CrossLife Church

If you have ever felt like the world is out of control and despite your best efforts to plan the future is unpredictable. As the Scottish Poet Robert Burns penned (1785), "The best-laid schemes of mice an' men," bring grief rather than promised joy. Who is in charge of your life and whose will is ultimately going to triumph?  

Jesus’ ministry was marked by repeated opposition. There was a constant and growing opposition from religious leaders like the Pharisees. Additionally, there was opposition from worldly powers and political leaders like that of Herod Antipas.  The Jewish nation and people as a whole proved to be against him in His pending trial, calling for His crucifixion. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (John 1:11).

In Luke 13:31-34, we find the convergence of multiple opposing powers with separate plans for Jesus; none of which were positive. 

With such opposition, what chance of success does Jesus really have? This week’s text reveals how Jesus responds to His opponents and continues to fulfill His divinely ordained work, accomplishing the will of God in all He does, but He also allows His people to go their own way, according to their own will.

The system is broken! Have you heard that lately? It is always suspicious that those calling for a cultural revolution have a great deal to say about the problems with the current system but very little to say about what they suggest we replace it with. Could you show me the just and righteous society to which we can aspire or strive? Does it even exist?

Even if we assume the media might be exaggerating, we would all agree the nations are raging. Governments fail to satisfy the desires of the governed. There are unelected elites pulling strings and manipulating, or at the very least profiting off the masses.

There is an abundance of historical evidence proving that humans have yet to produce a perfect system that would secure human flourishing for all. Human governments can not provide or mandate peace on earth. This is because the primary problem of corruption is deeper than systems and rooted in human hearts. What is there a path out of the mess? 

For thousands of years before the coming of Jesus, there were prophets who foretold of a future Kingdom. When Jesus came he said the Kingdom of God was now here but not fully. In Luke 13:18-21, Jesus gives a brief description of the Kingdom of God based upon a mustard seed and leaven. The descriptions are not thorough but they are clear that God's Kingdom is not what we might expect, but it is exactly what the nations need. 

This message we learn about the potential of the Kingdom of God!

Bad news is hard to avoid, especially with cable news, the internet, and social media. Over the last month we have had global news of wildfires in Maui, the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, earthquakes, and floods. In our personal lives, we all know someone dealing with sickness, broken marriages, addictions, or the death of a loved one. Suffering, tragedy, and the effects of evil are unavoidable and obvious to all. What is not so obvious is who is responsible and what should we do about it. 

Philosophers have framed this dilemma as the problem of evil. The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-210 B.C.) raised a question over 2,000 ago known as the Epicurean Trilemma. If God wishes to prevent evil but is unable then he is not all-powerful. If he is able but unwilling then he is unloving and mean. If God is both willing and able then where does evil come from? 

Many have asked this question in a slightly different way. If God is all-loving and all-powerful then why does he allow evil to exist and why does he allow bad things to happen to good people? These questions are the most common reason given by those who have struggled to believe in God or have walked away from their faith in God. 

In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus is confronted with some news about a group of Galileans who had been slaughtered by the Romans under the direction of Pilate. Their deaths appeared to be an act of evil. *Additionally, a tower had fallen onto a group in Jerusalem resulting in their deaths. This appeared to be a natural disaster and tragedy. The question presented to Jesus was why did God allow or cause these events? Was it because of the sin of those individuals? 

Jesus' answer may surprise you. If you have not personally struggled with answering these questions you will meet many who are wrestling with their belief in God as a result. What will your answer be?

Have you ever considered why Jesus came to earth? What was the purpose and mission of his life?

Before assuming the answer based on Jesus's life, death, and resurrection, we should consider what Jesus had to say about his purpose. Jesus said he came to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). According to John's Gospel, Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save the world (John 3:17). John also records Jesus telling Pilate he came "to testify to the truth" (18:37).

In Luke 12:49-59, Jesus makes a shocking statement that seems unbelievable and will even seem offensive to many. Jesus says:

"I came to cast fire on the earth,

and would that it were already kindled" (49).

"Do you think I have come to give peace on earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division" (51).

The words of Jesus fly in the face of most people's views about Jesus. The modern ideas about Jesus focus on his life being about love, acceptance, inclusivity, grace, forgiveness, and even peace. If Jesus said that he came to bring division and not peace, we may have a problem. Jesus, the divider, may not be as marketable.

What do you treasure? For many, this may seem like a silly or irrelevant question. However, it is more important than one may think. What a person treasures defines what they think they are worth. A person who is willing to spend their life on trivial things would appear to think that was what their life was worth. 

How do we identify what we treasure? This may seem like a difficult question, but our treasure is easy to determine. Whatever we are willing to sacrifice our time, money, and energy on is what we treasure. 

In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus warns his disciples that our lives should not be defined by our stuff. Jesus says that it is foolish to "lay up treasure for oneself and not be rich towards God" (vs. 21). This Sunday, we will focus on the rest of Jesus message (vv. 22-31).

Jesus tells his disciples not to be anxious about what to wear or what you will eat. Do not spend your life fretting over temporal things. Instead, seek first His Kingdom and store up treasures in heaven. "For, where your treasure is there will your heart be also" (vs. 34).

