Forestgate

Luke 12:35-48

Sermon Notes

1) The Readiness Jesus Expects from His Servants, 35-40

2) The Reward Jesus Promises to Faithful Servants, 41-44, 37

3) The Retribution Jesus Promises to Unfaithful Servants, 45-49

Reflection questions:

1) What can you learn about the return of Jesus from the following verses: Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 1:7; Titus 2:13; Revelation 22:20?

2) What does it mean to be “ready” for Jesus’s return? Is it some extraordinary action, or consistent, faithful, ordinary acts of Christian obedience? See Hebrews 10:24-25, another passage that speaks of Christ’s return (aka, “the Day”).

3) Can you think of a master who acts like the one in v.37? Who performed the actions of a servant? (See Phil 2:5-9; John 13:1-20) Who dressed like a servant, even a sinner? See Is 53:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:21.

Luke 12:22-34

Sermon Notes

1. We don’t have to be anxious (v.22-28a)

2. But we have a faith problem (v.28b)

3. Fear not! You have a good father (v.29-33)

4. Renewed belief results in renewed action (v.30-34)

Questions for Reflection:

1. What are some things this last week that you were worried about?

2. Imagine for a moment you lost most or all of your money. What are you most troubled about losing? Examples: Loss of provision (food/water/shelter), Loss of comfort, loss of pleasure, loss of security, loss of power or control, loss of ability to care for family, loss of relationship, loss of identity (as a successful responsible money manager), loss of approval

3. How do your answers above (what you fear losing) reveal a connection between money and having those things in your life?

4. How could you actually find all those things you fear losing in God? How is he the provider or even the source of those things?

5. The Bible says you can only serve one master, God or money. If we see that God is the certain source for all our provision we can be free from trying to find it in money. If that happens in your life, what would it look like? What kind of real tangible actions should you see from that new faith?

Sermon Notes

Luke 12:13-21

“Don’t be THAT Guy; Be Rich Towards God”

1) That guy who thinks material poverty is his greatest problem, 13-15

2) That guy who thinks maintaining wealth is his greatest challenge, 16-18

3) That guy who thinks many possessions are his greatest comfort, 19-21

Reflection questions:

1. Why is the timing of that guy in v.13 just as bad as his actual question? What has Jesus been talking about in Lk 12:1-12, the verse immediately before? Do you think that guy in v.13 understood and applied that previous sermon? Why or why not?

2. What are some things that the guy in vv. 16-18 didn’t say that he could have said? What might you expect that guy to say after he received a great deal of wealth? See Acts 20:35; 1 Timothy 5:8; James 1:27; 1 Timothy. 6:6-10, 17-19.

3. See the previous question and the references to 1 Timothy. Now read 2 Tim. 4:6-18, believed to be the final words of Scripture that Paul wrote. What did Paul have as his earthly life drew near? Money, possessions? Godliness, contentment, great gain? Should you be like that guy? See also 1 Corinthians 11:1.

Luke 12:1-12

Sermon Notes

1) Why you should fear the subtle leaven of the Pharisees, 1-3

2) Why you should fear the sovereign Lord, not sinful mankind, 4-5

3) Why you should trust God’s sovereign provision, 6-12

a) Because you’re worth a lot to Him, 6-7

b) Because He’s reliable, 6-7

c) Because He has power to punish or pardon, 8-10, cf. 4-5

d) Because He will provide when you need it most, 11-12

Reflection questions:

1. Read Lk 12:1 and compare it to Matthew 13:33. What’s the similarity in both passages? What’s the encouragement about leaven (or yeast) in the Matthew passage? See also Matt 16:16.

2. Compare Jesus’s words in Lk 11:43 with his words in Lk 12:4-5. Now see Paul’s words in Galatians 1:10. How was Paul living and breathing for “an audience of one”?

3. What does Jesus say about sparrows in vv. 6-7? What about the lilies (in Lk 12:27 and Mt 6:27-34)? Why does Jesus want us to pay attention to his care of small insignificant things? Also see Lamentations 3:18-27 – Why does Jesus want us to remember how He has been faithful to us in the past?

