Just like last week, let us not be too familiar with this passage. Ask God to illuminate it anew for you today!Together these teaching of Christ provide something of a ‘Prayer 101’…

Luke 10:38-42 & 11:1-13

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

• This is the first time we meet Mary & Martha (Sisters of Lazarus)
• Martha was the hostess, she invited Jesus Christ into her home / her presence
• Mary is given the chance by Martha, to sit at Christ’s feet, to be in His presence
• She no only heard, she listened to His teaching (she ‘took it to heart’)

40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

• What was Martha distracted from? She wanted to listen to Christ’s teaching too!
• It is not a bad thing to be ‘Doing something for Jesus’…preparing a meal
• It’s a ‘Big Dinner’ / a lot of preparation… Who is she trying to impress?
• She’s frustrated, but she chose to remove herself from the Lord’s presence
• Instead of making the right choice, she wants Jesus to have Mary miss out too!
• She is focused on someone else other than her relationship with Christ

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

• Jesus wants her to know that she is dear to Him, but He points out wrong focus
• He say’s: you’re worried about the wrong stuff, because only one thing matters
• The ‘One thing that matters’ is to listen to my teaching so you can have eternity
• Mary surrendered herself to what matters most and it will be her’s forever
• Mary chose ‘Focused’ discipleship rather than ‘Distracted’ discipleship

Are you leaving space in your world of doing things for Jesus to just BE with Jesus? The idea is that Jesus wants us to sit at His feet (posture of a Disciple). He wants us to not be distracted by doing things, even good things!

1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

• Christ had a habit of going off alone to pray, He may have had ‘favorite places’
• When he was done, not interrupting Him, ONE of His disciples implores Christ
• It’s possible this disciple was one of John the Baptist disciples (Andrew & John)
• This is a great request, who better to learn of prayer from?
• The humility of the disciple is key, he recognizes his need to learn about prayer

2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. 3 Give us each day the food we need,

• This is pointed teaching framing out the core of our relationship with God
• This is structure & priorities for how God wants us to communicate with Him
• We start with God’s singular place as the only Holy One!
• He wants us to care about & act in ways that keep His Reputation / Name Holy
• We are to care about & act in ways which enact His will (kingdom come = Will)
• #1 & #2 PRAYER priorities: God’s Reputation & His Will being done
• Greek: may your name be held in honor, may your reign begin
• Daily Bread = Mana… We ask for what we need today; trust in future provision
• God wants us to have an on going relationship, daily contact

4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

• Daily seeking God for our needs includes the need to be forgiven
• Our constant experiencing of God’s forgiveness enables us to be forgiving
• We are to ask for HIS power over temptation; Greek: keep us from times of trial

5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’

• Now we have a parable that says: if you really need something, keep asking
• It is meant to give an example to what Christ just said about prayer
• He uses an example of one who is asking for something on behalf of others
• It is a request for something necessary, for someone else

7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

• The initial answer is: ‘I can’t help you’
• Then Jesus says: ‘but I’ll tell you this…’ When He says that, we do well to listen
• The answer can change if you can be persistent enough
• A key factor is that Jesus is talking about prayers for others in need
• When asking God for help on behalf of others, our persistence can play a role

9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

• Then He expands the principal by saying, whatever you ask God for keep at it!
• Seeking: looking for answers from God to explain situations
• Knocking: We knock on doors so that someone will come to the door

11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

• You parents: Your motives for the care of your children are, right?
• Would a parent who’s child asks for something good give them something bad?
• You (any parent) can make this happen in the imperfect state of sin
• Imaging how much better God will do it
• And His desire is for His Spirit to indwell and guide YOU & Me

Summary:

2 examples of how to listen to Jesus: distracted & focused. Jesus says which is best.

Our Prayer life should start with our growing in unity with who God is & His will.

Our prayer life should be daily relationship about physical provision & soul provision.

We are to be ‘Shamelessly Persistent’ when interceding with God for those in need.

