Family Bible Church weekly message

* Last week, we saw Jesus rebuke the Pharisees and Lawyers for being concerned about their outward appearance and living differently on the inside. * We would call this activity "hypocrisy." Hypocrisy is actually the transliteration of a Greek Word and it is actually what Jesus summarizes their activity as and about which He warns His disciples. * In today's passage, we see Jesus present four warnings to His followers and those pressing in about Him: beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, beware of fearing men, beware of denying the Messiah, and beware of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on November 24, 2024 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.

* Earlier in our study of Luke's account of the Gospel, we saw that Jesus shared an important detail of those who are truly part of the Kingdom of God ... having ears they will hear the message of God and they will heed what they hear! To "hear" and to "keep" - Shema and Shamar - is a very basic Jewish teaching. (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4-12) * Today, we will see Jesus reiterate this concept. The Jewish people wanted to see a sign from heaven. Jesus responds to that request with the foundational principle that the key to being blessed by God is to "Shema and Shamar" ... to Hear and to Heed! * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on November 17, 2024 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.

* When we considered Jesus healing of the demoniac of the Gadarenes (8:26-39), we saw that the Greek term "daimonizomai" which is best translated by it's transliteration: demonized. Biblically, it refers to someone who is being vexed by a demon - whether through possession or oppression. That man of the Gadarenes was possessed by many demons, for when Jesus asked the demon - who was speaking through the man - his name, he declared that it was "Legion" for in the host were many demons. * In Today's passage, Jesus casts out another demon and that begins a conversation and opportunity for Jesus to present teaching regarding the power and activities of demons. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on November 10, 2024 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.

* During the last five messages in our study of Luke, we have seen Jesus' instructive interaction with His disciples. * Last week we saw that those who are disciples of Jesus will be devoted to the Mind of Christ (loving others) and the Word of Christ (desiring to learn from Him). * The disciples must have heard Jesus' rebuke of Martha and praise of Mary .... For they now come to Jesus to seek teaching and instruction regarding prayer. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on November 3, 2024 at Family Bible Church located in Martinez, Georgia.

* The last four messages in our study of the Gospel According to Luke have focused on the expectations, costs, and motivations of being a disciple of Jesus Christ as opposed to being just a convert, or one who is called a Christian. * In the passage that we are examining today, we see that Luke shares two more vignettes of Jesus instruction regarding the passions of a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ will be devoted to loving others (taking on the mind of Christ) and will be devoted to learning from the Words of Christ. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on October 27, 2024 at Family Bible Church located in Martinez, Georgia.

* Our study of Luke has gotten juggled a little bit. After Hurricane Helene, it seemed appropriate to set aside our study to refocus upon our Great and Sovereign God who is also our Faithful and Loving Shepherd. * While I was in Argentina, David picked up in our study of Luke with the sending of the seventy disciples recorded at the beginning of chapter 10. Today, we will drop back into chapter 9 to finish that portion. * As context, Jesus had just been transfigured before Peter, James and John; and He had healed the demon-possessed boy in a manner that awed all who were there. While all were amazed, Jesus told His disciples to pay attention to what He was telling them, that He was about to be betrayed. However, as we see in this passage, the disciples sadly only paid attention as well as we do many times! * Jesus had communicated the expectation: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him. In today's passage we see how this expectation is met practically through six different vignettes dis

* John Tellis and his family joined us today for worship. John is a native of Scotland who seeking to reach his native Scots with the gospel of Jesus Christ. * John was scheduled to speak prior to Helene hitting the area. The topic of his message - chosen before Helene - was very applicable. This message was presented by John Tellis on October 13, 2024 at Family Bible Church located in Martinez, Georgia.

