“A Certain Savior” Groups Rally

Debbie and I are enjoying our groups. Christmas. Vince’s. Nativity, and Logan’s candy. We loved Hebrews, and so excited about Luke.

Tonight, we will examine what makes the Gospel of Luke so remarkable.

Let’s start with the bible Meta-Narrative (The Big Story):Adam

It summarizes the Bible in four words. 1️⃣ Creation:How it ought to be. Gen. 1-2 2️⃣ The Fall:Why it broke. Gen. 3-and of OT. 3️⃣ Redemption:The rescue plan (Jesus). Matt- Jude. 4️⃣ Restoration:The outcome. Revelation.

We are in the Redemption section in the gospels.

Gospels Overview Thematically:

Matthew - Messiah / King(16:16; 28:18)

Mark – Suffering Servant (10:45)

John – Eternal Son (1:1; 20:31)

Luke – Savior for all people (2:11; 19:10)

Luke is hyper-focusedon the Savior.

Why Jesus Came (purpose)

How Jesus Came (Method)

Theme verse: Luke 19:10 - “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Please turn there to Luke 19:10

Notes: Sunday morning connection- The Gospel for Everyone.

What would we call that as a military operation?

What have you heard of…

Operation Desert Storm.

Operation Midnight Hammer (2025): A precision strike mission in June 2025 that utilized B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to target underground nuclear facilities in Iran.

Operation Absolute Resolve. Launched on 3 January 2026, in Venezuela. 150 aircraft.

Let’s come up with a mission title for Luke.

Operation Shepherd Search

Operation Extreme Rescue

Operation Seeking Savior  

The Gospel for Everyone

Why Jesus Came (purpose): Jesus seeks and saves. I love this. Luke 19 is the story of Zacchaeus.

Read Vs. 1-10.

You know the story - Zacchaeus, short in stature, 4’-10”, to 5’. I’m a giant compared to him.The climbing is what scares me.

                           My wife won’t let me climb a ladder.

This was not a well-loved guy.

· He was a chief tax collector (staff). Jericho. Rich.

· He couldn’t see Jesus. Climbed a tree.

· Jesus called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus.’

· Zacchaeus, excitedly and joyfully, received Jesus.

· The people did not like this. This man was a sinner. Publican.

· Zacchaeus is converted—right down to the wallet.

· Give half of what he owns to the poor, and repayanyone 4x/

· Jesus affirms that Zacchaeus and his house are saved.

o Finally, the words of Jesus, vs. 10. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – purpose.

This is a declaration Jesus/ loved to make.   

o The woman in Lk 7 who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. “Your faith has saved you.”

o The woman with the issue of blood. “Your faith has made you well”

o The blind beggar Bartimaeus. “Your faith has made you well”

o The thief on the cross. “Today you will be with me in paradise”

Jonathan’s message was great. Purpose Luke 4:18-19 He put up on the screen.

METHOD- four points.

Mission, Message, Meals, Multiplication.

1. The Savior’s Ministry (4:18-19) Read.

This marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

- He was baptized by John the Baptist.  

- Tempted in the wilderness.

- Filled with the power of the holy Spirit.

Vs 21- Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

Group leaders, this scripture is still fulfilled in your hearing.

Our ministry must be focused on both Word and Spirit.

We will see our people radically, dramatically, and permanently changed.

One of the most beautiful moments in our group last year was our prayer and anointing time. Koinonia.

We read about the gift of the Spirit. Homeless.

2. The Savior’s Message (Parables & Cross)

Jesus not only fulfilled the Word. He is the Word.

“Jesus spoke in parables / to give people with a spiritual hunger/something to feed on, / and to make it harder for those whose ears had grown dull / and hearts had grown hard / to understand His message.” —Pastor Greg

Parables unique to Luke:

The Good Samaritan (10:25-37)

Lost Coin & Lost Son (15:8-32)

Rich Man & Lazarus (16:19-31)

Pharisee & Tax Collector (18:9-14)

Statements from the cross:

Forgiveness (23:34)

Salvation (23:39-43)

Completion (23:46)

Group leaders, we are going to experience timeless messages from the Messiah Himself. This year, we will sit at his feet in the form of the inspired word of God.

Familiar vs. First timers.

Don’t rush it. Don’t miss the fresh insight the Lord has in store for you. Don’t forget that you are handling the holy.

3. The Savior’s Meals (7:34-35)

This is an odd point. Until you start breaking it down.

“In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal."

“The meals of Jesus are a window into His message of grace and the way it defines His community and its mission.” — Tim Chester, A Meal With Jesus

Jesus interacted with others through meals so often that he was accused of being a glutton. Luke 7:33-35.

Remember when he said, John the Baptist came eating no bread, nor drinking wine, and you said, “he had a demon,” and the son of man came eating and drinking, and you say he is a glutton, a wine bibber, a friend of tax collectors.

Example of going to Zacchaeus’ house in 19:10.

Reference other examples

First Miracle.

Feeding of the thousands.

Mary and Martha (10:38-42)

Last Supper

Post-resurrection (24:41-43)

Jesus’s meals are not just symbols; they’re also connections.

Jesus himself is the bread of life.  

I love communion- it’s a meal.  I love the word communion.

The word comes from the Latin com/mun/ion/em, which means "fellowship, mutual participation, or sharing".

union—bringing different parts together into one.

We take communion to remember and have fellowship with the Lord. New covenant, a part of Jesus.

Groups Leaders, don’t neglect the power of a meal to foster communion in your group. – Community/Union, with Jesus as the guest of honor.

Let’s seek out relationships through personal interaction (koinonia, discipleship, etc.) Those Koinonias are not throw-away breaks in the schedule.

Pot luck-

4. The Savior’s Multiplication (9:1-6; 10:1-2)

Jesus was about reaching as many people as possible.

Multiplication (Luke 9:1-6; the 12 sent. 10:1 the 72 sent)

Mac Lake- The multiplication effect.

· Historians inform us that there were approximately 240 villages scattered across the Galilee region.

· Jesus traveled alone to those villages, healing the sick, proclaiming the good news.  1/240.

· Luke 9, Jesus sends the 12 out, 2 in 2, without him.

· Instead of 1 to 240 the ratio is 1 to 40. One team for every 40 villages.  

· Now, fast-forward to Luke 10, where Jesus commissions 72 leaders to continue the work of the apostles.  

· Now, instead of a 1 to 240 ratio or a 1 to 40 ratio, there’s a 1 to 6 ratio.

· They look for people in the villages to step up and represent him. Person to person, not village.  

Jesus says, Lk 10:2 “The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send more workers into the Harvest field.”

Jesus still has his eye on the field. Great Commission.

Harvest Crusade- 40,000 people. They are there because the body has multiplied from churches, groups, families, and friends, who all get behind what God is doing.

Group Leader- We are discipleswho make disciples, and leaders who develop leaders. We are multipliers.

We love our groups/ and certain people in our groups.… we want them to stay the same. People who step up/ and,/ fill up the silence/ have our back. They are core.  

They love your group. They love you and others and find meaning in the part they play. They are growing and learning.

Are you preparing yourself and them to multiply? That’s how Jesus did it. Jon and Alyssa.

We can embrace “gaining by losing” in Groups (JD Greer phrase)

Leader development is not a system; it is a relationship.

We have 40%. How many people do we want in each group?