Message Descriptions - Spring Quarter 2017

March 12 - Asking and Receiving (Luke 11:5-13)

When you’re watching an action movie, one of the ways the story creates drama and tension is by placing the hero in a situation that seems hopeless.  No matter what he tries, there seems to be no way to overcome the problem.  And then, in spite of all opposition and with seemingly no answer, the hero finds a way out.  Some of what makes that work as entertainment is that every one of us knows what it feels like to be up against a hopeless situation. If we’re honest, we’ve often given up in these circumstances instead of pressing on.  But the story we watch inspires us to be people that persevere and overcome.  Jesus applies this concept to conversations with our Heavenly Father.  How often do we give up in prayer when it seems like nothing is happening?  Jesus calls us to be people who believe in endurance and faith in our Father’s goodness as we pray.

Shameless Audacity (v. 5-8)

The point is that plain irritation will get through – even in the case of someone who DOES NOT WANT to grant your request

What is audacity?  How is this shameless?  Why would Jesus applaud this?

The Promise (v. 9-10)

Ask, Seek, Knock – if you do, it will be yours

The Reason (.v 11-13)

The giver of good gifts – easily understood in the context of a human father, but too often a struggle in the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father

QUESTION: Have you given up too easily in prayer?  Where do you need to seek, ask, and knock?  Are you convinced that God is eager to give ‘good gifts?’

March 19 - The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)

Have you ever been called a ‘fool’?  If you haven’t, many of us can report that it does not feel good. Sometimes you know you’re acting foolish, so you’re not overly surprised when you get that feedback. But when you’re making decisions and choices that you think are good and that anyone else would make, getting called a ‘fool’ can be hard to take.  In this passage, we have this exact scenario.  And what makes it even more shocking is that God Himself calls this person a ‘fool’. What would someone do or think that would be so extreme as to have this feedback from God?  Let’s dive into a topic on which many people today are completely blind and then let’s ask ourselves where this kind of foolishness has taken hold in our lives.

A Dispute (v. 13-15)

A Story (v. 16-19)

A Lesson (v. 20-21)

QUESTION:  Are you living in greed?  What do you have that God gave to you so you’d give it away?  When your time comes to leave this earth, what will God say to you about what you have?

March 26 - Do Not Worry About Your Life (Luke 12:22-31)

COMMUNION
Do you have anything to worry about? It seems that there is no shortage in any person’s life of opportunities to stress out over what could be coming. From sickness, to potential financial crisis, to world events, to family pressures…. there is a constant stream of potential dangers and pains that could be coming our way.  What is the healthy and life-giving way to face these worries? Jesus simply says, “Don’t”.  While all of us may agree that living without worry is better than living overcome with worry, many of us struggle to let go of worry.  So what does Jesus have to say on the subject that could set us free from worry?

v. 22-23 – more to life

v. 24-30 – God watches over you

v. 31 – set your focus here

QUESTION: What is your greatest cause for worry?  Are you willing for God to set you free from spending your emotional and mental energy on worry? Could you be investing that energy instead in the kingdom of God?

April 2 - The Surprising Kingdom (Luke 13:18-28)

Who doesn’t like a surprise?  Maybe that’s an unfair question.  Surprises come in all shapes and sizes.  The perfectly executed surprise party filled with laughter and fun is a great experience.  But surprise car repairs or illness or unemployment wind up on the other end of the spectrum. Jesus makes the point to His disciples that the Kingdom of God is a huge surprise.  It doesn’t always look like what it is or what it will be.  And many will be surprised when they finally realize it is the only kingdom they want, because they refused to enter it again and again while there was still time.  What can we learn about God’s Kingdom today?

Like a mustard seed

Like yeast

Limited Time Offer

QUESTION: Have you received this offer before time is up?  Are you a part of making this offer while there is still time?  Do you believe that what we see now does not give us a sense of how big the kingdom coming will be?

What It Will Be Is Not What It Starts Like

April 9 - The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-23)

There’s something about food that makes everything feel better.  How could you have a party or a celebration without food?  If you’ve ever planned a wedding, you know that one of the most expensive and involved parts of the day is the part where everyone shares a meal together. Jesus uses this well-known experience in discussion the Kingdom of God. He compares it to a banquet thrown by a wealthy man.  But this feast has some surprising details and responses.  And in these, Jesus is teaching us about what it means to be a part of God’s kingdom.

Those who Refuse and excuse themselves (v. 15-20

The unqualified are invited (v. 21)

God’s heart for a full kingdom (v. 22-24)

QUESTION:  Are you finding excuses not to accept God’s invitation?  Are you making excuses so that you can skip out on kingdom work?  What does it mean in your life that God is pictured inviting the unqualified?

