Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 10/17/2024
Sermon Prep
Before this message, we encountered new changes in life. My wife Glory had her last day at her job on the 9th, then we had a funeral just the next day for a student of that nonprofit named Daniel. Immediately after the funeral we went straight to a leader retreat for our church and heck before that weekend my Dad was in town to visit us Colorado Cribaris. Of all the weeks in March 2023, this one had the most going on right after my last message.
Given that back-to-back nature of events, I took more time on this sermon than the last one. Received the feedback from the last message and leaned more into the strengths of my style of teaching and what makes the Gospel of Luke incredible: details. So many intricate details that the other Gospels lack. With that, here’s my notes:
Sermon Notes
Opening Line
Shannon and First Priority.Strongman Origins.- Faith requires response.
Intro
- Faith in Jesus requires your response.
- Your inability to respond reveals your apathetic heart.
Transition To Main Point
- An apathetic heart can’t take action and follow Jesus. It won’t respond.
Main Point
- Luke 7:1-10 | The Centurion’s Servant
- Sent Jewish elders and friends.
- Never met Jesus; heard about him.
- Powerful and respected local leader.
- Jesus is swayed by faith, not function.
- Sent Jewish elders and friends.
- Luke 7:11-17 | A Widow’s Son
- Nain = beauty; pleasantness.
- Southwest of Capernaum; small hillside village.
- Jesus is moved to compassion by faith, not function (i.e. 1 Kings 17).
- The bearers and widow trusted Jesus.
- Nain = beauty; pleasantness.
- Luke 7:18-35 | Disciples of John
- John the Baptist and his disciples had faith that the Messiah would arrive.
- Functionally, John was low status.
- Prophecy fulfilled (see Luke 7:27).
- Quoting Malachi 3:1-4.
- Best verse (see Luke 7:32).
- 32a = The Fisherman and his Flute.
- Classical Greek children’s fable.
- 32b = A dirge is a song of lament.
- Reference to the funeral in Nain.
- Pharisees dictated worship to God.
- Their function was to ridicule the response of the faithful.
- 32a = The Fisherman and his Flute.
- John the Baptist and his disciples had faith that the Messiah would arrive.
- Luke 7:36-50 | A City Woman
- Simon the Pharisee treated Jesus as an inferior teacher.
- The city woman treated Jesus King and Savior.
- Simon saw the function Jesus could serve to society, but the city woman saw that faith in Jesus could set her free. What he does vs who he is.
- The functional view of Jesus is he was a great, moral teacher.
- The faithful view of Jesus is he is Lord and Savior.
- Simon the Pharisee treated Jesus as an inferior teacher.
Why This Matters
- Faith requires response.
- To come and follow Jesus requires a response by faith and not by function.
- You’re not the function you provide to society, but rather defined by the faith you have in Jesus as king of your heart.
- i.e. career, family, parenting; status.
- Your identity isn’t found in your temporary function, but by your faith in Jesus.
- Lifelong fulfillment = relationship with Jesus.
Final Thoughts
With the slump of the last message not being on par with the first couple in Luke, I stepped things up here and it worked. I think my identification of the theme was spot-on and there was a clear through-line within this sermon. Also, I had an incredibly last-minute pivot where instead of talking about my mentor Shannon, I decided during worship to talk about how I got into Strongman.
I spotted Austin, who was a local Strongman before service, so I pivoted to specifically reach him. I think this was his first time at church too before becoming a regular member, along with his family. Sometimes if I notice someone new and the Holy Spirit tells me to, I gladly scratch out any notes that are not relevant so that I might win some more souls. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.
Footnotes
- Reunion Church
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