Discipleship 101: We Don’t Get It (Luke 9:37-49)

After coming down from the mountain where the Transfiguration occurred, Jesus encounters a crowd, including a man whose son is possessed by a demon. The disciples had tried but failed to cast out the demon. Jesus expresses frustration at the faithlessness of the generation, then rebukes the demon, healing the boy and astonishing the crowd with His power.

While people marvel at His miracles, Jesus tells His disciples about His impending betrayal, but they don’t understand what He means. The meaning is hidden from them, and this is not just spiritual blindness as they refuse to inquire about Christ’s prediction.

The disciples argue about who among them is the greatest. Jesus responds by taking a child and saying that whoever welcomes a child in His name welcomes Him, and whoever is least among them is the greatest.  Just when it seems that Christ made his point then John is upset that someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name.  The problem: the man is not one of them.

The call is for Christians to see that Christ’s kingdom is bigger than they are.  His kingdom is for the weak, the broken, and the sinners who need a redeemer.

Moved by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; BC 3)

We might wonder if the Scriptures go beyond their original context. 2 Peter 1:21 makes explicit to us the trustworthiness and divine authority of Scripture. Peter is assuring us that the Bible isn't a collection of human ideas or insights, but rather a divine revelation. The prophets were not just inspired, but moved by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that what they wrote was God's truth, not merely their own thoughts. The Scripture is not subject to the changing opinions of humans, but is a reliable, unchanging guide given by God Himself. We are called to align our opinions with the Scripture, discerning its truth, and not align Scripture to our convictions.

The Glory of Suffering (Luke 9:18-36

Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, noting that this moment is foundational because one needs to understand Christ for someone to understand their passage into the kingdom. Jesus then goes on to make explicit that he is not a conquering king, but a suffering servant. Jesus’ disciples are called to bear the cross as people united to Christ. This leads to the transfiguration where Jesus' divine glory, a powerful confirmation that, despite the call to suffering, Jesus is the Son of God with ultimate authority. Jesus shows that he will exodus through the cross to be raised to glory.

The Procession of the Holy Helper (John 14:26; 15:26; BC 11)

John 14:26 and John 15:26 both highlight the role of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus refers to as the Advocate or Helper.

John 14:26 emphasizes that the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name to teach the disciples all things and to remind them of everything Jesus has said. This means that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into truth, helping them understand and remember Jesus' teachings.  The Spirit will give the disciples the words to bear testimony about Christ.

John 15:26 builds on this by describing the Holy Spirit as the one who will testify about Jesus. The Spirit comes from the Father and will bear witness to the truth of who Jesus is, affirming His mission and identity.

Together, these verses show that the Holy Spirit is crucial in the life of a believer, serving as a teacher, a reminder of Jesus' words, and a witness to His truth. The Spirit's presence assures believers that they are not left alone; they are empowered and guided in their faith.  The Spirit is sent from the father and the son as we see sending and proceeding used interchangeably in John’s gospel.

Fighting the Good Fight of Faith (1 Timothy 6:2-16)

Paul warns against the dangers of greed and the love of money, which can lead people away from faith and into spiritual ruin. Paul is not condemning wealth itself but the unhealthy attachment to it that leads to worthless pursuits.

Paul calls us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, showing how these virtues reflect a life centered on Christ rather than material gain. The passage encourages believers to "fight the good fight of the faith," keeping their focus on eternal life, as those grounded in Christ, which is the ultimate goal.

We are called to see ourselves between two anchor points in the Christian life.  We are those who are grounded in Christ’s resurrection and we are those who are oriented to the epiphany of his return.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-32; COD Head 5: Art 6; RE 4)

Jesus is confronted with a situation where He heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The Pharisees, seeing this miracle, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

The Pharisees are spiritually blind.  The pharisees  in their religious pride and self-righteousness, are unable to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry. These men slander the work of the Holy Spirit by attributing it to Satan.  They do this despite the clear  working of God in their midst.  So they willfully, and consciously attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.

