Dr. Kevin Calhoun
March 2-6 | Mark 16 | Luke 1-4
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Jonathan Norton
March 9-13 | Luke 5-9
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Rev. JT Overby
March 16-20 | Luke 10-14
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Dr. Craig Bowers
March 23-27 | Luke 15-19
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Dr. Kevin Calhoun
March 30-31 | Luke 20-21
March 2020
March 4, 2020
by Kevin Calhoun
Read Luke 2
This chapter in Luke’s Gospel gives us a very quick snapshot of Jesus’ birth, His childhood, His circumcision, and His trip with His parents to Jerusalem at age 12. One verse in this passage continues to capture my attention every time I read it. “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart,” (vs. 19).What do you think Mary “pondered” (thought about and reflected on)?
Was she overwhelmed at God’s choice for her to be the mother of our Lord? That seems likely. Of all the ladies who ever lived, God chose Mary. She must have been overflowing with amazement, awe, and gratitude.
Was she “pondering” the visit from the shepherds and the message they shared with Mary and Joseph? Again, I believe this is entirely likely. Listening to the shepherds speak of the angel’s message that a savior had been born in Bethlehem must have stirred her heart greatly. Hearing them describe the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men, with whom He is pleased,” (vs.14) most certainly filled her heart with joy.
So many thoughts must have been going through Mary’s mind: How can this be? How will our life be changed? What will we experience from now on? Whatever her thoughts were, her life would be different from that point on.
Take a few moments today and reflect upon the life of our Lord.
Application:
What event(s), miracle(s), or statement(s) in Jesus’ life have a major impact on your life?
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What would you most like to share with others about Jesus? ________________________________________________________________
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to You more today. Fill me with thoughts of You in everything I do and say! Amen!
March 5, 2020
by Kevin Calhoun
Read Luke 3
Our scripture reading for today tells us of the ministry of John (the baptizer) and the baptism of Jesus. In verse 3 we read, “And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Then in verse 8 we read, “Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance.”
The teaching about repentance is important for us today because there are many who would say they believe in Jesus but they do not believe this makes any difference in their lifestyle choices each day. We need to understand this error is a distortion of the gospel message. Jesus said, “. . . repent and believe in the gospel,” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and faith go together.
Paul faced this same problem when writing to the Romans and to the Galatians. There were some who taught that we can continue in sin so that grace may increase (c.f. Romans 6:1). However, true faith always leads to a change in behavior. We turn away from sin and toward our Savior, Jesus. Because we believe in Jesus, we now want to please Him and walk in obedience with Him. Yes, we are saved by grace and not by our works. But Paul also tells us, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:10).
Application: Let’s make it personal:
Have you fully trusted in Jesus for salvation from your sin? ________________________________________________________________
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List areas in your life you need to submit to Jesus and His Lordship. ________________________________________________________________
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to areas in my life I need to turn over to You. Help me to walk in obedience with You today. Amen!
March 6, 2020
by Kevin Calhoun
Read Luke 4
Can you imagine what people must have thought as Jesus began His public ministry? We read in verses 14-15, “. . . news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.” He taught them in ways they never heard before, and He began healing people of various illnesses. In verse 42 we read that the people wanted Him to stay in the area with them.
Look with me, however, at His response in verse 43. Jesus said, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” Often times we want to keep Jesus with us in our own comfortable surroundings. However, we are called to be on mission for Him. We learn three important truths about mission/ministry in this passage.
Why is this mission important? Because we are commanded to in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples . . .”
Where do we carry out this mission? Acts 1:8 tells us, “. . . you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Who is to be involved in this mission? All who profess faith in Jesus are called to mission and ministry. In 2 Corinthians 5:18 Paul tells us when God saved us He “. . . gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Application:
List some ways you have been involved in mission/ministry for our Lord. ________________________________________________________________
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List ways you would like to be used in mission/ministry in the future. ________________________________________________________________
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me “ears” to hear Your call to mission in my life, and may I be found faithful. Amen!
March 9, 2020
by Jonathan Norton
Read Luke 5
In this chapter Luke describes the Lord’s meetings with four different people and the changes they experienced because of their faith in Him. I want to focus today on verses 12-16 when Jesus heals the man with leprosy. This story paints a beautiful picture of how Jesus treats those in our society that are viewed as untouchable.
