Paid or not, every church member is involved in ministry. We may start our Christian life mostly on the receiving end, but in due time we devote ourselves to one another's spiritual good. Discouragement and disillusionment can set in when we consider all the needs before us, even in one life or household. Who is sufficient for these things? In Luke 9:10–17 Jesus answers this question and teaches us the first lesson for our life in ministry: Jesus is enough for his people.

So far Luke has taken us on a journey with Jesus. We've been riding along with the disciples to witness Jesus preaching and healing, getting on his knees and getting in trouble. In Luke 9:1–9 Jesus gives his disciples something to do. He sends them out with his gospel to preach and his empowerment to preach it to great effect, with all of the risks and rewards that come with this labor. This is a remarkable truth, that God would get his Word out through us. There were some peculiarities to the specific way the first apostles conducted their ministry. But there are points of overlap with our role as Jesus' witnesses today.

"Daughter." It's a term of relationship, affection, and endearment. It's also how Jesus addresses one timid woman who came to him for healing. Yet even her story is part of a larger lesson in faith that Jesus is teaching to one dad whose daughter is on her deathbed. In Luke 8:40–56, Jesus takes the scenic route and leads Jairus on a painful and powerful journey of faith.

In the face of hard things in our lives, and especially compared to what appears to be the prospering of godless people, we can be tempted to wonder if God sees and cares. But Psalm 73 reminds us that when we place ourselves under God's instruction we see a bigger picture which helps us remember that when we have the nearness of God we have everything we will ever need.

There's a man named Enoch near the beginning of the Bible's story. Moses records this beautiful summary of his life, "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him" (Gen. 5:24). More than a beautiful summary of his life, this simple description instructs us in Genesis 5:21–32.

Some people can't stop talking about Jesus. They're so annoying. But not to our Lord. Yes, there are ways that we can offend and bother needlessly. But it's never needless to talk about all that Jesus has done for us. That's one lesson we learn from Luke 8:22–39, about a windstorm and wicked spirits. Jesus overpowers both and one man can't stop talking about it.

Sometimes we'll hear or even say, "Jesus preached in pictures so that anyone could understand." Not true. Jesus often preached in pictures to hide his meaning. In Luke 8:1–21 we continue getting to know the Lord Jesus better than we have known him. In this text we come to the familiar parable of the soils, a test for how we hear the Word. But more, an encouragement to know the word is at work even when it seems to fail.

As humans, we take so many things in our life for granted. We go about our day and don't consider the gravity of so many of the things we've been given. This tendency can easily translate to God and the word that he has given to us. Psalm 19 is a song of praise to our God for his gracious revelation to mankind and his people. We'll follow the psalmist as he walks us through creation and the law in an attempt to show us who God is and what he has done for us in speaking to us. King David considers all these things and leads us to respond with humility and confidence.

This sermon is the last in a series of encounters between Jesus and his friends, interactions with those friendly to Jesus that teach us about our salvation. Jesus eats with the Pharisees, and all appears well until a woman shows up. Simon, the host, determines that she has no business interacting with Jesus. In reply, the Lord turns the dining facility into a classroom. Jesus uses a parable and the woman's response of love for him to teach about his immense grace in forgiving sins. Luke 7:36-50 helps us investigate just what kind of grace Jesus offers and the love we see displayed in response to his undeserved favor.

What should we do with our doubts about Jesus? Even that question assumes we might have some. Take comfort that in Luke 7:18–35 we find doubts on the lips of none other than John the Baptist, Jesus' forerunner, God's messenger to the world that the Christ has come. What did John do with his doubts about Jesus' identity? What does Jesus do with doubters like John? What will you do with Jesus?