* Over the last two months we’ve worked our way through Luke 8 and 9, where Jesus’ disciples have begun to realize that Jesus is truly YHWH incarnate, not just a "human" prophet. Jesus has performed multiple miracles demonstrating His deity, including calming a storm, casting out demons, raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead, and feeding the 5000. He sent the 12 disciples out in pairs for ministry, and Peter has proclaimed Jesus to be "the Christ of God." * Luke 9:51 says that Jesus "steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem". From Luke 9:51 through Luke 19:27, Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, culminating with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem recorded in Luk 19:28-44. In these chapters, while Jesus is traveling through many cities on His way to Jerusalem, Luke records for us a number of events and parables that are not in the other three gospels. * Today, we look at Luke’s account of Jesus sending out 70 of His followers, in groups of two, where they are going ahead of Jesus to cities and places that

* Last week, we considered how what you believe will affect your desires and your actions. Jesus had asked His disciples who the world thought He was and then who they thought that He was. He then proceeded to share with them what would shortly happen to Him and what His expectations would be of those who proclaimed to be His disciples. He would shortly be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed, and then be raised the third day. His disciples would then follow this example - they would deny themselves, they would take up their cross daily and they would follow Him. * At the end of His teaching, Jesus declared, "There are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Kingdom of God." * Eight days later it became apparent that Peter, James and John would be those who were privileged to see a glimpse of the Majesty and Glory of the King prior to His return to reign on the throne of David! * Today, we see the heavenly and incarnate glory of the Messiah juxtaposed together

* Jesus had sent out His twelve Apostles to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and had equipped them with power and authority over all demons and with the ability to cure diseases. He then took them aside to talk about their experiences, but they had been interrupted by the 5,000+ crowd. Jesus used the moment to teach the people, but also to teach His disciples regarding the necessity of faith by having the disciples feed the crowd with just five small loaves of bread and two small fish! * Today, we begin to see the conversation of Jesus and His disciples when He finally gets them away. * As a segue, at Family Camp we discussed - from the Shema - the connection between your faith and your actions. If you have a genuine faith in God, you will naturally have a genuine love for God. This genuine love for God will then lead to a genuine interaction with His Word. Jesus uses this same logical connection between what you believe and how you will act in His discussion with His disciples.

* Two weeks ago, we considered when Jesus sent His twelve apostles out to herald the good news of the Kingdom of God. Jesus had given them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. He had also instructed them to take nothing for the journey (to trust in God), to remain in whatever house they first entered, and to shake off the dust of their feet as a testimony against city that rejected them. * Today, we will examine another miracle which provides further attestation to Jesus' Messianic claim. However, it is two of the sub-themes which we will really focus upon today.

* Luke is writing in order that those who would read his account of the life and ministry of Christ would be assured of the truthfulness of the message. * What message did the people hear? Where did that message originate? From whom did they hear the message? * In Romans 10, we read: "For 'Whoever calls on the name of YHWH shall be saved." (cf. Joel 2:32) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (cf. Isaiah 52:7) ... So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." * As we will be reminded today - God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound those that seem mighty - through the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom of God: that Christ died for our sins, was resurrected

* In the beginning of our study of Luke's account of the life and ministry of Jesus, we saw that he was a "Physician." In different passages, we have found that Luke gives details that other writers did not give. * Last week, as we considered the deliverance of the man who had a legion of demons dwelling in him, Luke revealed many details of this man's situation before Jesus, and how he was healed and in his right mind when the townspeople came out to tell Jesus to leave. * Today, we will be considering two more events of Jesus' powerful deliverance of individuals. Again, Dr. Luke gives us specific details to help us understand the veracity of the events. * Though we will consider two deliverances, one is presented as an interruption along the path of the primary object. An important detail to remember in life is that God has many appointments that seem to be only "interruptions" along what we consider to be the primary path!

* In our study of Luke, we have seen that Luke has declared from the beginning that his purpose in writing this account of the life and ministry of Christ was that believers "Would know assuredly" the things with which they were instructed. Luke recorded immediately how Gabriel was sent to Mary to inform her that she would be overshadowed by the power of God and give birth to a son who "will be called the Son of the Highest," who "will reign over the house of Jacob forever," and who "will be called the Son of God." * As we have recently considered the beginning of Jesus' ministry and His proclamation of the coming of the Kingdom of God, we have seen that He began to certify His ministry through healings and casting out evil spirits. * Over the next two weeks, we will consider a portion of Jesus' ministry where His disciples, and those around Him, begin to realize that Jesus isn't just a "human" prophet; but rather, that Messiah was truly YHWH incarnate. * Today, we consider the display of Jesus' Authority ov

