Sermon notes April 5, 2026

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:11-31

In most any documentary, the filmmaker will pull in many different people to have many different perspectives so that we get a better story. That is what is happening in our text with the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Each encounter with Jesus tells us something about living the Christian life.

In the first story, Mary has an encounter with the resurrected savior as she is weeping over someone seemingly having taken the body of her Lord. Mary had been delivered and discipled throughout Jesus’s ministry. In a culture where women were second class citizens, Jesus raises their dignity and honor. Jesus calls her name, “Mary” and she recognizes His voice. And from that moment, everything immediately changes. Her posture shifts from a woman grieving to a woman who is given a message! And He tells her to give the message to “His brothers.” The resurrection of Jesus makes us all family. This is the only time that Jesus uses the word “brother” to talk about His disciples. Note that even when we, like Mary, lose sight of his plan, He still knows our name.

The disciples encounter Jesus as well. Afraid for their lives, they had locked themselves inside a room. There are only ten people there. But then ten people become eleven. Jesus appears and says “peace be with you.” And Jesus shows them His wounds. Note the interesting different aspects of Jesus's resurrected body. He remains recognizable and retains His wounds, eventually he will eat with them, but he’s also moving into and out of rooms without opening the door! The emotion in the room shifts immediately! From sadness and fear to peace. And again, we see Jesus's audience transition from followers to apostles and missionaries, as He gives them a mission.

Last, we have Thomas’s encounter. Thomas makes a bold statement. He is doubtful of the disciples' claim that Jesus is back alive. Thomas was grieving not only his master, but the hopes of his future. His hopes have been so damaged, that he doesn't believe the 10 men he’d spent the last 3 years of his life with when they say “Jesus is alive!” And with one incredible gesture, Jesus shows up right in the middle of His doubt, and shows Thomas mercy. Jesus doesn’t abandon the doubting. He comes after them! And Thomas calls Jesus “My Master and my Creator!” His posture moves from doubt to awe!

And that’s why John closes the way He closes. “I wrote this book so that you might read and believe.” Like any good documentary, John pulls together several points of view, so we get a full picture of the story!

Sermon notes April 5, 2026

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:11-31

In most any documentary, the filmmaker will pull in many different people to have many different perspectives so that we get a better story. That is what is happening in our text with the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Each encounter with Jesus tells us something about living the Christian life.

In the first story, Mary has an encounter with the resurrected savior as she is weeping over someone seemingly having taken the body of her Lord. Mary had been delivered and discipled throughout Jesus’s ministry. In a culture where women were second class citizens, Jesus raises their dignity and honor. Jesus calls her name, “Mary” and she recognizes His voice. And from that moment, everything immediately changes. Her posture shifts from a woman grieving to a woman who is given a message! And He tells her to give the message to “His brothers.” The resurrection of Jesus makes us all family. This is the only time that Jesus uses the word “brother” to talk about His disciples. Note that even when we, like Mary, lose sight of his plan, He still knows our name.

The disciples encounter Jesus as well. Afraid for their lives, they had locked themselves inside a room. There are only ten people there. But then ten people become eleven. Jesus appears and says “peace be with you.” And Jesus shows them His wounds. Note the interesting different aspects of Jesus's resurrected body. He remains recognizable and retains His wounds, eventually he will eat with them, but he’s also moving into and out of rooms without opening the door! The emotion in the room shifts immediately! From sadness and fear to peace. And again, we see Jesus's audience transition from followers to apostles and missionaries, as He gives them a mission.

Last, we have Thomas’s encounter. Thomas makes a bold statement. He is doubtful of the disciples' claim that Jesus is back alive. Thomas was grieving not only his master, but the hopes of his future. His hopes have been so damaged, that he doesn't believe the 10 men he’d spent the last 3 years of his life with when they say “Jesus is alive!” And with one incredible gesture, Jesus shows up right in the middle of His doubt, and shows Thomas mercy. Jesus doesn’t abandon the doubting. He comes after them! And Thomas calls Jesus “My Master and my Creator!” His posture moves from doubt to awe!

