Luke 11:14-20

1. Let us notice the variety of ways in which Satan exhibits his desire to injure man.
2. Let us notice the amazing power of prejudice over the hearts of unconverted men.
3. Let us notice the great evil of religious divisions.

"The prayerless man is dead while he lives."

"Let us strive to be of a fair, and honest, and candid spirit in our judgment of men and things in religion. Let us be ready to give up old and cherished opinions the moment that any one can show us a "more excellent way.""

"What are the best remedies against needless divisions? A humble spirit, a readiness to make concessions, and an enlightened acquaintance with holy Scripture."

Questions:

1. Ryle connects the mute spirit with a lack of praise and prayer to God in our day. He calls moralism and avoiding open sin as ‘negative goodness,’ but prayer and praise the result of true Christianity. How does this change the way we see the world around us? How about our own hearts?

2. Ryle warns against a prejudiced spirit towards men and religion, and that, if someone can show us a more excellent way, we need to be open to it. When is the last time someone showed us a ‘more excellent way’ and we listened?

3. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that there are things – like the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – that are of first importance. Dr. Mohler of the SBTS has coined the term ‘theological triage.’ Have we ever thought through different doctrines in this light or do we tend to push people away who disagree on anything with us?

Luke 11:5-13

1. We learn the importance of perseverance in prayer.
2. We learn how wide and encouraging are the promises which the Lord Jesus holds out to prayer.

"The application of the parable is clear and plain. If importunity succeeds so well, between man and man, how much more may we expect it to obtain mercies when used in prayer to God."

"A man's state before God may always be measured by his prayers. Whenever we begin to feel careless about our private prayers, we may depend upon it, there is something very wrong in the condition of our souls."

Questions:

1. It is probably safe to say that those words “it is no use to pray” is the reason we struggle so much to pray. Will we resolve, here and now, to continue in prayer in faith that God not only hears but delights to hear our prayers and answer our requests and give the Holy Spirit?

2. If prayer is an indicator of the condition of our souls, what is it saying in our lives right now? That things are well in our souls, or that they are in imminent danger?

Luke 11:1-4

1. The first division of the Lord's Prayer respects the God whom we worship.
2. The second division of the Lord's Prayer respects our own daily needs.
3. The third division of the Lord's Prayer respects our daily dangers.

"Blessed indeed are those Christians who have learned that God's name is far more honorable than that of any earthly ruler; God's kingdom the only kingdom that shall stand forever--and God's law the rule to which all laws ought to be conformed!"

"The child of God, no doubt, is fully justified before God, and all things are working for his good. But it is the life of true faith to apply daily for fresh supplies for all our needs."

"We include under the word evil, everything that can hurt us, either in body or soul, and especially every weapon of that great author of evil, the devil."

Questions:

1. It is amazing that our Lord Jesus Christ did not write an entire book on prayer when asked how to pray. He made it simple, yet highlighting the things most important for us. These are the things the Lord is doing and working in our lives, and which, when we pray for, are praying according to God’s will. So, only one question is needed: is this prayer simply a repetition for us, or, as Ryle says, do we feel our need for these requests? Would we not start praying, today, for these very things?

Luke 10:38-42

1. Let us observe how different the characters and temperaments of true Christians may be.
2. Let us observe what a snare to our souls the cares of the world may be, if allowed to take up too much attention.
3. Let us observe the solemn rebuke our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His servant Martha
4. Let us observe what high commendation our Lord Jesus Christ pronounced on Mary's choice.

"We must not expect all believers in Christ to be exactly like one another."

"If we love life, we must hold the things of this world with a very loose hand, and beware of allowing anything to have the first place in our hearts, excepting God. Let us write 'poison' on all temporal good things."

"Health, and money, and lands, and rank, and honors, and prosperity, are all well in their way. But they cannot be called needful."

Questions:

First, Ryle points out that Christians have different temperaments. Are their certain temperaments that we value and others we despise? What are they?

Second, this passage warns us of good things becoming bad things when they become god things. Lawful things are good, says Ryle, but permitted to fill our minds they become positive curses. Are there any good things in our lives that are taking the place of first importance?

Third, Jesus tells Martha that one thing is needful. Do our lives give evidence that this is true? If so, how?

Fourth, as Ryle points out how grace - the one thing needful - is good in life and death, now and for eternity, doesn't this cause our hearts to value the Lord Jesus?

