Luke 13:18–21

Luke 13:18-21 

English Standard Version 

  

  I remember when my mom made bread as a child.  The bread went into a bowl and then sat on the fridge for a few hours to rise.  It sure didn't look like very much was happening.  You could only really tell that it was changing by leaving for an hour and then coming back. 

  It's not that different from planting seeds.  If you plant a seed and then come back to check on it every day, you're probably going to be disappointed.  Not much happens every day.  But if you come back in a month, or a season, there might be quite the plant in that place.

  Faith is like that.  God works on a different timetable than we do.  God is more patient than we do, and often the ways the Holy Spirit is at work seem small and not very dramatic.  But that doesn't mean that God isn't at work.  Think about the church -- it's been around for 2,000 years.  Every day isn't something dramatic.  But every day, God is at work, in the hearts and minds of believers around the world.  It's amazing in total, but each little part isn't always going to blow you away on every day.  You have to be patient.  You have to trust.  And look for small ways to grow, each and every day, trusting that small actions add up to a lifetime of faith that looks far different over the scope of 80 years than it does over 10 minutes.

Luke 13:14–17

Luke 13:14-17 

English Standard Version 

  

  Do you notice when other people break the rules?  It's often easy to see.  Maybe when you're on the freeway, you watch when other people change lanes without signaling or fly by you.  Perhaps you notice less when you are speeding, or when you don't signal.  It's way more enjoyable to pay attention to when other people break the rules.

  Jesus points out to the rules of the synagogue that his heart is missing the point.  He is watching for Jesus to break the rules, but he's missing where his own heart has wandered from faith in God.  Is he still in love with God, and with the people that God treasures?  Or is he embittered and hurt by the harshness of the world?  Has he become overwhelmed with everything and shut down on the inside?

  It's easy to see how that happens.  Jesus is reminding us not to give up on the world.  Keep loving.  Keep serving.  Keep noticing.  God cares about God's precious creation.

Luke 13:10-13

Luke 13:10-13 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus sees this woman.  She'd suffered for 18 years, and likely blended into the scenery in so many ways.  I bet most people didn't even notice her.

  But Jesus saw her.  His compassion leads him to see people in ways that others do not.  He notices.  He cares.  It's remarkable -- we come across it over and over again in the Gospels, and we take it for granted, but most of us don't move through the world this way.  We don't notice a lot of suffering people, and even when we notice them, we don't really see them.  Sometimes, we just notice them and find a way around them, so that their suffering doesn't drag us down.

  But Jesus sees.  He cares.  Don't take this for granted... give thanks that you are seen by Jesus.

Luke 13:6–9

Luke 13:6-9 

English Standard Version 

  The lesson here is that God is patient.  The fig tree has had three years, and the world is impatient for it to produce.  "Cut it down" is easy to say... but patient cultivation is the path that is chosen.  It's harder work for certain.  But God has shown a willingness to invest, a willingness to work for our behalf, to do everything possible so that we might find our way into the welcoming Kingdom of God.  God is not indifferent -- we're called to produce fruit.  And yet, God will walk with us every step of the way, so that we might come closer to the life we are called to live.

Luke 13:1–5

Luke 13:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  When bad things happen, we immediately look to justify it.  If something bad happens, we try and find a reason, because if we can discover a reason, then we can act differently and feel like we're in control. 

  Jesus is telling his listeners that they're not in control.

  Jesus is telling us that we're not in control.  

  This is such a hard thing for us to hear, and so very challenging to accept.  We want to be in control.  We often need to be in control, to feel like what we do has an impact on what happens next.

  God is reminding us that we're not in control and that it's ok, because we can trust the one who is in control.  There is life beyond this one, so even when it appears that all is lost, we are safe in God's hands.

Sermon for Blessing of the Pets (June 14, 2026)

Luke 12:57–59

Luke 12:57-59 

English Standard Version 

  If you know you owe a debt, and you have a choice to pay the full debt, or to settle for a fraction of it, which will you choose?

  What if you cannot pay the full debt?  Then you'd likely be very, very eager to settle for a small balance, hoping to find relief and mercy from the one to whom you owe the debt.  Any wiggle room in the balance would be met with great rejoicing.

  Jesus is urging us not to waste our time.  An offer is on the table -- God is extending grace to us.  If we reject it, the debt must be paid in full.  In the meantime, Jesus has come to extend grace and mercy to those of us who cannot pay.

  May we be filled with gratitude at the grace extended to us, and may we not miss the chance to welcome such grace into our hearts.

Luke 12:54–56

Luke 12:54-56 

English Standard Version 

  I may be able to tell you the lineup of the 1990 Cincinnati Reds.  I remember how it felt in the stadium when Adam Dunn hit a walk-off grand slam in 2006 against the Cleveland Indians.  I can tell you when and where I was when Jeremy Hill fumbled in a playoff game for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016.  There's countless more instance and details I know.  In the long run... these don't have much eternal value.

  Jesus is pointing out to his listeners that they know the weather very well.  But are they paying attention to the Kingdom of God?  Here is the Messiah, and they're missing the signs because they're paying attention to the wrong things.

  What are we paying attention to?  Do we read Scripture with a sense of urgency?  Are we looking around to seeing what Jesus might be doing here and now?  Is faith first on our minds and hearts?