We are to keep asking, seeking & knocking because God WILL answer.

We can trust God’s motives in how He answers our prayers.

Application Questions:

What are the things that distract you from a more focused discipleship?

What parts of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ do you practice regularly & what parts need attention?

What is your theological justification for being persistent in praying for other’s needs?

What keeps you from being persistent in praying for your material & spiritual need?

Luke 10:1-20

10 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

• Key differences between the instructions given the twelve vs these 72
• Christ trained leaders (12) then gave then ½ of as many to then train 12 x 6 = 72
• One extra P: Prayer
• The worker being sent into the fields are told to ask for more workers to be sent
• Those who God sends on mission are to ask Him for co-workers
• Who is in charge of ‘The Harvest’? If it’s about us, beware pride or self-loathing
• We do not ‘Own’ any ministry, we should not say ‘My Ministry’
• Every mission field is ‘His Field’

3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

• ‘Now Go’… if God gives you a job don’t delay (delayed obedience = disobedience)
• Realize this is not going to be ‘Safe’…God does not offer ‘Safe’ to Christ followers
• Count on God to provide essentials and that what you have now is enough
• Don’t tell God to prepare you more, He knows if you are prepared enough
• Stay focused on what you have been sent to do, keep moving

5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide, because those who work deserve their pay.

• Establish if people are willing to accept God’s offer of peace (Gospel)
• Even if the offer is rejected, you are still blessed for offering it
• Don’t go provision shopping, be content with God’s idea of provision for you
• Let God bless you for doing what He asked you to do.

8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’

• Once welcomed, live as those who welcomed you do: ‘Contextual Mission Work’
• Demonstrate God’s power by healing (Physical & Emotional)
• Give people hope that the Kingdom is becoming accessible (Gospel)
• See if God is working there and if not, let them know you have no part in their fate
• When rejected, try to leave them thinking about The Kingdom

12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day. 13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.

• How can Sodom be better off?
• They didn’t get a chance to respond to the offer of God’s peace
• Korazin & Bethsaida saw His power 1^st hand and didn’t respond (no repentance)
• Jesus says those in ‘wicked’ towns would respond in repentance vs rejecting Him

14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.” 16 Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

• Tyre & Sidon neighbors to Israel where God was not fully revealed
• They will be better off because they didn’t get the opportunity Capernaum did
• God has mercy on those who He gives less chances / reveals Himself to less
• The Message = Jesus Christ = God
• How people respond to the Gospel is the same as how they respond to God
• The principal; from those who are given much, much is expected

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:48

17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!

• The joyful report: demonic forces must obey Christ’s followers who ‘use His name’
• ‘In Someone’s Name’ & to ‘Come In Someone’s Name’ are about unity & oneness
• When we act in unity with God’s will, we can trust that demons must obey us
• The most powerful of Angels (now The Enemy) is forced to bend to God’s will
• Only through unity with God’s will & His Spirit can we overcome demonic forces

19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

• He gives them ‘Authority’, but the real gift isn’t the authority
• The real gift is eternal union w/ God, Him forgiving our sin & buying us out of hell
• Because God Himself has ‘registered’ our names in heaven we get that authority
• But the value of that authority is not even close to the value of salvation (eternity)

21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

• What gave Jesus such Joy?
• The very idea of what He was going to accomplish @ the cross: Our Salvation!
• He was joyful the 72 were learning important theological lessons
• Thanking God for being who He is: opposes the Proud, gives grace to the humble
• If we want to please Him we need to do things His way: humble yourself!

22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

• Trust, unity, complete transparency & total intimacy are perfect in the Trinity
• You cannot know God The Father except thru God The Son
• Christ chooses those He reveals the Father to (we don’t really ‘Choose Jesus’)

23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

• Christ shares this last part only with the 12
• You are being given much, so much more than prophets and Kings
• Many with strong desires to know God fully were not given what the 12 got

Summary:

It’s God’s field & harvest; we prayerfully ask God to multiply us & call our partners.
To work with Christ we must go where danger is, but He provides for our eternal safety.

