Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay — Sermons & Sunday School

Sermon preached on Luke 10:38-42 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/13/2022 in Novato, CA.

Sermon Manuscript

We come to another beloved and memorable passage that only Luke’s gospel has preserved for us. It is the story of Jesus and his disciples paying a visit to the home of Martha and Mary. John’s gospel tells us more of these two along with their brother named Lazarus, and the close relationship they developed. It may be that this is the first time Jesus visited them. But in this brief but beautiful passage we see matters of hospitality and discipleship raised and compared.

In our first point for today, I want to begin by affirming the godliness of hospitality.

Realize that when Jesus makes his pronouncement here to Martha in verses 41-42 it could be understandingly misunderstood to think Jesus is speaking against any and all hospitality. But this is classic teaching style for Jesus where he makes some broad absolute-sounding statement that needs to be carefully considered to understand its nuance and actual application. Consider similar absolutely sounding statements Jesus makes elsewhere. When Jesus taught “Judge not, lest you be judged,” we know there are lots of times where it is appropriate to judge; Jesus rather was addressing a certain form of sinful judging. Or when Jesus said not to take oaths, he was addressing a practice of sinful oaths, not all oaths. At the end of last chapter we saw those proverbial statements about discipleship, and we noted how they taught certain things but shouldn’t be taken in a wooden absolute way like to mean that you can’t go to your parent’s funeral. Jesus so often taught with these bold, enigmatic, almost proverbial, statements that sounded so absolute, but needed to be more carefully thought through to understand them and apply them. In all such cases, it is the context of Scripture, both the immediate passage’s context, and the whole Bible, that helps us rightly understand what Jesus did mean and what he must have not meant in those bold pronouncements. Our first point today will then give us the context to know that Jesus isn’t absolutely forbidding hospitality and surely it would be good and right for both Mary and Martha to show a righteous form of hospitality in this passage.

So then on this point, we can start by letting Scripture interpret Scripture and go to the broad context of the whole Bible. Romans 12:13 commands Christians to “seek to show hospitality.” Hebrews 13:2 commands us to “not neglect to show hospitality.” 1 Peter 4:9 says we need to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling” – a particularly relevant passage to speak to Martha’s concern here. In 1 Timothy 5:10, there is a short list of commendable traits to describe a godly woman and it lists that she should be someone who has shown hospitality. And while that especially highlights that role in a woman, hospitality is not exclusive to them, because 1 Timothy 3:2 lists being hospitable as one of the requirements for being an elder in the church. The Bible is clear, that there is a positive duty of godliness called hospitality that is about the proper welcome, reception, and love that we are to show to guests and strangers.

But we don’t have to go to all those other places in Scripture. This very chapter shows Jesus himself commending hospitality. He commends it both in general and especially when it comes to showing it to Jesus and his disciples. What do I mean? Well, look back at verses 5-8. That’s when Jesus is talking about sending out his disciples two-by-two into the towns and villages with the gospel of the kingdom. His instructions to his messengers are to rely on hospitality. They are to rely on being welcomed and received into peop...

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/13/2022 in Novato, CA, considering Article 23 of the Belgic Confession.

Sermon preached on Luke 10:25-37 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/06/2022 in Novato, CA.

Sermon Manuscript

Today we come to the memorable passage containing the parable of the Prodigal Son. Only Luke’s gospel has preserved this important parable for us. To say this parable has had a major impact on civilization is an understatement. Countries throughout the world today have what is referred to as Good Samaritan laws that supports passersby who help other in need. Yet, while that is a very visible impact of this passage, there is so much more to learn from here than simply such applications to civil law. This is a passage that portrays the beauty of God’s law. It is also a passage that drives us back to the mercy of God.

Let us begin in the verses thats lead up to Jesus actually telling the parable. I’m referring to the initial conversation between Jesus and this lawyer. That is the context for the parable. A lawyer comes to question Jesus, to put him to the test. Understand that this lawyer is not a lawyer in today’s sense. He was an supposed to be an expert not in civil law, but in God’s law. In other words, he was a Bible scholar who studied especially the Torah in great detail. And so, this would have been someone that people would have considered an expert in the Bible, a man considered full of wisdom and understanding with regarding the Scriptures. So then, here we should remember where we ended last week. Remember, just before this Jesus had been praising God in verses 21-24 about how God had hidden the secrets of his kingdom from the wise and understanding and chosen to reveal it instead to the little children. So then, Luke then immediately turns to show us this lawyer who would have been one of those people considered to be wise and understanding. Yet, this lawyer comes to Jesus to test Jesus, but in the testing, shows that he hasn’t yet himself understood the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. The lawyer presumes to test Jesus for proper knowledge, and in the process is shown himself be lacking knowledge himself.

