Preacher: Issac Van Epps

Big Idea: Those who are dead and outcasts are not too far from Jesus’ priestly hand of reconciling them to a Holy God.

1. Competing crises (vv. 40-44)

2. The outcast is known and loved (vv. 45-48)

3. Too late? (vv. 49-53)

4. The dead are made alive (vv. 54-56)

Question: What is the function of Jesus’s work as our Compassionate High Priest? 

Preacher: Issac Van Epps

Big Idea: Jesus is the Most High God, and those who take refuge in Him are safe and sound. 

1. Terror after terror (vv. 26-28)

2. We live in a cosmic spiritual warzone (vv. 28-33) 

3. Jesus' authority to redeem and restore (vv. 34-37)  

4. Jesus’ commission (vv. 38-39) 

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: A proper faith in Jesus stems from a proper fear of Jesus.

1. God’s exposing agent (vv. 22-24a)

2. Creation’s obedient response (vv. 24b-25a) 

3. Man’s appropriate conclusion (v. 25b) 

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Responding responsively to the Word of God includes eyes, ears, and actions.

Responding responsively to the Word of God includes:     

1. Seeing clearly (vv. 16–17)  

2. Hearing carefully (v. 18)       

3. Acting familially (vv. 19-21)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: The soils provide both an explanation for the rejection of and an encouragement about the reception of the Good News of Jesus.  

1. Observe the story (vv. 4-8a) 

2. Understand the purpose (vv. 8b-10)        

3. Apply the explanation (vv. 11-15)

Which are you? 

1. The hard-hearted (v. 12)

2. The superficial (v. 13)

3. The entangled (v. 14)  

4. The responsive (v. 15)

Preacher: Tyler Masters

Big Idea: The greater awareness we have of our sin before God, the more extreme our love for Him becomes when we experience His gracious forgiveness.

1. The Suspicious Invitation (v. 36)

2. The Sincere Adoration (vv. 37-38)

3. The Self-righteous Accusation (v. 39)

4. The Simple Illustration (vv. 40-43)

5. The Stunning Application (vv. 44-47)

6. The Source of Salvation (vv. 48-50)

7. The Sacrificial Devotion (vv. 8:1-3)

 Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Jesus diagnoses a generation with spiritual spoiled brat syndrome. 

1. The essence of spiritual spoiled brat syndrome (vv. 31-32)

a. Symptoms of a spiritual spoiled brat: 

i. Pride

ii. Stubbornness

iii. Faithlessness

2. The examples of spiritual spoiled brat syndrome (vv. 33-34)

a. Spiritual spoiled brats: 

i. Attack the man to avoid the message

ii. Attack the way to avoid the words 

iii. Always find any excuse to reject the gospel  

3. The end of spiritual spoiled brat syndrome (v. 35)

a. Are you the spoiled brat or the child of wisdom?

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Take it from John, Jesus is the one who is to come. 

a. You have… 

1. A defense to mull (vv. 24-28a)

2. A distinction to marvel (v. 28b)

3. A declaration to make (vv. 29-30)  

Preacher: Chris Ritter

Big Idea: Be unoffended by Jesus. Believe in His person, teaching, and work by faith to be eternally blessed in Him.

1. The ultimate question posed (vv. 18-20)

2. The undeniable answer provided (vv. 21-22)

3. The unending blessing promised (v. 23)

Application: Being offended by Jesus today

1. The religious offense

2. The grace offense

3. The political offense

4. The truth offense

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Jesus’ compassion met with such authoritative command leaves one conclusion.

1. Consider Jesus' compassion for you (vv. 11-14a)

2. Confide in Jesus' creative command (vv. 14b-15)

3. Come to the right conclusion about Jesus (vv. 16-17)