“Church Without Walls”: Links to “Sermons on Luke’s Gospel” – Luke 9:18-10:24

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 10:1-24

Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:46-62

Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:37-45

Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:28-36

Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:18-27

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:10-17

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 9:10-17

Jesus cared about spiritual priorities. Jesus cared about social concern. When “the crowds followed Him”, “He welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing” (Luke 9:11). This combination of the spiritual and the social is much needed in today’s world. We need to care about God. We need to care about doing His will. We need to care about pleasing Him. We need to care about people. We are to love them with the love of God. We are to show them that we love them. We are to show them that God loves them. True caring is grounded in faith, worship and prayer. As well as healing those who neded healing, Jesus spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. Before feeding the five thousand, Jesus spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. This ministry of speaking about the Kingdom of God undergirded Jesus’ ministry of miracles. Our caring for people is to be built upon the ministry of God’s Word. God’s Word is preached to us. We receive instruction in faith. We are called to worship. We are challenged to pray. We grow in faith. We participate in worship. We persevere in prayer. Out of all this spiritual commitment, grounded in God’s Word, comes the kind of real caring action which makes a difference in today’s world. At the centre of this commitment to faith, worship and prayer, there is Jesus Christ. In Him, the spiritual and the social come together. We’re not forced to choose between social action and the spiritual pririties of faith, worship and prayer. We choose Jesus Christ. We commit ourselves to Him. When our commitment to Him is real, He will lead us in the pathways of faith, worship, prayer and caring action. May God help us to grow stronger in our commitment to Jesus Christ. May God help us to commit ourselves to Christ’s spiritual priorities. May God help us to commit ourselves to Christ’s social concern.

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 9:1-9

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 9:1-9

Luke 9:9 – “Who … is this … ?” Luke 9:1 – “Jesus … gave them power and authority.”

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Jesus’ whole life is life in the Spirit.

(a) His birth (Luke 1:35).

(b) His baptism (Luke 3:22).

(c) His temptations (Luke 4:1).

(d) His ministry (Luke 4:14).

(e) His gift to us – the Holy Spirit.

(i) The Holy Spirit comes from God.

- The new birth (John 3:3, 7).

- “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16).

(ii) The Holy Spirit changes us.

- “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-4).

- “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

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Thinking of Jesus – “Who is this?” – has led us to think of ourselves in Him – “What are we to be in Him?

- We are to be believers in Christ. The question, “Who is this?”, calls for a response of faith. We receive the Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:14).

- We are to be followers of Christ. The question, “Who is this?”, calls for a response, which shows that our faith is real. We are to live the life of a disciple. We must always remember that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). True faith expresses itself in a changed life – “I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18).

- We are to be witnesses for Christ. We are not to keep our faith to ourselves. We are to share our faith with others.

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 8:40-56

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 8:40-56

Jesus is Lord of all. He is (a) Lord over nature ((Luke 8:22-25) – the calming of the storm; (b) Lord over demons (Luke 8:26-39); (c) Lord over sickness and death (Luke 8:40-56).

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“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” (Luke 4:18). “The power of the Lord was with Him” (Luke 5:17). “Power came forth from Him” (Luke 6:19). All of this is moving towards the great miracle of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. As we read of Christ’s miracles, we are gaining a clearer picture of who He is. “Who is this?” – The answer is given at the time of His resurrection from the dead. he is our Lord. he is our God. The miracle s of our Lord press upon us the question of faith: “Where is your faith?” This is not simply something from the past. Christ;’s miracles challenge us, here-and-now, to put our faith in Him.

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Here, we read about the healing of the woman and the raising of the girl. The importance of faith is emphasized.

In Jesus’ words to Jairus, in Luke 8:50, we hear the call to faith and the promise of salvation: “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

In Jesus’ words to the healed woman, in Luke 8:48, we hear of the assurance of salvation which becomes ours through faith in Christ: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 8:26-39

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 8:26-39

In Luke 8:39, we take note of two important points

- Jesus’ instruction to the man: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

- The man’s obedience to Jesus’ Word: “So tthe man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.”

What is God saying to us from this verse? There are three lessons for us here.

(1) God has given us Good News.

(2) We are to share God’s Good News.

(3) God’s Good News is for the people of our town.

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(1) God has given us Good News.

“How much God has done for us” – “I’m so happy and here’s the reason why, Jesus took my burden all away; Now I’m singing as the days go by.” What is it that gives us a reason to rejoice and a song to sing? It’s the Good News of God’s love. It’s the Good News of God’s peace. It’s the Good News of God’s joy.

(2) We are to share God’s Good News.

“Tell how much God has done for you.” Here, we have (a) God’s call to us – “Go and tell the story of what the Lord has done for you”; and (b) our obedience to Him – “Stop and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me.”