Offering Christ’s Peace is the ultimate blessing, & our calling as Christ’s disciples.

Those given more opportunity will be judged more harshly regarding their response.

Working with Christ by His power is awesome. Christ’s salvation is ‘The Awesomest’!

Thinking we are wise & clever impairs our vision of God; humility opens our eyes.

Realize how fortunate you are if Christ has chosen you, so live thankfully & graciously.

Application Challenges:

Will you live for eternity and not to stay alive, trusting in Christ’s Peace without fear?
Will you live like God Provides everything, so you can follow where He leads?
Will you live trusting Christ’s Power He gives You to do His Kingdom Work?
Will you live from a place of gratitude for the Privilege of living your life for Christ?

Our community here at Midtown Church is formed around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A key aspect of that culture is we place a High Value on the Word of God: ‘The Scriptures’

If you are looking for commentary & speculation on our current situation, you have come to the wrong place. If you are looking for the Word of God prayerfully presented, explained and applied, welcome home! May God Bless you!

This passage is extremely important regardingTheology & our resulting discipleship. We get a clear definition of exactly who Jesus of Nazareth is and what He will do. We get clear expectations from Jesus as to how His true disciples should respond to His Messiahship, His Redeeming Death & Resurrection and His call lose our lives. We see how together the Old & New Testaments proclaim Jesus as Messiah and together are a progressive revelation of who God is We get a Clear Command to ‘Listen’ to Jesus. To listen is to hear and understand, and if we listen to Christ well, we will always act on what He says. That is what we call Discipleship!

Luke 9:18-36

18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

• The last thing we saw Jesus do is feed 5000 people with 5 loves & 2 fish
• At this point the Disciples had seen: Calming Storms / Healings / Resurrections
• The crowds saw some of these things as well; how does society view Jesus?
• There was that tendency to define God as He had previously been defined
• Same attitude as Herod Antipas in last weeks’s text

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” 21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

• Knowing that they (the 12) had been chosen He asks them in private
• Peter answers for them: Eternal / Anointed / Divine / Glorified
• It wasn’t God’s plan for Jesus of Nazareth to be declared Messiah at that time
• By all accounts the Disciples did what Jesus commanded them to do

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

• Christ says ‘Must’… this is God’s plan laid out to His Disciples
• The ‘Son of Man’ Speaks the mystery of the Incarnation (All God & All Man)
• He Must: Suffer many Things
• He Must be Rejected by The Entire Religious Establishment (Roman Style)
• He Must Die (His human body)
• He Must be Resurrected
• This is the story of how the Gospel (The Message of the Messiah) was enacted

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

• Christ gives clear expectations of what it takes to be His Disciple
• Self Denial…the only way to be honest about that is to surrender your life
• The daily taking of my cross means I have to do it every day (go to my death)
• The only way to do this is His Way; it only works when we follow Him
• Being His Disciple means you lose your life FOR HIM
• If you want to be the god of your life you cannot be Jesus Christ’s Disciple
• If you want to be the god of your life you will lose ‘life’ (Eternity with God)

One is truly wise who surrenders what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!

25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

• The question Christ asks us all is: What really matters?
• This a crucial part of what the Gospel Message contains: How we respond!
• When you totally buy into something you are not ashamed to be associated
• His association with us will mirror our association with Him
• Our commitment now / His commitment for eternity
• If we could get a glimpse of that glory we would respond with commitment

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

• He ends the conversation with a real zinger!
• He shows them what He is talking about 8 days later…Taking only the three

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

• Christ models how prayer is the way we ‘Open Up’ to what God is doing…
• The three were given a view of Christ’s full on Glory
• Moses & Elijah
• Speaking of his ‘departure’ as in His Crucification
• The plan was in place What he shared with disciples earlier is confirmed
• Why Moses & Elijah? Why is it significant that they be in accord with the plan

