What constitutes winning according to the world is far different than winning according to Christ. As we continue in Luke, we’re confronted with what it looks like to be great, to be a winner, in the eyes of Christ. True greatness in God's eyes is not found in power or prestige, but in humble servanthood, and this was exemplified perfectly by Christ's sacrificial love. In other words, winning looks like Jesus - serving, giving, sacrificing Himself for the benefit of others.

In Luke 22:1-23, Jesus gathers with his disciples for their final Passover meal, which signifies the moment in history when the world was transformed forever. Jesus uses this meal to point us to the ultimate fulfillment of atonement and justification through Him! Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity, and like the Passover lamb whose blood was shed for deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, Jesus is the final and perfect Passover Lamb, whose blood delivers us from our slavery to sin and ourselves.

Correct theology should do for us what theologian Thomas Aquinas once said about theology, “Theology is taught by God, teaches of God, and leads to God.” In Luke 21:5-38, as Jesus gives us insight into the last days, we should be left with more than just knowledge. Ultimately, Jesus’ theology of last days should lead us to be vigilant and faithful in our walk with Christ, causeing in us a deep desire to live with the sense of urgency that Jesus is coming soon.

In Luke 20:27-21:4, Jesus is fielding questions about the resurrection and we'll be encouraged to we can live confident and authentic faith-filled lives because Jesus holds the authority over eternal life. Jesus is not looking for people who are checking the boxes so they can say they’re a Christian. He’s not looking for nominal Christians; people who are Christian by name only. Jesus-people are blood-bought people who live in the confidence of a resurrection.

In Luke 20:1-26, we encounter religious leaders challenging Jesus about His authority and they attempt to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. However, Jesus sees through their manipulative tactics, revealing profound truths about His identity and authority, and the nature of our obligations to God and government. Ultimately, we're called to lay aside sinful pride, and humbly place ourselves under the authority of Christ and His written word.

This week, our guest, Pastor Eli Garza, preaches through Luke 19:28-49 where Jesus enters into Jerusalem and he seeks to correct the worship of the people of God. Jesus did not come to establish a human empire as many wanted him to do, and many still want to do in our time, but rather he is the King of a spiritual kingdom with transformed people transcending human borders with a constitution of eternal truths.

If you grew up in church, you might remember the story of Zacchaeus from Sunday school - the story short guy who wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus passing by. Where there is a little more to the story, and it's a significant message about grace and faith. Ultimately, grace activates faith, which activates obedience to Christ and his call on our lives to live for the Kingdom of God. Pastor Nolan continues through the Gospel of Luke, looking at 19:1-27.

Continue through Luke's Gospel, we discover 5 more characteristics that Jesus is calling out of his disciples as he journeys to the cross. Pastor Nolan continues in the series, leading us through Luke 18:1-43.

Not only are we called to steward everything we have towards the Kingdom of Heaven, but when we do we pull the glory of Heaven down to earth. We’re not making our own heaven on earth, but we’re pulling glimpses of the goodness of the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth. It’s a taste of heaven when we live for the glory of God.

Pastor Nolan continues in our study through the Gospel of Luke, and in 17:1-37 we'll see true faith in Jesus compels us to live ALL aspects of our lives radically from a Kingdom-of-Heaven-here-on-earth mindset. This means how we love, how we forgive, and how we serve is an opportunity to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

Being a faithful steward requires Holy Spirit inspired humility, and it is perhaps the most significant way we acknowledge our trust in the sovereign King of the universe with every aspect of our lives - our resources (time, talents, and treasures) and our testimonies (pain, purpose, and the prosperity we have in Jesus alone) - by pointing the world back to the faithfulness of God. To put it a little more simply, faithful stewardship reflects our invested alignment with the Kingdom of God, which this comes with eternal implications for our lives and the lives of others.