Rejecting God's authority leads to spiritual ruin, as illustrated by the religious leaders' refusal to accept Jesus as the Messiah.  This passage challenges us to examine our own hears, urging us to embrace Jesus, the cornerstone of faith, and respond in obedience to avoid the tragic consequences of hardened hearts and rebellion.

True faith is demonstrated through obedience to God’s Word, as seen in the story of the ten lepers who were healed when they followed Jesus' command. It reminds us that Jesus’ instructions always align with God’s law, and faith is revealed in action, not just belief. The message also highlights the importance of gratitude, urging believers to respond to God’s work in their lives with thankfulness, like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus. Through our faith, obedience, and gratitude, others can witness and experience God's presence.

The message encourages us to be vigilant against temptations and not lead others into sin. Jesus warns that causing others to stumble is serious, and Will reflects on his own failure to live up to this teaching. We are reminded of the importance of repentance, not just for personal guilt, but to seek joy and transformation in Christ. 

Luke 16 invites us to see our finances and resources through the lens of God's Kingdom, using Jesus' parable of the shrewd manager to challenge how we live. It's not about dishonestly but about making wise, intentional decisions that reflect long-term priorities, just as the manager did when he adjusted his life to secure his future. Jesus calls us to shift our focus from temporary comforts to being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted us with-our money, time, and gifts. It's a call to use our blessings to care for others and live with a deep awareness that everything we have is part of God's plan. Ultimately, this message encourages us to seek God's wisdom in how we live, making decisions that align with His purposes and glorify Him in every part of our lives. 

In today's sermon at TGP West, the focus is on the cost of discipleship as taught by Jesus in Luke 14:25-35. Jesus emphasizes that while salvation is a free gift, following Him requires significant sacrifice and devotion. He calls His followers to prioritize Him above all else and to be willing to bear their own crosses. The sermon explores the depth of commitment required and how true discipleship means putting God first in every aspect of life. It concludes by urging listeners to evaluate their readiness to follow Jesus fully and to embrace the transformative journey of discipleship. 

In the sermon, Jesus confronts religious leaders for their focus on rigid legalism and pride, showing that God's standards, not human rules, determine what is acceptable.  He uses parables to expose their self-importance and lack of genuine love.  Jesus emphasizes the need for the need for true commitment to God's invitation, challenging believers to reflect on their motivations and truly follow Him, rather than just supporting the idea of discipleship.

The sermon concludes Luke 13 by emphasizing Jesus' mission of salvation and the importance of a personal relationship with God over mere tradition.  It highlights Jesus' bold response to threats from Herod, illustrating God's sovereignty over all circumstances.  The message encourages believers to trust in God's plan, be patient in the faith journey, and share the gospel with both urgency and compassion.

Being a follower of Jesus requires a heart change.  Jesus challenges his disciples to see all people, even those who hate them, as God sees them and to love them the way that He loves them.

Jesus teaches his new disciples that in his upside down Kingdom, the concepts of what brings honor and shame are not what they think. 

Jesus is comparing the old way with the new. He challenges his listeners to release their old, dead religion, and embrace the new work that God is doing. We are challenged to release our old paradigms in order to embrace every believers call to proclaim the gospel. 

Jesus' presence reveals sin and calls us to repentance. The love, grace, and mercy of Jesus draws people of all kinds. 

Luke tells the story of a man that has been ostracized by the world because of a skin disease. Jesus brings social, emotional, and physical healing. Though this act, the crowd and the religious leaders learn that Jesus has the power and authority to heal.

A glimpse into the Kingdom of God changes the way we see God, ourselves, and the world around us. Jesus calls all of us to be active participants in His Kingdom. 