The "unpardonable sin" is not a specific act but an ongoing, hardened stance of slandering the work of the Spirit when the Spirit’s work is overwhelming evident.The seriousness of this sin is attributing God’s work to evil, showing how it reflects a heart that is closed off to the Spirit’s transformative power.

The Conflicted Kingdom (Luke 9:1-17)

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, giving them power to heal and cast out demons. He tells them to preach about God’s kingdom and rely on the hospitality of those who welcome them. If they’re rejected, they should leave and show that the town is excluded from the kingdom by wiping their feet.

Luke then mentions that John the Baptist has been killed by Herod, which seems like a major setback for God's kingdom. This raises doubts about whether the Lord can truly establish His rule.

Later, in a remote area, the disciples find themselves without enough food, even for their small group of thirteen. But despite the huge crowd of over 5,000, Jesus miraculously feeds everyone with just five loaves and two fish. This shows that God's kingdom is not limited by our obstacles or lack of resources. The Lord's power and provision ensure that His kingdom will prevail.

God the Spirit (Belgic Confession Art. 11; Acts 5:1-11)

In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira are a powerful illustration of the Holy Spirit's divinity and the seriousness of lying in the Lord’s presence. Peter confronts Ananias, pointing out that lying to the Holy Spirit is equivalent to lying to God, underscoring that the Holy Spirit is not just a force but God Himself.  We are humbled as we consider the holiness of God and the gravity of sin, especially within the community of believers. The sudden judgment on Ananias and Sapphira serves as a sobering reminder that the Holy Spirit, being fully God, is deeply concerned with the integrity and purity of the church.

True Hearing (Luke 8:40-56)

Luke 8:40-56 describes two miracles of Jesus: healing a woman with a long-term illness and raising Jairus' daughter from the dead.

The story begins with Jesus returning to a welcoming crowd. Jairus, the leader of a synagogue, asks Jesus to heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter. On the way, a woman who has bled for twelve years touches His garment, believing it will heal her. Her bleeding stops instantly, but she must acknowledge her action first. Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

While this happens, someone from Jairus’ house brings news that his daughter has died. Jesus encourages Jairus not to fear but to believe. At Jairus' house, mourners laugh when Jesus says the girl is only sleeping. He takes her hand and says, "My child, get up!" She rises, astonishing everyone. Jesus then tells her parents to feed her and not to share what happened.

This passage highlights the power of Jesus' words to heal and bring life, illustrating that true healing comes through His word that imparts and cultivates faith, which even conquers death.

Christ’s Glorious Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11)

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, Paul addresses the Thessalonian Christians' concerns about the fate of those who have died before Christ's return.

Paul reassures the Thessalonians that believers who have died will not miss out on Christ's return. Instead, when Jesus comes back, those who have died in Him will rise first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord. This provides comfort and hope. Death cannot overpower Christ’s shepherding care.

In chapter 5, Paul shifts to discussing the timing of the Lord's return, emphasizing that it will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. Therefore, Christians should always be prepared, living lives of faith, love, and hope.

So we are to live with an heavenly viewpoint, being alert and self-controlled in this life, confident in the resurrection power that Christ has secured for us, and supporting one another in the community of faith. We are a community who sojourns through this age in the Holy Spirit.

Lord Over the Sea's Warriors (Luke 8:22-39)

Jesus overcomes the storm showing that the Lord of life is the Lord who is the Word that ordered this creation. The abyss of the sea will not overpower Christ's word. The disciples are to see that their faith and confidence is not a sentimental thing. It is rather having a heart tuned into the conviction that the Lord prevails.

Christ moves to the other side of the sea he encounters a mock incarnation. This is a man possessed by evil spirits showing death rather than life. Christ shows once again that the word of Lord is more powerful than the Satanic legion. The demons demonstrate that their kingdom is one of death. Christ merely gives a command to free the man. The unclean spirits run into the abyss on their terms destroying the unclean animals.

We are encouraged to trust in Jesus' authority in our own lives, to seek His transforming power in our struggles, and to live out our faith boldly, knowing Jesus has power over all circumstances.

