Zacchaeus was a picture of shame and an object of scorn as he perched from the tree to see Jesus. But he was able to come down from that tree in acceptance and honor. Why? Because Jesus was on his way to go up the tree for Zacchaeus. Jesus went up the tree to bear his (and our) scorn, shame, sin and rejection. He likewise leaves us with honor, dignity, purpose, and peace.
This final installment of Luke-Acts celebrates the clarity and security of Grace. Jesus offers a double cure: freedom from slavery to sin (repentance) and freedom from guilt & punishment of sin (forgiveness). Moreover, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and fellowship.
During the harvest festival of Pentecost, God brings in His harvest through the work of the Holy Spirit and through Spirit-filled men. They're not drunk, they're just uninhibited because they're living by the Spirit rather than by the constraints of the flesh.
Acts 1 and 2 are tightly tied to Luke's Gospel. Here we find the epilogue to Luke's Gospel.
Despite an open tomb, open Scriptures, open eyes, open professions and open minds, the disciples wrestle with unbelief before Jesus. Ultimately, they will finally experience true mind change, true Metanoia, true faith.
Jesus reverses the curse as he hits rewind the entire human race on the Road to Emmaus
Contemplate the depth of this truth: "He is not here. He has risen!" Now ask yourself "So What?" and "What Now?"
A special family time midweek service to focused on the death of Jesus and what that sacrifice means to us.
This is the horrid hour — when darkness reigns. In preparation, Jesus prays to endure the defilement of sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.
During this sermon and communion message, Ed Anton considers the significance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover in light of Jesus' establishment of the New Covenant as He prepares for His own sacrifice for us.
As Jesus's disciples marvel at the grand stones and works of wonder — especially the Temple itself with heavy gold plates that reflected the morning sun and 40 foot tall monolithic marble pillars — He reframes the sights with a godly perspective. In less than one generation, Israel will experience a foretaste of the Day of the Lord with desolation wrought by Rome. And sure enough, all that Jesus predicted in 33AD and all that Luke wrote in 64AD came to pass with uncanny accuracy in 70AD.
Bill Throne preached through Jesus' teaching on the hypocrisy of the respected and religious scribes in direct contrast to the sincerity of the poor widow who offered two small copper coins out of her poverty.
Through His brilliant commentary on Psalm 110, Jesus schools the religious leaders on the magnitude of the Messiah. He is both the Son of the David and David's Lord. And His Throne will be the seat of ultimate authority.
The religious leaders try to punch back at Jesus as He continues to confound them on the Temple Mount during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover). Seeking to skewer Him on the horns of a dilemma, they ask Jesus whether the tribute tax should be paid to Caesar or not. He easily and masterfully sidesteps their craftiness with composure and brilliance. Give It Up For Jesus! And then after marveling at our Lord, Give It Up To Jesus as "give to God what is God's."
After entering the Temple, Jesus confronts the religious leaders head on with a parable about a vineyard that will be given over to others. The leaders understood that the parable was leveled against them. In response to losing God's blessings and losing God's commission, they cried out "God Forbid!" We can learn a lesson from their poor stewardship of God's provisions: Walk In Hopeful Anticipation of Christ's Return Work the Harvest Welcome a Prophet or 2 (or 3)
Jesus enters the Temple for a series of tension filled conflicts with the leading elders, teachers of the law, and Pharisees who actively seek to assassinate Him. Encounter Jesus at His finest as He exposes religious leaders who hide behind manmade authority while they reject God's real authority. This same authority is now bestowed on us who follow Jesus. Follow our Boss … Like a Boss!
Jesus Comes to Conquer; He comes to Cleanse; He will come again! Join the crowds in raucous celebration of the arrival of Jesus, our victorious Messiah.
The beauty of the mullet is you can have it both ways, business in front and party in the back. There is only one way to make it into the Kingdom. To gain that citizenship into the Kingdom of heaven we need to start living like a citizen of heaven now, not later.