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

• They had been praying for a while (hard to stay focused) like in Gethsemane
• They figure out who these two guys are.
• They represent Old Testament Scripture:: The Law & The Prophets
• God shows the revelation of the Hebrew scriptures are continued in Christ
• Peter wants this meeting to continue, to have them all stay there
• He did realize it was a window into heavenly reality, a glimpse of eternal glory

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

• The cloud was the ‘Shekhinah Glory’ of God
• The Glory of God is the presence of His Holiness
• Contact with that Holiness causes humans to fear because His power is near
• God clearly identifies The Christ and conveys His authority
• Context of Father & Son is of oneness; so listen to Him like you listen to ME

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

• It all ends abruptly…they were given a measured dose of Christ’s Glory
• This revelation would not make sense until Jesus had died & risen

Summary:

The world is confused about who Jesus Christ actually is, His Disciples are not

Christ planned to suffer, be rejected, die and be raised to life: to save our souls

As His disciples we must : deny ourselves, carry our cross & follow him unashamed

God shows Christ to be a continuation of the revelation of Himself: Story of Scripture

Christ’s glory can be seen on earth, but only in limited way ‘Glimpses of Heaven’

Christ’s disciples are commanded to listen to Jesus: It is just that simple (listen = act)

Application Questions:

List at least three things that convinced you Jesus is God’s Messiah?

What does it look like in your life to ‘not be ashamed’ of Jesus or His words?

Why was Christ ‘elevated above’ and ‘included with’ Moses & Elijah?

God says: ‘Listen to Jesus’. What do you need to listen to Jesus about today?

Keep PRAYING (Send Prayer Requests to: barbiebriggs67@gmail.com)

Keep Pressing into God (Take greater ownership of your discipleship) Build habits!

Keep giving sacrificially: Honor the commitments you have made and give beyond in ways God prompts

4 SCENES THAT ANSWER 4 QUESTIONS

WHO DO WE BELONG TO?

WHO BOUGHT US?

WHO IS OUR HOPE IN?

WHO IS OUR REVELATION?

The four scenes take place from 6pm Thursday to Noon Sunday

6pm Thursday: WHO DO WE BELONG TO? John 13:1-6

The setting is the ‘Upper Room’, they are about to begin the ‘Passover Seder Ritual’. Before they begin the meal, the guests feet were washed by a servant of the Host

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

• John gives us insight from the Holy Spirit as to Jesus’ state of mind
• He had loved them by action, and His death would be the ultimate act of love
• The betrayal was part of God’s plan

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

• With full knowledge of EVERYTHING… Jesus sought to demonstrate His love
• The Mystery of the Incarnation…not a mystery to Jesus
• He took on the role of the lowliest servant and one by one, washed their feet

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

• Peter is like: your not really going to do this are you?
• Peter can’t understand how Jesus is the greatest because He is willing to be least
• You have to let Jesus serve you (Die For You) in order to belong to Him
• Once Peter realizes what is at stake, he is all in
• Are you all in with the idea of letting Jesus cleanse you / forgive you / redeem you

Who do we belong to? CHRIST CALLS US TO BELONG TO HIM!

3pm Friday: WHO BOUGHT US? Matthew 27:46 & 50-53

The setting: The Place of the Skull… At about 9am Jesus is nailed to the cross. Roman solders throw dice for his clothes. The religious leaders mock him. He interacts with one of the thieves next to him. At Noon it goes dark for three hours…Here is where we pick up the action:

46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

• The sin of all mankind is placed upon The Christ
• God the Father cannot be in fellowship with sin so He must abandon Him
• David prophesied this; it only makes sense in a bigger context
• A price had to be paid, God’s perfect Justice demanded it

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

• He says: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ & ‘It is finished!’
• His Life-Force left that body…for now (He Himself released His Spirit)

51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

• In both Mark and Luke the curtain being torn TOP TO BOTTOM is recorded
• The separation of God’s presence from us because of sin is ended from His end
• Supernatural power caused nature to resonate & God’s people to rise to new life
• They were godly because God animated them & they demonstrated redemption

Who Bought us? CHRIST BOUGHT & PAID FOR US TO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD!