And that’s why John closes the way He closes. “I wrote this book so that you might read and believe.” Like any good documentary, John pulls together several points of view, so we get a full picture of the story!

Sermon Notes 3/31/26

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

“Who is this?” Is the question before us in the text today. The response from the crowd is very different depending on the identity they perceive. Prophecy shows us who this is - This is the first time that Jesus presents Himself as king. He fulfills the prophecy regarding the coming king of Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem, not as a random man, but a king that was centuries in the making. He knows everything about this moment! It demonstrates that he is not just a man. He is making his announcement as “the ancient of days.” If he knows everything at this moment, then it means he knows everything that is about to happen to Him. And it highlights that His love for us is not accidental. He is the King of Promise. Matthew even gives us the genealogy of Jesus, showing that he is in the line of succession of David and of Abraham. But note how He comes - not as a conquering king like Rome or Caesar. He comes on a colt, and he doesn’t even have a saddle. The cloaks on the donkey is a mark of disgraceful poverty. The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms of this world. It is not diminished by humility. Before the city even gets to ask “who is this” prophecy has already answered.

Praise shows us who this is - They laid out cloaks on the ground for Him to enter and Palm branches and are shouting “Hosana.” This is a royal welcome! A welcome for a king. Hosanna is a Hebrew plea “I beg you to save (us deliver) us.” The crowd is even singing scripture aloud in reaction to what they are seeing. Yet even upon entering, he is prepared to be the “stone rejected by the builders” and in response to this, the lord tells us “if we were to keep silent, creation itself, the stones, would cry out to praise.” For all the shouting and all the branches and cloaks, the question is still asked - “who is this.” The answer that comes is "the prophet Jesus". They’re not wrong. But they’re not right either. The tragedy of this moment is that you can be near all the praise and worship, and still miss the point of it. Jesus is the king. He is worthy of praise.

Lastly, Jesus shows us who He is through propitiation. The truth of his actions are loaded with meaning. The crowd crying Hosanna (which means save us) is answered by Jesus’s action. Scripture affirms itself over and over, Jesus’s mission was to save the world from sin. The king comes, but he comes to die. The triumphal entry is triumphant, but it also comes through sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrifice, the propitiation, for our sins. So the crowds cry “save us” and the Gospel answers, “I will.” If Jesus is only a prophet, we still have no peace with God. If Jesus is King and Lord and God, and sacrifices Himself as a perfect blood sacrifice for all sin - the world’s cry “Hosanna” - save us.

Your answer of “who is this” changes everything. If he is king, submit to Him, and If he is Savior, trust Him.

Sermon Notes 3/31/26

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

“Who is this?” Is the question before us in the text today. The response from the crowd is very different depending on the identity they perceive. Prophecy shows us who this is - This is the first time that Jesus presents Himself as king. He fulfills the prophecy regarding the coming king of Jerusalem. Jesus enters Jerusalem, not as a random man, but a king that was centuries in the making. He knows everything about this moment! It demonstrates that he is not just a man. He is making his announcement as “the ancient of days.” If he knows everything at this moment, then it means he knows everything that is about to happen to Him. And it highlights that His love for us is not accidental. He is the King of Promise. Matthew even gives us the genealogy of Jesus, showing that he is in the line of succession of David and of Abraham. But note how He comes - not as a conquering king like Rome or Caesar. He comes on a colt, and he doesn’t even have a saddle. The cloaks on the donkey is a mark of disgraceful poverty. The kingdom of God is different than the kingdoms of this world. It is not diminished by humility. Before the city even gets to ask “who is this” prophecy has already answered.