So then, the lawyer’s question to try to test Jesus is there in verse 25. He asks, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” In classic Jesus fashion, Jesus turns the tables. He gets the lawyer to go on the record and answer his own question. Jesus asks the lawyer, “Well lawyer, what does the law say?” The lawyer then answers Jesus by giving what is described elsewhere by Jesus as the two greatest commandments. First and foremost, we must love God with all that we are. Second, we must love our neighbor as ourself. This is indeed what the law in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Jesus, confirms this by say that the man’s answer was correct, and if the man did this, then he would live. I would note that the idea of, “Do this and live” is also from the law, in Leviticus 18:5. This interchange is wonderful because the lawyer had sought to test Jesus, but Jesus turns it around to test the lawyer. But it also reveals how someone can know so much about the Bible but still not truly have a saving knowledge. The lawyer had the right Bible answer to Jesus’ question. He academically knew that Bible’s teachings. But the passage goes on to show that he still has more to learn to truly understand how to inherit eternal life. When he asked the question of Jesus in order to test Jesus, the lawyer surely thought he knew the right answer to that question. But Jesus’ ends up testing him and exposing the lawyers’ own lacking knowledge.

So Jesus takes the lawyer’s summary of the law with those two commandments, and tells him, “Do this and live.” Realize this is quite a statement by Jesus. Those two commandments telling us to love God and love our neighbor are a summary of God’s moral law....

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/06/2022 in Novato, CA, considering Article 22 of the Belgic Confession.

Sermon preached on Luke 10:1-24 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/27/2022 in Novato, CA.

Sermon Manuscript

The Harvest is Plentiful

At the time of this passage, already there was a great harvest for the kingdom of God to be had. Already there was a need for more people to go out and declare on behalf of Jesus that the kingdom of God was coming near. As that gospel was being proclaimed, God was revealing to people that way of peace and salvation in Christ Jesus. Many believed. Too many did not. But today’s passage describes how Jesus appointed seventy-two others to go and be authorized messengers of his kingdom message to look to gather people into his coming kingdom. This message is something that is ultimately for all the world. We will consider this theme of evangelism today.

Let us begin then by looking at verses 1-11 and considering how he appointed and sent these seventy-two. The description of how Jesus commissions and sends these is very similar to how Jesus did so for his twelve disciples last chapter. But now, in addition to his twelve inner circle of disciples, he has this broader group of seventy-two that he here commissions. We can appreciate why Jesus expands the number of appointed evangelists in light of verse 2. He says that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Evangelism is described as harvesting. Someone goes out and shares the gospel looking to convert people to the Lord. Those so converted are that which is harvested. But Jesus says we need more people to do the harvesting. In other words, we need more people to be telling others the good news about God’s kingdom. So then, Jesus here adds to his authorized messengers by appointing these seventy-two. We should note that these are largely the same instructions he gave when he sent out the twelve last chapter. Again, he tells them to not take extra provisions but to rely on the hospitality of those who receive them in each town. He again sends them with a message about the coming of the kingdom. Again he endows them with authority over demons and to heal the sick. Again, he says to shake the dust off their feat against any town that doesn’t receive their message.

So, while there are many similarities between this sending and the sending of the twelve last chapter, we note of course that the number is different. That Jesus had twelve inner circle of disciples is not a surprising number. There were twelve tribes of Israel, so we are not surprised that Jesus would have a same number of special apostles. That surely reflect Jesus’ intention to bring the gospel to all of Israel. But we can also note that the number seventy-two does have some precedence in Scripture too. Actually, to talk about the number of seventy-two we should also talk about the number of seventy. There is an interesting minor mystery when it comes to the number of seventy versus seventy-two. Our pew Bible has the number of seventy-two in this passage, But maybe your Bible translation says seventy. This is one of those rare cases in Bible transmission where you have variant readings in the ancient manuscripts and it’s unclear whether the number seventy or seventy-two was the original reading. Some manuscripts, like the Textus Receptus for example, only have the word “seventy”. The “two” is missing in those manuscripts. But a number of others including some old ones have the word “two” to make “seventy-two.” So did the word “two” get added into some manuscripts at some point, or was the “two” accidently missed when copying on some manuscripts. It’s hard to say with the available evidence at this point.

What becomes more interesting is that the significance of the number seventy or seventy-two in Scripture re...

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/27/2022 in Novato, CA, considering Article 21 of the Belgic Confession.

Sermon preached on Luke 9:57-61 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/20/2022 in Novato, CA.

Sermon Manuscript

Today, we have another passage where Jesus teaches on discipleship through dialogues with three would-be disciples. I would note that the discipleship that is in mind here likely especially had in mind becoming part of that group that traveled around with Jesus and closely followed along with him in his ministry. Nonetheless, there are certainly applications here for all disciples of Jesus. As we study through each of these three dialogues, let us observe that Jesus is speaking in proverbs here. He’s not speaking in ordinary, straightforward speech here. No, these are proverbial statements that he speaks in response to each would-be disciple to challenge them on whether they are truly ready to follow him. Because of this, realize that Jesus is not giving absolute commands to be woodenly applied to all discipleship. Rather, there is something enigmatic here, and like all proverbs, you would be a fool to just simplistically apply it to any and all circumstances. Instead, we need to use wisdom to carefully consider what these proverbs teach us about the nature of discipleship and then apply them from there. We will endeavor toward such wisdom today as we seek to follow Jesus as his disciples. We will then consider each of these three dialogues one-by-one today.

