st-Century Israel wanted a king to free them from Roman occupation. (See John 6:14–15) They wanted Messiah to conquer by force instead of conquering by suffering (v22). In what ways do you seek to avoid suffering (which Christ says is inevitable for Christians) in this life?
  3. Reflect on your own (or discuss, if you’re with a group) what this quote means: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot) And if you don’t already know his life story, Google Jim Elliot.

The Needy Need Him

Luke 9:10–17

Sermon Notes

  1. The searching need to know
  2. The broken need fixing
  3. The hungry need provision

Sermon Questions

1a) What are some life questions you think you'll never find the answer to?
1b) Has the Bible at least partially answered that question for you?
2a) If you could fix something broken in the world, what would it be?
2b) How has the coming of Jesus show us a glimpse of healing for that brokenness?
3a) What do you fear most that you might one day find yourself in lack of?
3b) Is God able to provide that? What must you believe in order for that fear to go away?

Sending the 12

Luke 9:1-9

Sermon Notes

1)       Jesus’s Disciples are given power to proclaim and heal, 1-2

2)       Jesus’s Disciples are just passing through with no possessions, 3-5

3)       Jesus’s enemies are perplexed yet pursuing, 6-9

Reflection questions:

1)       Do you ever underestimate the power that God has given you to testify about His Kingdom? If so, consider Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 2 Tim. 1:7. What role do good works play in the proclamation of the gospel? See Titus 2:10

2)       Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Compare and contrast these verses with vv.3-4 and with Isaiah 55:3. What does God’s Word say about contentment? Why does He also invite us to enjoy “rich food”? Can we enjoy His good gifts and still understand the difference between needs and wants?

3)       Read 1 Peter 3:15. What do you think it looks like to defend the hope that is within you “with gentleness and respect”?

Miracles & Multitasking

Luke 8:40-56

Sermon Notes

  1. Jesus the Preacher is willing to heal, 40-42

  2. Jesus the Preacher has power to heal, 43-46

  3. Jesus the Preacher is not THAT Kind of Faith Healer, 47-48

    FILL IN BLANKS

    A. Lack of healing does not equal ________ faith, ________ faith – Mark 9:24; Luke 8:52-53 B. There are different ________ of healing - physical, spiritual, temporary, permanent – Ps 103:2-5 C. Everyone who believes in Jesus will ________ be healed. – John 3:16, Phil. 3:20-21; I John 3:2 D. To receive ________, ________ healing, you must believe – John 3:16-18 E. The ________ of our faith, not the ________ of our faith, is what matters – Mark 9:24; Luke 8:52-53; John 10:27-30 F. Faith is a ________ – Eph 2:8-9

  4. Sometimes, Jesus the Preacher heals to overcome unbelief, 49-56

Reflection questions

  1. If faith is a gift, then how should respond to God for the gift that He has given? See Eph 2:8-10, especially v.10. Romans 11:33-36; Romans 12:1. Also, 2 Cor. 9:15
  2. Read Luke 11:11-13. How do you view God – as the father who gives his children a serpent or a scorpion? Or as the father who loves to give good gifts to His children? See also Rom 8:31-32.
  3. Have you ever said or thought something like what Jairus’s friend says in v.49 – That Jesus could heal while she was still alive, but He can’t heal the little girl after she died? What unbiblical limits have you put on God’s power to save?

Don’t Hide Your Light

Luke 8:16–21

Sermon Notes

  1. What you hear is useless if you don’t use it, vv.16–17
  2. How you hear will determine how you grow, vv.17–18
  3. Whether you hear AND DO is a mark of your Adoption, vv.19–21

Reflection questions

  1. Which metaphor best describes the way you live your life as a Christian: Hiding your light under a bed? Putting your light upon a lampstand for all to see? Cf. Matthew 5:14–16 and 6:5–6. How can you do a better job of letting your light shine before others while making sure to glorify God and not yourself?
  2. If we put to use the gospel message that God given us, He promises to give us even more. (More wisdom? More responsibility? Both?) See Matthew 25:14–30; now ask yourself if you are making use of the spiritual resources that God has given you.
  3. Jesus said that the true members of His family were those who heard the Word and put it into practice. See James 1:22ff. What do you think the following phrase means: “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone”?

