Glorifying God by making disciples.

Luke 5:12-26 | In this text, we are going to see a theme of restoration. Restoration is taking something damaged, deteriorated, or altered and bringing it back to its proper, designed state. Luke here shares two stories that on the surface are physical healings, but as we look deeper, we will see that these are not just examples of repair of broken bodies, but examples of restoration that have implications for us today. The summary point of the sermon is this: Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and thus restore our relationship to God forever.

Luke 5:1-11 | After a career defining catch of fish, a group of fishermen left it all to follow Jesus. Jesus had shown his power and authority so clearly that these men were willing to leave everything and follow Him. When we see Jesus for who He is, we will follow Him wherever He calls. These 11 verses on Sunday might just change the entire trajectory of how we follow Jesus.

Luke 4:31-44 | Jesus begins his Great Commission with the statement, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This authority didn't begin only after his resurrection, but we see his authority on display as Luke unpacks the beginning of his earthly ministry. This week we will see the authority of Jesus' word, his authority over the demonic, his authority over disease, and his authority to preach the good news of the Kingdom! Our Lord truly is the one with ALL authority!

Luke 4:14-30 | Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth, unrolled the scroll of Isaiah, found Isaiah 61, and unapologetically declared who he was. He is the good news preacher, the bondage breaker, and the strong Savior. This revelation of who He is demands a response. His declaration demands a decision. Will we submit to Him for who He is?

Luke 4:1-13 | The scriptures tell us that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are and yet was without sin. Luke 4 gives us a powerful scene of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. This passage shows us the schemes the enemy uses to tempt, and more importantly, how Jesus used God's word to withstand temptation. When we are tempted to sin, the Word has the power to win. 

Luke 3:21-38 | Jesus is the Son of God. The theology of Jesus as the very Son of God is central to our understanding of his work as Lord and Savior. As we walk through the end of Luke 3, we want to look at the Father's affirmation of the Son and the genealogy of Jesus. With both of these Luke desires us to see and worship Jesus as the Son of God. 

Luke 3:18-20 | John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance. This demanded he confront people in their sin and point them to the coming Savior from sin. And John was willing to confront everyone in their sin, including Herod. His confrontation of Herod proved very costly from an earthly standpoint. Obedience is costly. Confrontation often costly. But it's a worthy cost. Let's look at that together. 

Luke 3:15-17 | John the Baptist reminds us that life and ministry were never meant to point to us, but to Jesus. In a moment where people could have easily elevated him, John makes it clear: he’s not the Savior, he’s just pointing to Him. And that same calling is on us. Our lives are meant to function like a signpost, directing people to Christ.

Luke 3:7-14 | Wrath. Repentance. Judgment. Response. Some of these words carry heavy connotations. Sometimes, people may even want to avoid these words. John the Baptist didn't. His preaching confronted the crowds with the reality of God's wrath, the need for genuine repentance, the nearness of God's judgment, and the demand to respond. On Sunday, we will see what he had to say and open our hearts to any ways the Holy Spirit seeks to confront us through the power of His Word. 

Luke 3:1-6 | There are two massive and connected statements regarding the life of John the Baptist. The first is something he said: "He must increase, and I must decrease."" The second is something Jesus said of him: "...among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist..." These realities are connected. John understood the best way he could spend his life was to humble himself in a way that exalted Jesus. This is the picture of true greatness. We begin a four week look at the life and ministry of John the Baptist seeking to understand what a life of decrease so Christ increases can look like. 

Luke 2:41-52 | As we turn our eyes to Luke 2:41-52, we see the only account in the gospels of Jesus’ life between his birth and the beginning of his adult ministry. The story of Jesus’ time in the temple as a twelve-year-old is all about obedience: obedience modeled by his parents, obedience to his heavenly father, and obedience to his earthly parents.

Luke 2:22-38 |What are you ultimately waiting for with eager anticipation? We may eagerly anticipate many good things, but only one can be ultimate: the day our faith becomes sight. The day we see our Savior face to face. In Luke 2 we are introduced to Simeon and Anna, two aged saints waiting and longing for their faith to become sight. Though we now live between the two comings of Christ, we can learn much from these two saints about what it looks like to wait and worship until our faith becomes sight.

Luke 2:1-21 |The King of Kings came to earth in the humblest of ways. His birth was announced to the most unlikely of people. Worship over what had happened resounded in the most unlikely of places. The message was shared by the most unlikely of messengers. The Highest King came in the humblest of ways, and there is so much for us to be instructed and encouraged by as we look at this reality.

Luke 1:57-80 | John's birth had been foretold, now it is realized.  With this promise from God fulfilled, worshipful ramifications ripple.  And with this promise fulfilled, Zechariah is filled with a prophecy of praise.  This passage highlights for us God as a promise keeper and compassionate Redeemer. The implications of these two realities of God have a massive impact on how we live with Him in the here and now of everyday life.