Luke 12:22–24

Luke 12:22-24

English Standard Version 

  Worry feels productive, right?  If we worry about every possible scenario, then when that situation happens, however unlikely it may be, we'll know what to do!

  A wise woman once told me that worry is negative prayer.  It's trying to wrest control of life away from God.  Rather than letting go of stressful things, it's holding onto them, believing that they're best in our own hands.  Worry is focusing on all the limitations, all the shortfalls, all the fears, rather than focusing our hearts on God's abundance, on his provision for us.  God cares for the ravens, so they have food to eat.  They still have to go and find it, but it's there.  The same is true for us -- God cares for us.  We still have to move, to work, to strive, but we are not forgotten by God.  

  So let your mind focus on the provision of God, rather than the things of fear.  When you're anxious and worried, find a Psalm.  Pray.  Hand that over to God, and let your times of anxiety be transformed into leaning into the Lord.

Luke 12:16–21

Luke 12:16-21 

English Standard Version 

  Can physical wealth provide ultimate security?

  Of course not.  It feels like it should... but only ultimate things can give ultimate security.  Only God can truly provide this.  This man believed that his wealth would give him peace.  It cannot do that.  

  Jesus isn't telling us not to plan.  I don't even think he's necessarily railing against wealth here.  He's opening our eyes to the lie that wealth is the only thing we need, and he's telling us that we're foolish if we don't first consider what it means to be rich towards God.  If our material wealth ends up well beyond what we had planned for, the opportunity is not to build bigger barns for the sake of having more, but rather to look outward.  If we have everything we need, then what does more provide?  Only the illusion of security.  When we cling to God, we don't pursue more for the sake of more.  We recognize that our blessings are opportunities to be stewards, to think of how blessings run through our hands and into the lives of others.  We are blessed to be a blessing unto others, and to remember that true wealth is found only in God.

Luke 12:13–15

Luke 12:13-15 

English Standard Version 

  We don't hear many sermons about these teachings.  It's far easier to preach on sins that are easy to see and count.  Greed, though... that's pervasive.  It erodes us from the inside, leaving us dissatisfied and in a state of constant comparison.  We keep score in our possessions, in a way that's celebrated in society.  Any number of websites, magazines, and social media channels will celebrate covetousness.  We covet other houses, other lives, other things.  We'd just as soon not think about this as sin.

  But Jesus warns us against everything that corrupts, everything that separates us from God.  He has care for our souls, and so we have this warning.  When our minds think of things we want, hoping they'll bring fulfillment, they're pulling our hearts away from God, who is only one who can truly satisfy.

  What do you want most?  What does your life consist of?

  And how do we pray for the Holy Spirit to help us answer honestly, and then to help shift that answer so that we can say with integrity that we want more of God.

Luke 12:8–12

Luke 12:8-12 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever felt pressured to hide your faith?  You're in good company -- the apostles certainly felt pressure.  Jesus was constantly opposed by the Pharisees, and after his ascension, the early church was heavily persecuted.  Jesus knew this would happen, which is why he includes a promise.  We don't have to be anxious about finding the right words to say -- the key is to remember that Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say, to speak on our behalf, and our reward sits not in the hands of those with worldly power, but rather with the one who holds universal power.  The same power that carves the mountains is acknowledging you and holding you tightly.  So fear not.  

Pentecost Sermon on 1 Samuel 13

 

Luke 12:4–7

Luke 12:4-7 

English Standard Version 

  What do you fear? 

  There's all sorts of things we can be afraid of.  We fear scarcity, or aging, or loneliness.  We fear pain and death.  We fear poverty.

  Jesus tells us that we should lead our fears.  We need not fear the things that cannot impact our eternal lives -- because that's what will last forever.  Christianity is a matter of keeping things in perspective and keeping our hearts focused on eternal life in Christ.  There will be setbacks in the short-term, but we're a long-term people, with a God who is saving us for eternity.  Trust in God, Jesus reminds us, and all will be well in the end.

Luke 12:1–3

Luke 12:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  As they say, the bonus of not lying is that you don't have to remember all the lies you told in order to avoid getting in trouble later.  Start with the truth and stick to it, and it makes it easier.  

  Jesus is warning the people to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees -- think about how yeast impacts bread.  It can take a long time, and for a few minutes you may even wonder if there's anything in there, but eventually it will show the effect.  You can't hide the impact.

  So if we consistently live with integrity, then we don't need to fear.  Trust that everything will be brought into the light.  We worry sometimes if criminals will get caught.  They will, in time.  Do the right thing, day after day, and trust in God.  Things will take care of themselves.

Luke 11:49–54

Luke 11:49-54 

English Standard Version 

  It's heartbreakingly sad to hear Jesus rebuke here.  He's talking about people who were meant to lead people closer to God, and yet they couldn't open their hearts enough to be converted and fall in love with Christ.  Not only did they miss the point themselves, but they then hindered others in coming to Christ.  

  The Pharisees and others heard these words, but rather than examine themselves, they opted to kill Jesus instead.  

  Do we have the humility to hear Jesus speak to us, even when it's not words that we want to hear?  Are our hearts open to his words, so that we might be convicted, so that we might hear what is so important for us to hear?  Jesus loves us and wants us to draw closer, and when our pride gets in the way, it's easy to resist out of fear.  None of us like change, but Jesus is calling us to change for a good reason, that we might turn back to Christ.

Luke 11:45–48

Luke 11:45-48 

English Standard Version 

  I have always liked this part of the Gospels.  A lawyer raises his hand and reminds Jesus that his words are cutting the lawyers, too, and so Jesus goes even harder at the lawyers!  He tells them that their words are making it burdensome on the people, heaping up demands while they ignore the heart of the teachings of the prophets.

  We do this with Jesus sometimes.  We focus on his life, but ignore the heart of his teachings.  Are we listening to what Jesus has to say to us?  Do we allow it to confront our hearts?  Do we let ourselves be challenged, or do we skip ahead to the verses we like and only honor Jesus by celebrating the verses that don't cause us any conflict?

  May we read every word of the Gospels, and let them challenge us where appropriate.

Luke 11:42–44

Luke 11:42-44 

English Standard Version 

  Imagine being more focused on tithing the correct amount of herbs but uncaring about the dramatic needs of others.  That's where the Pharisees ended up -- they were so focused on details of religious observance but missing the larger drive to practice reconciliation between all people.  Jesus confronts them on this.  

  This is love in action -- Jesus sees the Pharisees off course and doesn't leave them there.  He is harsh, but does so with a spirit of love, hoping that his language will open their eyes to their brokenness.  He does the same for us, too.  Jesus wants you to see the places where we're more focused on practices than on love of neighbor.  We all do this -- Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but this is almost impossible.  We always prefer our own selves.  But let us open our eyes and hearts to see the opportunities around us.