A Kingdom Parable

Luke 8:1–15

Sermon Notes

  1. Kingdom Servants, 1–3
  2. Kingdom Seeds, 4–15
    1. Why Seeds? Why parables? 4, 8–11
    2. Seeds in the Road, 5, 12
    3. Seeds in the Rocky soil, 6, 13
    4. Seeds in the Thorns, 7, 14
    5. Seeds in the Good Soil, 8, 15

Reflection questions

  1. The Kingdom Servants in vv. 2–3 served Jesus (and His Kingdom) by meeting their daily needs through the wealth that God had given them. What are some of the gifts (time, talents, resources) that God has given you that could you in His Kingdom Service? Cf. Romans 12:6–8.
  2. Why do you think Jesus highlights “riches” (along with cares and pleasures) as one of the things that can choke our faith and cause us to not bear fruit in this life? Cf. 1 Tim. 6:5–10
  3. Does being “good soil” that “bear(s) fruit with patience” mean that you will never have difficulties, disappointments, or spiritual failures in this life? Consider what Paul says about the latter in Romans 7:15–8:1.

Engaging the Culture Around Us: State of the Church Sermon 2019

Colossians 4:2–6

Sermon Notes

Since we have been raised with Christ (Col. 3:1)

  1. Speak with Clarity, vv. 2–4
  2. Speak with Urgency – v.5
  3. Speak Graciously – v.6
  4. Speak Universally – v.6b
  5. Speak to the Culture Around US

The Forestgate Mission Statement

Forestgate Presbyterian Church exists to glorify God and make disciples of Christ in northern El Paso County:

  • By Exalting our Lord in joyful biblical worship
  • By Encouraging each other to love and good deeds
  • By Equipping each other for service in the church and in the kingdom
  • By Engaging the culture around us as salt and light through intentional individual involvement with
    • Our northern El Paso County community;
    • The U.S. Air Force Academy; and
    • The poor, needy and unchurched, both locally and across the globe.

Reflection questions

  1. Do you pray for God to open doors for the gospel (Col. 4:3), or do you expect them to simply swing open on their own?
  2. How can you pray that God with give you more clarity (v.4), more wisdom (v.5), more grace (v.6) as you answer “each” person you encounter with the gospel?

Simon Didn't “Get It”...Do You?

Luke 7:36-50

Outline

  1. If you're preoccupied with what others think of you or how others act, you don't "get it" (v.36-40).

  2. If you aren't expressing love that flows from gratitude, you don't "get it" (v.41-46).

  3. If you think avoiding the unclean is what makes you clean, you don't "get" who Jesus is (v.47-50). 

Questions for Reflection:

  1. Are you ever embarrassed by the way another believer behaves when they're "on fire" for Jesus, or how they demonstrate their gratitude in light of the gospel? (v.36-40)

  2. . Does it ever feel unfair that someone can live their entire life in sin, then at the last minute, express faith and repentance in Christ and be given the same status before God that you have? (v.41-46)

  3. Do you ever fear that you will lose God's approval? (v.47-50) 

Wisdom is Justified by All Her Children

Luke 7:18-35

Outline

  1. The work of Christ removes doubt about His identity, 18-23

  2. The privileges in Christ call us to trust Him, 24-28

  3. The fickleness of man warns us to stop seeking better options, 29-35

Reflection Questions:

  1. Is all faith created equal? Is it possible to believe but still have doubts? See Mark 9:21-24. How does the man in this story (and how should you) deal with a sometimes-faltering faith? What is one area that causes you to doubt God’s goodness most frequently?

  2. How is it possible that you have greater privileges than John the Baptist? Examine Luke 10:23-24. What have you seen and heard that John never saw and heard?

  3. Jesus accused the Pharisees and scribes of never being happy, of not knowing what they wanted, vv. 31-34. How can we avoid the same kind of discontentment? Consider Jer. 17:9; 1 Tim. 6:6ff. One solution might be to turn to Eph 1:3-14 and to “count your many blessings; name them one by one.” List as many ways as you can of how God has blessed you in Christ.