Luke 11:33-54

Sermon Notes:

1) Be careful lest the light in you be darkness, 33-36

2) Be careful to practice true justice from the heart, 37-42

3) Beware of loving the praise of men, v.43

4) Be careful that you’re not an unmarked grave, 44

5) Be careful that you serve others, instead of burdening others, 45-46

6) Be careful that you don’t approve of (or imitate) others’ evil, 47-51

7) Be careful that you don’t hinder others from knowing Jesus, 52

8) Beware of harming or vilifying Jesus, 53-54

Reflection questions:

1. Read v.35 and compare it to 1 Corinthians 10:12 (consider reading 1 Cor 9:24-10:13). Who is “anyone who thinks he stands”? Is God trying to scare us or encourage us by these words? Make note of the following verse (1 Cor. 10:13), as well.

2. Of v.42, Phil Ryken says, “They calculated their offerings down to the last decimal point. Somewhere in all of their obsessive arithmetic, the Pharisees had lost the joy of giving generously to God” (Phil Ryken, Luke: Reformed Expository Commentary, 1: 623-4). What’s wrong with this picture? What does Paul say about our attitude in giving in 2 Cor. 9:7? Why is Paul talking about generosity at all in 2 Corinthians 8-9? For what or whom is he trying to raise money?

3. How do the Pharisees and Scribes/Lawyers respond to Jesus’s woes and accusations? Why does the narrator’s silence tell you about their actions? Compare their response to the following verses: Job 40:8; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 18:9-14, especially v.13.

Mark 4:30-32

Sermon Notes:

Main idea: Despite the kingdom’s humble start, it grows into a global dominion.

I. Humble start

II. Global dominion

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon Notes

1) The Lord’s Servant who is Gentle, 1-3

2) The Lord’s Servant who Brings Justice, 1-4

3) The Lord of History who Empowers His Servant, 5-9 (cf. v1)

Reflection questions:

1. Why is the gentleness of God’s servant good news? Read Isaiah 42:1-3 and Psalm 22:24 (and v.26).

2. Why is it good news that the Lord’s Servant can bring forth justice (Is 42:1, 3, 4)? Can the idols that many Israelites wrongly served do the same? cf. Isaiah 41:28-29; 42:8-9. Do God’s people need such justice? (cf. Psalm 13)

3. Ponder this quote regarding the Lord of History, revealed in vv. 5-9: “Can such a God, who originates, maintains, controls, and directs all things (37:16) forget his people or renege on his promises?” – J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, p. 321.

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon Notes

1) We're afraid to hope when circumstances are dire

2) We're afraid to hope when we can't control the outcome

3) We're afraid to hope because it might not come true

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you struggled to have hope? What was the situation?

2. In that situation, did you wrestle with hope more because the situation seemed so dire or with the fact that you were helpless to do anything about it?

3. How might you still have hope despite those challenges to the situation you face?

4. What do you wish was different in your life right now? How do you wish it changed? Are you afraid that it might never happen?

Isaiah 7:1-17

Sermon Notes

1) The Call to Trust, vv. 1-10

2) The Refusal to Trust, vv. 10-13

3) The Consequences of Distrust, vv. 12-17

4) The Comfort amidst Distress, v.14 and Matthew 1

Reflection questions:

1. Why does Isaiah bring his son (Shear-jashub, or “a remnant shall return”) when he speaks to Ahaz? Is the idea of the remnant an encouragement, a discouragement, or a call for realism? Also see Isaiah 6:8-13.

2. Read 2 Kings 16:1-8. What kind of king was Ahaz before this moment in Isaiah 7? How does 2 Kings 16:7-8 help you understand why Ahaz declines God’s offer of a sign (Isaiah 7:10-13)? Where was Ahaz’s trust? Would that trust pay off? See 2 Kings 16:9 and Isaiah 7:17ff.

3. Would it be hard for you to believe that a virgin could get pregnant? Do you think it was hard for Mary and Joseph to believe? (Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:26-38, especially vv. 34, 37-38)