Michael Rankin’s lesson on Sunday was about the parable of the sower, Luke 8:5-15. The true focus of the parable, however, is on the seeds, not the sower. When the farmer scattered the seeds, some fell into good soil, some fell on the path, some onto rocks, and some into thorn bushes. Only the seeds that fell on good soil yielded a crop. The seeds, of course, represent God’s Word. How are we receiving it?

Seeds can’t put roots down on the path; it’s too hard. This is like people who hear the word but it just can’t penetrate. Rocky land is like people who initially receive the word gladly, but their belief withers over time. Seeds that fall into thorns try to grow, but they are soon choked by the thorns - that is, we become surrounded by distractions and our energy drains away.

But with good soil, the seeds take root and flourish and grow a bountiful harvest. Our lesson is to realize that it’s not the seed’s fault where it landed. Our charge is to keep our hearts open to God’s word so it will penetrate. We need to know that soil can change; it can improve. So if our faith falters a bit, we can be renewed. We also need to remember this when we see others struggling. If their faith isn’t strong, don’t give up on them; keep scattering the seeds.

This week when we think about God’s Word, let’s consider what kind of listener we’re being. Let’s strive to be listeners who receive the word joyfully and grow it into a bountiful harvest.

One of the most oft quoted passages in all of scripture centers on Jesus words, “Do not judge.” It’s a convenient reference when others have something to say to us. But what does Jesus really mean by those words? The answer is in the context and in Luke 6, Jesus preaches a powerful sermon to his disciples that should change entirely the way we think about ourselves and our greatest enemies. This week, Josh breaks down Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain to help us grapple with our hearts toward those who have hurt or wronged us. Jesus’ words will challenge and uplift you even in your darkest hour!

This is the third Sunday of looking at the gospel of Luke, where we think about the relationship between old and new, past and present, who you were and who you are now. In Luke 5:33-38 Jesus tells the Pharisees that “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one… the patch from the new will not match the old… new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”

When the old ways, old habits, or old traditions aren’t working for us any more, we mustn’t keep looking back at what we were. We must leave everything behind so we can see what God has in store for us NOW. The old doesn’t even necessarily have to be bad. Sometimes we have to give up the good so we can have the best.

Isaiah 62:5 says “As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” You must give up the old to become new, to be the “bride” that God rejoices over. What is the “old” you that you won’t let go of? Give that up, and let Jesus pour new life and love and joy into you.

It may seem opposite to what we’ve talked about when you read Luke 5:39, which says “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’” Yes, older wine is better, but remember that all wine starts as new wine. Accept the new wineskin and start the aging process to become your new, best you.

This week’s message comes out of Luke 5:1-11, one of the stories in the Bible where Jesus calls his first followers, a handful of simple fishermen. For those followers, there was a cost to their decision to pursue Jesus, and we don’t often treat faith in Jesus that way today. The cost for those fishermen then, is the same for us today. Join us this week as we remember what it truly takes to follow Jesus.

Josh’s message this week was about temptation. In Luke 4:1-12, the devil tempted Jesus three times. He told Jesus to turn stone into bread, and Jesus replied “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.” He offered Jesus every kingdom and authority over them all if he would just worship the devil. Jesus replied, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” The devil told Jesus to jump from a high point on a temple because “angels will lift you up in their hands” to keep him safe. And Jesus replied, “It is said: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

We have all faced temptations. Some we resisted, some we did not. What we know is that we are at our weakest when we are alone. When we are tempted, we can’t be around just anyone; we must seek fellowship with believers who will encourage us. As Josh said, “When you find yourself alone, you find your SELF enthroned.” That’s when it’s easiest for your SELF to give in to temptations.

How did Jesus resist the temptations? Because he was not alone; he was full of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit and the weapon of choice of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God. The words “It is written” can give us the strength we need. As we go about our daily lives, let us always keep the Word of God in our hearts so we’ll never face temptations alone.

