Jesus on Trial

The Good News According to Luke

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: Jesus on trial reveals our motives, his crucifixion, our need and his burial the pathway to the greatest miracle of all. 

• On Trial

• Crucified 

• Buried  

On Trial

The trial of Jesus reveals the true motives of men’s and women’s hearts.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king." And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him."”

Just as Pilate and Herod had heard of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the evidence for the historic Jesus of Nazareth’s sinless life, miracles, death, burial and resurrection are available and abundant.  

A recommendation:

The world will quickly embrace Jesus as a humanitarian figure.  

Yet we in the world attempt to place Jesus on trial when his authority crosses our wills.  

"I had motive for not wanting the world to have a meaning; consequently assumed that it had none, and was able without any difficulty to find satisfying reasons for this assumption. The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure metaphysics, he is also concerned to prove that there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do, or why his friends should not seize political power and govern in the way that they find most advantageous to themselves. … For myself, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation, sexual and political." --Aldous Huxley, Ends and Means (London: Chatto & Windus, 1946), pp. 270, 273

The essence of the gospel is heard when Jesus said:

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."”

Don’t be one who ignores the light and intellectual integrity for emotional or preferential reasons (meaning the way you want to live despite the consequences).   

V. 12 - Opposition to Jesus turns previous opponents into allies because they have the commonality of inward resistance to the authority of the King of Kings.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”

So why do people so often today put Jesus on trial?  

Because they want to do what they want to do and live the way they want to live.  

Hedonism is a false god promising happiness and peace which people serve in our generation. 

People bow daily at the altar of their lusts. 

“The passion of lust is the opposite of holiness and honor.”

-John Piper

“Heaven and hell are at stake in what you do with your eyes and the thoughts of your imagination.”

-John Piper

The crowd asked an insurrectionist and murderer to be released to them rather than the author of life.  

This is telling of the human condition which is bent on rebellion and sin that leads to death.  

When we don’t choose Jesus, we will always choose death instead.  

Crucified 

The crucifixion of Jesus reveals our need for a savior.   

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭26‬-‭43‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."”

There are many additional reasons that people throw off faith. 

One reason is being forced to carry a cross. 

There are those who have carried the cross forcibly like Simon of Cyrene and therefore want to throw off any vestige of religion from their lives.   

The solution: Meet the one who carried the cross for you and so be saved.  

A second reason is the company amongst which we find Jesus in the midst of his saving work.  

Jesus was crucified in between criminals.  

Jesus was treated as a criminal though he did no wrong.  

How have you or those you know vilified Jesus because of those with whom he is associated?  

Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were condemning him, who didn’t realize the wrong they were doing in crucifying the Son of God. 

Jesus also gives grace to those others would condemn, right off and leave for dead.  

The man hanging next to Jesus on the cross gives one of the clearest examples of the gospel - that salvation is by grace through faith alone.  

There is no way around it - we will reap what we sow. 

The man would die for his crimes that day. 

Yet because he would turn to Jesus and beg for his mercy, the man would receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life that would swallow up all of his earthly mistakes.  

If we scorn the grace given others, it only shows the lack of understanding that we have of our own sin before a holy, perfect God.  

The solution:

Understand that in death, Jesus is acting as a savior offering life to a blind and bound world.  

Buried 

The burial of Jesus paves the way for his greatest miracle of all - resurrection from the dead.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭44‬-‭56‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”

The speed of Jesus’ death was produced not only from his torture, but by the wrath of God being poured out on him as the Passover Lamb for humanity’s sins.  

The temple being torn in two at Jesus’ death removed the veil of separation between God and man - meaning that through Christ’s broken body, we would be reconciled through repentance and faith - once again having welcome access to the presence of God.  

Just as many families purchase burial plots where family and friends can visit their graves after death, Jesus was laid in the tomb set apart for Joseph of Arimathea.  

The fact that Jesus was buried in a known and recognizable tomb provided solid foundation for his resurrection claims.  

The people would be able to tell whether or not his body was still there. 

Jesus would have a physical death preparing the way for a bodily, not simply a spiritual, resurrection.  

Jesus had to die to pave the way for the greatest miracle of all, his prophesied resurrection of the dead.  

We enter into Christ’s new life by dying to sin and putting our trust in Jesus’ finished work at the cross. 

What do you need to allow to die and be buried in your world to allow Jesus to bring you into a new, resurrection life?

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

-Aristotle

This is good news for us as we also look to the hope of resurrection in Christ when God truly makes all things new!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Chapter 22

The Good News According to Luke: Chapter 22

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: We must allow the Holy Spirit to reveal what devotions we hold as of greater worth than Christ that our betrayals might turn into redemption.  

• Betrayal

• Sifting

• Redemption

Betrayal

When our desire for earthly gain outweighs our eternal reward, the end result is betraying our first love. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

What was significant about Judas’ betrayal is that he was one of Jesus’ chosen, inner circle.  

This should give all of us both pause and a sense of sobriety because if this turning of the heart could happen to one who walked with Jesus, saw his miracles and heard his teaching in the flesh, why would we be exempt from such potential failure?  

It said that Satan entered Judas’ heart - playing on Judas’ lack of developed conviction in Christ’s unfolding plan of judgment and redemption - emboldening the compromise which left room for his downfall. 

How convinced are you regarding the claims of Jesus?

If you are shaky at any point, it is literally a matter of life and death that you do your homework and sure up your Biblical convictions.  

We are here to help. 

*Remember, a person turning away from God never happens all at once - it is the result of daily, seemingly inconsequential decisions without immediate consequence that deceive one into thinking that retribution will never come (John 12:6).  

“Jesus warns people far more often about greed than about sex, yet almost no one thinks they are guilty of it. Therefore we should all begin with a working hypothesis that “this could easily be a problem for me.” If greed hides itself so deeply, no one should be confident that it is not a problem for them.” 

― Timothy J. Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters

Where is our help?

Luke 22:7-23

Passover and communion are examples of the importance of celebrating the regular rhythms that God has instituted for worship which act as means of grace by which people actively in search of the Holy Spirit’s pruning might not only be refined, but grow, as God works powerfully in their lives.  

Notice Biblically that these, as well as other God-ordained remembrances, are meant to be celebrated corporately, in the gathering with other believers during moments of worship.  

"I don't have to go to church to be a Christian" and they are right. Salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone. You also don't have to go home to be married-but stay away long enough, and your relationship will be affected."

~ Tony Evans #churchmatters

Well if Judas was participating in all of these things, what could have prevented his destructive end?

TRUE BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP

The prerequisites for such a productive shared life:

1. Openness - don’t be a closed book as to what is really going on in your life - seek others out. 

2. Honesty - don’t present people with your IG life. 

3. Humility - be open to the Biblical exhortation and consistent accountability that will produce real change. 

Again, coming together for church, not just a social gathering, has benefits for your spiritual development as you proactively engage with other Christ-followers who you can look in the eye, encourage you and pray for you as you strive towards the goal of mutual sanctification and Kingdom mission. 

Sifting

We must understand the nature of our spiritual battle if we are to remain devoted to and fulfill the mission of Christ.    

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭24‬-‭38‬ ‭ESV

“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.””

The root of the spiritual battle that we face is the preservation of self, otherwise known as selfish ambition (Galatians 5) or selfishness.

*If self is the focus, you will always find yourself falling.  

Jesus says service to others is the pathway to greatness in the Kingdom. 

The disciples missed this and thought their glory would be found in the things that the world enjoys, rather than what God esteems. 

We have already rightly bemoaned Judas, but now see that Satan turns to Peter in Jesus’ band of merry men to continue an attempt to bring destruction to all that Christ has built over the last three and a half years of ministry.  

“Unfortunately, most Christians do not understand the battle they are fighting, the enemy that they face, or the means God has provided to overcome the temptations and deception of this present world system.” 

― Chip Ingram, True Spirituality: Becoming a Romans 12 Christian

Satan asked to sift Peter and God allowed it to ensure that Peter would become the man that he needed to be. 

Peter needed to learn the limits of self reliance and the utter dependence that he would need to have on being filled with the person and power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s will (Acts 2).  

The good news is that God knows our failures - past, present and future - yet still chooses to redeem us through his substitutionary work on the cross.  

Redemption

Christ comes to redeem our betrayals as we turn to him in repentance and faith. 

‭‭

Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭39‬-‭53‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.””

*Have no doubt about it - the battle is over your relationship with God and your call by which you will or will not advance his Kingdom and glorify Christ with your life.  

It was the battle for Jesus in Gethsemane determining whether he would go to the cross to die for the sins of the world that we might be reconciled to God - forgiven through repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning work.  

It would be the battle for Peter as he stood warming himself before the fire determining whether he would live in his own comforts or identify with the name, purpose and sufferings of Jesus.  

Last Sunday, we just recognized the annual Oscars moment and I could not help but have the Manchurian candidate come to mind. 

What is the programming or ticking time-bomb within you that needs to be diffused that you might not detonate your walk with and call in God?

How did Jesus overcome his course-altering struggles? 

By continually praying in submission to the Father, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭54‬-‭71‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.””

It seemed like Peter was doing well, in his own strength.  

Times of testing his reputation, personal safety and comforts challenged Peter’s devotion to Christ and his cross.  

How, where and when has Christ asked you to carry your cross?

How has your devotion to and association with Christ cost you?

There are internal power struggles in each of our hearts that we can feel every day.  

Even at Jesus' trial, he is making it clear that at the end of the day, he will have no place in our lives except the one of leadership, authority and power.  

We must settle this before the judgment. 

The good news is that if you’ve dealt with betrayals in your life, there is a God who understands, can heal your heart and make you whole again. 

The good news is that where Peter failed to carry his cross, Jesus in his grace carried it for him and his sins.  

*After Christ’s resurrection from the dead, he would return to restore Peter to a place of devotion - meeting Peter where he was but demanding that Peter prove his love for Jesus by living for someone beyond himself (John 21). 

““You can’t lose when you turn to God.”

-John Piper

What happens when we do?  

We receive not only the forgiveness of our sins, but the power and baptism of the Holy Spirit do God’s will.

Let’s turn in repentance from our daily betrayals today, to be filled with the power of God to walk in his full redemption and mission.  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke

The Good News According To Luke: Chapter 21

Associate Pastor Cole Parleir

Focus: Heaven and Earth will pass away, but God’s Word will remain.  Believe in Christ and remain in His kingdom forever. 

Context

Before (Luke 20- The authority of Jesus revealed)

• Jesus as maker of all things reveals his compassion through weeping over Jerusalem and his authority to make wrongs right by cleansing the Temple unto authentic worship.

• Jesus' authority is then questioned by the religious authorities.

• Jesus reveals his authority as owner of Jerusalem, the temple, and their very lives through the parable of the tenants. 

• Jesus reveals his authority over the worlds systems through telling them to pay the government what they owe the government, but since the government is not God, to also give God their very lives which belongs to Him. 

• Jesus reveals his authority as preeminent teacher through correcting the religious ruling party of the Sadducees regarding the resurrection.

• Jesus reveals his authority as the living Word of God by correcting the Scribes revealing in Psalm 110 the divinity of King Davids messianic descendant. He also warns the people of Scribes who consume them through misleading them. (The Son of man came to serve and not be served Matthew 20:25-28)

• This “great condemnation” of the scribes who devour widow’s houses provides the foil for Luke 21:1-4 

Where are we in Luke 21?

• A listening crowd in the temple during Passover week which is the last week of Jesus’ pre-resurrection earthly ministry.

Giving As Worship (Luke 21:1-4 ESV)

God sees your sacrifice as worship when no one else does.  This is because he knows you like no one else does.  

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

The Lord

The Temple

The Rich

The Widow

We come to church to worship because the Lord Jesus, as promised, is here among his people. (Matt 18:20)

The Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit sees everyone’s gift according to their heart of worship.

They all gave because they all came to worship as God’s chosen people.

This was in “The Court Of The Women” which was one step in from the court of the Gentiles.  This is where God’s people came, ALL of them.  

This court is where the 13 brass contribution boxes called “trumpets” were located, because all of God’s people have something from him to give back to him.  

9 of the boxes were for money gifts in place of sacrifices.  The other 4 were for free-will offerings of wood, incense, temple decoration, and burnt-offerings. 

The widow gave the smallest monetary denomination in circulation…but she gave two of them.  This could have bought two baths at the public bath house. 

Question: Are you bringing money (a gift) or a sacrifice?  It could be one in the same, but it may not be.  

Jesus boiled down the Mosiac law consisting of 613 commands to one when a scribe asked which is the greatest:

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 

Matthew 22:37-38 ESV

Question: Does God have from you what he has always said from the very beginning that he wants: love with ALL your heart?