Praise shows us who this is - They laid out cloaks on the ground for Him to enter and Palm branches and are shouting “Hosana.” This is a royal welcome! A welcome for a king. Hosanna is a Hebrew plea “I beg you to save (us deliver) us.” The crowd is even singing scripture aloud in reaction to what they are seeing. Yet even upon entering, he is prepared to be the “stone rejected by the builders” and in response to this, the lord tells us “if we were to keep silent, creation itself, the stones, would cry out to praise.” For all the shouting and all the branches and cloaks, the question is still asked - “who is this.” The answer that comes is "the prophet Jesus". They’re not wrong. But they’re not right either. The tragedy of this moment is that you can be near all the praise and worship, and still miss the point of it. Jesus is the king. He is worthy of praise.

Lastly, Jesus shows us who He is through propitiation. The truth of his actions are loaded with meaning. The crowd crying Hosanna (which means save us) is answered by Jesus’s action. Scripture affirms itself over and over, Jesus’s mission was to save the world from sin. The king comes, but he comes to die. The triumphal entry is triumphant, but it also comes through sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrifice, the propitiation, for our sins. So the crowds cry “save us” and the Gospel answers, “I will.” If Jesus is only a prophet, we still have no peace with God. If Jesus is King and Lord and God, and sacrifices Himself as a perfect blood sacrifice for all sin - the world’s cry “Hosanna” - save us.

Your answer of “who is this” changes everything. If he is king, submit to Him, and If he is Savior, trust Him.

Sermon Notes: Luke 16:14-18

"The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 'The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.'"

Sermon Notes: 3/22/26

God never confronts without the intent to comfort. At first glance, this passage can feel like Jesus is just offering a handful of sayings without much cohesion, but there is a thread running thoughout. He’s exposing the unrighteousness of those who bend the Word of God to their own desires. These are a unified rebuke to the Pharisees. But this text is not just about them… it can be about us.

This rebuke is to people who look the part, but their hearts cling to unrighteousness. Jesus isn’t just addressing pagans: he’s addressing those who consider themselves righteous. The text doesn’t allow us to hide. It exposes us, and allows us to openly run to Jesus as the comforter.

There’s nothing wrong with having stuff.... but God weighs the heart. The righteousness of man collides with the kingdom of God. The things that are exalted before men are an abomination before God. The text, with its rebuke of the Pharisees as "lovers of money," offers a moment for us to take inventory of how we are living in our private lives. We must remember we are justified only by our reliance on Christ. And our standing before God isn’t related to our own strength, or ability, or possessions, but just Christ alone.

Remember the Pharisees thought Jesus wasn’t the one that was prophesied by the law. Jesus isn’t anti-law; he is the obedient son the law required. God’s law remains the same. But that law was not just for the Pharisees, it was for us too. We often want holiness without change in who we are. The word of God stands forever.

The last verse about marriage seems random and abrupt. In that day, many treated divorce with scandalous indifference. The Pharisees wanted a religious appearance without the focus required. They wanted a loophole to God's law. How close can I get to sin without calling it sin? If we have to ask these questions, we have already sinned. Kingdom righteousness says “Lord, search me.” This verse was not meant to be used as a way to harm the people of God. This verse is to confront those who treat God’s laws lightly, or those who would reshape God’s word to protect our idols. We’re doing the same thing for which God confronts the hard-hearted Pharisees.

God does not let the covenant breakers hide behind technicalities. And that’s why this text is mercy - as it is better to be exposed and offer our hearts to God, than to be exposed later, never having offered Him what He’s owed.

Sermon Notes: Luke 16:14-18

"The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 'The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.'"

Sermon Notes: 3/22/26

God never confronts without the intent to comfort. At first glance, this passage can feel like Jesus is just offering a handful of sayings without much cohesion, but there is a thread running thoughout. He’s exposing the unrighteousness of those who bend the Word of God to their own desires. These are a unified rebuke to the Pharisees. But this text is not just about them… it can be about us.

This rebuke is to people who look the part, but their hearts cling to unrighteousness. Jesus isn’t just addressing pagans: he’s addressing those who consider themselves righteous. The text doesn’t allow us to hide. It exposes us, and allows us to openly run to Jesus as the comforter.