(3) God’s Good News is for the people of our town.

“Theres’ a work of Jesus none but you can do.” “There’s a work for Jesus, ready at your hand.” “There’s a work for Jesus, humble though it be.” “There’s a work for Jesus, precious souls to bring.” “There’s a work for Jesus … Faint not, grow not weary, He will strength renew.” “There’s a work for Jesus … Work for Jesus, day by day.”

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May God help us to hear Jesus’ Word to us, in Luke 8:39a – “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

May God help us to do what He tells us to do, in Luke 8:39b – Let us go and tell all over the town what the Lord has done for us.

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 8:22-25

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 8:22-25
This is not only a story about a change in weather conditions. It’s a story about a change in Jesus’ disciples. Jesus calmed the storm. He stilled the winds and the waves. He also calmed the storm in the hearts and minds of His disciples. As we read about the storm and the calm, our thoughts turn to conflict that is going on in our own lives. It’s the conflict between our enemy, Satan, and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The storm comes from Satan. The calm comes from our Saviour.
* Satan sends his evil storm into our lives.
- Satan is seeking to distract us. He wants us to take our eyes off Jesus.
- Satan is seeking to disturb us. He wants to throw us into a state of chaos and confusion.
- Satan is seeking to demoralize us. He wants to send us into a state of deep depression.
- Satan is seeking to destroy us. He wants to defeat us. he wants to triumph over us. He wants to be victorious over us.
In the face of such a powerful enemy, we’re in big trouble. The storm, sent by Satan, is a ferocious onslaught. It is, however, only part of the story of our life. As well as the storm, sent by Satan, there is also the calm, which comes to us from our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is greater than Satan. He has won the victory over Satan. he has won the victory for us. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can say, with confidence in Him, “With Christ in the boat, we can smile at the storm.”
At the end of this story of the calming of the storm, we have two questions
(a) a question about Jesus: “Who is this?”
(b) a question for us: “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25).
(a) Who is this?
Jesus is no ordinary man. We look at Jesus. We see God.
“O Lord God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O Lord … You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mound up, You still them” (Psalm 89:8-9).
“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:3-4).
We look beyond the man, Jesus. We catch a glimpse of God. We see Him as the “Trinity of love and power.”
- “Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave, who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep.”
- O Christ, whose voice the waters heard, and hushed their raging at Thy word,  who walkedst on the foaming deep, and calm amid the storm didst sleep.”
- “O Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon the waters dark and rude, and bid their angry tumult cease, and give, for wild confusion, peace.”
(b) Where is your faith?
This is Christ’s question to us. He is calling us to put our faith in Him.
- He calls us out of confusion and into peace.
- He calls us out of depression and into hope.
He says to us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me … Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:1, 27).
Christ is calling us to put our faith in Him. He is calling us to enter into this great blessing: “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Along with the call to trust in the Lord, we have God’s promise of “perfect peace.”
* Isaiah 26:3: The Promise – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”
* Isaiah 26:4: The Call to Faith – “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”
- “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within … Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? In Jesus’ presence, nought but calm is found … It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease, and Jesus call us to heaven’s perfect peace.”
- “Like a river glorious is God’s perfect, over all victorious, in its bright increase: perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day; perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”
God’s promise of peace comes to us with a call to prayer: “Do not be anxious about anything,but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“The peace of God” – This is summed up for us in the words, “Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side.”
* Where is your faith? This is the question our Saviour’s puts to each and every one of us. We must give our answer to His question – “Lord Jesus Christ, my faith is in You. You are my Saviour. I put my trust in You.”
The question is asked of us – “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?” We must give the answer of faith: “We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.”

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 8:16-18 & Luke 8:19-21

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 8:16-18
Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). He wants us to shine as lights for Him (Matthew 5:14-16).
* How does Jesus’ light shine into our lives?
- Through God’s Word: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
- Through God’s Spirit: “For God who said, ‘Let light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, the light of Jesus Christ shines upon us in a special way. The light of Christ is the light which shines from His cross. It is the light of His love.
* How is the light of Jesus to shine out from us to others?
- Again, the answer is “through God’s Word and God’s Spirit.”
We are to speak the Word of God . We are to do the will of God. We are to learn from God’s Word. He teaches us how we are to live. From God’s Word, we learn to do God’s will. We learn of His grace. This is the grace that comes to us through the cross of Jesus Christ. We read the Scriptures. We come to the Saviour. The Spirit teaches us. we learn to walk with God. We learn to work for God. Through the grace of God, we are led in the way of faithfulness and fruitfulness. God is calling us to be His faithful servants. He is calling us to be His fruitful servants.
As we come to the Lord’s Table, let us lay aside the darkness of our life. Let us invite the Lord to send His light into our hearts. Let us pray that His light will shine through us. Let us pray that others will be brought out of darkness into the wonderful light of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Luke 8:19-21
“My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s Word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). God has called us to be His children. He has called us to be his obedient children. He is our Father. He is our loving Father. He loves us with a perfect love. His love is seen, most clearly, in the crucifixion of of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the event which we remember when we gather at the Lord’s Table. In our Communion service, we think of the twofold communion which we find within the family of God.
* First, there is communion with God, our heavenly Father.
* Second, there is communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our fellowship with God and with His people grows strong when we come to the Lord’s Table and renew our commitment to hearing God’s Word and putting it into practice.
As we come to Christ’s Table to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, may God help us to commit ourselves afresh to Him.