This poor, female, widow who was relegated to the outer court showed greater love for God than the chief priest in the inner court because she gave ALL…she had…to live on.  

The widow:

• Was “all in”

• Whole hearted (Psalm 138:1- David, Num 14 - Joshua and Caleb)

• Chose ‘the one thing’ (Luke 10:42)

See Jesus’ commendation of Mary, another single woman with nothing to give but her heart and attention.  (Luke 10:41-42)

This is what God is after: your heart.  Not your money or service.  

Question: Are you supporting the church (ministries) OR worshipping God?  These could be the same, but may not be.

“From the offering of this poor widow, learn that what we rightly give for the relief of the poor, and the support of God’s worship, is given unto God; and our Saviour sees with pleasure whatever we have in our hearts to give for the relief of his members, or for his service. Blessed Lord! the poorest of thy servants have two mites, they have a soul and a body; persuade and enable us to offer both unto thee; how happy shall we be in thine accepting of them!” 

Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Lk 21:1.

This is what God is seeking: those who will give first their soul (heart) and body followed by everything else. 

Jesus put it to the woman at the well

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” - John 4:23-25 ESV

The great gift we can give to God in response to the gift of Christ  to us, is our spirit.  This is because as we are about to read, everything else is will pass away, but those united to Christ in Spirit and truth will remain. 

Christ has come and is coming back

Christ Jesus has come to die and atone for sinful humanity.  He is coming back to redeem and make new ALL who are waiting for Him.  In this hope we can stand, raise our heads, and persevere until the Kingdom of God comes. 

“And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”  And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” 

The temple was destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans because the Jews continued to revolt.   Jerusalem was finally leveled as the Romans crushed the revolt once and for all.  

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 

This is “carrying your cross” though believers are promised a coming redemption.    

Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 

By the Holy Spirit you will be given what you need to witness to your generation. 

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. 

This is a promise of eternal life in resurrection bodies, all to be lived with spiritual family as fulfillment of the promise that whatever we lose to follow Christ there will be an increase of it the Kingdom. 

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.  They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

God’s judgement will fall an apostate Israel.  In his mercy who prophesies this and tells those will accept it how to escape it. 

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.   Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 

JESUS WILL RETURN!  When all the trials mentioned earlier provoke you to fear, you can in hope, confidence, and joy straighten up, raise your head, and rejoice that your redemption is near!

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

Since heaven and earth are passing away, believe the Gospel of your salvation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to save you from your sins and the wrath of God.  Build on the living Word of Christ and his written word the Bible.

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬-‭38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Respond to the Gospel today while the light is shining on your soul.  

Scripture References:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 18:20 ESV

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

John 4:23-25 ESV

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:34-39 ESV

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    before the gods I sing your praise;

2 I bow down toward your holy temple

    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

    for you have exalted above all things

    your name and your word.

3 On the day I called, you answered me;

    my strength of soul you increased.

Psalm 138:1 ESV

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 ESV

Additional Notes:

• Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) or $4.42 today for an average Chicago worker 

• In Jesus' time each coun could buy one bath at the public bath house. 

• Luke 21:4 (FSB): 21:4  The Greek phrase used here means “all the livelihood” or “all the life,” implying that her giving was so generous it could impede upon her survival

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Christ: The Architect, The Builder and The Restorer

The Good News According to Luke

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: The challenge of our days will be to submit to the authority of the invisible God who breaks us in our sin only to rebuild us through repentance in his glorious image - that of Jesus Christ. 

• The Architect

• The Builder 

• The Restorer 

The Architect 

Christ is the great architect of our lives who lays good plans by the authority of his word.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.””

You can not have it both ways - either Christ is God and you are not, or you are self-autonomous and Jesus is merely a good sage.  

The end of this passage makes it clear that in the judgment, we will see that there was only one true king to whom we must give an account.  

You will always wrestle with the extent of Christ’s authority in your life when, at heart, you want to be your own God.  

We say that we submit to the authority of Christ, but do not do what he says. 

We do not do what he says because we do not read what he says to do.

Lordship means there is no picking and choosing what you will and won’t obey.

To do this and think that you have the pleasure of God is deception 

(I Corinthians 10). 

It is the great delusion of our day. 

God is wise and his word is eternal - his character does not need to evolve with the times or become more enlightened (Psalm 19).  

“In the words of human rights scholar Max Stackhouse, “Intellectual honesty demands recognition of the fact that what passes as ‘secular,’ ‘Western’ principles of basic human rights developed nowhere else than out of key strands of the biblically-rooted religion.”” 

― Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God

When we follow sociological, physiological and psychological trends to their utmost conclusion, we find that God’s ways were always right, for all time.  

Learning the Scripture and understanding all that the OT foreshadowed that would ultimately be fulfilled in Christ gives us both God’s ways and his wisdom personified.  

It shows us how to live in every area of life.  

The Builder 

Jesus is the builder of truly blessed lives.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.””

*We all have some measure of poor foundations in our lives that need to be torn down so that we might be rebuilt for God’s glory.  

God’s redemptive work in our lives will break us or his judgment in response to our unmitigated rebellion will crush us.   

When God breaks us, he rebuilds us through repentance and faith. 

“Pride, we know, is an inflated view of ourselves—a false advertising campaign promoting ourselves because we suspect that others won’t accept who we really are.  Pride is actually a lie about our own identity or achievements. To be proud is to live in a world propped up with falsehoods about ourselves, taking credit where credit isn’t due.” 

― Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God

 What areas of your life do you need to humbly allow God to tear down that he might rebuild it in the power, freedom and joy of Christ?

Examples of practical obedience:

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭19‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.”

The pathway to true blessing is faith in and obedience to God’s word.  

The Restorer 

Through his death at the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead Jesus works to restore broken lives.

Jesus deals with the real issues in society by dealing with the real problem - sin in the heart of every man, woman and child.  

“You've probably heard the complaint, “Jesus never said anything about the wrongness of slavery." Not so! Jesus explicitly opposed every form of oppression. Citing Isaiah 61:1, Jesus clearly described his mission: "to proclaim release to the captives, ... to set free those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18). This, then, would mean Rome's oppression and its institutionalizing slavery. Now, Jesus didn't create an economic reform plan for Israel, but he addressed Life in the Ancient Near East and in Israel heart attitudes of greed, envy, contentment, and generosity to undermine oppressive economic social structures. Likewise, New Testament writers often addressed the underlying attitudes regarding slavery. How? By commanding Christian masters to call their slaves “brother" or "sister" and to show them compassion, justice, and patience. No longer did being a master mean privilege and status but rather responsibility and service. By doing so, the worm was already in the wood for altering the social structures.” 

― Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God

It is only through the cross of Jesus Christ that we find forgiveness for our sins and power through the resurrection life of God to live in the pure image of our Creator.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭27‬-‭40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. And the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him any question.”

It is that for which modern humanity inwardly longs and strives, yet misses, because they do not go to the source. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?””

Understanding Jesus’ true identity matters because it determines how you relate to him today.   

Let’s return to God and trust him in all of his ways for his pleasure, glory and the good of all who would obey him. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

A little is a lot In God’s Kingdom

The Good News According To Luke: Chapter 19

“A little is a lot In God’s Kingdom”

Pastor Cole Parleir

Focus: Jesus seeks and saves the lost giving them opportunity for eternal reward as they participate in the coming of His kingdom.

Context

Where we are at in the Gospel account of Luke

• Luke

• Luke 18

• Luke 19:1-10 Zaccheus 

• And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

• Jesus sought Zaccheaus in order to save him.

• Verse 10 defines Jesus’ mission and sets up the rest of Luke 19

Luke 19:11-27 ESV

Jesus clarifies the coming of the “kingdom of God” and how we can participate.

“As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant![c] Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me

Define terms

• Mina

  • Most likely about 3 months wages for a laborer (avg Chicago IL salary is $73k, making this amount for us $18k)

• The kingdom of God

  • Where God reigns.

Supporting scripture on the kingdom of God

Luke 17:20-21, 33 ESV

“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.

…33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”

John 3:1-3 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Acts 1:6-8 ESV

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1. The kingdom of God is not observable in ways you expect

2. The kingdom of God is in you when you are born again

3. The proof of the kingdom of God in you in increasing measure is

   1. Repentance of sin and confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9)

   2. Godly character (Galatians 5:22-23)

   3. Holy Spirit empowered witnessing (Acts 1:8)

The kingdom of God is God’s rule shown in the salvation of sinners like Zaccheus.  This is God setting up his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This is occupying until he returns. 

Observation

• Good servant 

• Wicked servant

• Citizen enemies

Stewardship principles for engaging God’s resources in business:

1. Decide: Am I a servant or an enemy of the coming king?

2. Recognize: Every servant has resources entrusted to them. 

3. Invest: God expects and enables a return on his investment in you.

4. Rewards: God will reward good stewardship with his pleasure and increased stewardship.

How can we “engage in business” until Jesus the King returns in power and set’s up the observable kingdom of God?  We can work with him “seeking and saving that which is lost” through using the spiritual gifts and resources he’s given us (think minas!).

Here a few ways you can engage in kingdom business at Second City Church:

• Ministry Team Fair (Sunday morning service)

• Second City Stars Children’s Ministry (Sunday morning service)

• Booklat Children’s Outreach (Thursday evenings)

• Youth Ministry (weekly outreach or bi-weekly youth nights)

• Madison WI Mission Trip | Church Plant (10 days in June)

• Bair Lake Bible Camp (A week or all summer)

Luke 19:27- 40 ESV

“And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus is fulfilling prophecy that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem as a humble king riding on a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Sometimes we steward the Lord’s word as the disciples did in retrieving the donkey.  

Little did those rejoicing understand that their praises were for a king who would be crucified for them.

Will you let the stones cry out in your place?

Luke 19:41-48 ESV

 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

We see Jesus weeping 3 times in scripture

1. Lazarus’ death (John 11:35)

   1. His friend and sins effect

2. Over Jerusalem’s blindness and coming destruction (Luke 19:41)

   1. His people and sins effect

3. In the garden of Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7)

   1. Himself and sins effect

Weeping over sin is the proper response even when we have hope. 

The temple was to be a place of holy worship where sin was dealt with.  It had become a place of transaction: money for sacrifices and sacrifices for sin.  Jesus was restoring a proper environment for an acceptable sacrifice through prayer from a contrite and broken heart over sin.

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Today God wants to revive your broken heart through is broken body and shed blood for you at the cross.   

Bring your sin and shame in repentance and faith and be made new today.

He will make your life fruitful for his glory. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : “Raising Lazarus From the Dead”

Miracles: Let Him Be Known

“Raising Lazarus From the Dead”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Notes prepared by Justin Gray

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Focus: The glory of God will be fully displayed when he raises from the dead all who have trusted in Jesus. This great hope comforts the souls of all who wait on God to fulfill his promises.

John 11:1–45 (ESV)

1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.

Context, The Book of John

The emphasis of John’s gospel account can be summarized from the stated purpose in John 20:31.

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The book begins with, “In the beginning was the Word . . .” which harkens to the Genesis account where God reveals his creative power through his divine speech bringing all things into existence. The “the Word” here, in Greek meaning “logos,” conveys divine self-expression; however, John does not use it in the same way as the Greek philosophers did during his time to explain an impersonal force of reason. Instead, in verse 14, John reveals Jesus as “the Word made flesh” giving the “logos” a personal one-of-a-kind distinction as the incarnate Son of God. One of several recurring themes throughout John’s account is the idea of belief. Underscoring that it is not enough to experience God’s power through miraculous signs, nor is it sufficient to give an intellectual assent to Jesus’ messiahship, but to be fully persuaded to entrust our lives to God through the one unique Son of God– Jesus Christ.

Another thematic point of note is the “new people” concept that is woven throughout John’s Gospel account which is most unveiled in chapters 3 and 4 according to McHughes (see commentary below). This helps us see that God is calling a people to himself from all walks of life united by their belief in Jesus as Messiah. Jesus delineates these groups by their response to his signs, particularly after the raising of Lazarus (verses 45–46).

As we come to chapter 11, the raising of Lazarus is the last of seven signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah in the book of John (also see 2:1–11, 4:46–54, 5:1–15, 6:5–13, 6:16–21, 9:1–7). This episode in verses 1–53, unveils Jesus as Messiah with power over life and death. This event also foreshadows the death and resurrection of Jesus as he makes his decisive move into Jerusalem toward the cross.

Surrounding Context

✦ Introduction: Characters, Crisis & Conclusion (verses 1–4)

- Jesus’ friends Mary and Martha send word that their brother, Lazarus, is ill. Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, responds by giving the purpose and conclusion to this dramatic episode in verse 4:


“This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

✦ Jesus, the Disciples & the Death of Lazarus (verses 5–16)

- After receiving the news of Lazarus, Jesus oddly delays his departure and engages in a conversation with his disciples about their fear of visiting his friends in Judea and the redemptive outcome of Lazarus’ death. Jesus frames this crisis for the disciples in verse 15:


“And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe . . .”