First then, we begin with the first dialogue in verses 57-58 between Jesus and a would-be disciple. In this one, it is the would-be disciple who initiates the conversation with a bold declaration that he will follow Jesus. Notice, he doesn’t just say that he will follow Jesus. His statement is bolder than that. He says he will be follow Jesus wherever Jesus goes. There is much confidence in that statement, but Jesus’ proverb in response challenges the person. Did the person truly understand what such a commitment would look like? Had he truly counted the cost before making such a grand promise?

So then, Jesus’ proverb is there in verse 58. Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Again, we note that Jesus doesn’t just come out and plainly say whether this man would be able to keep his bold promise to follow Jesus wherever he went. Rather, in such enigmatic words he speaks poetically here a pithy statement to consider. And yet that is what makes his words timeless and not just something specific to the would-be disciple who made such a promise. So then, Jesus’s words here employ the imagery of animals in their normal, natural habitat. Foxes and birds typically have their homes. That’s true for most creatures. Will and I were talking about spiders recently and commenting how tarantulas have different homes than most spiders since they typically live in the ground in holes. So, animals typically have their own homes where they live and especially sleep. And its not just foxes and birds and animals in general. That’s true for humans as well. Ordinarily, humans have their own homes. Yes, it is not always the case. Some people are indeed homeless. But it is not the norm. That’s why we have fancy words like vagrant, hobo, tramp, etc. to describe various specific circumstances for why someone doesn’t have their own permanent home. My point is that it is normal and ordinary for animals and humans to have homes. But Jesus, the Son of Man, did not have a home. In other words, there was something extraordinary that Jesus did not have a home of his own.

Let us appreciate again how Jesus in Luke’s gospel continues to develop this self-revelation of Jesus as the Son of Man. It began with repeated descriptions of the great authority and power Jesus had as the Son of Man.

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/20/2022 in Novato, CA, considering Article 19 of the Belgic Confession.

Sermon preached on Luke 9:46-56 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/13/2022 in Novato, CA.

Sermon Manuscript

Ambition.  Trying to get ahead.  We can be so full of ambition, and in so many areas of our life.  Ambition in many ways can be a good thing.  Ambition can also be sinfully expressed and we must be on guard against such temptations.  Our differing ambitions also compete for our time and attention.  But in so far as ambition is good, we should realize that our highest and ultimate ambition should be in terms of the kingdom of God and his glory.  How can we, get ahead so to speak, in the kingdom of God?  That is a question raised throughout today’s passage and a surprisingly wonderful if not radical answer is given.  We find that the way to become great in the kingdom is by being least.  Let us work through and unpack this idea in today’s message.  Ultimately, we will be pointed again to our Lord Jesus Christ who for our sakes became least so that we could be lifted up high into his kingdom of which we speak.

We begin by looking at verses 46-48.  Here we find that the disciples were having an argument about who was the greatest.  This was not something that they just came out and told Jesus.  Mark’s account (Mark 9:34ff) shows that Jesus had to confront them about it.  That’s surely what is referenced in verse 47 when it says that Jesus knew the reasoning of their hearts.  In other words, they were privately arguing about this and Jesus ended up confronting them on it.  Jesus’ knowledge of such things was surely something that came supernaturally.

Let’s begin then by critiquing this ambition by the disciples.  It is one thing to want to be the best disciple of Christ that you can be.  But what they are doing appears to be more than that.  They have some competitive attitude here where they are trying to pridefully exalt themselves over each other.  There can be a fine line between godly ambition and sinful pride where you just trying to exalt yourself over others.  It’s one thing to strive for excellence and want to please your master in your service to them.  It is another thing to think you are better than others and look to make sure everyone knows that and recognizes you as the better person.  The pride of man is not in line with the righteousness of God.

So then, Jesus confronts them on their ambition by teaching them what ambition in the kingdom of God looks like.  In other words, Jesus explains to them that if they want to get ahead in his kingdom, here’s how to get ahead.  So, he calls for a child to stand beside him.  And he speaks of how someone should receive a child in his name.  You can imagine that if someone thinks themselves important, they probably don’t imagine themselves spending time with children.  They probably imagine their time too valuable for committing their precious time to the least among them.  They probably think that the more important you are means the more you need to be spending time with other important people.  As an aside, I can’t help but be frustrated when I see too often church ministries hire inexperienced and poorly trained youth ministers to do much if not all of the ministry to the youth and children in a church.  Often it is a seminary student in training, and I guess the logic is let’s put them with the youth so they can get some experience, but us adults will get the attention of the senior pastor.  I can’t help when I see that to take it as them saying the youth just aren’t as important as the adults, when if anything I think the youth should be the recipients of our best resou...

Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/13/2022 in Novato, CA, considering Article 19 of the Belgic Confession.