Historic Churches and the Gospel

Luke 12:49–53

Luke 12:49-53 

English Standard Version 

  We opted not to put these verses on the back of the t-shirts advertising the church.  I doubt they will use these as memory verses for the kids, either.  I don't know of a single Vacation Bible School organized around this section of Luke's Gospel.

  And yet, it is the reality.  I don't believe that Jesus seeks to create division, but he acknowledges that it will come.  If we choose to put Christ first in our lives, then other things will come second, and that will cause divisions.  Some will reject Christ, others will simply reject the values of those who follow Christ.  The world is opposed to Christ, and so those who choose to follow him above all else will naturally face opposition.  

  This means we will need courage to continue to follow Christ, even when it means there is opposition in our lives.  May we cling to the one thing that stands forever, and pray for Holy Spirit wisdom to know how best to deal with the divisions we face.

Sermon on David and Goliath

Luke 12:41–48

Luke 12:41-48 

English Standard Version 

  We know that God doesn't entrust everyone with the same level of responsibility.  As much as I would love to be entrusted with a billion dollars, that does not seem to be my lot in life.  It's easy to sit around and spend our time wishing we had what another had, or imagining what great things we might do if we had been given something different.  We often focus on what we don't have rather than what we do.

  What God expects from us, regardless of what we have, is faithfulness.  We've all been given some level of responsibility.  Can we be steadfastly obedient as stewards of whatever gifts we have?  Do we exercise discipline and care?  Are we thoughtful in how we use what we have?  Do we consider how God is calling us to use the gifts we have?  I don't think we need to be perfect, although we certainly ought to strive for it.  I do believe that we should see this life as an opportunity to demonstrate gratitude to God by faithfully taking care of the people and opportunities that surround us, whatever those may be.

Luke 12:35–40

Luke 12:35-40 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is telling us not to live as though we are simply waiting for death, at which point we'll enter the Kingdom of God.  Scripture tells us that we are joined with Christ in our baptisms, and we are united in his life, death, and resurrection, meaning that our entire lives are to be lived with a joyous anticipation of union with Christ.  Christ is to be first in our hearts and minds -- as hard as that is to maintain, it's the call.  It's an uphill climb most days, given the things competing for our attention... but only one of those things promises you life beyond death.  Only one of those things can provide true and lasting joy, even in the face of grief.  Only one of those things knows you completely, believes you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and can redeem you from sin and death.  So may we give ourselves over, day after precious day, so that we may know Christ fully and be fully known.

Luke 12:32-34

Luke 12:32-34 

English Standard Version 

  I love the image of Jesus riding on a white horse on the glorious and victorious day of resurrection, but Jesus also has these wonderfully tender moments where he comes with gentleness to remind us that God delights in giving us the Kingdom.  It's not something we pry grudgingly out of God's hands -- God opens his arms and pours love into us, so that we might have a treasure store beyond imagining.  We think about wealth and riches in terms of dollars and cents, but Jesus is reminding us that no matter what we do, we'll one day surpass the world where that is useful to us.  So why not choose to set our hearts on a more permanent treasure, one that cannot be stolen or taken from us?  If I told you that you'd live for a million years and you could choose between a treasure that was good for a hundred years or a treasure that was good for a million, which would you choose?  The world will convince us that we're only going to live for a hundred, but Jesus is reminding us that there is a life beyond this one, more real than this one, and we ought to think about investing for that Kingdom more than this one.  That doesn't mean we should ignore this world, but when we choose which is first in our hearts... may we choose wisely.

Luke 12:29–31

Luke 12:29-31 

English Standard Version 

  What are you going to chase?  

  God knows you need the basics.  I don't think this means that we can ignore those and they'll magically appear, but I do believe God works to ensure our needs are met. 

  So if your needs are met, what are you seeking?

 I'm not sure that we do a great job thinking about this question.  We get up every day and get after it, busying ourselves with pursuing various tasks.  But do we make time to think about what we're working towards, about what it is we want more than anything else?

  God's Kingdom is promised to us -- a place of fullness, of fulfillment, of hope and joy.  How do we set our hearts on that each morning, to let God fill us and let the Holy Spirit guide us?  It's so very hard to make it through the day with that first in our hearts.  There are so many distractions that will steal our attention and our energy.  

  Seek first the Kingdom.  If we can do that, our lives become so much richer.

Luke 12:25–28

Luke 12:25-28

English Standard Version 

  We never ask ourselves this question when we're worrying do we?  Can this worrying add a single hour to my life?  Jesus isn't afraid to ask it... he points out that if we can't even do that, then why spend so much time worrying?  A great question, Jesus.  Granted, when I get on the anxiety treadmill and start running full speed, I don't really have time to think about the reality that the worry isn't getting me anywhere.  God cares enough about the lilies, so maybe I should trust in God's provision for me!  

  I've been trying to breathe better.  When I get into a mental loop, I've been trying to stop and breathe deeply, allowing space for the Holy Spirit to remind me that this worry doesn't serve me.  It only makes me think that everything depends on me (reminder:  it doesn't).  I'm not keeping the world spinning by worrying.  That's God's job, and he's better at it than I am.

  So let us breathe, relax, and lean into trusting in God.