Looking with Luke

On Sunday we started a new series in Luke's gospel and I've not been this excited about a new series for a while.

It's partly getting back to some systematic exposition where the bible really sets the agenda, where we don't pick and choose the bits we want to expound - we just do the next bit (pastorally that's really helpful because you avoid people saying: "Ahhh, you picked that text because of what I told you last week" - "No, actually it's just the next bit....but funny how God knows you're life....!")

It's also because I know we need to look closely at Jesus so that we might be certain of what we're being called to....which interestingly is the exact same reason that Luke says he's writing his book. He wants Theophilus to be sure that following Jesus is worth all that's it's inevitably going to cost a man of his stature and position. Luke says "I've investigated, I've looked carefully, I've interviewed people I've not just relied on others, I've done the leg work myself, and I've done it so that you can know that Jesus is worth everything." We owe Luke a tremendous amount . This humble, self effacing , intelligent, thorough man has contributed more to the New Testament than any one else (knocking out even more text than Paul!)

I'm excited! Looking forward to part 2 this w/e.

To listen to last Sunday click here: http://lymingtonbaptist.org/sermons.html

Here are some of the points raised and the questions we asked ourselves:

In pain but not in despair (5-7) what’s ultimate for you?
God sees and hears… (8-17) where are you struggling to believe?
I am Old……...I am Gabriel (18-19) I am_________ I am Jesus
God disciplines His children (20-22) how is God trying to get your attention?
God removes our disgrace (23-25) will you reach out to Him in faith?

The Goodness of God in a Fallen World

My new coffee grinder (of the burr variety) arrived this afternoon....God is good!

Let Jesus Argue With Your Soul About Being Anxious

This piece from John Piper is, I think, really encouraging. Most of us worry, some of us worry a lot....

It echoes Lloyd Jones (and indeed the Psalmists) who call us to "preach to our souls". Lloyd Jones said that we spend far too much time listening to ourselves and not enough time talking to ourselves!

We should be slow to treat Jesus as if he doesn’t know what he is doing. He is not naïve in the way he deals with our anxiety. In Matthew 6:25-34 he tells us three times not to be anxious (vv. 25, 31, 34) and gives us eight reasons not to be anxious.

Evidently he thinks this will help. So don’t call it simplistic. Call it grace. Believe him. Take every reason and preach it to your soul as true. Say,

Soul, this is true. Jesus Christ says so. Trust him. He died for you. He loves you. He created you. He knows you. No one — no counselor, no pastor, no friend — knows as much about you as he does. Listen to him. Let these reasons sink in. Bank on them. Now, let’s get up and do what we need to do. Be gone anxiety.

Here’s a summary of what he said:

• Life is more than food and the body more than clothing (Matthew 6:25).

• God feeds the birds and you are more valuable than they are (Matthew 6:26).

• It's pointless. It adds not one hour to your life (Matthew 6:27).

• If God clothes ephemeral grass, he will clothe eternal you (Matthew 6:28-30).

• Unbelievers are anxious about stuff. And you are not an unbeliever(Matthew 6:32a).

• Your father (!) knows that you need all these things you're anxious about (Matthew 6:32b).

• When you seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, what you need is added to you.

• Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Tomorrow's trouble stays there (Matthew 6:34).