6am Sunday: WHO IS OUR HOPE IN? Mark 16:1-6

1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

• Sabbath was sundown Friday to sundown Saturday (No commerce)
• The stones were not meant to be rolled away often
• With a lever you could get it open enough to get inside
• There would normally be men who performed such a service but not 1^st thing
• Rich people’s cemetery, there would be ‘attendants’

4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side.

• Something had happened, they didn’t see it happen, they just could see the result
• Luke describes ‘A young man clothed in a white robe’

The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

• If you search for Jesus, who was crucified, there is no need to be alarmed
• The angel tells them exactly what has happened; we have God’s word on it!
• The angel says: believe in what you can’t see! That is what Hope is!

Who is our hope in? CHRIST IS OUR HOPE FOR ETERNITY WITH GOD!

Noon Sunday: WHO IS OUR REVELATION? Luke 24:13-17 & 21-27

13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently…

• They were part of the core of Jesus’ followers talking about the past 66 hours…
• The resurrected Christ seems to be just another traveler
• Jesus wants to start with what they think about it (God meets you where you are)
• He is there to reveal Himself to them

21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. 22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report.

• They had hoped… but they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah
• They had an amazing ‘report’….Amazing as in there was no explanation for it

23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

• Angels telling them Jesus is alive, an empty tomb and STILL they don’t believe
• They had information, but no revelation!
• Throughout the world people know some the story but do not believe
• The problem is they don’t know the Whole Story…
• Where do you get the whole Story?

25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”

• It’s all there in the Hebrew Scriptures! Who the messiah is and what He does…
• The death, burial & resurrection of Jesus the Christ only makes sense with O.T.

27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

• The information in the Bible comes alive as God’s Spirit enables us to understand
• God Himself wants to take us through the Scriptures to understand who He is
• Christ Himself provides the Illumination that leads to Revelation of God’s Glory
• We need the whole of Scripture, Old & New Testaments understood together
• We are so blessed to have the complete revelation!

Who Reveals God to us? CHRIST IS OUR REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY!

Application Questions:

What are some lifestyle choices that can help you more fully belong to Jesus Christ?

How can you intentionally pay forward what Jesus Christ paid for you?

How can you focus on expressing your hope for eternal union with Him?

How can you increase your openness to Scripture’s revelation of who Christ is?

This passage is a great example of Jesus’ way of discipleship: life experience and relatable stories to establish spiritual principals to be put into practice. This is what ‘The Church’ is founded on! It is also about God controlling the grace that brings salvation & our stewardship of what He gives.

Luke 8: 8:4-21

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

• This is a message for the masses
• The Farmer had a purpose: sowing seed
• ‘Broadcast Spreading’ The Gospel is proclaimed to everyone
• Seed on the path has no shot; no soil and it is exposed to being taken away
• The seed on the rocky ground is without the means to grow (moisture)
• The seed on the rocky ground couldn’t grow, seed need soil

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

• The seed among the thorns couldn’t compete with what was already there (world)
• What is there before the seed keeps growing (thorns grew up with the seed)
• The seed cannot grow amongst the thorns, it needs to separate (called out)
• The good soil had everything necessary for the seed to grow and produce fruit
• Crops that are in the right environment reproduce more and more of themselves
• If God has given you the ability to hear (‘Spiritual Ears’) then pay close attention

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ (Isaiah 6:9)

• How a ‘Disciple’ should act: Going to God & asking for answers (James 1:5)
• God allows some to hear & understand kingdom things others are destined to not
• The Isaiah verse shows God has always operated like this
• Here is where we find the tension between God’s control and our free will

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.”

