From One Degree to Another

My 9/8/24 sermon, Jesus and the Future (Luke 21:5-38) is online. It was encouraging to work through this passage and again see that when it comes to the future, Jesus isn’t interested in what or when certain events will happen (which seems to be all many people care about — just like Jesus’s disciples in this passage). Jesus is committed to helping His followers (both now and then) understand what kind of people we should be. And, of course, it all comes back to centering on Him, keeping our eyes on Him, and living in the here and now appropriately. I hope this sermon encourages you for the future.

My 9/1/24 sermon at Crestview, Jesus and Religion (Luke 20:1-21:4), is online. Religion seems to be a fairly good whipping post these days. The tension in this passage is that Jesus isn’t out to “put religion in its place” as much as to draw out the hearts of those bent on relating to God on their own terms to come to God through Him. I hope this good news is clearly seen in this sermon.

I did mention this Keller chart in my opening.

Many people also appreciated seeing the story of the widow’s gift in context. So, here are some details related to this sermon. I hope they encourage you.

My 8/25/24 sermon, King of Peace (Luke 19:28-48), is online (both video and audio are available). This passage included three narratives: Jesus’s Triumphal Entry, Jesus Weeping over Jerusalem, and Jesus Cleansing the Temple. And each of these is showcasing Jesus. They show who He is. They show that He’s unlike any other king we could imagine. They help us lean into a king who is full of compassion and has the authority to call us to reorder our lives. I hope the sermon encourages you as you lean into Him for hope.

My 8/18/24 sermon at Crestview, Jesus’s Mission Revealed (Luke 18:31-19:27), is now online. The thing is, when we understand what really drives people, their deepest purpose, it has an effect on our lives. And, for people of faith, understanding what drove Jesus to work for the greater good in people’s lives helps us. His vision and mission were not only compelling for Him as He lived on earth, but they are compelling for us, His followers, as we live life in the here and now. I hope this good news encourages you.

My 8/11/24 sermon at Crestview, Kingdom Trust (Luke 18:15-30), dug into the narratives of “let the little children come to me” and “the rich young ruler” to help us see the atmosphere of God’s kingdom. Specifically, God’s kingdom produces faith or trust in Jesus Christ our Lord. And, this leads to all kinds of ramifications. I hope the sermon encourages you.

My 8/4/24 sermon at Crestview, Kingdom Living (Luke 17:20-18:14), is online. This sermon dug into Jesus’s explanation that His coming to earth meant the kingdom of God was here. Further, He envisioned a day when He would return and how His followers were to act accordingly. The text addressed issues of focus, prayer, and relationships with others. I hope it encourages you.

Someone asked me to post the quote from part of the sermon. Jesus relates the days of Noah and Sodom to eating, drinking, selling, buying, and rather normal mundane activities. And, Ralph Davis put it so well:

“[There is] Nothing wicked about these activities in themselves. But those things were the sum total of their lives. Jesus does not hammer on their wickedness but their preoccupations. They were completely absorbed in their own interests…  There is also a warning in this text for professing believers in our day, at least in the West. It is easy to assume that it’s non-Christians who are always preoccupied with their own ‘stuff’ and, as we say, are only gazing at their own navels. But there’s a word here to the modern disciple. You too are liable to be so taken up with brushing your teeth, choosing your earrings, closing real estate deals, building houses, going to work, getting through school, passing your exams, taking kids to music lessons, running Junior to Little League, going to church, the beauty shop and the grocery store, text messaging, mowing the yard, finding a new hair salon, paying the orthodontist, getting allergy shots, that it’s almost like you’re living in Sodom. It’s the frenzied pace of one thing after another that loses sight of the coming of the Son of Man.” (from his commentary on Luke in the Focus series)

My 7/28/24 sermon at Crestview, Basic Training (Luke 17:1-19), is online. As Jesus moves toward Jerusalem (and on the heels of inviting followers because heaven and hell hang in the balance), Jesus gives clear instructions for followers related to sin, faith, and worship. In other words, life will be affected after following Jesus. I hope the sermon encourages you. Have a great week.

I’ve been back at Crestview 2 weeks after my preaching and used them to preach through Luke 16.

On 7/14, I preached Luke 16:1-18, Jesus Knows Your Heart. The hope of this text is that because Jesus knows us, we can lean into Him and find acceptance and satisfaction.

On 7/21, I preached Luke 16:19-31, Adjusting Our Lives. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus invites us to listen to Jesus and find the new life He offers. I hope these sermons encourage you.

Oh, and check out the new graphic we just got for our Luke series, designed by Seth Yutzy.

My 5/5/24 sermon at Crestview, Be Careful (Luke 11:14-54), is online. This sermon went after a full chapter of teaching that related to people who are considering Jesus, but just aren’t sure of Him for one way or another. Jesus let us know what He was after in a very clean way in Luke 11:23 – “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” You could say from this that discipleship is about being with Him and gathering with Him. This sermon had plenty of head-scratching moves as we would think about them, but Jesus knows what He’s doing. I hope the sermon encouraged you.