✦ Jesus, Grief & the Resurrection (verses 17–37)

- Jesus arrives in Bethany. He meets the grief-stricken Martha and Mary, who both express disappointment that Jesus wasn’t there to save their brother from his illness. As they mourn the loss of Lazarus, he engages in two conversations, one with Martha about the resurrection and the other with Mary displaying his deep care and compassion. These conversations are punctuated in two key verses:


“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (verses 25–26)


- Jesus finally enters the village to visit the place of Lazarus’ burial. In a rather uncharacteristic and dramatic fashion, Jesus requests that the stone over the tomb be removed, prays publicly, and shouts loudly for Lazarus to come out. Again, Jesus gives the purpose of this demonstrative event in verse 42:
 


“. . . but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

✦ The Believers, Unbelievers & Caiaphas’ Prophecy (verses 45–53)

- The Jews present during this miraculous event respond in two ways: one group believes in Jesus and the other reports Jesus’ activities to the Pharisees. The Pharisees, concerned about their socio-political status, convened a council to discuss what should be done about him. 

Caiaphas, the high priest, advises that Jesus should die for the nation’s sake, and from that point on, they conspire to kill Jesus. The following verses underscore the emphasis of this passage:


“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” (verses 45–46)


“He [Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” (verse 52)

Commentaries:

✦ The NIV Application Commentary

- “John 11 and 12 stand together as marking a new and significant step in the life and work of Jesus . . . Here we read the story of the most dramatic, provocative miracle in this Gospel. Jesus is the master of life and death and proves it by bringing Lazarus back from the grave. But he is also prepared for his own death . . . The Lazarus story is a story about one man whom Jesus rescues from the grave; but it is also a parabolic story, telling us far more about Jesus, his power, and his upcoming experience in the grave.” (Burge, pp. 310–311)

✦ John 1–4 (ICC): A Critical and Exegetical Commentary

- “Chapters 3 and 4 fall naturally into four sections, dealing respectively with Judaism, the followers of the Baptist, the Samaritans, and the God-fearers (if we take 4.46–54 as a rewriting of the story of the centurion’s servant). In the first three sections, the evangelist calls into question the sufficiency of Judaism, of the ‘Baptist movement,’ and of the religion of the Samaritan people; in the fourth section, he tells the God-fearing Gentiles who frequent the synagogue not to wait for signs and wonders before beginning to believe (4.48). In three of the four sections, the person representing the group responds positively (in 3.30, the Baptist; in 4.29, the Samaritan woman; in 4.50, the official). Nicodemus, personifying the sympathetic stream of Pharisaic Judaism (3.2), remains at this stage puzzled (3.7, 9– 10), because for the development of the argument and the unfolding of the drama, it is essential that the response of Judaism should remain at this stage non-committal.” (McHughes, pp. 217)

Sermon Idea: Jesus, Lazarus & His Resurrection Community
 


Focus Statement: Jesus is not only the Son of God who delivers us by his resurrection power but is also the leader of a new resurrection community who partners with him in life restoration.


Function Statement: Listeners will grow in their understanding and application of ministering the resurrection life of God to others.
 


Context:


In this last of seven signs in the book of John, Jesus engages three groups of people through the raising of Lazarus from the dead: 1) The Disciples, 2) The Sisters (Martha & Mary), and 3) The Jews. Jesus challenges each one to believe that he is the Son of God despite confusion, disillusionment, and most importantly, the reality of sin and death.

1. The Disciples

a. Fearful about returning to Judea.

b. Confused about Jesus delaying his visit to Lazarus despite his condition.

c. Much like the disciples, have you ever experienced fear or confusion while following Jesus?

d. Jesus reveals his purpose to the disciples:


“I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” (verse 15)

2. The Sisters (Martha & Mary)

a. Disappointed that Jesus was not there to prevent Lazarus’ death.

b. In deep grief and mourning over a hopeless situation but still with some hope and reverence for Jesus:


“But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”—Martha (verse 22)
 


“. . . she fell at his feet. . . . ‘Lord, come and see.’”—Mary (verse 32, 34)

c. Even in his resurrection power as Messiah (verses 25–26), Jesus enters their pain with weeping and anger over the affects of sin and death (verses 33–35). In the face of disappointment, grief, and even death, Jesus’ calls them to believe:


“I am the resurrection and the life. . . . Do you believe this?” (verse 25–26)


“Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (verse 40)

3. The Jews

a. There is a mixed crowd of Jews: those who saw Jesus’ care and compassion and those who criticized him for not keeping Lazarus alive (verses 36–37).

b. After Lazarus was raised from the dead, some believed and others reported him to the Pharisees (verses 45–46).

c. Whether we see Jesus for his care and compassion or criticize him for what he didn’t do, the question remains—what do we believe about him?

d. Jesus in an uncharacteristic and demonstrative way gives instructions to the crowd, prays publicly, and shouts loudly for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. All of this was done so:


“. . . but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (verse 42)


Jesus’ resurrection power is a dividing line between those who believe and those who don’t. Those who walk the light or stumble in darkness (verses 9–10).

B. Application


The resurrection power of Jesus doesn’t end with belief, but rather those who believe are called into participation in his life-restoring mission. This resurrection community is foreshadowed in Jesus calling the people to action:

1. “Where have you laid him? . . . Lord, come and see.” (verse 34)

a. Through this question, Jesus caused Mary and the people to lead him to Lazarus.

b. How is Jesus asking us to bring him into dead situations?

2. “Take away the stone.” (verse 39)

a. Jesus commands them to do something hard that required faith. A large stone blocking a cave would have taken several people to move (physical/practical action). In addition, a decomposing dead man lies behind this rock (spiritual action).

b. It will take the community to obey God in doing “heavy” and “hard things” both physically and spiritually in order to participate in his mission.

3. “Unbind him, and let him go.” (verse 44)

a. Lazarus was alive but still bound.

b. Jesus enlisted the community to care for Lazarus by unwrapping him and by implication covering his nakedness.

c. God’s mission is reflected in care and concern for people who are dead and in desperate need of Jesus and his resurrection community. They untied him, they covered him, and they welcomed him back to life. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : “Healing the Man Born Blind”

Miracles: Let Him Be Known

“Healing the Man Born Blind”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Notes Prepared by Danielle Burkholder

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Focus: God performs miracles in order to display his works which reveal his character, nature, and purpose. 

He does not perform them on the basis of the worthiness of the recipient, since none are ultimately worthy.

John 9:1–7 (ESV)

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

The purpose for the Gospel of John is stated in John 20:30–31 (ESV):

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Observations from the Previous Chapter (John 8)

• In the previous chapter, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were wanting to stone a woman caught in adultery, but Jesus pointed out everyone’s need for forgiveness. Rather than condemn the woman, he charged her to leave her sin (verses 1–11). Jesus also taught that he could set people free from sin. Through much of chapter 8, he makes the case that a person’s behavior after hearing Jesus is more important than their history or birthright.

• Despite Jesus teaching on this truth, this chapter opens with the issue of a person’s birth, their current reality still being linked together, and the focus of attention in the mind of the disciples. 

• The contrast in how Jesus sees people versus how people see people is in full view: Jesus sees people and their potential for healing and forgiveness, but the others in the text are set on just seeing people and their sin.

Observations after These Verses (John 9)

• This text is part of a larger section and story: 

“The narrative consists of the healing of the blind man (verses 1–7), followed by a succession of scenes between the man and his neighbors (verses 8–12), the man and the Pharisees (verses 13–17), his parents and the Pharisees (verses 18–23), and again the man and the Pharisees, ending with his expulsion from the synagogue (verses 24–34), after which Jesus finds him and brings him to faith (verses 35–38)” 

-Ramsey J. Michaels 

Focus Statement: The miracles of God reveal the mission of God.


Function Statement: Salvation in Jesus is available to anyone who will believe.

A. What do they need to know?


• When Jesus sees someone, he sees their need for healing and salvation. We need to see people in the same way. The previous chapter and the rest of this story highlights how people view others through the lens of their sin. This whole story shows Jesus’ views through a different lens: the lens of salvation and healing.


• 
A great need, physically or spiritually, can present an opportunity for a great miracle. A great miracle points to our great God. His greatness is revealed first in how he sees people and then in the miracles of healing AND in the greatest miracle of all—salvation.

B. Why do they need to know it?


• Perhaps, we are blind to the reality of who God is and his mission. His desire is to heal and save no matter what conditions people are currently in. If we focus on people’s sin instead of their need for healing and salvation, it can be an obstacle to our “seeing” the healing and saving power of Jesus. This can be true in how we see ourselves or others.


• 
Like the disciples and the Pharisees in this story, we often focus on our own or other’s sin, failures, the sin patterns passed down from parents, etc., and we miss the healing and saving power of Jesus.


• The miracle of sight, in this text and later in the man’s salvation (John 9:36–28), is centered around the question of the man’s sin, yet Jesus doesn’t withhold either miracle from him. It is important for us to see that God and his mission is consistent no matter what a person’s sin history is or isn’t.

C. What do they need to do?


• They need to believe in Jesus for their own healing and salvation and believe that he can heal and save others. Boldly invite people to know Jesus, and pray for them to be healed and saved.


• One practical application can be to invite people for prayer to be healed and saved. Another would be to ask them to pray and ask the Holy Spirit who he is working in and where they can join him by sharing Jesus and praying for healing.

D. Why do they need to do it?


• Miracles are one way to introduce people to Jesus. If we see a need, it may be an opportunity for God’s mission of healing and salvation to be seen. The miracle of this man’s sight is a precursor to the miracle of his salvation in John 9:35–38. His sin history wasn’t an obstacle to him receiving either miracle.


• We have the amazing privilege of participating in God’s work being on display even through dire circumstances. We can help others believe in Jesus and give them his words, and we can pray for healing. What starts as pain and suffering can end in glory if God is given a chance to work in and through us.

E. Some connecting thoughts and key questions: 

• Jesus sees and speaks about this man as an opportunity for the glory of God to be displayed. He isn’t so concerned about his sin or his parents’ sin being the cause, as most Jewish people would at that time, rather he invites that man into a moment to participate in the work and glory of God. His sin nor his condition did not disqualify him from the chance to receive healing and believe in Jesus.


• If Jesus doesn’t disqualify him, neither should we disqualify ourselves or others. The opportunities to participate in the works of God present themselves for a limited time. If we get the chance to encounter Jesus in his word, through people, or in a miracle, we are getting the chance to participate in the works of God in our lives and in others.



• Jesus sees the man, he sees his suffering, and he sees an opportunity for the work of God to be revealed. When we see people, or ourselves, what do we see?


• Ultimately as seen in Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus in John 3, everyone must be born again. The only thing that matters about one’s family of origin in this discussion is that all families pass sin from one generation to the next, therefore, all family members have to, and can be, born again into the family of God. In essence, everyone is “blind from birth” and must respond to Jesus for their healing and forgiveness of sin.


Do we see everyone as equally in need and capable of receiving salvation?


This whole section is a great text to see that God’s desire is to save people from their sin, not condemn them because of it. We are all born into sin and brokenness that presents itself in various forms. God desires to heal us, save us, and restore us. The miracle of healing from blindness is actually the lesser miracle. The biggest miracle is salvation. Seeing who God is here helps us understand that every encounter we have with people is an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed physically and spiritually.


When we see need, there is an opportunity to see God’s glory revealed.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : “Walking on Water”

Miracles: Let Him Be Known

“Walking on Water”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Notes prepared by Paul Barker

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Focus: Jesus is sovereign and performs miracles to bring his disciples through the chaos of the current corrupted creation in order that they might fulfill his mission and eventually inherit the new creation.

John 6:16-21

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Historical Context of John: 

Author: John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 21:20)


Date: Late-first century (likely between 85–95)


Purpose: The purpose of John’s Gospel is clearly stated in John 20:30–31

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

“. . . this brief statement can account for the primary theological features of John’s gospel. It says that the author hopes Jesus’ ‘signs,’ as they are recorded in the book, will produce or bolster the faith of its readers that Jesus is not only the ‘Messiah’ but the ‘Son of God’ and therefore lead the reader to ‘life.’”

-Frank Thielman in Theology of the New Testament 

Literary Context of John 6:16–21 

✦ Surrounding Passages

- Before: John 6:1–15


Jesus walking on water (verses 16–21) occurs immediately after the feeding of the 5,000 (verses 1–15).
 


