Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Jesus’ banquet will be filled but not with those full of themselves. 

Signs I’m too full of self to fill Christ's table: You (are)...

1. Presume you’re a shoo-in for salvation (v. 15-17)

2. Preoccupied with your own passions (vv. 18-20)

3. Place yourself above Christ’s invitation (vv. 21-23)

4. Perceive your absence as God’s loss, not yours (v. 24)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Jesus tells a Kingdom parable to help slim down on our swollen selves. 

1. Slimming down on self-distinction (vv. 7-11) 

a) Application: Humble YOURSELF

i. Humility fuels proper ambition

ii. Humility governs proper ambition

2. Slimming down on self-aggrandizement (vv. 12-14)

a) Application: Giving without thought of benefit to SELF

i. Recalls the invitation of the self-emptying Savior

ii. Resembles the application of the self-emptying Savior

iii. Receives the commendation of the self-emptying Savior

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Supper with Jesus is squandered when you're stuffed on self.

When you’re stuffed on self: 

1. Communion with Christ is squandered (v. 1)

2. Contentment in Christ is squandered (v. 2, 4b)

3. Contagiousness of Christ is squandered (vv. 3-4a, 5-6)

Preacher: Michael Grisanti

Big Idea: When we experience traumatic circumstances in life, God desires that we evaluate our situation in light of who He is. He wants us to continue pursuing life for His glory by means of what He has actually promised to us.

I. Asaph’s Problem—The Abundance of the Wicked (vv. 1-12)

a. His Theological Foundation: God is Good (v. 1)

b. His Problem: Life Stinks  (vv. 2-3)

c. A Longer Version of His Struggle—The Wicked are Well Off  (vv. 4-12)

II. Looking Inward. . . then Looking Upward (vv. 13-17)

a. Surely, I have been good for nothing (vv. 13-16)

b. God and His Plan Makes All the Difference (v. 17)

III. Seeing Life from God’s Perspective Transforms Asaph’s heart and thoughts (vv. 18-28)

a. Asaph’s Recognition of God’s Ultimate Justice (vv. 18-20)

b. Asaph’s Self-Critique: To Envy the Wicked Was Foolish (vv. 21-22)

c. Asaph’s Celebration of God’s Presence (vv. 23-26)

IV. Asaph’s Ultimate Life Perspective (vv. 27-28)

Preacher: Tyler Masters

Big Idea: Jesus will accomplish his mission regardless of the opposition, and we will be held accountable for how we respond to him.

Antinomy: a contradiction between two apparently equally valid principles or between inferences correctly drawn from such principles. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

1. Confidence in the sovereignty of God (vv. 31-33)

2. Compassion for the people of God (v. 34)

3. Condemnation for the enemies of God (v. 35a)

4. Consummation of the kingdom of God (v. 35b)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: The salvation of God’s Kingdom is something you must fight to enter.

1. There is an invitation- the door is open but narrow (vv. 22-24) 

2. There is an expiration- the door will shut on some surprisingly (vv. 25-27)

3. There is an end destination- inclusion or exclusion from the Kingdom (vv. 28-30) 

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: God’s kingdom, despite initial appearances, has already entered into the world and will grow outwardly and inwardly in a surprisingly disproportionate way.   
1. The outward growth of the Kingdom (vv. 18-19)

2. The inward growth of the Kingdom (vv. 20-21)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: God’s reign is present in Jesus’ work to throw off the shackles of Satan on the Sabbath.

1. How do you respond to Christ’s works? (vv. 10-14)

2. How do you respond to Christ’s words? (vv. 15-17)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Unless you repent, you too will likewise perish. 

1. How calamities should catechize us (vv. 1-5) 

a. Calamities are a reminder.

b. Calamities are a preparer.

2. How God’s patience should be perceived (vv. 6-9)  

a. Mercy is the reason we are spared as long as we are.

b. God's patience towards the non-responsive will come to an end and then judgment.

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Christians are to be God’s agents of rescue in the fight for (unborn) life. 

1. The substance of our responsibility (v. 11) 

2. The selfishness of plausible deniability (v. 12a)    

3. The certainty of culpability (v. 12b)