There’s nothing wrong with having stuff.... but God weighs the heart. The righteousness of man collides with the kingdom of God. The things that are exalted before men are an abomination before God. The text, with its rebuke of the Pharisees as "lovers of money," offers a moment for us to take inventory of how we are living in our private lives. We must remember we are justified only by our reliance on Christ. And our standing before God isn’t related to our own strength, or ability, or possessions, but just Christ alone.

Remember the Pharisees thought Jesus wasn’t the one that was prophesied by the law. Jesus isn’t anti-law; he is the obedient son the law required. God’s law remains the same. But that law was not just for the Pharisees, it was for us too. We often want holiness without change in who we are. The word of God stands forever.

The last verse about marriage seems random and abrupt. In that day, many treated divorce with scandalous indifference. The Pharisees wanted a religious appearance without the focus required. They wanted a loophole to God's law. How close can I get to sin without calling it sin? If we have to ask these questions, we have already sinned. Kingdom righteousness says “Lord, search me.” This verse was not meant to be used as a way to harm the people of God. This verse is to confront those who treat God’s laws lightly, or those who would reshape God’s word to protect our idols. We’re doing the same thing for which God confronts the hard-hearted Pharisees.

God does not let the covenant breakers hide behind technicalities. And that’s why this text is mercy - as it is better to be exposed and offer our hearts to God, than to be exposed later, never having offered Him what He’s owed.

Luke 16: 1-13

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Sermon Notes: 3/15/2026

This is one of Jesus's more complicated parables, but it is ultimately about stewardship. In Jesus's time, it was normal for a slave to act as a household manager for his master. In this parable, the manager is removed from office, but on his way out the door he becomes very productive. We can tell from the large amounts that the debtors in this story are businessmen operating at a large scale. The manager makes deals with these businessmen and thus gains favor in the community even as his favor with his mater deteriorates. So even as he is kicked out, he is making arrangements to be welcomed into a new home. So regardless of his reasons, we must note that the manager is crafty and shrewd. In the end even the master tells the manager he is done well. So what are we to take from the parable? The manager, a sinner, has his eyes set on his destiny. He is operating with more shrewdness regarding temporal circumstances than Christians often operate regarding eternal circumstances. We must be more committed to making investments in the next life than the world is in making investments in this life. If we believe eternity is real, it should change our urgency and change how we operate with our resources--time, talent, and treasure! This is a diagnostic of our character.

After the parable, Jesus moves from a story about stewardship to a diagnostic about how we handle money. Jesus's point is that money just unmasks who we really are. What we do with what we have reveals the state of our heart. Jesus explains that what we have in our possession is not even really ours. Even we ourselves belong to God. Jesus paid a heavy price for us. If we truly understand what we have received in Christ, it frees us to give of what we have. We realize that we are already infinitely wealthy, and thus can give generously of our time, talent, and treasure.

Luke 16: 1-13

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Sermon Notes: 3/15/2026

This is one of Jesus's more complicated parables, but it is ultimately about stewardship. In Jesus's time, it was normal for a slave to act as a household manager for his master. In this parable, the manager is removed from office, but on his way out the door he becomes very productive. We can tell from the large amounts that the debtors in this story are businessmen operating at a large scale. The manager makes deals with these businessmen and thus gains favor in the community even as his favor with his mater deteriorates. So even as he is kicked out, he is making arrangements to be welcomed into a new home. So regardless of his reasons, we must note that the manager is crafty and shrewd. In the end even the master tells the manager he is done well. So what are we to take from the parable? The manager, a sinner, has his eyes set on his destiny. He is operating with more shrewdness regarding temporal circumstances than Christians often operate regarding eternal circumstances. We must be more committed to making investments in the next life than the world is in making investments in this life. If we believe eternity is real, it should change our urgency and change how we operate with our resources--time, talent, and treasure! This is a diagnostic of our character.