“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’” (verse 14)
 


“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” (verse 15)

- After:


The crowd comes looking for him, and realizing he is no longer on that side of the sea, they head to Capernaum to seek him (verses 22–24). Jesus then teaches on the Bread of Life (verses 22–59) and Eternal Life (verses 60–71).


Many disciples couldn’t accept this teaching and walked away (verses 60, 66). Jesus asks the Twelve if they also want to walk away.


“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’” (verses 68–69)


Here, Peter’s response shows that he, and the other Twelve (besides Judas), had come to saving faith in Jesus as not only the “Prophet like Moses,” but as the Holy One of God. Though they don’t have the full revelation that they receive after his resurrection, here, we see they begin to understand his divinity. And so, when others stopped following, they could do nothing but continue to follow him.

✦ How does the passage fit into the broader themes of John’s Gospel?

- “Throughout his gospel, John has shown that he is aware of the traditional understanding of these concepts [Messianic hopes], but he has also demonstrated that Jesus broke the boundaries of these ideas and gave new meaning to the terms ‘Messiah’ and ‘Son of God.’”

- Throughout John’s Gospel, he shows understanding of the messianic hopes of the times, and through the “signs” of Jesus, including Jesus walking on water, John reveals to his reader how Jesus as Messiah and Son of God expands those expectations.

Main Point: 


Jesus, the Lord over the storm, brings us safely through the storm while transforming us in the storm.

Text: John 6:16–21

A. Jesus left his disciples to face the storm without him (verses 16-18). 

Why did Jesus do this?  Earlier that day, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Verse 14 tells us that the crowd, believing that Jesus was the Prophet they’d been anticipating, wanted to make him accept that role by force.


The disciples have also witnessed this amazing miracle. And like those in the crowd, I’m sure they had similar messianic hopes and expectations. After all, why would they have left everything to follow Jesus? Maybe they were even among the people at that moment hoping to take him by force to make him king. Expectation was high, not just for what Jesus would do but how they would benefit from it. Maybe they envisioned the hard lives of their family back home finally being made easier. Or perhaps they were looking forward to the accolades and prestige they could look forward to from being Jesus’ close companions. But Jesus perceived the crowd’s intentions and the disciples, and so he sent the disciples back to Capernaum alone, dismissed the crowd, and withdrew by himself.


And so, here are the disciples, in the middle of the Sea of Galilee without Jesus. They are likely confused, disappointed, and maybe even disillusioned. And at this moment, a storm came upon them, forcing them to row desperately. Mark 6:48 tells us that they were still rowing at the fourth watch of the night between 3:00– 6:00 a.m. So, they’ve been rowing for at least nine hours and have only made it three to four miles. They are tired, hungry, and probably wondering, “Where is Jesus? Why has he left us in a storm to fend for ourselves?  This is not what we signed up for when we decided to follow Jesus!”


Has Jesus ever seemingly left you to face a storm alone?  

Whatever your specific situation, you may have felt perplexed, not understanding what Jesus was doing, or maybe you were disappointed because you expected him to do something he didn’t do. And perhaps this has even led to anger and resentment. And as the storm goes on, this leads you to feel weary, depleted, and possibly hopeless.

B. Jesus reveals his glory to the disciples in the storm. 

In the middle of their rowing, the disciples looked up and saw Jesus walking on water, and they were frightened. Why were they frightened?


Their thoughts may have gone to Psalm 77:16–19:


When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.


Yes, Jesus was the Messiah they’ve been anticipating, but seeing him walk on water, they realized he’s so much more. He is the one who the waters of the earth fear and submit to. He is the Holy One, the Lord of all creation.


Jesus speaks to them: “It is I; do not be afraid.”


It is I: egō eimi


In other contexts, this can be translated “I Am,” and so this may allude to Exodus 3:14:


God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”


By seeing Jesus walk on water, and by hearing Jesus’ words, they went from seeing him as the Messiah who would be Israel’s prophet and king, to the Messiah who is Israel’s God. If he hadn’t left them to face the storm, they would have never seen his glory revealed in the storm.


And just as Jesus revealed his glory to the disciples in the middle of the storm, often when we least expect it, he will reveal his glory to us in our storm. Just as the disciples had too small a view of who Jesus was and what he’d come to do, how often do we have too small of a view of him? And so, we expect him to act and behave in certain ways, and when he doesn’t, we are confused, disappointed, and maybe even resentful. But Jesus never fails to show up in our storm, and when he does, he reveals himself to us in ways that we could have never imagined if we’d stayed safely on the shore.


Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon on this passage, said,


“So be of good cheer, for Jesus Christ will come to you even when it is all dark around you. And here is another word of cheer for you, namely, that when he does come, it will be in a way that will give you a higher sense of his glory than you ever had before. You have seen him on the land, but you have never yet seen him on the water. Well, you could not see him walking on the water, unless you were on the water yourself; and you could not see Jesus Christ calming the storm unless there was a storm to be quieted; and if the wind did not blow, you could not tell whether he could control it. Trial is absolutely necessary in order to reveal to us some of the attributes of our gracious God.”

-Charles Spurgeon, from his sermon “Night, and Jesus not There!”

And when Jesus reveals himself to us in the storm, we realize he never actually left us to begin with. But in every gust and every wave, he was there.

C. 
Jesus brings them safely through the chaos of the storm, transforming them in the storm (verse 21). 

Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.


They believed he is God, and when he gets in the boat, they were immediately brought through the chaos of the storm and are on land. Some interpret this as a second miracle, while others argue that the boat went immediately towards the shore, and it felt like no time passed at all to the joyful disciples.


On their own, the disciples were striving against the obstacles of the storm, but when God, the Holy One, the sovereign Lord of Creation, got in their boat, they were brought through the chaos of the waves and safely to shore. Whether this was immediate or a process, because Jesus was in their boat, there was an ease and gladness in the journey.


Sometimes, when Jesus reveals his glory to us in the storm, we are immediately delivered from the circumstances we’ve been facing. But other times, deliverance isn’t immediate, and we must continue to go through the storm. But when Jesus is in our boat, there is a tranquility and expectant hope that carries us through the turbulent waters.


Not only did he bring them through the chaos of the storm, but there was a transformative work in the disciples in the storm. We see this evidence of transformation later on in the chapter in John 6:66–69. After a hard teaching, many disciples were walking away from Jesus. And so Jesus asked the disciples if they will also walk away. But Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”


When we encounter Jesus in the storm, and are carried safely through it by him, we can’t help but be changed and respond like Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life . . .”

D. Gospel Reflection

We all face storms, because we are all still living in a world that experiences the effects of sin. None of us are promised a storm-free life. But we can have confidence that Jesus will carry us through the storm, while transforming us in the storm. And we have this confidence because on the cross, Jesus went through the cosmic storm of sin and death for us, and when he rose from the dead, proved that he had defeated the storm.


He will not abandon us to any storm we face, because he didn’t abandon us in that storm. And when he returns, the Lord over the storm will bring an end to all storms as he brings the full redemption to his entire creation. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : “Feeding the 5000”

Miracles: Let Him Be Known 

“Feeding the 5000”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Notes prepared by Juray Mora

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Focus: God’s miraculous salvation through Jesus is sufficient to satisfy the needs of all who hunger for God and righteousness, even as his miracle of multiplied fish and bread satisfied the hungry multitude.

John 6:5–14 (ESV)

5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

The Gospel of John

✦ Written by the disciple whom Jesus loved.

✦ It is an eyewitness testimony—John appears multiple times in this gospel.

✦ This is the only miracle of Jesus recorded by all four gospels.

- Matthew 14:13–21 

- Mark 6:31–44

- Luke 9:12–17

✦ The purpose for writing is in John 20:31—

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

- Jesus is the Messiah, that you may believe and have eternal life. 

✦ Starts with Poetry about Jesus “The Word.”

✦ Jesus is given seven titles (Jesus is fully human and the Son of God):

- The Lamb of God 

- The Son of God 

- Rabbi

- The Son of Man

- Messiah

- King of Israel

- Jesus of Nazareth

✦ Jesus is revealed through seven signs:

- Wedding at Cana: Jesus is generous.

- Clearing the Temple: Jesus is God of the temple.

- Nicodemus: Jesus is not just a rabbi but the one who brings new birth. 

- Woman at the Well: Jesus is the Living Water.

- Healing on the Sabbath: Jesus and the Father are one.

- Feeding the 5,000: Jesus is the Bread of Life.

- Feast Stories: Jesus is the Light of the World.

- Lazarus: Jesus offers his life for the world.

Surrounding Context

✦ The narrative starts with people looking at the sign (verse 2—“And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick”).

✦ The narrative ends with people convinced with the sign (verse 14—“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is come into the world!’”).

✦ The cause for this event was people following the sign.

✦ Jesus was testing and teaching his disciples.

✦ Jesus was moved by compassion and his ministry.

* The External and Internal Problem

1. When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” (verse 5).

2. Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece” (verse 7).

3. There was no obvious, practical problem, but there was a mindset problem with Philip.

* The Generous and the Seed

1. “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this” (verse 9).

2. Generosity exemplified: a little boy and a little food.

3. The little is not enough for the need but is powerful as a seed.

4. Will you offer your “not enough” to become a powerful seed?

5. Give your bread to the Bread of Life.

* The Gratitude and Faith

1. Then Jesus took the bread and having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted (verse 11).

2. Gratitude is an act of great faith.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : “Healing the Paralyzed Man”

Miracles: Let Him Be Known 

“Healing the Paralyzed Man”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Notes prepared by Jennifer Tower

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Focus:  God sometimes performs miracles to deliver people from the consequences of their sins. 

In essence, this is what God has done in raising Jesus from the dead.

John 5:1-15

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well!  Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

“John’s gospel transcends any one historical setting. While he most likely wrote this gospel from Ephesus (the most important urban center at the time), he wrote to both Jew and Gentile. John translates Aramaic into Greek (one example of this is in this pericope) showing his awareness of non-Jewish readers.

✦ John’s gospel theme is that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing in Jesus one can have eternal life (purpose statement found in John 20:3–31).

 Surrounding Context:

✦ This encounter takes place in the first half of John’s gospel. This section is referred to as the “Book of Signs.” This, along with the other miracles recorded in this section, are recorded to show that Jesus is the Messiah.

✦ This miracle is recorded in the first half of the seven signs. These miracles in particular are to show proof of Jesus’ messianic identity.

✦ This is the first recording of Jewish opposition following the operation of the miracle, and is the first one recorded by John taking place in Jerusalem.

✦ The “festival cycle” in John’s gospel begins here and continues through chapter 10.

✦ Following this encounter (John 5:16–18) the Christological question is raised, and the Jewish contention escalates to the point of the religious leaders seeking to kill him. 

Introduction—

Have you ever seen a movie where it begins with a short scene then goes back in time?  As the story continues, you work your way back to that opening scene, and you see that the detail from that scene was important to you understanding the movie as it went along.  As we look at today’s text, we are going to take that approach. We’re going to look at a key detail from the end of the story so that we can better understand what’s happening. In verse 14 when Jesus says “sin no more,” this lets us know that this man’s condition is a result of his sin. This encounter records what happens to the man yet also reveals us in this story. The three choices the man faces are three choices we face today.

B. Do you want to be healed? (verses 5–9) 

1. The Man in the Scripture 

a. It is of importance to note that even though his condition has persisted for thirty-eight years, it was not present at birth. Our “preview” from verse 14 shows us that the man’s actions precipitated his situation. As bad as his situation is, it was familiar to him. After thirty-eight years, it’s likely the only condition he remembers.

b. Jesus is fully aware of the man’s situation. He is omnipotent and yet he poses a question to the man. Does he truly want his situation to change?  The man doesn’t answer yes or no. His answer reveals his helplessness (“I have no one to put me in”) and his hopelessness (“while I am going another steps down before me”).

c. Jesus responds with a three-part directive. Would he believe for the impossible, trust Jesus, and act on it?

A. Yes - he demonstrates both faith and obedience by following.  His miracle was received through faith and walked out in obedience. Rising, picking up the mat, and walking would all be impossible for this man without this miracle.

B. The miracle was enacted immediately. 

C. It was a gift not in any way earned by the man or caused by the pool in which the man had originally put his hope.

2. Us

a. In our context, are we aware of our condition? 

Our culture has multitudes of spiritually blind, lame, and paralyzed people. It isn’t external like the multitudes of invalids by the pool, but internal infirmity is all around us. Even in the midst of it all, Jesus comes to us individually. While it is admirable that we don’t look down upon those who are “broken,” we sometimes fail to address that the situation is our own sin. We make excuses similar to the man’s, that no one will help us or that it’s someone else’s fault that we are stuck.

b. We need to truly ask ourselves if we want to be healed, and even if we do, where are we looking for it (to come from)?