Luke 10:29-37

1. We are taught how rare and uncommon is true brotherly love.
2. We are taught who they are to whom we should show kindness, and whom we are to love as neighbors.
3. We are taught after what manner, and to what extent we are to show kindness and love to others.

"That cheap charity which costs nothing more than a trifling subscription or contribution, is common enough. But that self-sacrificing kindness of heart, which cares not what trouble is entailed, so long as good can be done, is a grace which is rarely met with."

"We should regard the whole world as our parish, and the whole race of mankind as our neighbors...To be friendly to all men in this way, is to show something of the mind that was in Christ."

"He should think it no misspent time to work as hard in doing good to those who need help, as others work in trying to get money. He should not be ashamed to toil as much to make the misery of this world rather smaller, as those toil who hunt or shoot all day long. He should have a ready ear for every tale of sorrow, and a ready hand to help every one in affliction, so long as he has the power."

Questions:

1. I don’t know about you, but I can easily read the command to love God and neighbor, or read that love is fruit produced by the Spirit, and it not hit me that I fall so short of this calling! Does Ryle saying that this love is rare and uncommon humble us or make us proud?

2. The answer to who our neighbor is, is the person we see in need and can help. Is this our practical response to those around us? Are we quick to meet needs that we see, or run away from them?

3. As Ryle asks, “what are we doing, each in our own station, to prove that this mighty parable is one of the rules of our daily life? What are we doing for the heathen, at home and abroad? What are we doing to help those who are troubled in mind, body, or estate? There are many such in this world. There are always some near our own door. What are we doing for them? Anything, or nothing at all?”

Luke 10:25-28

1. We should notice the solemn question which was addressed to our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. We should notice the high honor which our Lord Jesus Christ places on the Bible.
3. We should notice the clear knowledge of duty to God and man, which the Jews in our Lord's time possessed.

"Let us not be ashamed of putting the lawyer's question to our own souls. Let us rather ponder it, think about it, and never be content until it fills the first place in our minds."

"Let the principle contained in these words, be one of the foundation principles of our Christianity. Let the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, be the rule of our faith and practice...It matters nothing who says a thing in religion, whether an ancient father, or a modern Bishop, or a learned divine. Is it in the Bible? Can it be proved by the Bible? If not, it is not to be believed."

"Clear knowledge of the head, when accompanied by determined impenitence of heart, is a most dangerous state of soul."

Questions:

1. In the midst of life and all its needs, how much time do we give to considering the salvation of our eternal souls? Can we say this subject has filled our minds and has our concern, and has found its answer in Jesus Christ?

2. Do we, as Ryle says, cast our anchor and abide on the principle of the Scriptures, and the Scriptures alone, being our rule of faith and practice? What evidence can we give for it?

3. If someone has been a Christian for any length of time, they have probably heard of this greatest commandment of love to God and neighbor. In reading it, has it caused us to be puffed up or humbled? Have we skimmed over it, or has the weight of it hit us?

Luke 10:21-24

1. We should observe the one instance on record of our Lord Jesus Christ rejoicing.
2. We should observe the sovereignty of God in saving sinners.
3. We should observe the character of those from whom truth is hidden, and of those to whom truth is revealed.
4. We should observe the majesty and dignity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Let us observe the peculiar privileges of those who hear the Gospel of Christ.

"Three times we are told in the Gospels that our Lord Jesus Christ wept. Once only we are told that He rejoiced. And what was the cause of our Lord's joy? It was the conversion of souls."

"Why England is a Christian country and China buried in idolatry, is a problem we cannot solve. We only know that it is so. We can only acknowledge that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ supply the only answer that mortal man ought to give--"Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight."

"To see that we are bad, is the first step towards being really good. To feel that we are ignorant is the first beginning of all saving knowledge."

"Many and weighty as our sins are, Christ can bear them all. Difficult as is the work of our salvation, Christ is able to accomplish it. If Christ was not God as well as man we might indeed despair. But with such a Savior as this we may begin boldly, and press on hopefully, and await death and judgment without fear."

"Let us leave the passage with a deep sense of our own debt to God and of our great responsibility for the full light of the Gospel. Let us see that we make a good use of our many privileges."