After the parable, Jesus moves from a story about stewardship to a diagnostic about how we handle money. Jesus's point is that money just unmasks who we really are. What we do with what we have reveals the state of our heart. Jesus explains that what we have in our possession is not even really ours. Even we ourselves belong to God. Jesus paid a heavy price for us. If we truly understand what we have received in Christ, it frees us to give of what we have. We realize that we are already infinitely wealthy, and thus can give generously of our time, talent, and treasure.

Sermon notes: 3/8/26

Luke 15: 1-10

'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” '

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Two questions: 1) Who does God seek after? 2) How does he pursue those He seeks after?

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Through the previous verses, we see Jesus bouncing back and forth over people who God doesn’t seek after. And He ends those parables, saying “Those who have ears, let them hear.” And this chapter starts with “the tax collectors and sinners (habitualy crooked people - rule benders, and rule abandoners) have decided to follow Christ - to “hear.” But pharisees and scribes who were in the crowd who heard Jesus’ jarring message about discipleship, and were not happy about this message. They saw the sinners and tax collectors as reprehensible, but also viewed themselves above. They don’t see themselves as equals in sin as the sinners. Jesus seeks after everyone, but those who can’t see their own lost-ness and aren’t humble about their condition will miss the glory of God. Jesus invites everyone to be restored at His table.

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God goes after us “diligently” and “relentlessly,” and God is not content to let us stay lost. The lost often find themselves in many situations - lostness is equated with darkness. We’re not just IN the darkness. We WERE the darkness. If Jesus doesn’t come for us, our situation is hopeless. A lost sheep’s situation is hopeless without the shepherd coming for them. Thank God we serve a God who is a good shepherd! And when He finds us, He is joyful! This parable says that He carries the sheep back to the herd on His shoulders. This is the image of a sheep that is too weak, injured, or empty. Our lord carries the burden that we are too weak to carry ourselves.

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The Pharisees and Scribes in this verse think that they are strong enough to carry their own burdens. None of us can carry the burdens of our sin. When God brings us home, there is a celebration in heaven over the return of a soul. And thank God that the Lord spends more on the party than the cost of the sheep or coin that is returned.

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The joy of the Lord carries no price tag. Now look at the other souls the way God looks at us. We are all precious in his sight. Let this joy inform the way we look at those around us!

Sermon notes: 3/8/26

Luke 15: 1-10

'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” '

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Two questions: 1) Who does God seek after? 2) How does he pursue those He seeks after?

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Through the previous verses, we see Jesus bouncing back and forth over people who God doesn’t seek after. And He ends those parables, saying “Those who have ears, let them hear.” And this chapter starts with “the tax collectors and sinners (habitualy crooked people - rule benders, and rule abandoners) have decided to follow Christ - to “hear.” But pharisees and scribes who were in the crowd who heard Jesus’ jarring message about discipleship, and were not happy about this message. They saw the sinners and tax collectors as reprehensible, but also viewed themselves above. They don’t see themselves as equals in sin as the sinners. Jesus seeks after everyone, but those who can’t see their own lost-ness and aren’t humble about their condition will miss the glory of God. Jesus invites everyone to be restored at His table.

.

God goes after us “diligently” and “relentlessly,” and God is not content to let us stay lost. The lost often find themselves in many situations - lostness is equated with darkness. We’re not just IN the darkness. We WERE the darkness. If Jesus doesn’t come for us, our situation is hopeless. A lost sheep’s situation is hopeless without the shepherd coming for them. Thank God we serve a God who is a good shepherd! And when He finds us, He is joyful! This parable says that He carries the sheep back to the herd on His shoulders. This is the image of a sheep that is too weak, injured, or empty. Our lord carries the burden that we are too weak to carry ourselves.

.

The Pharisees and Scribes in this verse think that they are strong enough to carry their own burdens. None of us can carry the burdens of our sin. When God brings us home, there is a celebration in heaven over the return of a soul. And thank God that the Lord spends more on the party than the cost of the sheep or coin that is returned.

.

The joy of the Lord carries no price tag. Now look at the other souls the way God looks at us. We are all precious in his sight. Let this joy inform the way we look at those around us!