Do we respond like the man and limit God’s intervention to our own understanding and knowledge?  We aren’t sitting by a pool, but we may be looking for our healing to come from therapeutic means when our healing isn’t about that. It may be about acknowledging our sin and responding in obedience. 

What are the pools that we are sitting by, or what places are we looking to for our healing when the One who heals is right in front of us?

C. Who is he? (verses 10-14)

1. The Man in the Scripture 

a. At the time of his healing, the man is unaware of Jesus’ identity. When he first speaks to Jesus, he calls him “Sir.” When asked by the Jewish religious leaders who commanded him to get up and walk, it’s recorded that the man doesn’t know who healed him. What the man does know is that he was told, then was able, to pick up his bed and walk. He would have known his healing came from obedience to the One giving him direction and not from getting himself to the pool. Jesus comes to us even before we know it’s him.

b. The man’s revelation happens in verse 14 when they reconnect in the temple. Jesus reveals himself to the man, knowing the man’s prior sin. Jesus’ proclaims, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” Jesus is not only the man’s healer who makes him well and whole. He’s also the way to abundant life if the man would obey his commands.

2. Us

a. If you were asked, how would you answer these questions? Is Jesus “Sir” or “homeboy”? Is he man or Messiah? Is he someone you will listen to and follow his directions?

b. Is Jesus the one we turn to when we sin or when we are in need?  We can’t lose the facets of our miracle-working Savior just because there are other means available to us.  This should build our faith and root our perspective.  It’s Jesus’ presence and his word that perform our miracles.  He is not only our Savior; he must also be our Lord.

D. Who will we tell?  (verse15) 

1. The Man in the Scripture 

a. Unlike other encounters where the receiver of a miracle goes to tell their fellow villagers, this man goes to the Jews to declare “it was Jesus who healed him.” Was this to report Jesus and absolve the man of the Jewish dissonance, or was this to enlighten them and offer the knowledge of Jesus to them?  We don’t know. But we do know he had the courage and immediate response to ascribe what happened to the correct person. It may have been easier to tell his friends, but this man is even willing to proclaim Jesus to those who oppose him.

2. Us

a. Who will we tell and how will we tell our story?

E. Conclusion - 

Our answer to these questions reveal the end to our story. The most important of these being, Where will our story end?  Will it end with eternal life?  Will it unfold with life abundant?  Our answers are important. This story is good news. It’s too good not to share. We can’t help but make God known when we receive this miracle.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles : Healing the Official’s Son

Miracles : Let Him Be Known

“Healing the Official’s Son”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus:  God’s miracles are important for spreading the gospel, since some people will not believe in Jesus unless they see signs and wonders.

John 4:46–54 (ESV)

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

“The gospel according to John is said to have been one of the early written accounts of the life of Jesus. It was written by John, who is a disciple of Jesus, and at times refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John writes his gospel to a blended audience of both Jews and Gentiles with a particular intent of revealing Jesus as the Son of God. John’s gospel is not a synoptic gospel, so some of his content is not recorded in the other gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

John also seems rather fascinated with the number “seven” in his gospel—consider the following:

✦ Seven “I Am” Statements

- Bread of Life (John 6:35)

- Light of the World (John 8:12) 

- Gate for the Sheep (John 10:7)

- Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

- Resurrection (John 11:25)

- The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) 

- True Vine (John 15:1)

✦ Seven Signs

- Water to wine

- Healing of the sick child

- Healing of the paralyzed man

- Feeding the 5,000

- Healing the blind man

- Raising Lazarus

- Resurrection of Jesus

✦ Seven Discourses Post Every Sign

John particularly, in comparison to the other gospels, uses the word “signs” over the word “miracles” because he is pointing everyone to who Jesus is.

The Purpose of the Book

John takes the tone of an evangelist in his gospel. John’s purpose in writing this gospel is so that Greek minds and Hebrew minds might read and understand salvation. This is why it reads so differently than the synoptics. John wants them to believe.

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30–31, ESV)”

-Siviwe Notshe

The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine foreshadowing how God can miraculously make us a new creation in Christ.  

Jesus’ second miracle would show Christ as the great physician with the miraculous power to heal broken lives lurking at death's door. 

In this Scripture, Jesus makes a return to Cana in Galilee, the location of the wedding in Chapter 2 and where testimony about his first miracle would undoubtedly have started to spread.  

It is important to testify to what Jesus has done for you - the official came to Jesus asking for help because he heard what Christ had done for others.

Can you clearly articulate your two minute miracle?

At his core, Jesus is the great redeemer who turns us from sin and performs supernatural miracles to heal us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  

There are times that we come to Jesus for healing for ourselves - there are other times that we come to Jesus on behalf of others.  

In this case, the official was coming on behalf of his son, but would be healed from his skeptism as Jesus graciously performed a miracle on his family’s behalf.   

In what way do you or those you know and love need healing today?

Jesus’ miracles are able to stop death in its tracks. 

Never say that it is too late for Jesus to perform a miracle.  

The power of the gospel is that whether now or at the resurrection, Jesus gives the miracle of eternal life to all who would believe in him as the unique Son of God.  

The importance of miracles is articulated by Jesus when he communicates to the official that without them, this particular individual would not believe.  

You do not have to be perfect or a spiritual elite to see Jesus perform miracles - you only have to be humble and hungry enough to come to him.  

Jesus did not condemn the condition of his heart, but had compassion on the hurting official and was moved to intervene on his behalf.  

We will not see miracles if we are finding the reasons why God will not intervene.  

This passage teaches us the importance of a vibrant faith versus a dead religion.  

We must have a dynamic, not a static relationship with the living God.  

When we pray, Jesus responds - in one way or another. 

We all have ideas in our minds of how we think God can and should move.  

Though the official wanted Jesus to come to his home to heal his son, Jesus had a different plan.  

In this moment, Jesus would reveal that the literal power of life over death was found in the authority of his Word.  

Jesus was revealing his divinity, pronouncing the official’s son cured at his word - teaching the official to trust Christ as the author, sustainer and ultimate reviver of all life.  

Because the official was desperate enough to ask, God was kind enough to move on his behalf.  

The power of God’s word is what brought the known universe into existence and what sustains it to this day (Genesis 1; John 1; Hebrews 1). 

God releases miracles when we align ourselves in trust with the authority and power of his word.  

Jesus moves in miracle power on behalf of those who seek him.  

There are many types of prayer, but one purpose of petitioning prayer is for us to align our hearts with God’s will as we believe God to speak life transforming Words that glorify his Son as both Lord and Savior.   

Jesus told the official to go believing (trusting) his word and found that his son had been healed at the very hour Jesus had spoken!

Because of this miracle, the skeptical official who was pressed into desperate circumstances, was able to believe - and not only him, but his whole household!

This is a reminder to us that we should pray for God’s mercy and miracles, even for the skeptical, that they might come to believe that Jesus is the promised, prophesied Messiah - the Savior of the world!  

King Solomon, the third king of Israel articulated it this way in a prayer of dedication of the temple of the Lord:

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭41‬-‭43‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.”

May we have eyes to see our and others’ desperate circumstances as an opportunity for Jesus to work miracles that lead to belief!

May we testify and pray fervently for Jesus to move in miraculous ways on people’s behalf!

Do you believe that what Jesus’ word says, he has the power to do?

Will you come to him on behalf of yourself and others to see him release his miracles?  

The greatest miracle and healing come when we trust God’s word, turn from our prideful rebellion and put our trust in Jesus’ atoning work at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  

In this way, though we were all at death’s door, dead in our transgressions and sins, Jesus is able to usher us into the power of his resurrection and the promise of eternal life!

Will you come to Jesus and trust his word today?  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

Miracles: “Turning Water Into Wine”

Miracles: Let him Be Known

“Turning Water Into Wine”

Pastor Rollan Fisher

We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

Notes prepared by Pastor Brian Taylor 

Big Idea

The ultimate purpose of God’s miracles among us is to reveal the glory of the Son of God, yet a concomitant secondary purpose is to bless people.

Focus: Our greatest problems can become our greatest opportunities to deepen our faith.


Function: To reframe the way we see problems, and more importantly, seek God in our problems.

Future: To become a community of people who operate with a lens of faith in every problem we encounter.
 


Primary Text: 

John 2:1–11

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Setup:


The gospel of John contains several signs that Jesus performed: from feeding the 5,000 to healing the blind to raising the dead, and many others. When I think about miracles, and the type of situations that necessitate a miracle, running out of wine does not fall on the list of priorities. If I’m holding out for a miracle, I think I would save them for something a little more dire than the situation we see in John 2. Yet this passage gives us the very first public miracle Jesus performs. There is something about this story that we learn, not only about miracles but also about what God does in our hearts when miracles take place.

This story takes place early in the public ministry of Jesus. Verse 1 refers to this being the third day. This could refer to the third day since the ministry started or the third day since talking with Nathanael. Either way, we know it is early on, and Jesus goes to a wedding in a small town about eight miles from Nazareth called Cana. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus shows up with his disciples. You know when Jesus shows up, other people show up with him.

Everything seems to be going fine until verse 3 reveals a problem: the wine ran out. It’s interesting that this would be presented as a problem from a biblical perspective. It would make sense for this to seem like a problem in a frat house on campus or a party at a club, but why would this be an issue presented as something for Jesus to fix? Weddings in those days would typically last for an entire week, and each day new guests would arrive. When guests showed up, they came hungry and thirsty. It was expected of the host to make sure food and wine were provided. Imagine the social and financial pressure in hosting a wedding. To not have wine available would be disastrous. One commentator said it would be a “social catastrophe.”

Perhaps this helps us understand why the mother of Jesus would bring this up to him. Maybe this was a close family friend and Mary wanted to help them avoid the embarrassment. Maybe she just knew that her Son could do something to help. Either way, the problem is brought to Jesus. Let’s read Jesus’ response: read verse 4.

Have you ever had things that you did not think were worth bothering Jesus with? This seemed like one of those things Jesus did not want to be bothered with. Jesus tells his mother that this has nothing to do with them and that his hour had not yet come (reference notes about significance of hour). Jesus did not deny it was a problem, but the issue was about the timing of Jesus revealing his glory.

His mother went on to tell them to do whatever he says. The best thing you could ever do, especially when you need a miracle, is listen to Jesus and obey him. 

Here’s what Jesus instructs them to do: read verses 6–7. They not only did what Jesus said, they filled them to the brim. This is not just obedience; this is extreme obedience. At this point they probably do not know what is going to happen. They did not have the luxury of turning to a later verse to see how water was going to turn into wine. They simply did what Jesus told them to do.

In verse 8, we see Jesus commanding them to draw the water out and give it to the headwaiter. The interesting part is that only the servants and the disciples with Jesus really knew what was going on. The rest of the wedding party does not even acknowledge that Jesus saved the day. Read verses 9–10.

The result was not only that the party was able to continue but this did something in the heart of the disciples. Read verse 11. This theme of believing in Jesus is seen all throughout John, even as the ultimate purpose of the book: John 20:31, “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name.” This seems to ask the reader, are these miracles enough to convince you to believe as well?

Remember, this is the beginning of the signs Jesus would perform. There’s a tone that is set that helps us to understand how Jesus works miraculously in different situations. What can we learn about miracles?

1. The problem was brought to Jesus: Everyone loves miracles, but not everyone loves being put in situations where miracles are needed. What we do find is that at some point the problem is brought to Jesus. We see throughout John that the methods of performing the signs and the types of miracles change, but they all begin with a problem coming to Jesus. I find it intriguing that the first miracle Jesus performs is not at the request of the person needing the miracle. It was not the bridegroom that asked for the miracle; it was the mother of Jesus. Perhaps Mary understood something about Jesus that the others had yet to discover: Jesus is a miracle worker! Do we know where to go with problems when they arise?

2. The problem required obedience: Mary tells the servants to do whatever he says. They don’t know he is the Messiah at this point, and since this is the first of his signs, they did not have a built-in expectation that a miracle was going to happen. They simply acted in the posture of submission. Sometimes we must obey before we understand. Where is God calling for obedience in your life?

3. The problem invited participation: Jesus was the one performing the miracle, however, the servants were part of the process. The servants had to fill the waterpots with water. Why didn’t Jesus just fill the pots with wine? Why was water even needed? We don’t have the answers to those questions, but we do know that Jesus chose to perform this sign using the things that were there and using the people that were there. How is Jesus inviting you to participate in his work today?

4. The problem led to belief: When reading verse 11 we see something happened as a result of this sign: the disciples believed. The question is, how is it that when the miracle took place the disciples believed? They were already disciples. I imagine that for them to follow Jesus up to that point they had to believe at least a little. However, it seems there were levels of belief that they had not reached at this point. Is it possible to be around Jesus, and even a follower of Jesus, and still not fully believe him? It may be that the very problems we want to avoid are the ones God uses to deepen our faith in Jesus. In what ways is God teaching you to trust him more?

