Christ Presbyterian Church | Bible books Luke

Mercy Unexpected

Bible Text: Luke 1:39-55 | Preacher: Ty Gregory

God’s mercy lifts the humble up & brings the strong down

Luke 1:39-55
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Bible Text: Luke 24:1–12 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Easter Sunday

Because Jesus is the life that conquers death, we must seek Him.

Luke 24:1–12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the woman] went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Celebrated to Celebrate

Bible Text: Luke 5:27–32 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: For the Life of the World

Because Jesus welcomes sinners into this party, we must celebrate.
Psalm 126:1–3

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us;

we are glad.

Luke 5:27–32

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Loved to Love

Bible Text: Luke 7:36–50 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: For the Life of the World

Because God loved us so much that he has forgiven us an inestimable debt, we must show others the same kind of grace.

Luke 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Hospitality

Bible Text: Luke 14:12-24 | Preacher: Adam Feichtman | Series: Guest Preacher

We often have the narrow view of hospitality as just tea parties, entertainment, hotels, etc. In this passage in Luke, Jesus is addressing the quid pro quo practice of the day (favor for a favor in hosting.) Here we see that Jesus is the host, guest, and servant and the gospel sets the pattern and gives us the power to practice Christian hospitality.

Luke 14:12-24 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Co-Laborers and the Ministry of Jesus

Bible Text: Luke 6:12–16; 8:1–3; Matthew 28:16–20 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Co-Laborers in Christ

Any author will tell you that the cast of characters is central to every great story. In the true stories of the New Testament, we find a large cast of characters throughout. This character list includes both men and women who support the ministry of Jesus and the work of his Church. Mary and Martha, though they aren’t apostles, play as vital of a role in the gospels as James and John. What can we learn from the New Testament about the work of men and women together in God’s mission to the world?

Snatch Others from the Fire

Bible Text: Jude 23, Luke 15:1–10 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jude: Exhortations for Tenuous Times

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not good advice; it is good news. It is the news that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ accomplished salvation for all who depend on him in faith. Good advice tells us what to do. Good news tell us what has been done. Yet in a world of suspicion, how do we convince others that the gospel of Jesus Christ is really good news for them?

Praying in the Holy Spirit

Bible Text: Jude 20, Luke 11:1-13 | Preacher: Reed Jolley | Series: Jude: Exhortations for Tenuous Times

“Do you have anyone to talk to about that?” We often hear this phrase when we’ve let down our guard and admitted to someone that we are struggling. It’s often meant as a well-intentioned concern, but it also sends the signal that the current listener is not up to the task. What if you had someone you could call on in times of both bad and good news, someone who would always answer the phone and be glad to hear your voice? Join us this week as we continue our series on the Book of Jude and learn about the gift of prayer.

Let Us Keep the Feast Pt. 2

Bible Text: Luke 14:12-24 | Preacher: Joshua Burdette | Series: Let Us Keep the Feast

Join us this Sunday as we complete a two-part series on food and feasting.

Let Us Keep the Feast Pt. 1

Preacher: Joshua Burdette | Series: Let Us Keep the Feast

We all enter life hungry, crying out for someone to feed us. It’s one of the basic needs that every human shares. Does God care about our daily bread or how we eat it? What place does food have in spirituality? Join us this Sunday as we begin a two-part series on food and feasting.