Introduction

• Matthew 16:16, 18

Matthew 21:33-46 – The Jews should have accepted Jesus. So should we!

• Psalms 118:22
• Acts 4:8-12
• If you reject Jesus, you cannot be saved.
• Ephesians 2:19-22

Romans 9:30-10:3 – We must do things God’s way.

• Isaiah 28:16
• Many Jews rejected Jesus thinking they could be saved because of their perfect living.
• All of us need Jesus and His forgiveness!
• Romans 6:3-4

I Corinthians 3:9-15 – I must work hard to convert people to Christ.

• Our work of converting others will be tested by fire.

I Peter 2:4-10 – What will I do with Jesus?

It’s really important to forgive each other.

• Genesis 2:21-24; 3:6, 12, 15 – Eve was not a mistake. But she was human.

• I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9. God wants all to be saved!
• Matthew 18:21-35. How often? 70 x 7
• Matthew 6:12, 14-15. “if you do not forgive others”
• Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13. “forgiving each other”
• First, we need to come clean. James 5:16
• Second, we need to forgive each other. Proverb 17:9
• Third, we need to grow and change. Galatians 6:1
• Try: “I’m not upset at you – it’s the situation.”

“Love’s Double Cross”

• “those traits and characteristics that attract us to our mate in the first place sometimes become the very traits and characteristics that cause us the most concern and trouble later in our relationship” (Cox, p. 65)
• Traits and characteristics
  • Organized ➡ annoying
  • Spontaneous ➡ irresponsible
  • Ambitious ➡ negligent
  • Physical attractiveness ➡ vanity
  • Decisive ➡ rash
  • Brave ➡ reckless
  • Easygoing ➡ lazy
  • Generous ➡ wasteful
  • Frugal ➡ cheap
  • Talkative ➡ draining
• Recognize that life changes, and we have to change with it (Ecclesiastes 3:1; 7:10)
• I need to change (Philippians 2:3-4)
• Communicate and compromise (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Luke 9

Charge given (Luke 9:1-6)

• Jesus delegates His authority
  • Luke 9:2 – What did they preach?
    • Kingdom of God
  • Compare:
    • Mark 6:7-13 – repentance
    • Matthew 10:5-15 – kingdom of God is at hand
• Power to work miracles
  • Power and authority over all demons
  • Ability to cure diseases
• Travel light
  • Don’t take any supplies or extra clothes
  • Go as you are, right now

Herod’s curiosity (Luke 9:7-9)

• Herod = Roman Tetrarch (governor of the area)
  • Work got back to him regarding … “all that was happening”
  • Worldly “power” struggles to understand spiritual authority.

Feeding 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17)

• Multitudes followed Him
  • Not much alone time anymore.
  • Jesus provides for them all.
    • 5,000 adult males
    • So, total count was likely much higher.

Peter’s confession (Luke 9:18-20)

• Who do people say that I am?
  • John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the old prophets
  • Peter said … “The Christ of God”
    • Luke 9:21 – What are the instructions?
  • Compare Matthew 16:13-21; Mark 8:27-31
• Do not tell anyone …
  • Luke 9:22 – I must suffer, be rejected, be killed, rise again the third day
  • Matthew 16:20 – I am the Christ
  • Mark 8:30 – about me

Healing the boy (Luke 9:37-43)

• Demon-possessed boy
  • Luke 9:40 – I begged your disciples to case the demon out but they could not do it.
    • Why not? Luke 9:41 – “ye of little faith”

Luke 9:49-50

• How do we view people who do things differently than we do in the name of Christ?

The danger of self-deception.

Wrong thoughts lead to wrong actions.

• What if I deceive myself and follow the world’s wisdom about …
  • Marriage?
  • Money?
  • Parenting?
  • Fellowship with God?

We need a Bible and a big dose of humility!

Love is a choice. It’s not about finding my “soul mate.”

• Malachi 2:14. Notice the phrase “wife by covenant.”
• Colossians 3:19. The very fact that God is commanding this implies that husbands have a choice: love or be bitter.
• I Peter 3:1. Some men are nice even if they’re not Christians. But others are not. Either way, the wife is told to choose and control her behavior.
• I Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is not based on the feeling of the moment. Love does what is right.
• Romans 5:8. Vine comments on this verse in his dictionary: “It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”

Keep strengthening your relationship through all of life’s stages and changes.

• Dating
  • “Now Jacob loved Rachel” (Genesis 29:18)
  • “Joseph … along with Mary, who was engaged to him” (Luke 2:4-5)
• Early marriage
  • “When a man takes a new wife … he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife” (Deuteronomy 24:5)
  • “rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18)
• Kids
  • “children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalms 127:3)
  • “teach … your sons” (Deuteronomy 6:7)
• Empty nest
  • “leave his father and his mother” (Genesis 2:24)
• Grandkids
  • “Grandchildren are the crown of old men” (Proverbs 17:6)
• Old age
  • “youth, before the evil days come …” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
• Loss
  • “Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah” (Genesis 23:2)