Questions:

1. Ryle points out that this is the only time in Scripture in which Jesus is said to rejoice, and it centers around conversion. Do we rejoice like Jesus when the Lord brings sinners to himself?

2. What effect does the Sovereignty of God in salvation do to our hearts? Does it increase our thankfulness or does it produce anger?

3. Self-righteousness is the natural default of our sinful hearts. Have we come to say with Paul that we count all things as loss for the sake of Christ and put no confidence in the flesh?

4. Ryle says, “Many and weighty as our sins are, Christ can bear them all. Difficult as is the work of our salvation, Christ is able to accomplish it.” No wonder we are to despair of our self-righteousness! Does this not give us confidence before our great God in heaven?

5. Does it shock you that you have more light of the gospel than David and Isaiah? How are we using what we know to bless and encourage others?

Luke 10:17-20

1. We learn how ready Christians are to be puffed up with success.
2. We learn that gifts, and power of working miracles, are very inferior to grace.

"Let it, however, never be forgotten, that the time of success is a time of danger to the Christian's soul. The very hearts that are depressed when all things seem against them are often unduly exalted in the day of prosperity. Few men are like Samson, and can kill a lion without telling others of it. (Judges 14:6.)"

"Let the religion which we aim to possess be a religion in which grace is the main thing."

Questions:

1. Ryle warns against the danger of seasons of success and what it can do for our pride. He says that few can carry a full cup with an even hand. How do our hearts fair in success? Do we trend toward being proud and independent or deeply aware of God’s kindness and our need?

2. Ryle says that grace is greater than gifts. Can we say that is what we value in ourselves or in those around us?

Luke 10:8-16

1. The simplicity of the tidings which our Lord commanded some of His first messengers to proclaim.
2. The great sinfulness of those who reject the offers of Christ's Gospel.
3. The honor which the Lord Jesus is pleased to put upon His faithful ministers.

"Simple plain statements, boldly and solemnly made, and made in such a manner that they are evidently felt and believed by him who makes them, seem to have the most effect on hearts and consciences."

"Those who reject the Gospel, and remain impenitent and unbelieving, are not merely objects of pity and compassion, but deeply guilty and blameworthy in God's sight."

"The rich may trample on him. The wicked may hate him. The pleasure-lover may be annoyed at him. The covetous may be vexed by him. But he may take comfort daily in His Master's words, "He that despises you despises me." The last day will prove that these words were not spoken in vain."

Questions:

1. Ryle’s opening thought suggests that simple open statements of the truth of God’s word is more powerful that much reasoning and the like. How does that hit you? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

2. Does it strike our ears as strange to hear that the most damning sin is not those that come as mind as obvious that of unbelief? Are we on guard to hear and believe what God says in His Word?

3. Ryle points out the two-sided danger of superstitious respect or contempt for ministers. Do we respect ministers only for their office, or for their being faithful to God’s Word while serving in that office?

Luke 10:1-7

1. The first point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is the importance of prayer and intercession.
2. The second point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples, is the perilous nature of the work in which they were about to be engaged.
3. The third point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is, the thorough devotion to their work which He enjoined upon them.
4. The fourth point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is the simple-minded and contented spirit which He bade them to exhibit.

"Not all believers have money to give to missions. Very few have great intellectual gifts, or extensive influence among men. But all believers can pray for the success of the Gospel--and they ought to pray for it daily."

"So long as the Church stands believers must expect to be like "lambs among wolves.""

"They teach us that ministers and teachers of the Gospel should beware of allowing the world to eat up their time and thoughts, and to hinder them in their spiritual work. They teach us that care about money, and excessive attention to what are called "the courtesies of life," are mighty snares in the way of Christ's laborers, and snares into which they must take heed lest they fall."

"The sermon about "things unseen" will produce little effect when the life preaches the importance of the "things that are seen.""

Questions:

1. Brother or sister, when is the last time we prayed that the Lord of the harvest would send workers into His harvest?

2. Are we surprised when we hear of, or personally face, persecutions of various kinds?

3. Are we thoroughly giving ourselves to the work God has placed before us? Whether a pastor or not, are we faithfully giving ourselves to the Kingdom wherever God has placed us?

4. Ryle says that “The sermon about "things unseen" will produce little effect when the life preaches the importance of the "things that are seen."” What do our lives communicate to those around us, that we are living for the world or that we are not yet at home?