Sunday Recap of Luke 9 - 13

SUNDAY 'S TEXT

Luke 16:19-31 - Rich man and Lazarus

SERMON NOTES FOR DISCUSSION

Sunday Recap of the week... by Elaine Pierce

As we read through Luke 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 this week, I noticed that there was a lot of 'talking.'  Yes, there was action: Jesus sent out the 12, he sent out the 72, he continued to heal the sick.  But take a look at a few examples of things that Jesus said: 

• We listened as Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?"
• We saw Jesus rebuke James and John when they offer to call fire down to destroy the Samaritan village that didn't want Jesus to visit.  
• We heard parables:  the Good Samaritan, the Rich Fool, the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
• We listened as Jesus talked about prayer, and modeled a prayer life that would bring glory to the Father.
• We listened to Jesus talk about the lamp of the body....the six woes....reminders not to worry....reminders to be watchful...
• We heard Jesus teach that he will bring division, not peace.

These chapters are full of Jesus' words and his actions. They go hand in hand.

James tells us that "faith without works is dead." (James 2:17, and yes, this is the same James who Jesus rebuked in Luke 9).

These chapters, and all of Jesus' life, are examples of how you cannot separate what you say from what you do. It is my heart's desire, and I am guessing that it is also yours, that I will be a faithful follower of Jesus. Every day I have the opportunity to serve him, to love him, to follow him. And yet, every day, I fall short. I can never measure up to these words - and these actions - of Jesus.  

No, I never will.  But, every day, I can ask Jesus to lead me. In Luke 9:46-48, the disciples argue about which of them is the greatest (does this remind you of your own children? Or even of ourselves?).  Jesus brings a child to his bumbling, incompetent, arrogant band of disciples, and he says this to them:

"Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; who is least among you all - he is the greatest."

So, my friends, don't try to accomplish good works on your own power. Come to Jesus, your father, your daddy. Be like a child, and enter into his kingdom. He is waiting with open arms. Every day.  Invite him in. Spend time with him. And when you fail, and you will, he will love you all the more, if only you confess and repent. What a joy it is to practice this kind of faith - both words and deeds.