• The ‘Word’ of God is the fullness of who God is and how He is to us
• God’s Word is the Gospel or The Kingdom.
• Basically a synopsis of the Scriptures
• God enabling us to embrace & surrender to His Word brings us into ‘Right Relationship’

12 “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”

• The different soils are representative of different people and their receptiveness to God’s Word
• ‘Along the path’ has the opportunity to hear but the Devil deceives them
• This group is what we call ‘Non-Regenerate’ they literally cannot believe
• Consistent in the Scriptures is the message that God controls who believes

13 “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

• The ‘Rocky Ground’ has an emotional response to God’s Word (not enough)
• They receive it but it is not rooted, God’s Word is not foundational in their life
• They are good with God while everything is smooth, but when life’s storms come..
• Following Jesus without a foundation rooted in God’s Word is not following Jesus

14 “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

• Those ‘Among The Thorns’ hear but go on ‘their’ way, not changing to God’s way
• They begin the process of surrendering their life but try to add it to current life
• They focus on the things of this world over God’s Word
• 2 Timothy 3:4b-5a…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.
• They do not mature… Literal translation: ‘They bear not to completion’
• Maturity is making it to the point where you reproduce (Mature things reproduce)

15 “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

• The ‘Good Soil’ is prepared by God, those who God has given grace to be saved
• The Word of God is what makes us noble and of good heart (Hear & Retain)
• Disciples of Christ find the Word of God to be of ultimate value.
• Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
• Those who God puts His Spirit in CAN & DO persevere in being lifelong disciples
• Treasuring God’s Word transforms us, that’s what produces a crop (multiplication)
• The Crop that is a hundred times what is sown = ‘Kingdom Reproduction’

The salvation implications of the parable: 3 of the 4 ‘Soils’ do not inherit the Kingdom. Then there are discipleship principals in this parable for those who are saved and the last four verses in this passage speak of stewardship regarding God’s Word amongst His Family.

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

• Jesus gives some overall principals for how we apply the previous parable
• The Word of God is the lamp, it has a obvious purpose to those who ‘Use’ it
• The truth will be found to be the truth, at some point all will be revealed
• This is true about your salvation and your discipleship

18 “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

• This is a call to examine your follow-ship and discipleship in light of God’s Word
• What does the the ‘therefore’ refer to? Both the soils and the lamp!
• Are you being a good steward of what you have been given?
• How well do you listen to God / God’s Word?

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

• Does growing up around church or your linage make you Jesus’ family?
• True Family is those who share your values, Jesus values God’s Word

• What makes you part of His family is based on valuing & applying God’s Word!
• Listening = Hearing + Understanding (practice)
• Putting God’s Word into practice takes: motivation, faith, grace & intentionality
• We call this process Discipleship!
• It is meant to be done TOGETHER AS FAMILY!

Summary

• Demonic forces are always working to diminish God’s Word.
• A true relationship with God is founded on & rooted in God’s Word.
• Jesus teaches we are to unrelentingly prioritize God’s Word over care for earthy things.
• The goal of our salvation is to join God in reproducing it, based on God’s Word.
• Jesus teaches we must share the light we have been given: God’s Word.
• The measure of our being Jesus family is how we listen to and practice God’s Word.

Application Questions: (Assumption is that you want to Biblically Grow as a Disciple)

What does it look like to consider how you listen to God’s Word, making the most of the grace you have been given to understand the Gospel? (Listen = Hear & Understand ) (Use the grace given to open up to more grace)

How do you reconcile this Scripture saying some won’t listen to God’s Word & perish? (They will be ‘Unable to believe unto salvation)

Which are your biggest challenges & why? Spiritual attacks, your rooting in God’s Word or being preoccupied with things of this world? (letting lies run your life / lack of Scripture based life / what ‘captivates’ you?)

What fuels your vision of growing to maturity and reproducing as a disciple of Christ? (Motivation based on others and God’s Glory)

In what ways can you intentionally hear God’s Word & apply it so HIS light shines? (specific practices, priorities & lifestyle choices that grow your ‘Spirit-Living’)