Luke sets the stage for his readers by showing the different responses that people have to his ministry. Luke shows that many trusted Jesus as the experienced the God exclusive activity in their lives

Following Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, he goes into the wilderness to be tempted. This calls us back to Israels time in the wilderness and their failure to walk with God. It also calls us back to Adam's failure to walk with God. Jesus succeeds where the rest of humanity has failed. Through Jesus' fulfillment of the law, God offers us grace which covers all our sins. 

Following Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, he goes into the wilderness to be tempted. This calls us back to Israels time in the wilderness and their failure to walk with God. It also calls us back to Adam's failure to walk with God. Jesus succeeds where the rest of humanity has failed. 

John's message is not an easy one to hear. Turning from sin to God is the mark of repentance. Our care for ourselves versus our care for others is a clear indication of our heart. 

Luke shows the fulfillment of many prophecies through the ministry of John. John came to prepare the way for Jesus by calling for repentance. Turning completely from sin and self reliance to Jesus and his salvation. 

Jesus wasn't born with infinite knowledge of God, just Luke you and I, he had to grow into the person God wanted him to be. 

God went through great lengths to show the world that Jesus was his son including many reliable witnesses. Anna, the prophetess is one of those witnesses. God spoke through her to share the message that the Messiah was here to all who visited the temple. 

Easter is the celebration of all that Jesus accomplished on our behalf .  He has made it possible for our relationship with God to be restored.

Just like Mary and Joseph, most of us only know a small portion of who Jesus is what He came to do. Jesus came to reveal where our hearts have placed their trust and to give us a new perspective on what it means to know God.

When a royal birth takes place, you would expect pomp from the nobility. God does the opposite and invites the outcast. We will see this same action throughout Jesus life and ministry. This should speak volumes to his people about who we should honor. 

In response to God's work in his life, Zechariah proclaims the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to His people. He speaks to John's mission in preparing the way for Jesus. Our call is similar in that we are to proclaim God's work in our lives and introducing others to the person of Jesus. 

God gave Zechariah and Elizabeth specific details and instructions about their son.  John was to prepare the way for Jesus. Our ability to hear and obey God also prepares the way for Jesus. Because they listened, their community was in awe of God's work. Our communities will also experience God through our obedience.

Obedience to God's commands always lead to God exclusive activity. Mary and Elizabeth experienced the blessing of God's presence as they obeyed God. 

Obedience to God's commands always leads to God's exclusive activity.  Mary and Elizabeth experienced the blessing of God's presence as they obeyed God.

God had promised Adam and Eve that one of their heirs would finally be able to break the curse of sin. Luke tells how God revealed to Mary that she would give birth to that heir. Jesus, the Son of God, would be their son. Mary believes and willingly offers herself to God. 

In his opening narrative, Luke begins to show that Jesus was the Messiah. This question still rings in the hearts of minds today, and we can discover who Jesus is together. As we experience God others will take notice and be drawn to Jesus. Our lives become "A voice in the wilderness."

God wants us to know Him and to make Him known. We do this by living in an abiding relationship. Obeying God and experiencing His activity in our lives. 

John finishes his letter by encouraging them to obey God's commandments. As we look toward our new year and the ministry that God has given us, too, are invited to follow Jesus's instructions. It is through our love for God and one another that we will be used to reveal Jesus to our family and friends.     

Our culture is filled with people who think they know God.  Jesus tells us in Mathew seven that there will be many who will be turned away from the Kingdom of Heaven because He does not know them.  John reveals how we are to know the difference between false prophets and true disciples.

We are children of God and are called to live accordingly.  In order to do so, we must see ourselves as God sees us.  We are his heirs in the Kingdom.  Our commission is to love God and to love one another, but not as the world loves.  We are to love as Jesus loved, by giving up our lives for one another.

John lays out for the church what it means to Live in the Light.  We are in the light by obeying His commandments, loving one another, and being faithful in our relationships with God.

We know God by experience which comes through obeying His commands.  John's Letter helps the leaders of the church know that Jesus is the Messiah by his testimony.  Our testimony of Jesus's activity in our lives helps others to know Him.