This week, guest speaker Jonathan Anstett reflects on recent life events that lead him to an unexpected 3 month journey to share Jesus with people in a small community in Japan. Jonathan shares numerous stories of the peculiar and extraordinary doors that God opens when He has blessed and ordained the work that we do. Jonathan’s encouragement for us comes out of Ephesians 4:1-16, a text that reminds and encourages believers that we are all equipped for works of service, not just the ministers or elders among us. All of us are built up as a complete body where each part does its work and God is glorified.

On Sunday, Josh Parrish talked to us about the Lake Merced Church of Christ vision for 2020. But more than a vision, he described it as a new “operating system” for us. Ephesians 2:19-12 tells us we are citizens with God’s people... “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you, too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Our new “operating system” is based upon that solid foundation that joins the building together, and that also builds us together. It’s a fusion that joins us together into unity. In other words, we will be FUSED with Fellowship, Understanding, Service, Evangelism, and Devotion. One action we’ll take is that our current Home Groups will be known as Fellowship Groups, and new Fellowship Groups will be created.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 reminds us that we “...are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst...God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” Our mission then is to be a FUSED community that will work together, love one another, and honor each other as we live and share God’s word in 2020 and beyond.

John Mulligan’s message (on the first Sunday of the new year) was on Seeing What is Most Important. Our lives are so complex nowadays, it’s easy for us to get distracted by myriad tasks and events. Paul’s letter from 1 Corinthians 15:2-4 reminds us what’s important: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.”

Hold firmly to the gospel; embrace it, believe it, and obey it. Don’t be consumed by life’s many distractions. If we find we’ve disconnected from what’s important, we just come back to hold the gospel tightly again. and we will be restored. Know this: our next life, when we live with God, will be glorious and our tears will be dried.

In 2020, let us accept the challenge to embrace the gospel always and live as changed people. Our best life is yet to come!

The end of the year (and the decade) is a good time to reflect, so Michael Rankins’ lesson was on the End of All Things (or at least the 2010s). 1 Peter 4:7-10 reads, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Are we sober of mind? That is, are we focused, centered, and alert to prepare for God’s light beyond the darkness?

Our call as God’s children is to love one another deeply, as God loves us. For those who doubt, God’s love is the inspiration for us to show them that the God they can’t see is made visible through us in the mercy, love, and hope we give to others.

How hospitable are we? Do we only show generous hospitality to those who can return it? Share what you have with those who cannot share back. Whatever you have was given to you by God, so share what He gave you. God will always give you what you need.

Are we using our God-given gifts? We mustn’t think that our gifts aren’t good enough; all gifts are equally important. As told in Romans 12:4-9, we need not be great leaders or teachers. If all we can do is offer encouragement, then offer it generously. Any gift that is given with love is enough.

We can’t change the 2010s, but we can make the 2020s a glorious decade if we commit to implementing God’s word in our lives.

Sunday’s message took us from Dark To Light with the creation of the world, then from Light To Dark when corruption ruled the world, and finally from Dark To Light with the crucifixion.

When God created the world it was glorious, in perfect order. He breathed life into man, but man sinned and the world was plunged into darkness and corruption.

After generations of darkness, a light of hope shone through. In Isaiah 42:1-4, we learned that God would put His spirit onto Jesus, who would not falter or be discouraged and his teachings will give hope to all who follow his way. Isaiah 53:1-10 then describes how we scorned Jesus, how we rejected the hope and light that he offered, and how he was pierced for our transgressions. In spite of our treatment of him, he accepted his punishment that brought us peace, “and by his wounds we are healed.”

Read 1 John 1:5-7 and learn that God is light! In Him there is no darkness. Why walk in darkness, when light is all around us? Consider your own life; is yours a life lived in Christ, lived in the light? If we are in despair, Jesus gives us joy; in loneliness he gives us love; and in hopelessness, Jesus gives us hope. That’s the life Jesus wants for us - a life of light and joy and hope. In this season of giving, know that the greatest gift of all is to give yourself to Jesus.