Application:


The miracle here is not just turning water to wine but turning hearts that doubt to hearts that believe. What if we began to see our problems differently? What if our greatest problems were our greatest opportunities to deepen our faith?

Conclusion:


What is a problem you are facing that only Jesus can fix? 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

While you were sleeping: Part 3

While You Were Sleeping: Part 3

Pastor Rollan Fisher

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

No Room for Christ in the Inn

A sermon by C. H. Spurgeon

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger…

I. There were OTHER REASONS WHY CHRIST SHOULD BE LAID IN THE MANGER. 

1. It was intended thus to show forth His humiliation. Would it not have been inappropriate that the Redeemer who was to be buried in a borrowed tomb should be born anywhere but in the humblest shed, and housed anywhere but in the most ignoble manner? The manger and the cross, standing at the two extremities of the Saviour's earthly life, seem most fit and congruous the one to the other.

2. By being in a manger He was declared to be the king of the poor. In the eyes of the poor, imperial robes excite no affection, but a man in their own garb attracts their confidence. Great commanders have readily won the hearts of their soldiers by snaring their hardships and roughing it as if they belonged to the ranks.

3. Further, in being thus laid in a manger, He did, as it were, give an invitation to the most humble to come to Him. We might tremble to approach a throne, but we cannot fear to approach a manger.

4. Me thinks there was yet another mystery. This place was free to all. Christ was born in the stable of the inn to show how free He is to all comers. Class distinctions are unknown here, and the prerogatives of caste are not acknowledged, No forms of etiquette are required in entering a stable; it cannot be an offence to enter the stable of a public caravanserai. So, if you desire to come to Christ, you may come to Him just as you are; you may come now.

5. It was at the manger that the beasts were fed; and does the Saviour lie where weary beasts receive their provender, and shall there not be a mystery here? Alas, there are some men who have become so brutal through sin, so utterly depraved by their lusts, that to their own consciences everything manlike has departed; but even to such the remedies of Jesus, the Great Physician, will apply. Even beastlike men may come to Christ, and live.

6. But as Christ was laid where beasts were fed, you will recollect that after He was gone beasts fed there again. It was only His presence which could glorify the manger, and here we learn that if Christ were taken away the world would go back to its former heathen darkness. Christianity itself would die out, at least that part of it which really civilizes man, if the religion of Jesus could be extinguished.

II. THERE WERE OTHER PLACES BESIDES THE INN WHICH HAD NO ROOM FOR JESUS.

1. The palaces of emperors and the halls of kings afforded the Royal Stranger no refuge.

2. But there were senators, there were forums of political discussion, there were the places where the representatives of the people make the laws, was there no room for Christ there? Alas I none.

3. How little room there is for Him in what is called good society. There is room there for all the silly little forms by which men choose to trammel themselves; room for frivolous conversation; room for the adoration of the body; there is room for the setting up of this and that as the idol of the hour, but there is too little room for Christ, and it is far from fashionable to follow the Lord fully.

4. How little room for Him on the exchange.

5. How little room for Him in the schools of the philosophers.

6. How little room has He found even in the Church. Go where ye will, there is no space for the Prince of Peace but with the humble and contrite spirits which by grace He prepares to yield Him shelter.

III. THE INN ITSELF HAD NO ROOM FOR HIM. This was the main reason why He must be laid in a manger.

1. The inn represents public opinion. In this free land, men speak of what they like, and there is a public opinion upon every subject; and you know there is free toleration in this country to everything-permit me to say, toleration to everything but Christ.

2. The inn also represents general conversation. Speech is very free in this land, but ah! how little room is there for Christ in general talk.

3. As for the inns of modern times — who would think of finding Christ there?

IV. HAVE YOU ROOM FOR CHRIST?

V. If you have room for Christ, then THE WORLD HAS NO ROOM FOR YOU.

It had no room for Joseph or Mary, any more than for the Babe. Who are His father, and mother, and sister, and brother, but those who receive His word and keep it? So, as there was no room for the Blessed Virgin, nor for the reputed father, remember there is no room in this world for any true follower of Christ.

1. No room for you to take your ease.

2. No room for you to sit down contented with your own attainments.

3. No room for you to hide your treasure in.

4. No room for you to put your confidence.

5. Hardly room of sufferance. You must expect to be laughed at, and to wear the fool's cap in men's esteem. Will you enlist on such terms? Will you give room for Christ, when there is henceforth no room for you?”

-C. H. Spurgeon

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Let’s come to the cross today and celebrate our Savior who truly came to guide our feet in the way of peace!

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

While you were sleeping: Part 2

While You Were Sleeping: Part 2

Pastor Cole Parleir

Focus

By God’s gift of faith, we can welcome Jesus and begin worshipping him as Lord and Savior this Christmas.

Points

• Welcoming The Lord

• Worshipping The Lord our Savior

Message

Welcoming The Lord (Luke 1:39-45)

It is the Holy Spirit that works in us to welcome the Lord Jesus in a manner worthy of who He is. 

“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary was told by direct angelic revelation that the Savior would be born through her.

*When God is fulfilling a promise He’s made and wants to use you, he won’t let you miss it if you’re waiting expectantly.  

*Waiting expectantly means loving God proactively by: 

• always talking with him in prayer

• confessing and renouncing sin as it comes up (Psalm 139:23-24)

• reading His Word (your Bible) day and night

• hiding His Word in your heart through scripture memorization

• obeying his Word

• going to church

• going to community group

• serving in and outside the church

These disciplines keep your heart soft and your spiritual ears and eyes open. 

To help Mary believe, Gabriel told her the testimony of her cousin Elizabeth being 6 months pregnant though she was previously barren. 

This is God’s perfect timing so that Elizabeth would visibly be pregnant for Mary to discern that God had done what he said…while she was sleeping.

Mary chose to welcome God’s Word by quickly investigating Elizabeth’s condition.

After Jesus’ resurrection we see Thomas quickly, within the first week of the resurrection, investigating (welcoming) the claims of the other disciples who said Jesus had resurrected.

John 20:24-29 ESV

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,[d] was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Timing is important to investigating God’s Words as we are not promised tomorrow.  Our eternal destination is based on our faith in Jesus as the Son of God sent to save all who repent and believe. 

Question: Have you investigated the promises and claims in the Bible or have you  despised them through neglect?

When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s home in the hill country of Judah, immediately, seemingly before Elizabeth was informed of Mary’s pregnancy, we see the Holy Spirit confirm through Elizabeth to Mary the Word of God through Gabriel.

Because Mary responded to God’s Word in humility and went to investigate, he provided what she needed to move to the next level in her faith.  

*We should not say “If only God would speak directly to me I would believe and submit”.  Even Mary (in good company with many others in the OT), the highly favored one, needed an older wiser mentor with the Holy Spirit to confirm what God had spoken.  

James 2:19

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

*Don’t underestimate the power of church community and one to one discipleship on your personal walk with God. 

Question: Are you in a community group or discipleship relationship?  

The baby John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb under the influence of the Holy Spirit!  This baby was 6 months old and unborn, yet had a name, could leap, and most importantly was moved by the Holy Spirit to have joy.   God loves and uses yet to be born babies.

Elizabeth displays great humility as an older woman honoring a teenage girl because of the favor of God on her life.   This is a great example of church life: we honor each other because of God’s favor in Christ above all else. 

Like Abraham, Mary was blessed not because the Lord had spoken to her, but because she believed He who had spoken to her is faithful to fulfill it. 

“The faithfulness of God is the blessedness of the faith of the saints. Those that have experienced the performance of God’s promises themselves should encourage others to hope that he will be as good as his word to them also: I will tell you what God has done for my soul.” - Matthew Henry Commentary on Luke 1:45

Magnifying Our Lord and Savior (Luke 1:46-56)

Those who are most joyful and blessed are those with lives that magnify God our Savior. 

It has now been confirmed by the Holy Spirit speaking through Elizabeth that God was fulfilling his Word to Mary AND to all generations past who believed the promise God made to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 22:15-18)
A magnificent response to Elizabeth’s confirmation of God’s blessing on Mary: The Magnifcat.  This name is from the first word of the song in the Latin Vulgate version.

This song starts small with God’s work for Mary, then expands to Israel, and ends with the whole world in Abraham’s offspring being blessed. 

This is a pattern for worship that magnifies God.  It starts with God saving us and ends with saving every nation. 

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The promise in the Magnifcat is fulfilled in the prophesied virgin birth, sinless life, sacrifical death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

This promise if for all of Abrahams offspring through all generations. 

Romans 4:20-25 ESV

“No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

If God has given you faith in his Son Jesus Christ today or you would like to explore the faith the Bible speaks of we would love to speak with you after service today.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

While you were sleeping: Part 1

While You Were Sleeping: Part 1

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: God is working even when we don’t see it, for his glory and our good.  

• A Time of Wonder

• What’s in a Name?

• A Savior Better than We Hoped For

A Time of Wonder

There will always be a time of wonder where we ponder if and how God is going to bring about his promises.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.””

How many times would it have been that Zechariah and Elizabeth, a blameless couple, prayed to God over the years for the blessing of a child?

Sometimes it can feel like God is sleeping or slow in keeping his promises.  

Yet Yahweh is the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) and is not slow in keeping his promises as some consider slowness (II Peter 3:9). 

God has a perfect time and procedure for everything, with his Kingdom and metanarrative of world history always in view (Ecclesiastes 8:6,7).

“All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.”

-Jaques, Act 2 Scene 7 in Shakespeare’s As You Like It 

We can get discouraged when we forget that our story is a small part of God’s larger story being played out in the world.  

*The goal is to find your God-given role in his story to help you contextualize and embrace life’s circumstances with joy.  

*The fulfillment of God’s promises will always look different than you expect. 

Silver Chair example with Aslan

“And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.” 

― C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

The signs of the Messiah’s appearing were the more than 300 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, miracle ministry, betrayal, sacrificial death, burial and resurrection.  

*Don’t forsake God’s provision because you had in your mind how he would fulfill his promise.  

How do I know if it’s God’s provision?

1. Is it in alignment with his written Word?

2. Does it continue to spur you on for the purposes of God?

3. Does it challenge you to be more godly or less?

Waiting on God can come with a stigma.

Mary and Elizabeth experienced the stigmas of their virgin and delayed pregnancies - all while God was moving in the right way, to posture them at the right time, for his purposes to be fulfilled.

What stigma has been attached to you as you’ve waited not only on God’s promise, but his timing?

Always remember, that which was a stigma turns to lasting honor in the end (thing of how Mary and Elizabeth are venerated today). 

The timing of John’s birth allowed John the Baptist to be the perfect prophesied forerunner of Jesus.

The manner of Mary’s pregnancy was the prophesied miracle that would point to the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) and came at a time, because of the interconnectivity of the Roman Empire, to allow the good news of Jesus’ miraculous birth, life, ministry, substitutionary death at the cross and resurrection from the dead to be spread around the world.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.””

There is a desire to control the narrative in all of us.  

Zechariah was blameless in his conduct, but not necessarily his ideas on how things should be done - how his story should unfold.   

Zechariah would lose his speech and hearing, and as a result, would have months of reflecting on nothing but the message which the angel had delivered to him from the Lord.  

This period of waiting gave Zechariah time to come into alignment with not only what God was going to do, but how God had chosen to do it. 

How often do we have things taken away from us, whether health, friendships or opportunities as an act of God’s mercy to help us finally submit to his will - which is always best?

This would be reiterated with Mary and Elizabeth, yet with a different response to God’s narrative.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭46‬-‭56‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.”

The great reversal to take place in the world is a key theme in Jesus’ ministry and Luke’s gospel.  

Jesus was continually speaking of his intention to have the last be made first and the first last; the proud brought low and the humble exalted.  

Jesus placed great emphasis on God’s love for the poor, tax collectors, outcasts, sinners, women, Samaritans, Gentiles and the like.  

He would cause the seemingly foolish to shame the wise of this world, the weak to shame the strong in their sin (I Corinthians 1).

Do you believe that God knows what he is doing and trust that how he is arranging things is for the best (Galatians 4:1-7)? 

What’s in a Name?

God allows our time of waiting to clarify and define our purpose while we sleep in hope, waiting for his promises to be fulfilled. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭57‬-‭66‬ ‭ESV

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.”

‬‬

There is a normal way that the world works and does things, defining the different seasons, events and milestones in our lives.

Where would you have been without your time of waiting?

Without the time of waiting, we could have been defined by and pursued anything other than the purposes of God.

God uses the time of waiting to clarify our purpose and crystallize our call as he did for John the Baptist.