There are diverse perspectives on what defines a well-lived life today. The values and priorities of individuals may vary widely, yet some common themes and characteristics surface among different generations in America. 

Common values among those under 40 include work-life balance, meaningful work, experiences over possessions, and social and a desire to impact the world positively. Companies have been marketing and posturing to these values for years now. People want fair trade, shade-grown, environmentally sustainably sourced coffee. People are willing to pay a little extra for a bottle of water from a company committed to building well in third-world communities. 

Another prevalent value is personal fulfillment. People want to live a meaningful life and often go out of their way to ensure others know it. This has been labeled narcithropy (narcissistic + philanthropic). Narcithropist's desire to do good, to feel good, and to look good. Regardless of their generation, everyone wants to be successful, financially stable, and enjoy their life. 

In Luke 12:12-23, Jesus shares a powerful parable about a successful farmer. If the farmer lived today, he would be a successful entrepreneur and featured on the Fortune 500 list. After achieving great success he suddenly dies and Jesus asks, "What will happen to his stuff now?" By worldly measurements, the farmer was brilliant and successful, but he made two false assumptions about life. 

Though a person may have good values and priorities, Jesus reveals there is only one value that ultimately matters.

For many today, whatever they may think about God, the predominant attribute must be love. If God is loving then surely he is forgiving. Most people think to themselves, "I am not that bad," while thinking God is loving enough that it will all work out. For scriptural proof just look at John 3:16.

When we read the Bible we certainly find the love and forgiveness of God to be throughout scripture, but not without qualifications. God does not tolerate abusive one-sided relationships with his creation. It may come as a shock for most people to discover the possibility of being denied by Christ. Jesus says,

"Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8-9).

We should think carefully about what it means to deny Christ.

In Luke 12:6-12, Jesus shared about God's tender concern for his people along with some of the most alarming statements Jesus ever made. Jesus warns that denying the Son of Man can be forgiven, but there is a sin that is unforgivable. The sin for which God will not pardon or forgive is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10). What does that mean and how can we avoid it?

Humans are emotional creatures, from sadness to happiness, joy, anger, bitterness, sorrow, and fear. If we were to rate human emotions in terms of their value in our culture today, happiness would be at the top. Our culture declares that the chief end of man is to be happy. It does not matter how destructive, harmful, or the long-term consequences of their decisions, as long as it makes them happy we should support it. This is the fleeting wisdom of the self-esteem movement, and it has only led to greater discontentment and despair. 

In reality, the most powerful emotion that influences and controls much of our lives is fear. Just search the ever-growing list of phobias people struggle with. At the top of the list are usually public speaking, heights, loneliness, sickness, and death. Many fear rejection, failure, change, and vulnerability. 

Those who are driven and successful can also be controlled by fear. The need to be successful and impress others with money or self-image is another sign of caring too much about what others think. 

The Bible says, Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 29:25,"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

In Luke 12:1-7, Jesus confronts the power of fear. Jesus tells his disciples who they should not fear and who they should fear. The implications of these truths will set you free.

Living in the Light

Have you ever walked through a dark room thinking the path was clear only to run into a chair, table, or other obstacle? It is a challenge to walk through a dark room in which you are familiar, only to stumble over something unexpectedly out of place. It is also a challenge to walk through a dark room in which you are unfamiliar, unaware of the possible dangers awaiting you. The simple solution to overcome the dangers lurking in the darkness is to turn on a light! 

The way we live our lives is very similar. No one has perfect clarity regarding their future or the possible challenges they may one day face. However, we do not have to walk in complete darkness.    

In Luke 11:14-23, Jesus clarifies that there is a battle between light and darkness. If we are not on Jesus's side then we are firmly against Jesus. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (Luke 11:23).

In Luke 11:24-36, Jesus gives some strong warnings to those who want Jesus to set them free, yet are unwilling to surrender. Jesus also warns those who have witnessed Jesus's life-changing power but pridefully demand more proof. Jesus makes it clear that those who live in the light, recognize and follow Jesus, obey Jesus, and pursue the light of God's Word, will live with more clarity.

Jesus is saying that the more we see and obey the light we have, the more brightly we will see to navigate each day ahead. We are constantly moving from darkness to greater darkness or light to brighter light. 

Kingdoms in Conflict

Why is there constant pressure to pick sides?

Are you for carbs or against them? Are you for fat or against fat? Are you for war or against the war? Are you for love (letting people do what they want even if it's self-destructive) or hate (refusing to condemn traditional values)? Are you on the right side of history or the wrong side of history?  

There is constant pressure to choose and conform to the latest (recently agreed-upon) consensus from the experts and influencers. If the people around you do not affirm your preferences or views you can search for a group that does...until they don't. People are becoming more tribal and segmented, yet at the same time more disconnected.     

In Luke 11:14-23, Jesus was accused, of not just being on the wrong team, but the devil's team. Those who were skeptical of Jesus could no longer deny the miracles he was doing, like freeing those who had been under demonic control. Instead, they claimed Jesus was working with the devil. 

Jesus's response to the skeptics resulted in some profoundly important truths. There is a Spiritual War visible in the physical world in which we live. There are only two sides and neutrality is not an option.