4/14 – GOOD FRIDAY - COMMUNION

We’ll do special music, reading and communion together – 7 pm

4/16 - They Remembered His Words (Luke 24:1-8)

Easter Sunday

If you’re heading to the grocery store, chances are you have made some kind of list. This simple act recognizes one universal truth: we forget.  Some of what we forget is unimportant and trivial, and the fallout is easily remedied.  Neglecting to get the milk you needed is not the end of the world.  But other times we forget more important things. We lose track of lessons we’ve learned before or values that we deeply hold, but have stopped prioritizing. On the day Jesus rose from the dead, Luke doesn’t record fresh words from Jesus.  Instead, we find out that those at the empty grave are reminded of words Jesus had already said.  Let’s take a look at what this story means on this Easter morning!

Resurrection! (v. 1-3)

The central truth of Christianity is that Jesus rose from the dead

Messengers (v. 4-7)

Reminder that this is what Jesus had said – they already knew what He had predicted

Sometimes we need a reminder of things we already know – we weren’t ready to listen or we didn’t quite understand – but now we hear it in a new way

They Remembered (v. 8)

In ch 9 (twice) and ch 18 we see Jesus making these predictions

There is little doubt that the disciples and 1^st century Christians believed that Jesus rose from the dead

And the NT has the best witness of any ancient literature to this story – that Jesus said BEFORE He died that He would die and rise again

The religious leaders and political leaders even reacted to this prediction by sealing the tomb and setting a guard (Matthew)

It meant a few things….

Jesus had known before it happened

He wasn’t just a man like you or I – He knew His end and the details of it – He claimed to be God in human flesh… now that made some sense

– it wasn’t an accident – it had a purpose – not just a failure or a random act of the human justice system – the God of the universe had brought this to pass through wicked and evil men for something overwhelmingly vast

This purpose was not for political revolution (humiliating death wasn’t a pathway to that)

Instead it was to provide the gift of eternal life to all who would receive it

What words?  That he would rise again?  That He was the Son of God?  That He is the way truth and life?

QUESTION: What does it mean that Jesus called His own death and resurrection?  Have you embraced the purpose of this day and this event?  Is God reminding you of something that you already know but now need to understand and embrace?

April 23 - Count The Cost (Luke 14:25-33)

In a world of credit, how do you not allow yourself to be drowning in debt? One offer after another winds up in your ‘inbox’ or your mailbox.  Each invites you to buy now and pay later.  Of course, you have years to pay without any interest, so how could you not take advantage of this moment?  Besides, you REALLY want what they are selling. It’s very easy to understand how so many of us find ourselves deeply in debt. But Jesus uses this concept to discuss discipleship.  If we want to follow Him, we need to be willing and able to pay the price. While this wisdom could certainly help us make better purchasing decisions, it is central to Jesus’ call to follow Him.

Carry Their Cross (v. 25-27)

BEFORE the crucifixion – but a well-known result of those giving themselves to a counter-culture cause

Willing to lose your life for this?  Willing to lose your family

Hate…

Building a Tower (v. 28-30)

Negative example – didn’t have enough money so tower is unfinished… ridiculed

How often does this play out?  Declare yourself a Christian but unwilling to pay the price – to build the tower

Choosing Peace (v. 31-33)

The emphasis is that the king looked at the comparative sizes of armies and decided that he couldn’t win – so he pursued peace

He gave up before the fight because he knew he wouldn’t win the fight

IN THE SAME WAY – give up everything

Or you cannot be my disciple

QUESTION: What will it cost you to follow Jesus this week?  Are you willing to sacrifice that or not? What has stood in the way of you abandoning everything to give your life to Him?

April 30 – Lost Sheep / Coin (Luke 15:1-10)

Why does it seem that keys are always lost just when you’re about to leave?  Whether you’re already running late or have given yourself extra time, it is a deflating and frustrating experience to be ready to go but find yourself unable. TV remotes seem to have a similar talent for hiding. So what do we do when we lose something we need or really want?  We go looking for it.  Jesus uses this natural reaction to explain a truth about the Father.  Many listening were surprised at this concept of God. Perhaps Jesus’ words are for you today.

Sinners Welcome (v. 1-2)

These people assumed to be close to God were disgusted by those who hung out with Jesus

The intent was to discredit Him as a teacher – to express amazement that ANYONE would consider Jesus worth following since He was willing to be identified with this genre of people

One Sheep (v. 3-7)

Party in heaven – more rejoicing in heaven!

One needing to repent

Are there 99 who don’t need to repent?  That’s what they thought… but Jesus says heaven has no joy in this kind of blindness

One Coin (v. 8-10)

QUESTION:  Are we in on the party?  If our God goes after the lost, do we?  How does the criticism of the religious leaders towards Jesus affect us?