Some Thoughts for Easter Sunday

Here’s a link  to some thoughts on preaching the Gospel of Christ’s resurrection. The Bible readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary – Year B.

Easter Day: Acts 10:34-43 (or Isaiah 25:6-9); Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (or Acts 10:34-43); John 20:1-18 (or Mark 16:1-8)

Here are links to four other posts which may be of some interest.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (17) By His death on the Cross and by His resurrection, He has triumphed over evil.

A Statement of Christian Faith – (18) By His death on the Cross and by His resurrection, He has triumphed over evil.

A Statement of Christian Faith (39) – We have sure and certain hope of resurrection through Christ.

A Statement of Christian Faith (40) – We have sure and certain hope of resurrection through Christ.

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 8:1-15

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 8:1-15
“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11). This is what Jesus’ parable of the sower is all about. It’s about the Word of God. God’s Word is sown in our hearts. God’s Word bears fruit in our lives. The sowing of God’s Word in our hearts requires patience. We don’t reap the harvest right away. We must work patiently for the harvest which God will give to us in His time. Let us be faithful in sowing the seed of God’s Word. Let’s keep on praying that God will give to us the “hundredfold” harvest (Luke 8:8). May God help us to be faithful in sowing and fruitful in reaping. God’s Word comes to us. It is given to us by the Lord. What are we doing with His Word? When God’s Word is sown in our hearts, what kind of soil does it find there? Are we allowing it to grow in our hearts? Are we allowing God to produce His abundant harvest in our lives? God’s Word emphasizes to us the direct connection between sowing and reaping: “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” Let there be good soil. Let there be good thoughts and actions, good habits, good character and a great destiny.

“Church Without Walls”: Sermons on Luke’s Gospel – Luke 7:36-50

The “Church Without Walls” Report recommended that “congregations study, reflect on and live by one Gospel for one year, in the first instance, and let Jesus shape the life and structure of the congregation.” This series of sermons focuses on Luke’s Gospel. I hope that other members of Presbytery will share some of their sermons.

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Luke 7:36-50

The forgiveness of sins – What a wonderful blessing this is! This is the great message which comes to us from the story of Jesus being anointed by “a woman who had lived a sinful life” (Luke 7:37). This woman had been touched by the love of Jesus. She had received forgiveness from the Lord Jesus. Here, we see her expressing her love for Jesus. Here, she shows her gratitude to Jesus. We recall the description of Jesus given to us in Luke 7:34 – Jesus is the Friend of sinners. What a wonderful statement this is – Jesus is the Friend of sinners. What a marvellous declaration of the Gospel this is – Jesus is the Friend of sinners. This is the amazing grace of Christ’s Gospel. It was amazing grace for the sinful world. It is still amazing grace for us – Jesus is the Friend of sinners. What a blessing it is to know that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners! What a blessing it is to know that Jesus Christ receives sinners!

It was the love of Christ for this sinful woman which inspired her love for Him. It is still the same today – “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In the love this woman had for Christ, we see the love which a forgiven sinner has for the forgiving Saviour. Before the sinner’s love for the Saviour, there is the Saviour’s love for the sinner. We must never forget this. Our love for God is grounded in His love for us. This is where our love for God comes from. It comes from God’s love for us. God shows His love for us by forgiving our sins. In love, He speaks to us His gracious Word of forgiveness: “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48).

As we read of Jesus Christ forgiving this sinful woman, we find ourselves asking the question, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). As we put our faith in our Saviour, He speaks to us His Word of peace – “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).

When the love of God touches us, it changes us. How does God’s love change us?

* The first thing we must notice is this – it is God who changes us: “the Lord opened her heart” (Acts 16:14).

* Second, we notice the kind of change God makes in us. He makes us people with love for Him, gratitude to Him and devotion to Him.

* Third, we notice the outcome of a life of love for God, gratitude to Him and devotion to Him – glory to God. God is glorified when we come to Christ and receive the forgiveness of our sins. God is glorified when we live for Christ , as we grow in our love for Him. God will be glorified when He welcomes us, through Christ, into His heavenly and eternal glory.