Two Lost Sons

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Sermon Notes

1) The Prodigal Son, 1-3, 11-19

2) The Prodigal Father, 11-12, 17-24

3) The Other Lost Son, 1-3, 11, 25-32

Reflection questions:

1. How did the prodigal son (the younger brother) want his father’s things more than he wanted his father? How can God’s people be guilty of the same thing? See Psalm 73; Phil 4:10-13.

2. Read. vv. 13-14. Why was the younger son in need? Was it his fault? Was it all (including the famine) his fault? Are our bad circumstances always our fault alone? Prov. 5:3-4; John 9:1-3.

3. Why is the older brother so angry? How does he see the younger brother, and how does he see himself? (Cf. Luke 15:1-3) a.Consider this quote: “The proud and the self-righteous always feel that they are not treated as well as they deserve.” (Leon Morris, Tyndale NT Commentary: Luke, 261.)

4. Which brother was worse? Which was least deserving, more deserving? Before you answer, consider this quote: “I am both of those kinds of sinners, and maybe you are too. I am the selfish son who wants to go off and sin; I am also the stingy brother who prides himself on doing my duty. But there is grace for me in the Father’s love.” (Phil Ryken, Luke: Reformed Expository Commentary, 2:165)

Joy at the Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon Notes

1. Grumbling, 1-2

2. Searching, 3-4, 8

3. Rescuing, 5-6, 9

4. Repenting, 7, 10

5. Rejoicing, 5-7, 9-10

Reflection questions:

1. Why did the Pharisees grumble about tax collectors and sinners so much? See Luke 15:1-2, as well Luke 5:27-32; 7:36-50, especially vv. 37, 39; 19:1-10. Still not sure? See Luke 18:9-14.

2. What kind of shepherd did Israel expect? See Psalm 23; Ps 80:1, 3. What kind of shepherds did they sometimes have? See Jeremiah 23:2; Ezekiel 34:4, 6. How was God going to fix it? See Ezekiel 34:11-12; Isaiah 40:11.

3. How did Jesus want the Pharisees (and us) to respond to the lost sheep and the lost coin that were found? See Luke 15:6, 9.

Jesus Calls for Division

Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Notes:

1. Only one thing can be “Ultimate” in our life (v. 25-26, 33)

2. There is a cost to following Jesus (v. 27)

3. There’s no middle ground, a decision must be made (v. 28-30 & v. 31-32)

4. Our usefulness is on the line (v. 34-35)

Reflection Questions:

1. What are some things that are really important to you?

2. How would you prioritize those things? Which ones, or which one, do you feel is the "most" important?

3. How might it be true that only one thing in your life can be the "ultimate" thing?

4. What are some things that it costs you to follow Jesus? What must you give up to truly follow him? What are you doing for selfish reasons that you might have to stop reaching for?

5. Are you willing to go to him today and give those things up? Are you willing to share that with someone else so they can help hold you accountable?

6. How might God use you more? What might he be calling you to do to be a more engaged, more devoted follower of him? How can you be salt to those around you today, tomorrow?

Lessons in Dinner Party Etiquette with Jesus

Luke 14:7-24

Sermon Notes

1) Humility shows that you trust God to exalt you, 7-11

2) True Generosity shows that you trust God to reward you, 12-14

3) Excuses show that you don’t trust the Goodness of God’s invitation, 15-24

Reflection questions:

1. Read Luke 14:11. Now see Luke 18:14; Matthew 18:4; 23:12; 1 Peter 5:6. Why do you think humility is so important? What is humility a sign of? How does a humble man see himself? How does he see Christ? Also see Matthew 5:3-7; Ephesians 4:32; Phil 3:8-9.

2. What is true generosity? What clue does Jesus give in Luke 14:14. How are we able to show true generosity? (See 2 Cor. 8:9)

3. Consider the three excuses makers in Luke 14:18-20. Compare and contrast them to what Hebrews 11:24-26 says about Moses.