John would be no ordinary child, doing what ordinary Hebrew children did, becoming what ordinary Hebrew children become. 

John’s name and mission were brought about through extraordinary circumstances, after years of longing and emotional trial on the part of his parents.

By the time John showed up on the scene, his parents were quite ready to consecrate him out of a heart of humility and gratitude.

Through their time of waiting, John’s parents came to recognize that their child was not just their own, but his life was for the Lord’s purposes.

Have you come to such a realization in your love life?  In your marriage?  With your children?  WIth your career?

Our time of waiting should crystallize the purposes of God for us. 

Saltine Toffee Bark - a holiday family favorite not perfected until chilled!

A Savior Better than We Hoped For 

Jesus comes to bring light to the darkness.

‭‭

Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭67‬-‭80‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

You are able to hear from God clearly and find your voice when you, like Zechariah, finally come into the peace of not only what God says, but how he has chosen to do things.  

All the while, Jesus is bringing light to our darkness.

Jesus brings light to the darkness by saving us from our sins.

Jesus brings light to the darkness by contextualizing our seasons of emotionally gratifying slumber.

Jesus brings light to the darkness by illuminating the purpose of our pain.

Jesus brings light to the darkness by giving us hope and joy eternal!

As we turn from our sin today, may we become strong in spirit by putting our trust in not only Jesus’ saving work at the cross, but God’s perfect timing for his perfect redemptive plan.  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Part 16

The Good News According to Luke: Part 16

Pastor Kore Bendix

FOCUS: Jesus comes as the King who disrupts our lives because of his passionate love for us.

Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let the Children Come to Me

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

The Rich Ruler

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers[b] or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

OBSERVE

➔ When we read Luke 18 we see Jesus presented as the Great Disruptor.

Question: In what ways does Jesus disrupt the personal lives, religious systems, power structures and culture in Luke 18?

➔ To receive Jesus as a divine disruptor we must also receive him as the author, giver, and redeemer of life.

Question: What does it mean to have Jesus as your life giver rather than your life coach?

➔ Favor of God doesn't mean favors from God.

➔ Luke 15-19 is sometimes called by theologians "the Gospel of the outcast".

➔ Jesus blurs the line of who's in and who's out of God’s Kingdom.

➔ He Replaces the currency of power with that of humility.

➔ We see the idea of being “anti-fragile” through Jesus using the outcast to build an indestructible Kingdom.

➔ Religion tries to trap and control God.

Question: What are you holding on to that you to need to let go of to have room for Jesus and His life?

➔ Sin is an unwillingness to trust that what God wants is our deepest happiness. - St Ignatius

Question: Will God be a Father I trust or a formula I follow?

Pray: Heavenly Father, help me receive your divine disruptions that make room for the eternal life found in Your Son Jesus. I trust you because you love me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Part 15

The Good News According to Luke: Part 15

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: We will find Christ’s power and joy when we find the right posture in our hearts before him. 

• The Right Faith

• The Right Attitude

• The Rightful Ruler

The Right Faith 

The type of faith that God provides gives grace to overcome sin and causes mountains to move!

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.”

Sin is serious to God and destroys relationships with him and others. 

Because sin is so serious to God, not only those who practice it, but those who promote it will be judged severely.  

Think of what things in our culture promote sin on a daily basis - from the music we listen to, to the entertainment in which we indulge, to the political agendas that people endorse.  

What God says about those who cause others to sin by introducing such temptations should be a check to us all and where our allegiances lie.  

We should pay attention to not only what, but who we are ultimately representing in our choices in life.  

If your brother or sister finds themselves in sin, according to Jesus, we should not enable or ignore their sin, but rebuke them with the word of God.  

The goal is repentance followed by the forgiveness that Jesus paid to distribute through his sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.  

Through Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we have not only forgiveness of sins, but a new faith and grace that allows us to live in the authority of Christ to move mountains in our lives!

The Right Attitude 

The type of attitude that the Holy Spirit provides is a humility and gratitude that sets our hearts free.   

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."”

Though sons and daughters of God through Christ, our posture should continually be of humble servants to Almighty God.  

In our modern culture these seem like mutually exclusive identities - you are either a child of God or a slave, a servant or an heir.  

Yet in Christ our identity and relationship to God is not an either/or but a both/and proposition.  

We are simultaneously a son or a daughter as well as a servant of the king; a friend as well as a submitted follower (John 15); a slave to righteousness (Romans 7) as well as a co-heir with Christ (I Peter 3).  

It is just as a man can be simultaneously a son, a brother, a husband, a father and even a grandfather.   

These are all different components of the same individual’s identity and must be stewarded in unison to relate to the proper people at the proper time.  

This is what the above parable shows us about God’s expectation of us as we live as yes, his children, but also his servants in the world.  

Attitudes of humility and gratitude make this possible.  

We must be humble enough to understand that we will forever be unworthy servants who are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ’s redeeming work at the cross.  

It is not only our duty, but privilege to serve the eternal, inexhaustible, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and overwhelmingly gracious King of the universe with humility and gratitude for the very breath that he provides.  

When we live in such humility and gratitude, and not with the entitlement of our age, we are able to encounter God in his strength receiving our healing and restoration in the midst of a broken world.  

Jesus shows the lepers that he is powerful enough to heal them with simply a word.  

As they put their faith in Jesus’ ability to heal and followed his instructions, they were cleansed.  

It was not enough to take Jesus at his word - the lepers needed to do what he said.  

*So often we want healing but don’t follow God’s instructions, and wonder why we remain in the same spot, even when we believe that he can heal us.  

Always remember, faith and obedience are God’s recipe for experiencing God’s power moving on our behalf.  

When we see God move, do not take him for granted.  

It was the nine native Galileans, those who would have been “churched” in our culture, who did not return to thank Jesus for their cleansing.  

Many people find themselves in sullen, dissatisfied, embittered lives because they spend their mental energy being consumed with the things they do not have rather than rejoicing in God for the things that they do.  

*Lack of gratitude leads to lack of joy.  

For both big things and small things, we will cultivate our relationship with God and find great joy in Christ when we develop the habit of finding the things for which we can be thankful and expressing it.  

What ways have you been like the lepers stealing glory from God?  

In what ways do you, like the Samaritan, need to find the joy of your salvation by learning to thank God for all that he already has done - things both big and small?

The Rightful Ruler 

The type of redemption that God provides is complete and is realized when we fully surrender to Jesus as Lord.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭35‬, ‭37‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left." And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."”

Jesus said that the coming Kingdom of God would be in the midst of us.  

This means, among other things, that his rule in our lives should be something that is growing in an ongoing fashion, not just an event to be observed.

In what ways is the rule of God growing in your life?

At the same time, there will be a day when Jesus makes his return to judge the world in righteousness. 

Those who have repented of their sin and put their trust in his atoning work at the cross will be saved.  

Those who have rejected Jesus and persisted in their rebellion will get what they asked for, an eternity without God in hell.  

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened. ”

― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Do not be of those in this world who try to preserve their lives and find that they are losing it.  

Who is it in your life that can be a mirror to you, disciplining you and helping you to grow in devotion to Christ?

Who is it that you are helping to do the same?

Now is the time to prepare your heart before God and his coming Kingdom that is to be among us. 

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Part 14

The Good News According to Luke: Part 14

Pastor Rollan Fisher

This is a word to boost our confidence in God during a looming recession.  

Focus: We need to allow God to show us what actually governs our lives that we might adjust to find our reward in Christ. 

• Who’s in Charge?

• What’s Law Got to Do with It?

• Where’s Your Reward?

Who’s in Charge?

Follow the money to see who’s in charge of your life. 

Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭15

“He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."”

“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

God cares about providing for his children but wants to teach his children how to handle his money the right way (Luke 12:)

God wants to teach us trust in him by how we handle our finances.  

Why is wealth called unrighteous?

Wealth can be categorized as unrighteous for at least three reasons:

1. The money is acquired through unrighteous means

2. Selfish desires in the use of wealth lead to a life dominated by personal gratification and self-indulgence rather than for the care and well-being of others

3. The corrupting influence of wealth can lead to godless living (meaning in sin or without regard to God and his purposes)

God gives both miracles and wealth to be utilized as a part of his redemptive plan in creation.   

“Christianity, therefore, is perhaps the most materialistic of the world’s faiths. Jesus’s miracles were not so much violations of the natural order, but a restoration of the natural order. God did not create a world with blindness, leprosy, hunger, and death in it. Jesus’s miracles were signs that someday all these corruptions of his creation would be abolished. Christians therefore can talk of saving the soul and of building social systems that deliver safe streets and warm homes in the same sentence. With integrity.” 

-Timothy J. Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Who is the one who has eternal dwellings with whom we should use the wealth “to make friends”?

It is God who, like the rich man, will evaluate and judge our use, like the manager’s, of the resources that he entrusted to us. 

This is never more pertinent than in times of layoffs and recession.  

We have the invitation in these, and really at all times, to develop our trust in God who is ultimately the provider of all things - including our jobs, income and retirement.  

We develop this faith in God by understanding who our wealth actually belongs to in the first place.  

In the parable above, the term “another man’s possessions” reinforces the concept of stewardship - that none of our earthly possessions are ultimately our own, but are God’s, and it is our responsibility to distribute them with Biblically mandated wisdom, for Christ’s Kingdom purposes.  

Our focus in doing so in our lifetime is with the expectation of our heavenly reward that will not be stolen, and is in no danger of perishing, spoiling, or fading (Matthew 6). 

When we live as stewards and not owners of our resources, it demonstrates where our faith truly lies.  

We have peace when we know that our source is the Lord, we are stewarding things according to his pleasure and he will therefore provide for our needs.  

Example of home ownership. 

In the parable above, when challenged on their idolatry regarding money, notice how the Pharisees’ opposition evolves from grumbling (Luke 15:2)  to ridicule of Jesus.  

The point is that human achievement can seem praiseworthy before men but be detestable before God.  

God knows our hearts and that for which we are truly living - those who often seem justified in their pursuits in the eyes of men are not necessarily in right standing with God.  

Any human achievement can be exalted amongst men, but if not done for the glory of Christ, can be an abomination in God’s sight.  

What pursuits and lifestyle choices have you been attempting to justify before God, but are incongruent with his Word?

What’s Law Got to Do with It?

The law of God keeps the plumb line straight even when our circumstances change.  

Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.”

The Law and the Prophets were affirmed by Jesus as perpetual standards for the way that we should live and govern every area of our lives. 

Jesus references marriage because it is practical and hits us where we live.  

You find the heart behind the law of God which forges such references to daily life from Scripture such as the following -

“The Seven Social Sins are:

• Wealth without work.

• Pleasure without conscience.

• Knowledge without character.

• Commerce without morality.

• Science without humanity.

• Worship without sacrifice.

• Politics without principle.”

-From a sermon given by Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey, London, on March 20, 1925.

The Law of God is a direct reflection of his character and eternal desires for his people. 

It is a plumb line pulling us out of excuses and into the higher way of Christ, despite our selfish reasonings that would convince us to lookout solely for “numero uno” - ourselves.

This is what we see reflected in Jesus’ commandment about marriage, but it was interesting as a parallel sandwiched between Christ’s direct teaching on wealth and how to handle it.  

There are over 800 verses in the Bible on money with God giving instruction about everything from prosperity to poverty, saving to investing, work and stewardship to tithes, offerings, care for the poor and radical generosity.   

About 25% of Jesus’ teaching ministry was about finances because he knew it is such an idol in people’s lives.  

This is also why in the Old Testament God gave the law about giving the tenth, the first and best ten percent of your income to God, to counteract the stranglehold of fear and greed in our hearts, while developing the muscles of trust and generosity.  

The New Testament brought the law from a mere exterior obedience to an internal motivation that increased, rather than decreased, the expectation of godliness from us (Matthew 5-7).  

Thus the law of the Old Testament becomes the floor and not our ceiling in our devotion to Christ and his purposes.  

Because of the law of the Spirit of life, God has empowered you to be more, not less generous in the freedom of Christ.  

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law for us in obedience to the commands of God that he might be a perfect substitute at the cross for the ways that we have fallen short.  

We are forgiven our sins through repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning work giving us the opportunity for eternal life through his resurrection from the dead.  

In doing so, Jesus not only reconciled us to God, but now expects us to live a life of faith by which we follow his example not for justification, but for sanctification leading to glorification (Romans 8).  

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

William Wilberforce

Where’s Your Reward?

Don’t Sell Out Now - hold out for (order your life around) the reward of God. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"”

The lesson of Lazarus and the rich man is don’t burn up all your rewards, comfort and pleasure now when there is exponentially more to come.  

Don’t simply live for this life - live for the next one since it lasts forever.  

Everything about Christ’s moments of suffering in exchange for eternal glory after his resurrection from the dead points to such a promise. 