Superior or Inferior Priestly Intercession (Hebrews 7:23-28)

The Levitical priesthood, instituted under the Mosaic Law, could not bring perfection or complete access to God. It was always meant to be temporary and preparatory. Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. Melchizedek's priesthood is eternal and not based on ancestry. Jesus, like Melchizedek, holds His priesthood permanently because He lives forever. This eternal priesthood brings a better hope, allowing us to draw near to God because his sacrifice is permanent. His resurrection and ascension places Christ in a superior place than the OT temple. We might be tempted to think that our representation is inferior to the priests of old, but Hebrews teaches that it is superior because the promise is confirmed.

God's Enlightened Family (Luke 8:16-21)

Jesus uses the parable of the lamp to drive home the principle of hearing the words of Christ. Just as a lamp is not lit to be hidden but placed on a stand to illuminate the room. The fertile soil of the heart is to be tuned into the Lord's purpose eager to live out the Gospel. Jesus then underscores the importance of listening carefully. What we hear and how we respond to it matters greatly. The one who truly hears and understands God's word will be given more understanding, but those who ignore it will lose even what they think they have. In verses 19-21, when Jesus' mother and brothers come to see Him, He makes a striking statement: His true family consists of those who hear God's word and put it into practice. The kingdom is not about a taxing king, but about a family who communes with God. It is a call not just to hear the words, but to humbly live out the word.

Why the Resurrection? (1 Cor 15:17-19)

Paul argues that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins. Without Christ's physical resurrection, there's no victory over sin and death, leaving us without hope. For those who have died in Christ, their faith would be in vain. Paul insists that the resurrection is essential because it confirms Jesus' victory and ensures our future resurrection, making our faith meaningful and our hope secure.

Why Such Suffering? (Philippians 2:5-11; BC 29)

Paul calls us to have the same mindset as Jesus, who, despite being divine, didn't cling to His status. Instead, He emptied Himself, becoming a servant and embracing human vulnerability. Christ's obedience went all the way to death, and even death on a cross. Because of this, God exalted Him, giving Him a name above all names, so that every being will acknowledge His lordship. One of the things we learn about the Christian life is that our sanctification is in a sense suffering. It is suffering to deny self to conform to Christ. We d not naturally want to die to self, but this is what Paul is teaching us. As we are in the power of the Spirit we are new creatures called to conform to our heavenly status in Christ.

The Kingdom’s Fertile Soil (Luke 8:1-15)

In the parable of the Fertile Soil, Jesus illustrates how different people respond to the Gospel. The seed represents God's Word, and the various soils depict different hearts. Some hearts are hard, indifferent, and quickly lose the message. Others receive it with joy but lack depth, falling away when difficulties arise. Some hearts are choked by life's worries and riches, preventing growth. But the good soil, a receptive and persevering heart, produces a fruitful life by the Word's power. In Luke's Gospel christ is challenging his audience to be see the admittance to the kingdom through the gospel message. It is an exhortation to be tender to the Lord's purpose seeking to do his will as one secured in Christ.

No Crete but Christ (Titus 3:5)

God saved us by His mercy, not our good deeds. The Holy Spirit renews us, showing His grace, not based on what we do. Baptism signifies we belong to God. We don't follow our old ways as Christians. We've been saved from death and raised to new life in Christ.

No Condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-4 LD 5)

Mr. Roy Kim fills our pulpit as Pastor Paul Lindemulder enjoys a week off.

Man with the Unclean Spirit (Mark 5:1-20)

We welcome Mr. Roy Kim to our pulpit as Pastor Paul Lindemulder enjoys a week off.

The Circumcision of Christ (Luke 2:21)

This passage focuses the circumcision and naming of Jesus, which took place eight days after His birth, fulfilling the Law of Moses. This act symbolizes Jesus' full identification with humanity and His submission to God's Law from the very beginning. Naming Him Jesus, which means 'the Lord saves,' foreshadows His mission to save His people from their sins. It points to the incarnation of God in Jesus, who came to live a perfect life and fulfill the Law on our behalf as one who will die a cursed death. His resurrection confirms his perfection and the promise of the covenant of grace.