Because of what our sovereign God has already determined and done for us, we are commanded to stand up and look up into the face of Jesus who is coming for us. Life is hard and will get harder, but Jesus has saved His people!

In a surprising story, Jesus commends one of the poorest women in Jerusalem for her great generosity and faith in God. Giving that pleases the Lord is not always large in the world’s eyes, but is always sacrificial and from a heart that loves Him with abandon.

Bad theology will always lead to bad living. If we get it wrong about who Jesus is we’ll get it wrong about everything else. True faith flows from acknowledging Jesus as the unique Son of God who came to us in human flesh and is the only one who can save us.

It has often been said that death is the great equalizer, since we all must die. Yet resurrection is the great opportunity, since we all have a chance to enter into eternal life.

Jesus, in answer to another attempt to trap Him, said His disciples should give to the government what it requires (taxes), but reserve for God what only He should be given. Christians simultaneously live in tow kingdoms. [ Philippians 3:20 ]

We must either fall before Jesus in submission and worship Him or He will fall on us in judgement against our sin and rebellion

Jesus possesses God’s true authority. The whole Bible speaks clearly and powerfully God’s plan and purpose, and points to redemption being fulfilled only in Christ. In Jesus we are all confronted with this: Who do I recognize as my ulimate authority?

We should follow Jesus because He is Lord, not just because of what He can do for us. We bow in submission to Him because He King of all creation and the only one who can save us from our sin.

Jesus, almost to Jerusalem, calls His disciples to faithful living when He will physically leave them for a while. When He returns, He says we must give an account of what we did with what He gave us.

Lord’s supper worship.