HBC Website

This Lord’s Day, we will consider Jesus’ warning, “Strive to enter [the kingdom] through the narrow door” (sermon text: Luke 13:22-30). He explained with several declarations that would have shocked his audience. A question launched the discussion in the passage, but it turns out that the question was the wrong one. By the end of the sermon, we will identify the right question that should have been asked.

This Lord’s Day the sermon text of the worship service (Luke 13:10-17) describes an event that displayed the great mercy of the Lord. Jesus performed a miraculous healing on the Sabbath, sparking criticism from the self-righteous religious leaders. Jesus rebuked them for their hypocrisy and failure of mercy. The message of Jesus is a message of mercy extended to the undeserving for the glory of God.

Luke 13:1-9 is a passage that expands the final thought of chapter 12: “Settle accounts with God before it is too late” (Luke 12:57-59). The crowd asked Jesus a question about the problem of evil; his reply is startling (Luke 13:1-5). And to make sure no one failed to understand his point, Jesus followed it up with a parable (Luke 13:6-9).

The sermon text for this Lord’s Day (Luke 12:49-59) includes three paragraphs that, at first glance, seem unrelated, but closer evaluation suggests that they combine to create a powerful challenge. Jesus begins with a description of his mission that includes judgment and conflict. Next, he derides the crown for their unwillingness to see the signs he has presented to them. Finally, he calls them to get right with God while they still can. It is a stern call to repentance (for the lost) and determined commitment (for his followers).

This Lord’s Day the worship service sermon text weaves together a series of brief parables that call the followers of Jesus to eagerly anticipate his return. This expectation serves as the motivation for faithful service. The passage climaxes with a clear declaration: the greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility.

In Luke 12:13-21 (the sermon text for last Sunday), Jesus challenged his followers to resist covetousness because those who covet value the creation above the Creator. Rather than working to amass treasure for self, the follower of Jesus must be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).  The following passage (for this Lord’s Day sermon) explains that it means to be rich toward God.

In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus tells the famous parable of the rich fool who tore down his barns to build bigger barns to stash his hoard for the future. The problem the rich man had was not his riches, but his worldview. He hoarded for himself and left God out of the picture, resulting in greed and self-indulgence. The solution? “Lay up treasure in heaven.” This Lord’s Day we will explore that that means.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explained the importance of the resurrection of Christ

(15:1-11) and laid out a strong argument against those who would deny the believer’s hope of resurrection (15:12-19). In this text, Paul connects the resurrection to the ultimate goal of Christ’s work in history. He died and rose again to reverse the ravages caused by Adam’s sin as the first step toward transforming everything. In the end, the risen Christ will deliver a transformed universe to the God the Father for His glory.

In Galatians 5 and 6, Paul has been talking about what it means to walk in the Spirit—to be spiritual. As he’s wrapping up his letter, he says in 6:1-2 that we should minister to others by helping to restore those who have fallen into sin and by carrying one another’s burdens. In 6:10 he says we should do as much as we can to minister to all people, especially believers. Couched in between, in today’s passage (6:6), he says that we must minister to those who minister to us. The worship service today will focus on partnership in the ministry of the Word.

Today Pastor Thomas is out of town and Mark Buhr will bring the message from God’s Word. We will return to Galatians 6 where we left off last year. In 6:1-2 we learn that we are responsible to restore those who have fallen into sin and to bear one another’s burdens. Today’s passage (6:3-5) says that we cannot do that in a spirit of pride or selfishness. The worship service today will focus on the fact that we are to practice selfless service; and that can only be done when we remember who we are in the light of Who God is.