God Rules, so Be Still, not Scared

Psalm 46

Sermon Notes

1. God is our fortress, so we won’t fear roaring waters, 1-3

2. God is our fortress, so we won’t fear roaring nations, 4-7

3. God is our fortress, so we won’t roar, 8-11

Reflection Questions:

1) Compare Psalm 46:1 to Hebrews 4:15-16. What do these verses tell you about God’s character and His willingness to help you? Also see I John 5:14; Matthew 6:8; 6:31-34.

2) Read Psalm 46:4-7; Hebrews 11:8-10; and Philippians 3:20-21. What type of city, and what type of citizenship are these verses ultimately pointing to? Also see I Corinthians 15:19.

3) Does “being still” mean that we stop praying and stop all activity? Consider Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 127.

Full of Pity and Pitiful

Luke 14:1-6

Sermon Notes

6 points for 6 verses:

1) Surveillance

2) Surprise

3) Response

4) Sending

5) Son

6) Silence

Questions for Reflection:

1. J.C. Ryle says of verse 1: “He that desires to serve Christ must make up his mind to be ‘watched’ and observed, no less than his Master. He must never forget that the eyes of the world are upon him” (Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke, 2:111). How should we handle as Christians this scrutiny? See 1 Tim. 1:12-17 and Matthew 5:14-16.

2. Read Luke 14:5. Is Jesus saying that the Pharisees and scribes are wrong to care for their son or their ox on the Sabbath day? Why is He saying this to them? Also see Luke 13:15- 16; is Jesus saying the actions in v.15 are wrong? Why does He say this?

3. Read Phil. 3:2-10. What are some things you do (consciously or unconsciously) to have “confidence in the flesh” or confidence in your own goodness? What did Paul ultimately realize about those good things and what mattered more? (See vv.8-9)

Two Sides of the Coin

Luke 13:31-35

Sermon Notes:

1. The Threat to Kill Jesus (v. 31-33)

2. Jesus' Lament Over Death (v. 34)

3. The Result of Killing Jesus (v. 35)

Reflection Questions:

1. What are tough circumstances in your life that God has appointed? What does Christ's certainty of his own path to the cross and after the cross say about God's appointments for you?

2. How should we react to the sin in the world? How should we treat the lost? In what ways could you reflect Jesus' attitude in v. 34?

3. In what ways does Jesus' death encapsulate both the judgment of God and the salvation of God? What attributes of God are on display at the cross?

What is the Kingdom of God Like?

Luke 13:18-30

Sermon Notes

1) The Kingdom of God Expands Outward, 18-19

2) The Kingdom of God Transforms Inward, 20-21

3) The Kingdom is Exclusive, Diverse, and Confounding, 22-30

Reflection questions:

1. When is the last time that you felt like the Kingdom of God was not growing or advancing? Read Mt 16:15-18 and 1 Peter 1:3-4. What do these verses tell you about God’s Kingdom and your place in it?

2. Read Lk 13:24, 28-29. Compare to John 3:16 and John 6:35-44. How does John (like Luke) describe the Kingdom of God as both exclusive and inclusive, exclusive and diverse?

3. Read Luke 13:30. Compare to 1 Cor. 1:18-31. How do these passages confound or confuse worldly expectations of what makes us acceptable or valuable to God?

All the Glorious Things

Luke 13:10-17

Sermon Notes:

1) Honoring the Sabbath by Showing Mercy, 10-13

2) Dishonoring the Sabbath by Misunderstanding, 14

3) Clarifying the Sabbath by Exposing Motives, 15-16

4) Rejoicing in the Lord of Sabbath Mercy, 13, 17

Reflection questions:

1. Read Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15. Have you ever wondered why God does not give a lot of detail here about what is and isn’t considered work on the Sabbath? Read Luke 13:14-16. Have you ever considered which of your actions on a typical Sunday are necessary and which ones aren’t?

2. Read Isaiah 58:13-14. What did God find dishonorable about this generation’s Sabbath practices? Also see Isaiah 58:1-10 and what God says about their fasting.

3. Read Mark 2:27. What does Jesus mean “the Sabbath was made for man”? Is the Sabbath supposed to be burden or a benefit to man?