* Last week, we considered Scriptures regarding "The Kingdom of God." Jesus declared that His purpose was to share the good news of the Kingdom and then called upon His disciples to share that message as well. He also declared that this Kingdom was not just one that was, or would be, physical. Rather, the ultimate Kingdom of God is spiritual, and begins in the heart. Allegiance to God begins in the heart by expressing childlike faith and trust in the testimony which God has declared in His Word. Being part of God's Kingdom therefore means that an individual is declaring - by faith - fidelity, allegiance and obedience to YHWH as the One True King of the Universe. * When one chooses to believe - by faith - in YHWH and His redemptive plan they become citizens of His Kingdom and are "born-again." Just as they were born physically, they are now born spiritually. * Today, Jesus will share an important detail of those who are truly part of the Kingdom of God ... having ears they will hear the message of God

* As we have begun to study the ministry portion of Jesus' life recorded in Luke's account, we have seen a couple of times that Jesus has declared that His purpose is to declare the good news of "the Kingdom." * Today, we are going to take a one-week detour from our verse-by-verse exposition of the Book to consider the topic of "The Kingdom of God." This term is used 69 times in the Bible; 32 of those occurrences are in the book of Luke! Hence, as we begin to see it's usage and references to it, it would behoove us to understand exactly to what Jesus was referring, and how it specifically applies to our lives as believers. * In fact, as we move forward into chapter 8, Jesus declares to His disciples: "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God ..." So, let's consider some of the facts that we see regarding the Kingdom of God in the Scriptures - and the impact this should make in our lives.

* In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 we read that God has a desire for "all men (people) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." In 1 John 2:2 we read that Jesus died to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. The question is: Do we really believe that? If so, how do we exemplify it in our lives? How do we treat others? * After we have received the free gift of salvation through Christ and have had His righteousness applied to our "account," do we become judgmental of others who have not yet received that gift? Do we forget the wonder and awe of our redemption? Were we ever truly overwhelmed with the forgiveness that God extended us - freely? * In today's passage, we see Jesus' interactions with Simon the Pharisee and a Sinful woman - a man who was self-righteous and a woman who was publicly despised. There is much for us to learn and to be challenged by in this account which is only recorded by Luke.

* The earthly ministry of Jesus was marked by many miraculous events. We have already seen Jesus cast out demons, heal general sicknesses and specific diseases including leprosy, healing a paralytic, and healing a man with withered hand. Last week, we saw Jesus heal the Centurion's servant from a distance and raise the widow of Nain's son from the dead! * One would think that this would be enough proof to validate His claim as Messiah. However, we know that from the response of many today, that is sadly not the case. * However, there are times when even we who believe can be confused and have shades of doubt regarding what we have read in God's Word. Today, we will see how Jesus addressed doubt in those who were around Him.

* Over the past three messages we have considered the instruction of Jesus to those who were following Him. Jesus challenged those following Him to change the way they thought - from being worldly-focused to kingdom-focused; and from being self-focused to being other-focused. * In today's passage, we see Jesus illustrate this mindset in His interaction with Roman Centurion of Capernaum and the Widow of Nain.

* Except for last week, when visiting missionary Bob Schneider delivered the teaching, we've spent the majority of June considering Luke's perspective regarding Jesus's call of His primary messengers and the communication of His primary message. A primary message that was designed to help people to change the way they approached life, by teaching them what having a Messianic mindset was all about. For to be a true follower of Jesus requires us to increasingly adjust and adapt our thinking to match His, so that we can more effectively serve as His ambassadors in this world. * Pastor Bob summarized this Messianic mindset as one that is kingdom-focused and others-focused, rather than worldly-focused and self-focused. * So, 2 weeks ago, in verses 21-35, Jesus gave four contrasts in the form of blessings and woes to illustrate the outcomes of those two mindsets, and then seven commands that challenge us to respond to those that mistreat us in ways that cannot help but get their attention. * And my personal key t