2.6.10 2.4.2024 Luke 6.20-49 Certain about His Message

Start:

Entice: I not only want to be “certain I’m saved”, or certain I’m a Christian I want to be sure that what I think Christian faith is, is what Jesus thinks Christian faith is.

It is possible to consider yourself a Christian and to be wrong about both doctrine and practice. That’s why we must constantly turn to Jesus for guidance, as we read words like these

Luke 6:46–49 ESV

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Building a life that pleases God is a matter of hearing and doing.

The shorthand for hearing and doing?

Obedience

Engage: How are you doing? I ask myself that question all the time. All of us should ask it at least weekly when we meet here before the table and pulpit to find nourishment in ordinance and Word.

Expand: Beginning in Luke 6.20 we have Luke’s presentation of the Sermon on the Plain. Which is roughly the same As Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Even his compressed version is more than enough for a series—or even a year’s worth of preaching. Its message is not really that complicated. It all leads to the conclusion expressed by text we’ve already read. A stable, well-built life combines understanding and applying the message of Jesus in a messy, messy world.

Excite: My job is to help you understand the tools, the materials, and the plan. He provides the right foundation. You’ve got to build. We’re here to help, but you must hear and do.

Explore:

The Message of Jesus is hard but not complicated, that’s why we can be certain.

Expand: Jesus describes series of responsibilities that we must grow into becoming more obedient the longer we are a disciple.

Body of Sermon: The first responsibility is to

1 Anticipate Our Reward.

Luke 6:20–26 ESV

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Luke’s account of the Beatitudes is brief, to the point, and somewhat more direct that Matthew. Our reward in life largely comes down to who we try and please. We sort of self-select our reward. The beatitudes remind us that…

1.1 Blessing comes from trusting God.

Christian faith bears the assurance that God’s ultimate blessing is bigger than any earthly sorrow.

Jesus also reminds us that

1.2 Woe results from superficial self-reliance.

The next responsibility is we each must

2 Accept Our Rule.

Luke 6:27–36 ESV

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Love is often noted as the Gold standard of Jesus’ teaching. What is often missed is how much of it is directed not just to insiders but the ultimate outsiders; our enemies.

2.1 Love our Enemies

That is not an option. That is the rule for disciples of Jesus Christ who loved the very enemies who crucified Him.

So much so that

2.2 Love of Enemies is a distinct sign that we understand God’s Mercy.

When we understand that our reward comes from God…and are fully committed to our rule then we can

3 Acknowledge Our Responsibilities.

3.1 Judge rightly

Luke 6:37–42 ESV

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

3.2 Produce goodness

Luke 6:43–45 ESV

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Good Fruit

Good “Treasure”

Good Words

Shut Down

And so, we return to our point of origin…

Luke 6:46 (ESV)

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Jesus was great with comparisons. Whether He used parable, aphorism, story, or simple comparison the point was always  His point and like the point of a needle, it could sting.

If you won’t hear and do; knowing His Word won’t help you.

He came to provide a foundation for new, redeemed life. He provides the tools, the materials, and the plan. Each of us chooses where and how to build. How about you?