May 7 – WHAT DO YOU WANT? (John 1:35-38; Mark 10:46-52)

Josh and Kelly Hallahan Update

We are one month into the New Year. How many of you have broken your New Year's Resolution? Yeah, me too. Why is it that the thing we thought we wanted to pursue just one month ago, seems so unappealing now? There often appears to be a disconnect between the things we think we want and the things we end up pursuing. Jesus asks us today the same question he asked many of his would-be-followers, "What do you want?" It seems like a simple question, but do we even know what we want? If take a step back and look at the patterns of our life, we may learn that the answer to that question is more difficult than we first thought.

May 14 – A Strategy for Parenting (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Mother’s Day

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed as a parent?  Maybe you found yourself in a dark moment where you were convinced that you are a failure as a parent.  But if you put that ‘feeling’ aside for a moment, what would you use to measure the success or failure of your parenting?  The Bible contains many different passages that touch on parenting.  Some are direct and others are implied.  Today, we want to take some of the words of Paul and use them to help us pick a goal for our parenting.  This in turn will guide our decisions as we raise our kids. 

Super mom

Rescuer mom

No one can do anything without me (or do it right)

Ephesians 4:14-16

Not the correct or primary interpretation of this passage – but connected to moms and raising kids from infants to mature

Paul kind of mixes the analogies here –but the point is easy to see

He expects these believers to grow from helpless vulnerable infants into fully functional adults

That picture can secondarily teach us something about healthy homes

You are not raising kids, you’re raising adults

The goal of parenting is not safety or survival – it is producing adults who are ready to stand on their own 2 feet

Many parent oversee their kids based on their own sense of security or satisfaction – and their kids grow to be CONVINCED that they cannot handle life

What do you do when some kid is being mean to your kid at school – fix it or teach them?

How about an unfair teacher? 
What happens when your kids blow it – little or big – do they know they can and should face the natural fallout of that?

So that EACH PART does ITS WORK

Same as v. 12 – pastors are to equip the body to do works of service

It’s why our staff roles are strategic in placement to allow the body to function and grow in a healthy way – organizational and spiritual care – carrying the load that needs full-time focus and energy so that the whole body can work in unison

QUESTION:  Where would your parenting look different if you thought the primary goal was to equip your children for the life they will soon step into as adults?  What priority would you place on spiritual choices?  Are you able to recognize the work that belongs to your children right now?

May 21 – The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

COMMUNION

One storyline that we see over and over again is the situation where a king or someone in great power is disguised as just a regular person.  Movies have had ‘hidden kings’ as part of the narrative, and there has been a recent TV series based on the boss working alongside regular employees. The surprise factor embedded in this situation is a great tool for storytelling.  Jesus uses a similar technique as he tells a story about a very wealthy man and a beggar at his gate.  Of course, it seems like the positions of these men is obvious.  Until Jesus gives the big ‘reveal’ about where these men actually stand. 

Life on Earth (v. 19-21)

Life After Death (v. 22-26)

Let Others Know (v. 27-31)

QUESTION:  Have you truly settled the matter of your eternal destiny? Have you bought into the idea that being on top of the world in this life is a good place to be? What are you doing on a regular basis in reaction to the truth of this story – that eternity matters so much more than this life?

May 28 – The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14)

High school social circles generally include groups of people who are ‘popular’.  You know the type; everyone wants to be around them and they are always in demand. Of course, that also means there are other people who are less desirable.  These kids are on the outside looking in. The difference is probably something to do with appearance or athletic skill.  It could also be based in social skills.  But somehow communities of people tend to be sorted out into groups like these.  Jesus uses this kind of social structure in His day to make a point.  There are some who seem to have it all together and others who look like they are falling apart.  Some don’t look like they ever do anything wrong, and others appear to always do what’s wrong. But Jesus’ story cautions us in how we view people, and in our understanding of how God views them.  He wants us to learn about the power of humility.

v. 9-12 – Thank You That I’m Not Like Other People

v. 13 – God…. Please…. Mercy

v. 14 – Humility – what does it mean, why is it the key to eternal life and justification?  How do we humble ourselves?

QUESTION: How are you in need of humbling yourself? Do you see yourself as ‘better’ than others on some regular basis?  Have you humbled yourself before God?

June 4 – The Minas (Luke 19:11-26)

Have you ever been asked to watch a friend’s pet while they are away? Depending on the pet, it can be a minor effort or a major one! The friend trusts you enough to ask you to take on their role in caring for their pet and ensuring that their home isn’t wrecked while they are away. Knowing that they will come home is the filter through which you see your role.  You know it isn’t permanent and that the stuff you’re caring for doesn’t belong to you. Jesus teaches us about the kingdom with a story like this. He describes several different approaches and results which are meant to ask which one represents us. How are you doing with what Jesus has entrusted to you?

Not Yet (the Kingdom)  v. 11-14

Using What You’re Given v. 15-19

Burying Your Mina (v. 20-26)

QUESTION:  What has your master entrusted to you?  What have you been doing with it for the kingdom while He’s gone? Will He find you faithful or unfaithful when He returns?