In Luke 7:18–36, Jesus proves He is the One for whom John the Baptist prepared the way by issuing 3 identity confirmations. I. Jesus confirms His identity to John by showing He fulfills OT prophecies concerning the Messiah (vs. 18–23). A. A question: Are you the One who is to come (vs. 18–20)? B. An answer: What have you seen, and what did Isaiah say (vs. 21–22)? C. A challenge: Take no offense at Me and be blessed (v. 23). II. Jesus confirms John the Baptist's identity to the crowd by showing he fulfills OT prophecies concerning the promised forerunner of the Messiah. A. Questions: What did you go out to see (vs. 24–26a)? B. Answers: 1. More than a prophet (v. 26b). 2. Malachi's Messenger (v. 27). 3. Greatest among men (v. 28a). C. A promise: the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist (v. 28b). III. Jesus confirms the spiritual identity of those who respond to the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. A. Those who repent (receive John's baptism) and believe (spiritually hear Jesus's words) prove they are children of God (vs. 29, 35). B. Those who do not repent (refuse John's baptism) and reject God's purpose prove they are not children of God (vs. 30–34). C. A validation: Wisdom is justified by all her children (v. 35).

In Luke 7:11–17, we witness 4 components of a narrative that displays Jesus' compassion for people and power over death. I. The narrative has a setting: two large crowds converge at Nain's city gate. A. Crowd 1: Jesus, his disciples, and a large crowd head toward the gate (v. 11). B. Crowd 2: A widow, her deceased only son, and a sizeable funeral crowd exit the gate (v. 12). II. The narrative has a rise in tension. A. The compassionate and powerful Lord asks the humanly impossible (v. 13). B. The compassionate and powerful Lord does the humanly impossible (v. 14). III. The narrative has a climax: the dead man sits up and speaks (v. 15). IV. The narrative has a resolution. A. Fear gripped everyone (v. 16a). B. Their report glorifying God spread throughout the land (v. 16): 1. "A great prophet has arisen among us!" (v. 16c) 2. "God has visited His people!" (v. 16d).

In Luke 7:1-10, Jesus graciously heals a centurion's slave in response to the centurion's humble recognition of Jesus' authority, exemplifying the inclusion of Gentiles into salvation by faith. I. The Slave of the Centurion (vv. 1-2) A. A summary statement is given. B. The situation is explained II.The Emissaries of the Centurion (vv 3-5) A. The emissaries are sent to Jesus B. The emissaries plead earnestly III. The Humble Faith of the Centurion (vv 6-8) A. The centurion humbly intercepts the envoy B. The centurion recognizes Jesus' authority IV. The Marvel and Authority of Jesus (vv 9-10) A. Jesus is amazed at the faith if the centurion B. Jesus' authority is demonstrated in healing

In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus emphasizes the importance of obeying His words by contrasting two illustrations of building houses. I. Jesus Asks a Rhetorical Question. A. The underlying assumption is to obey the one you call "Lord." II. Jesus Gives a Positive Illustration. A. He who hears and does builds on a firm foundation. B. The house is unshakeable because it is well-built. III. Jesus Gives a Negative Illustration. A. He who hears and doesn't do builds without a foundation. B. The house collapses, and its ruin is great.

Today, we will consider the Biblical responsibilities of two groups of people within the church. I.​All the elders are responsible to: ​A.​Shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2a). 1.​Willingly (not under compulsion) (1 Peter 5:2b). 2.​Eagerly (not for shameful gain) (1 Peter 5:2c). ​​3.​As an example (not domineering) (1 Peter 5:3). ​B.​Lead the flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12). C.​Protect the flock from false doctrine (Titus 1:9–14; Acts 20:28–31 Hebrews 13:17). D.​Teach the flock (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:7) II.​The flock is responsible to: ​A.​Respect & esteem all their elders. (1 Thessalonians 5:12) B.​Evaluate & imitate all their elders' faith (Hebrews 13:7). C.​Obey all their elders (Hebrews 13:17a). D.​Submit to all their elders (Hebrews 13:17b). Today, we will consider the Biblical responsibilities of two groups of people within the church. I.​All the elders are responsible to: ​A.​Shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2a). 1.​Willingly (not under compulsion) (1 Peter 5:2b). 2.​Eagerly (not for shameful gain) (1 Peter 5:2c). ​​3.​As an example (not domineering) (1 Peter 5:3). ​B.​Lead the flock (1 Thessalonians 5:12). C.​Protect the flock from false doctrine (Titus 1:9–14; Acts 20:28–31 Hebrews 13:17). D.​Teach the flock (Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:7) II.​The flock is responsible to: ​A.​Respect & esteem all their elders. (1 Thessalonians 5:12) B.​Evaluate & imitate all their elders' faith (Hebrews 13:7). C.​Obey all their elders (Hebrews 13:17a). D.​Submit to all their elders (Hebrews 13:17b).

Christ possesses the Key of David, representing 3 aspects of His character and work. I.​Christ is Faithful. A.​Foreshadowed by Eliakim's faithfulness (Isaiah 22:20–24). B.​Required by Eliakim's sinfulness (Isaiah 22:25). II.​Christ is the righteous Judge. A.​He opens or shuts the doors to eternal life and eternal punishment (Revelation 1:17–18 & 3:7–8). B.​He delegates His authority to the church as His people preach the gospel (Matthew 16:18–20). III.​Christ is King, the eternal heir to David's throne (Isaiah 9:6–7, connected by "shoulder" to Isaiah 22:22).

In Luke 6:37–45, Jesus teaches 2 facets of judging that show mercy to others and receive mercy from God. I. Jesus commands judging that shows mercy to others and leads to mercy from God. A. Negative: do not judge or condemn, and you will not be judged or condemned by God (v. 37a, b). B. Positive: pardon & give, and you will be pardoned and given to exceedingly by God according to the same measure (vs. 37c-38). II. Jesus illustrates proper judging by presenting activities showing the importance of seeing correctly. A. Judge rightly whom you will follow, for a disciple becomes like his teacher (vs. 39–40). B. Judge rightly your own sin so you can rightly help others with theirs (vs. 41–42). C. Judge rightly the fruit of your life in order to know the state of your heart. 1. The quality of the tree is reflected in the quality of its fruit (vs. 43–44). 2. The state of one's heart is reflected in the quality of one's words (v. 45).

In Luke 6:27–36, Jesus presents 7 directives outlining the necessity of His followers to love their enemies as God loves. I. Jesus presents a poetic, four-fold, countercultural command to love our enemies (vs. 27–28). II. Jesus presents four concrete, countercultural examples of loving our enemies (vs. 29–30). III. Jesus presents a practical guiding principle for deciding how to love our enemies (v. 31). IV. Jesus presents three examples of non- countercultural love (vs. 32–34). V. Jesus presents a summary of the commands to love our enemies (v. 35a). VI. Jesus presents the rewards given to those who obey the commands to love our enemies (v. 35b). VII. Jesus presents the reason we are to love our enemies (v. 35c–36).