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.

Scripture: Luke 5:27-6:22, Believers are depicted as the waiting Bride of Christ. Jesus is to be the Bridegroom. This is all foreshadowed in the Lord's Supper. The old has given way to the new. Jesus is making all things new. An example of cloth and wine are given. In chapter 6, Jesus is criticized for working on the Sabbath. A fundamental part of this is that He is feeding sinners and healing. When we rest on the Sabbath, we honor God's creation. Jesus says He is our Sabbath rest.

Scripture: Romans 4:1-25; Hebrews 11:13, Abraham was justified before circumcision. He was a Christian. His faith was credited to him as righteousness. Sons of Abraham are by faith. Abraham died in faith, not having received the things promised --- Hebrews 11:13. Passive faith (only receiving) is contrasted with active faith (produces good works). Christ is our justification and our sanctification. Faith has two different ways of functioning (i.e. two sides of a coin) but is still one coin. Heavenly rewards are discussed in conclusion. The key element of faith is to believe that God was able to do what He had promised.

Scripture: Luke 5:17-35 John 20:19-23 Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals a paralytic and calls Levi as a disciple. Jesus is going to base His ministry on something that appears foolish. "Put down your nets during the daylight!" It works because Jesus says so! When we put our reason under the Word, in service to it, we have it rightly ordered. Augustine said it this way, "Believe in order to understand". If Jesus remembers you, you never die. We are never forgotten, we are eternally present with Him. What a comfort!

Scripture: Romans 3:19-4:15; Romans 3:21; Matthew 6:16; Psalm 32:1-2, By the works of the Law, no human will be justified. God looks through the Law at man and only sees sin. We need a different way to be justified. Verse 3:21, the "hinge verse" defines this different way. Just as Abraham was declared righteous by God (4:3), we are declared righteous through Christ.