Never Outgrew It
From Cradle to Cross • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Story: When my son was a little kid, he loved…
Green Lantern (In brightest day, in blackest night // No evil shall escape my sight. // Let those who worship evil’s might // Beware my power — Green Lantern’s light!)
…but he eventually outgrew it
Ninjago (Lego ninja warriors who fought “The Great Devourer”)
…but he eventually outgrew them
Story: When I was a teenager, I loved collecting baseball cards…
Nolan Ryan
…but I eventually outgrew it
We all know what it is to love something — a hobby, movie, game, place, car, etc — and then outgrow it…
We just kind of “get tired of it”
Or we find something “new” that excites us more
When we consider Jesus, it’s important for us to know ONE THING…
His whole life was devoted to His Father’s business… And He NEVER OUTGREW IT.
All kinds of things changed…
Childhood -> Adulthood
Ministry -> Persecution
Triumphal Entry (praise) -> Crucifixion (hate)
Death -> Life
But one thing remained constant throughout it all…
Jesus never outgrew His Father’s business.
SO…WHAT IS THE FATHER’S BUSINESS????
Restoring the original beauty of creation
Turning broken people into redeemed disciples
The Father’s business has NEVER changed — and Jesus’ focus has never wavered
PRAY
Today, we’re going to turn through THREE MAJOR PLACES IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. I’ll try to share page numbers as we go, so we can all easily turn and keep up together…
Luke begins his Gospel with a simple explanation of purpose, as was typical of biographical writing at the time…
Ancient biographies were written to reveal a person’s character, virtues, and significance
They would begin with a statement of purpose…
Then they would have 1 - 2 stories of birth and childhood — often used to indicate the type of person they would become…
Then the majority of the narrative focused on adult public life, followed by death and legacy
Luke’s Gospel certainly follows that same pattern…
Statement of purpose…
Jesus’ birth
Jesus’ childhood story
Jesus’ adulthood, leading to death and resurrection
P. 697
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, — some debate as to whether “Theophilus” was a generic label for a collective audience (“friend of God” or “beloved of God”) or whether “Theophilus” was an actual person. I tend to learn toward Theophilus being an actual person — 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
THIS IS THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE…
Luke wants you to know with CERTAINTY that all of this is true
No matter what you think about Theophilus, one thing is obvious….. Luke wanted his readers — YOU and I — to be absolutely sure of what we learn about Jesus:
He was part of something called The Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
He was born of a virgin — in fact, Luke 1-2 would go on to tell the story of Jesus’ BIRTH…
The angel named Gabriel shows up to Mary to tell her she would conceive
Mary and Joseph travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem, which is where Jesus would be born
Shepherds would come from the fields to see the baby — and then they would go out through the town to tell everyone what had happened
But MOST IMPORTANTLY… We will learn with absolute certainty…
Jesus never outgrew His Father’s business.
…that business of Making Disciples…
At the end of Luke 2, we get a super clear glimpse of just how focused Jesus was on His Father’s business — even at a young age…
P. 700
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. — regular rhythm for them — 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days — I imagine that was possibly a pretty hectic and panicky three days … Imagine their prayers… “Our Father…….who art in heaven……where on earth is your Son??” — they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. — Jesus was at church — 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
Mary asked Jesus — “Why did you do this to us???”
And then Jesus answered her… AND His answer is doubly important…
Jesus will tell Mary — and you and me — exactly what He was doing.
These are the very first words recorded out of Jesus’ mouth…
…in the Gospel of Luke
…chronologically in Jesus’ life
First words matter… We remember them…
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
The Hobbit
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”
Star Wars
“Four score and seven years ago…”
Gettysburg Address
First words matter…
They declare purpose
They set the stage for everything that comes next
In Luke 2:49, we get Jesus’ first words — and even though He was only 12 years old, they would set the stage for everything we should expect from His life…
THIS IS JESUS’ CHILDHOOD INDICATION OF CHARACTER AND PURPOSE…
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” — OR…a possible translation… “Don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” —
Bottom Line:
Jesus was about the Father’s business.
At the age of 12…
You know I am always - ONLY - about the Father’s business…
WHY WERE YOU LOOKING ANYWHERE ELSE FOR ME????
SIDENOTE: Sometimes we look for Jesus in all kinds of wrong places…
We look for Jesus in comfort.
i.e. we want Him to make our lives easier, safer, and more comfortable
We look for Jesus in religious activity.
i.e. we want to find Him in church traditions — and we get caught up in arguing about (and for/against) church traditions (music, clothes, buildings, etc.)
We look for Jesus in politics.
i.e. we want to find Him in elections, politicians, and national victories
If you want to find Jesus, look where Jesus is working.
(HINT: He is always at work IN HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS —- the process of turning broken people into disciples … who will make more disciples)
As much as first words matter… Last words are just as important and memorable…
In the Gospel of Luke…
Jesus lived His life…
He mentored His disciples…
He died on the cross…
Was buried in the tomb…
Resurrected on the third day…
…and then He began appearing to His followers
One of those “LAST WORDS” appearances occurred in Luke 24:36…
P. 723
36 While they were still talking, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. — there were holes from the nails on the cross — It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” — that’s the Old Testament —
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. — In His last words in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was STILL about His Father’s business — 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
At 12 years old… Jesus was about His Father’s business.
After the RESURRECTION… Jesus was STILL about His Father’s business…
46 He told them, “The Messiah — that’s a referral to Himself…Jesus — will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, — His death and resurrection offers the salvation and victory that will redeem broken people into new life — 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. — the Good News of the Father’s business will carry forward across location and time through the faithfulness of preaching ((and not just by “preachers” like me btw…but through the word of every faithful disciple)) — 48 You are witnesses of these things. — YOU … Theophilus … and YOU … Connect Christian Church — 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; — the Holy Spirit — but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” — if you were here last week…you might remember — Obedience to God’s command creates space for God’s Spirit to move in — and so here, Jesus tells the people to wait and receive the Holy Spirit so that they, too, can be about the Father’s business —
At 12 years old… Jesus was about His Father’s business.
And He taught His followers to pray about the Father’s business…
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Then He modeled complete submission to the Father’s business…
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
And after the RESURRECTION… Jesus was STILL about His Father’s business…
The Father’s business wasn’t just a part of Jesus’ life. It was the point of His life.
INVITATION: Surrender to accept the gift of Jesus’ redemption AND to commit yourself to the Father’s business.
CHALLENGE: Submit to make the Father’s business of Disciple-Making into the singular focus of your life.
Before we pray… Let me read one short quote to you that has been rattling around my head for a while…
The Church exists for nothing else but to draw people into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. — I would add … IT WAS HIS BUSINESS —
—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1996), p. 171.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What occupies most of your attention, energy, and passion right now?
Does it align with the Father’s business of redeeming people and multiplying disciples?
If someone observed your life for a month, what would they conclude is your highest priority?
Would they identify disciple-making?
Where are you most tempted to look for fulfillment apart from God's Kingdom?
Success? Comfort? Entertainment? Relationships? Something else?
What is one distraction that consistently pulls you away from the Father's business?
How does it affect your spiritual life?
What boundary might help you focus better?
How often do your prayers reflect Jesus' prayer: "Your Kingdom come"?
What do you pray about the most?
How could you pray more intentionally for God’s mission?
What would it look like for the Father's business to become more central in your home?
With your spouse? Children? Friends?
If Jesus never outgrew the Father's business, what does it look like for you to avoid "outgrowing" it?
What causes Christians to “drift” away?
Is anything else distracting you and causing you to you feel yourself beginning to “outgrow” your first love for Jesus?
If the Father’s business became the defining focus of your life this year, what is one specific change you would need to make starting today?
