Scripture: Luke 7:36-50 Luke 8:1-15 Isaiah 6, Pastor Rhode opens this study with a short review of Jesus' teaching contrasting the faith of the sinful woman and Simon the Pharasee (7:36-50). Chapter 8 opens with specific naming of the women that accompany Jesus, why they follow and how they support Jesus. The study concludes with a comprehensive study of the Parable of the Sower that gives an overview of God's salvation method that goes completely against human reason.

Scripture: Romans 8

Scripture: Luke 7:11-23 Luke 7:24-50, Jesus "rains" on death's parade in the town of Nain is reviewed. People there are fascinated and declare "a great prophet has risen among us", not realizing Jesus is actually God incarnate. From prison, John the Baptist doubted who Jesus was. Jesus told John that "scripture is being fulfilled", the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have good news preached to them. Jesus teaches the crowds about John by asking,"What did you go out into the wilderness to see?"Jesus is invited into the home of Simon, a Pharisee, where His feet are anointed by a sinful woman of the city. Jesus teaches Simon about forgiveness using a parable about a moneylender that had two debtors.

Scripture: Romans 7:7 - 8:14, The Law is the will of God. God designs it, but mankind is against it. This is the nature of sin. As the Law comes, sin comes alive and I die. Paul wants to follow the Law but can't because of sin. C.S. Lewis said, "people don't know how bad they until they try to do good." But sin and death are void because of the Gospel.

Scripture: Luke 6:43- 7:23, Much increased understanding is given about four separate and distinctive teaching by Jesus: building a house, healing the Centurion's servant, raising the widow of Nain's son, and John the Baptist expressing his doubts about Jesus.

Scripture: Romans 5:18-7:19, Christians recognize that because Christ took on our sin, it no longer has dominion over us. While we are no longer enslaved to sin, we are slaves to the righteousness that Christ has provided for us. We strive to be obedient to Christ and His righteousness, however when we fail, and we will because of our natural limitations, the love of God in Christ Jesus will rescue us in grace ….Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Scripture: Luke 6:24-42, Jesus declares woe to the rich and prosperous. Everything we have is from God. Jesus is rich beyond measure yet empties Himself to be condemned as if He were a criminal. The whole world is flipped on its head. Praying for your enemies is novel. Mercy is at the heart of what Jesus is saying here. All that the world can do is "love those who are lovable". Yet we are to called love that which is unlovable. When we act in this way, we show others we are sons of the Most High. If you are not a disciple of Jesus you are blind! Forgive your brother as many times as you have been forgiven. The Kingdom of God challenges the thinking of this world because it is "upside down", a "great reversal" of the world's standards.

Scripture: Luke 6:20-32, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Plain where the "great reversal" theme in Luke continues. Jesus, who is Lord of all, gave up His power and wealth in heaven to become the lowliest of all in a little, weak fetus. Jesus preaches that the poor receive the Kingdom of God, captives are set free, those hungry now will be satisfied, the weeping will turn to laughter, and the persecuted will be rewarded in heaven.