Too many people cash in too early on life’s rewards.

Don’t find yourself in Hades because you live in self-indulgence today. 

God would deliver us from self-absorbed living that we might turn our eyes to Christ and those in need around us.  

Remember, the essence of the Kingdom of God is that you are blessed to be a blessing.  

“I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: "If I was saved by my good works -- then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with rights. I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if it is really true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace -- at God's infinite cost -- then there's nothing he cannot ask of me.”

Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

 Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Part 13

The Good News According to Luke: Part 13

Pastor Rollan Fisher

“Jesus's teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw conservative, buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church. That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Focus: We serve a God who goes looking for those who are valuable to him to redeem their lost time and lives.  

• Lost Valuables

• Lost Time

• Lost and Found

Lost Valuables

We see the kindness of God as he goes looking for the lost until they are found.  

‭‭

Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."”

Ten silver coins (drachmas) would have been about ten days wages for a laborer and thus of great value to him. 

God spends his life and mobilizes the church to diligently seek for and save those who are lost - those who do not yet know or walk with Jesus.  

This is the starting point of making disciples of the nations - the rescue and healing of broken, damaged lives.  

Every person that you have or ever will meet is valuable to and dearly loved by God. 

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.”

-C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Aren’t we glad that God goes looking for people until they are found!

God meets us in our weakness to bring us back to himself just as the man in the parable lays the sheep on his shoulders who is too weak to return on its own. 

Hear the good shepherd’s call today. 

God places such a priority on seeking and saving the lost that he says there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to do so.  

The irony is that, as is the emphasis in all the gospel of Luke and book of Acts, there is a universal need for repentance and the “righteous persons” are only people who think that they do not need to repent.  

We must realize that we have wandered from God, his life and his ways before we can be found.  

“Properly understood, Christianity is by no means the opiate of the people. It’s more like the smelling salts.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Lost Time

God came to redeem the time that we lost wandering in sin. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”

“When a newspaper posed the question, “What’s Wrong with the World?” the Catholic thinker G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: “Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton.” That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

The story of the prodigal son is of one who started off in the house but took what he had for granted.  

He should have known better, but thought he could have a better time in wild and rebellious living.  

The young man was unmarried, and thus in the culture was probably a teenager.  

The father allowed the son choice and divided the inheritance when asked.  

God will allow us to go our own way, in opposition to him, and learn from the mistakes that we make.  

The younger son enjoyed the wayward living for a time, but the bill of sin always catches up with you and has to be paid.  

When all of the younger son’s money disappeared, so did his fair weather friends who were simply around for a good time.  

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”

The wayward son had to hire himself out to a Gentile to feed pigs, which would have been repugnant to him.  

How has the sin in your life, though at first pleasurable, come back to bite you?

“We must admit that we’ve put our ultimate hope and trust in things other than God, and that in both our wrongdoing and right doing we have been seeking to get around God or get control of God in order to get hold of those things.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

When these substitutes fail us, we find ourselves wanting like the prodigal son.  

What has that been for you - a failed relationship?  Career pursuit?  Search for happiness or attempt at identity outside of God?

We can begin our way back to God for redemption when we realize, like the prodigal, that our sin isn’t just against earthly relationships, but against heaven, that is, against God himself. 

We wake up when we realize that:

It is the wrath of God that allows us to be turned over to the consequences of our own sin (Romans 1). 

It is the mercy of God that allows us to wake up from our sin without being completely consumed by its deserved consequences (Lamentations 3:16-33). 

Because of the mercy of God, Christ would go to the cross to pay for our sins. 

It is the kindness of God that draws us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

And finally, it is the grace of God that gives us better than we deserve allowing us to be forgiven and live in the resurrection life of Jesus!

“God’s love and forgiveness can pardon and restore any and every kind of sin or wrongdoing. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter if you’ve deliberately oppressed or even murdered people, or how much you’ve abused yourself. The younger brother knew that in his father’s house there was abundant “food to spare,” but he also discovered that there was grace to spare. There is no evil that the father’s love cannot pardon and cover, there is no sin that is a match for his grace.”

-Timothy J. Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Lost and Found

God came to restore dignity and worth to those who’ve strayed, while reminding the faithful of their great eternal reward.  

‭‭

Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭17‬-‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"”

While the prodigal was still a long way off, the father, who was undoubtedly watching and longing for the son’s return, saw him and made his way towards his returning son. 

When the prodigal woke up to his mistakes, the father came running to meet him on his return. 

This was culturally unusual for dignified, well-established men of means of Jesus’ day, but it demonstrates the heart of our Heavenly Father longing to meet the repentant sinner where they are.  

When he returned, the father had a feast celebrating the return of his lost son. 

With forgiveness, the father restored the younger son to a place of dignity and worth, welcoming him back as an heir in his home.  

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, made this possible for us by living the sinless life we should have lived, dying on the cross the sacrificial death that we should have died, in our place, and rising from the dead to provide new life for those who would entrust themselves to him.  

When we return to God, we are given the robe of Christ’s righteousness and bestowed the ring of sonship established in covenant by Jesus’ blood.  

This is what we celebrate along with others in the sacrament of baptism, as people leave their old life of sin and turn to a new life in Christ!

Yet the truth is, both brothers in the story of the prodigal son had heart issues and something to learn.  

“The targets of this story are not "wayward sinners" but religious people who do everything the Bible requires. Jesus is pleading not so much with immoral outsiders as with moral insiders. He wants to show them their blindness, narrowness, and self righteousness, and how these things are destroying both their own souls and the lives of the people around them.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Both brothers were in need of the gospel.  

The younger brother needed the gospel because of the sin found in his wild living.  

The elder brother needed the gospel because of his self-righteous pride that distanced him from the father and had the elder son refuse to participate in the father’s feast.  

While sinners like the prodigal were listening to Jesus’ words, so were the Pharisees and scribes to whom this parable was also directed.

“Your computer operates automatically in a default mode unless you deliberately tell it to do something else. So Luther says that even after you are converted by the gospel your heart will go back to operating on other principles unless you deliberately, repeatedly set it to gospel-mode. We habitually and instinctively look to other things besides God and his grace as our justification, hope, significance, and security. We believe the gospel at one level, but at deeper levels we do not. Human approval, professional success, power and influence, family and clan identity—all of these things serve as our heart’s “functional trust” rather than what Christ has done, and as a result we continue to be driven to a great degree by fear, anger, and a lack of self-control. You cannot change such things through mere willpower, through learning Biblical principles and trying to carry them out. We can only change permanently as we take the gospel more deeply into our understanding and into our hearts. We must feed on the gospel, as it were, digesting it and making it part of ourselves. That is how we grow.”

-Timothy J. Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

If you find yourself like the older brother, you must not be bitter in soul towards the younger brother who received the warm welcome after wasting his father’s possessions while the older brother remained faithful.  

“Another sign of those with an “elder brother” spirit is joyless, fear-based compliance. The older son boasts of his obedience to his father, but lets his underlying motivation and attitude slip out when he says, “All these years I’ve been slaving for you.” To be sure, being faithful to any commitment involves a certain amount of dutifulness. Often we don’t feel like doing what we ought to do, but we do it anyway, for the sake of integrity. But the elder brother shows that his obedience to his father is nothing but duty all the way down. There is no joy or love, no reward in just seeing his father pleased. In the same way, elder brothers are fastidious in their compliance to ethical norms, and in fulfillment of all traditional family, community, and civic responsibilities. But it is a slavish, joyless drudgery. The word “slave” has strong overtones of being forced or pushed rather than drawn or attracted. A slave works out of fear—fear of consequences imposed by force. This gets to the root of what drives an elder brother. Ultimately, elder brothers live good lives out of fear, not out of joy and love.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

The older brother says the treatment of the younger is not fair because he likens his own faithfulness to years of servitude without any celebration.  

This produced in the older son a self-righteous resentment. 

Has that been how you have felt?

The father responds with an affectionate appeal to his elder son, and thus, to those like the Pharisees, an invitation to enter into the same mercy and grace.  

As a faithful child, you should receive the encouragement that all that the father has is yours.  

Remember, you have not wasted your inheritance in wild living and should rejoice that your brother has been brought home.  

At the same time, pride should not blind us to the fact that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are saved solely, like the younger brother, by God’s grace through faith alone.  

“Here, then, is Jesus’s radical redefinition of what is wrong with us. Nearly everyone defines sin as breaking a list of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a man who has violated virtually nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most profligate, immoral person. Why? Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge just as each son sought to displace the authority of the father in his own life.”

-Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Let’s all as elder and prodigal sons return to the cross today that we might allow Jesus to truly save us - restoring our lost time and lives by his redeeming love.  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher

The Good News According to Luke: Part 12

The Good News According to Luke: Part 12

Pastor Rollan Fisher

Focus: We must trust the goodness of God to truly understand Jesus, hear his call and follow where he leads. 

• Too Good to be True?

• Too Busy for Jesus

• Too Costly Not to Come

Too Good to be True?

To truly understand Jesus, we must embrace God’s goodness.  

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?" But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?" And they could not reply to these things. Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."”

In time, God will always exalt the humble and humble the proud. 

It is our experiential disappointments and our underlying pride that can have us miss the heart of God both to teach and to heal.  

The extreme measure of the kindness of God is often overlooked in our theological constructs, and so we exclude ourselves from the grace that could otherwise be ours.  

We need to embrace a humility that allows us to see God work in his saving power and healing ways. 

Too Busy for Jesus

God will not be pleased with those who are too busy for Jesus.  

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Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"”

There is a torment of too many options that makes people anxiety-ridden and unhappy today.

When we sit at the feet of Jesus as a priority, our options are narrowed and our focus is sharpened on that which is of value in life.  

We are all headed to the judgment where the wedding of Jesus to his bride, the church, will be celebrated in glory.  

There is an invitation to all to come and participate as a favored guest at his banquet, but many will see themselves excluded because they allowed themselves to be too busy to come.  

God wants us to narrow our focus and do all things for the glory of God and the furthering of his Kingdom.  

This is the liberating and empowering filter of a disciple of Jesus.  

There were at least two words for life in the New Testament:

1. Business affairs

2. Animating presence of God (John 10:10)

*You can not live on the empty calories of life that sustain you momentarily with a sugar spike then bring you crashing back down.  

This pattern eventually takes your health and life in God.  

Think of how many people are disappointed after vacations, marriage and getting their supposed dream job only to find it isn’t exactly as advertised.  

Jesus was singular in his focus when he lived in perfect obedience to the commands of God, worked miracles in compassionate demonstrations of his divinity and died a substitutionary death at the cross for our sins. 

Christ’s resurrection from the dead was the call to repentance from the worship of other priorities, agendas and people that we place before him.

*In the parable above, it was twice an invitee's business (that which would create the life they wanted to live), once a romantic relationship, that caused them to ignore God’s call.

What is it that would have priority in life for you above and before the call of God?

For those who have rejected God’s call, they will be replaced by those whom the world seems to have rejected.  

Make sure you order your life around the call of God and the coming rewards of the Kingdom that are to be distributed at the wedding banquet of the Lamb of God.  

Too Costly Not to Come 

We need to count the cost of true discipleship.  

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Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬-‭35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."”

God wants true disciples, not nominal Christians.  

The reason that God wants true disciples is because he wants to build something for the Kingdom of God with your life.  

Your call is to be a disciple who is involved in making disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). 

God knows that it will take war in the spiritual realm and a fight of faith to accomplish his plans. 

Jesus said very clearly that if we are not willing to give up everything to follow him, we can not be his disciples.   

There are continual moments in following Jesus that he will require you to sacrifice that which is most valuable to you - laying down what you previously clung to - for something more rewarding in his sight.  

He does this regularly that you might live clear of the sin of idolatry - putting any person, pursuit or thing as of greater importance than God.  

What might Jesus be asking you to lay down - what dream, what personal goal, what part of your identity - that you might follow him into the better thing as a disciple?

God demands such all-consuming worship for the Father’s pleasure and for your benefit - steering you clear of pursuits that would suck life from you, rather than giving it to you.  

What do you now find that you are unwilling to give up for Jesus?

If you do not have the commitment of a true disciple, you will quit along the way finding paths deceptively easier, yet detrimental; more self-gratifying, yet destructive in the end.  

Do not lose your saltiness!

The essence of being a disciple is holy living.  

Holiness means being set apart to God not only in your thoughts and your actions, but also setting apart your time, talent and resources for the purposes of God. 

The cross was the place where Jesus paid the price of death for our sins that we might be forgiven in our repentance and liberated by faith from our bondage to decay. 

He rose from the dead that we might not live worthless lives to be tossed out, but be a holy people who, in humility and love, bring the flavor of the Kingdom of God to a world he has come to redeem.  

Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher