Untitled Sermon
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I think it’s best if we’re honest and just acknowledge that the Bible is a bit of a unique and peculiar book. In his book, Life Lessons from Luke, Max Lucado reminds us that “The words of it were crafted in an ancient language. The deeds, customs, and traditions were done in a distant land and era. The events recorded were in a far-off land. And, the counsel offered and history given was sometimes for a foreign people. It’s a peculiar book. It’s surprising that anyone reads it. It’s too old. Some of it’s writings date back 5,000 years. It’s too bizarre.. The book speaks of floods, fires, earthquakes, and people with supernatural abilities. It’s too radical. The Bible calls for undying devotion to a carpenter who called himself the Son of God.
Logic says that this book shouldn’t survive. Too old, too bizarre, too radical. The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over the grave has been dug… but the Bible has never stayed in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has also thrived. It’s the single most popular book in all of history. There is really no way to explain it. Which perhaps is the only explanation. The millions who have tested it’s claims and claimed it’s promises know and understand that there is only one answer: The bible is God’s book and God’s voice to us. [1]
But it doesn’t mean we don’t have questions… I believe that sometimes those that have never stopped to think about the absurdity of Scripture haven’t truly discovered it. We should have questions. We should struggle with what and why and hows that Scripture is asking of us.
In light of Football season approaching there was a discussion about one crucial word in the game of football that keeps enduring—Hut! An article in The New York Times pondered why this word keeps hanging around:
It is easily the most audible word in any football game, a throaty grunt that may be the sport's most distinguishing sound. Hut!
It starts almost every play, and often one is not enough. And in an increasingly complex game whose signal-calling has evolved into a cacophony of furtive code words—"Black Dirt!" "Big Belly!" "X Wiggle!"—hut, hut, hut endures as the signal to move. But why?
Most football players have no idea why. A pro ball center said, "I guess because it's better than yelling, 'Now,' or 'Go.' Some people have used 'Go' and that's awful. That doesn't sound like football." A former quarterback reckons he shouted "hut" more than 10,000 times during games and practices. "I've been hutting my way through football for 55 years—but I have no clue why."
The article conjectures that "Hut" may come from the military backgrounds of many early pro football players. But that's just a guess.[2]
Sometimes we continue on with tradition and have zero idea why and what for. During this series, we’re going to invite you to not only bring your questions… but to question answers. We want to know for certainty of what we believe and if it really matters. And, you’re in luck… because the author of this letter says that is exactly his purpose for writing!
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
THE AUTHOR:
LUKE
In the letter itself, the author never actually reveals his identity intentionally. It’s linked however very closely with the second portion- what we call acts. In it, the writer mentions Paul and himself in the we pronoun several times. And, in Paul’s letters- he references his great traveling companion, Luke. All throughout church history, Luke was almost universally ascribed as the author. Luke’s letter was accepted and referenced at early at the first half of the second century. Irenaeus speaks about the gospel accounts and gives background on each one.
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned on his breast, himself published a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia (Haer. 3.1.1).[3]
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
II Timothy- 4:10-11 Paul writes that “only Luke is with me”…
II Timothy- 4:10-11 Paul writes that “only Luke is with me”…
However, perhaps the most intriguing passage about Luke that gives us more detail about who he is comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossian church.
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.
Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.
12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.
Luke is evidently a Gentile Physician- He’s not a Jew and schooled in Jewish traditions. This comes out in his writings as he avoided using Semitic words as well. But what this all means is incredibly important.
1- Luke is a very well educated person.
1- Luke is a very well educated person.
-He has the ability to research, investigate, and take meticulous notes on what his sources inform him of. This is evident in his family research of Jesus’ genealogy. In chapter three- Luke extensively traces the family tree of Jesus all the way back to Adam in the garden. It’s remarkable.
-He thinks very logically and answers many questions before they are raised in his text.
-Most Scholars would say that Luke’s Greek in the introduction of the letter is more prolific and well structured than any other writing in the New Testament. But it’s interesting… that after verse 4, Luke transitions to a basic and common man Greek. Its as if he is purposefully writing so that everyone would know and understand the complexities of the gospel.
2- Luke is a Gentile and writing to one as well.
2- Luke is a Gentile and writing to one as well.
THE RECIPENT:
THEOPHILUS & THE MARGINALIZED
Writing to the Gentiles- Includes women and the poor, social outcasts, and sinners. “He frequently stresses Jesus’ compassion for those who would have been social outcasts in Jewish society.” [4]Luke is making claims at every turn that the gospel is for everyone. Jesus isn’t fazed by the leapers, the broken, the unforgivable and unlovable.
GOOD SAMARITAN- There is a story that Luke tells in chapter ten of his letter. He recounts a story that Jesus told- you may have heard of it. It’s called the parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s starts out because someone is testing Jesus on what it means to love your neighbor to a primarily or maybe even exclusively Jewish audience. Jesus was teaching and a lawyer stood up and asked him… “who is my neighbor?”. Jesus then tells a story of a man who was beaten and left for dead on a difficult road. The priest and a Levite passed, but a Samaritan stopped and helped the man. This might not sound too controversial, but the Jews had a long standing prejudice and hatred for the Samaritans. There are even accounts that they built roads to go around Samaria that would make their journey much longer- just so they wouldn’t have to see them.
And Jesus says… the Samaritan was the one who proved to love his neighbor and Jesus told the lawyer to “go and do the same”! Jesus was elevating the morality of a Samaritan over the Jew who obeyed all of the religious sanctions…
ZACCHEUS- There’s another passage in where Jesus goes and chases down the most hated man in town- Zaccheus. Zaccheus was hated because he was the known thief that hid behind the government and his occupation as a tax collector to commit his crimes. He would extort money from the poor and threaten to have them arrested if they didn’t pay two or three times what they owed. He was a terrible person and despised for probably good reason. He took advantage of the weak. So, instead of passing judgement, throwing stones, or just giving it to him- Jesus invites himself to dinner. And when all the religious people criticized him for it… he said this
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Woah! This is radical. Jesus didn’t say that he came to save those who were Jewish, those that new and obeyed the rules, those that went to church and that had it all together. He said that he came to seek and to save the lost.
LUKE WRITES AND SHARES THE MESSAGE OF JESUS
TO THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER
If you ever felt like your past was too much for Jesus… He came for you. If you ever felt like your mistakes and baggage was too heavy and you’d never be able to change. Perfect. You’re actually correct. You’ll never be able to change and save yourself. He brings salvation to you. He brings peace and life changing power to you. That’s what he came for and he doesn’t discriminate. There is no one that has out-sinned his love and forgiveness.
And Luke takes very careful thought to show us how.
HOW HE WROTE IT:
CAREFUL INVESTIGATION
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
All religions claim some sort of "revelation." Buddhism depends on the profound insights gained by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) during his moment of enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree. Hinduism looks to the Vedas passed on to the first man at the dawn of time. Islam says that the angel Gabriel dictated to the Prophet Muhammad the very words of God.
But Christianity claims something very different: a series of events [about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection] which are said to have taken place in public, in datable time, recorded by a variety of witnesses …. It is as if Christianity places its neck on the chopping block of [public] scrutiny and invites anyone who wishes to come and take a swing.
[For example], imagine I came to you claiming that my late great, great grandfather revealed himself … in Times Square, New York, last Monday during the morning rush hour. His appearance stopped the traffic and left witnesses dumbfounded as he explained to them the truth about the spiritual realm …. The claim itself is one you could test to some degree. You could watch the news services, read eyewitness accounts, check the New York traffic reports and so on. You might not be able to prove it beyond all doubt … but a fair-minded person would be able to arrive at a reasonable judgment about its truth or falsehood …. If you found no evidence at all, you would be well within your rights to dismiss it. If you found good evidence, or at least more evidence than you would expect if the story were a fiction, then you could quite rationally accept it as true. This is what I mean by a testable claim.
The central claims of Christianity are to a degree testable. You can apply the normal tests of history … and find that we do in fact possess exactly the sort of evidence you would expect if the core of the Jesus story is true and decidedly more evidence than you would expect if the story were fabricated.[5]
Many times in Luke’s gospel- different than the rest, He writes how the person felt during encounters with angels, Jesus himself, or people that he healed. It’s very evident that he spoke directly with people who had life altering encounters with God.
My favorite example is early on in .
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
WHY HE WROTE IT:
CERTAINTY
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
Theophilus has apparently known part of the truth, maybe even the full truth about the things that transpired… but Luke understands that exact truth or certainty takes a person’s faith to a different place. And believe me… there are some things in Luke’s letter than need the exact truth!
, Jesus claims to be the Messiah prophesied to come for hundreds of years.
Jesus claims to have the power to forgive sins
Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
Jesus says that he didn’t come to save the self righteous… but to seek and save the marginalized and those who are sick with sin.
Jesus says to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you
Jesus talks about what it really means to follow him rather than knowing of him
Jesus says that God knows you and cares for you
- Jesus talks about his return and how we can be ready
Jesus teaches us who can get into heaven and who can not
& 21 Jesus teaches us about the reality of Heaven and Hell
, we see Jesus in his last hour as He claims to fix our broken relationship with God through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
If you don’t have questions about some or all of these things, you aren’t thinking hard enough! Listen, God isn’t scared of your questions… and we aren’t either. As we go through this carefully written letter of the investigated works and words of Jesus- I want to invite you along- questions and all. I want you to think really hard about the things that Jesus says, who he says them to, and why he said them in the first place. It’s too important to shove in the back of your mind and pretend you’ll get to it another day and another place.
Just last month, I had the opportunity to take my youngest son, Levi snorkeling. We were in the keys and took a boat out to this amazing coral reef. But the problem was he had already tried once to snorkel in a swimming pool. He tried with the goggles that only cover your eye… and he was younger so he didn’t know how to only breath through his mouth. He quickly learned then- that he couldn’t use a snorkel. It didn’t make it better when we had about 30 minutes to kill after getting our gear and when the boat left the dock. He’s our texture guy… you know… he really struggles in the fall and spring when it’s time to put pants or shorts back on because it feels weird. So, a dry set of goggles that goes over your nose wasn’t feeling great. The goggles were too tight, he couldn’t breath, it hurt his hair, the fins were too big, he couldn’t walk in them. He was frustrated before we even saw the water- and almost gave up. He absolutely hated how all the gear felt on him. Luckily, we got to the water and everything changed when he put his face in the water. You could hear and audible squeal when he saw the reef and fish swimming right underneath him.
I think, sometimes we miss out or are close to missing out on the beauty of the gospel because some of it just doesn’t feel right. Maybe we’ve been burnt by church before. Maybe our past haunts us… or even our current way of living and situation. And sadly for some, it keeps them from looking intently into the life and words of Jesus.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
[1] Max Lucado, Life Lessons from Luke. preface, pg. v
[2] Matt Woodley, editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Bill Pennington, "Hut! Hut! Hut! What?" The New York Times (1-31-18)
[3] Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (p. 3). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
[4] Max Lucado, Life Lessons from Luke. preface, pg. x
[5] John Dickson, "Jesus: God's Tangible Sign," Just Thinking (6-1-10)