Notice in verse 12 that Dr. Luke describes the man as “covered with leprosy”. This tells us that this man was in the later stages of fighting this horrific disease, which means he had been isolated and deemed unclean for 10-20 years. But notice what Jesus “did” first, not what He said. In verse 13 we read that Jesus touched him first, then He said “I am willing, be cleansed”. Then Luke uses one of his favorite words to tell us that the leprosy “immediately” left the man. Wow! How incredible that Jesus touches an untouchable person, and when He does there is “immediate” change?
When I read this passage it takes me back to the Old Testament in Leviticus and Isaiah where leprosy is described. The prophet Isaiah compares our sin nature to having spiritual leprosy in Isaiah 1:4-6. It is great reminder that if we are living in unrepentant sin, the following pattern will usually happen:
-It starts small
-We try to cover it up; it’s deeper than the skin (Leviticus 13:3)
-It slowly spreads and consumes our flesh (Leviticus 13:7-8)
-We lose all sensitivity
-Our sin isolates us (Leviticus 13:46)
-It will eventually kill us if not confessed & repented
Luke 5:12-16 is an illustration of the grace and transformational power we see in Jesus on the cross. He became sin (unclean) so that we might be made clean (2 Corinthians 5:21 & 1 Peter 2:24).
Give Thanks to God that when He touches us we are changed forever!
March 11, 2020
by Jonathan Norton
Read Luke 7
Somebody once said that compassion is simply defined as “your pain in my heart”. As we read through Chapter 7, we see Jesus model incredible compassion to four different individuals going through completely different struggles:
1.) A dying servant (vs. 1-10)
2.) A grieving mother (vs. 11-17)
3.) A disciple with doubt (vs. 18-35)
4.) A repentant woman (vs. 36-50)
Jesus helped all of these people despite some in society saying they did not deserve it. But as Christians, we know that compassion does not measure, it ministers. Compassion ministers to people’s needs regardless of circumstances. Aren’t we thankful that Jesus does not decide to help us in our time of need based on whether we deserve it or not. Jesus is always there and He cares.
Imagine the grieving widow in verse 11-15, who is walking a long her son’s coffin. She is so overwhelmed with sadness that she is hardly looking up. She is too torn to even pray. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been put in position to minister to a person grieving like that? If so, think back to who showed compassion to you. Think back and ask yourself: Did I show compassion like Jesus to someone who was hurting?
In all of His important activity, Jesus always saw the specific needs of people. He never failed to stop what He was doing to care for people. What a model for us! No matter how busy we are, we must remember there is nothing like caring for people in need. People who are hurting need more than a one-time encouraging word. They need a listening ear, they need a follow up text and they need a phone call to pray with them again.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for Your incredible compassion for us in our time of need. May we be intentional and consistent with showing compassion for others, and we pray that compassion draws those hurting closer to You, Lord. Amen.
March 17, 2020
by JT Overby
Read Luke 11
Paul says in Ephesians 1:3-4 that God gives us, in Christ, every spiritual blessing we need to live holy and blameless before Him. The Hebrew writer in Hebrews 13 says that God will equip us with everything good we need to do His will. How are all these gifts and blessings given to us? The Spirit.
Are we in need? Are we struggling? Do we feel broken? Do we feel helpless against temptation? Are we struggling relationally with the Lord? Jesus says to ask, seek, and knock and God will give His Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows the will of the Father for our lives and does His perfect will in us (Romans 8:26-27). God delights to give us the Spirit. He delights to hear those prayers and answer those prayers. Are we praying those kind of desperate prayers for more of the Spirit's work in our lives?
Jesus says that those who are truly blessed in life are not the richest, smartest, the ones who look like they have it all together, but those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Someone greater than Solomon has come. Someone greater than Jonah has come. Judgment is surely coming.
What hope is there for us? I struggle to hear and keep the Word! There is hope because God delights to answer the prayers of His people and give more of the Spirit. He speaks to our hearts the truths of God's Word. He gives us the grace we need to keep the Word. Let's ask, seek, and knock all the more
March 18, 2020
by JT Overby
Read Luke 12
It is hard to teach that Jesus comes to bring division. Surely many of us have felt division in our families and amongst our friends. Why does it have to be this way? Why does Jesus come to bring division? Ultimately, the world is strictly divided into those who believe and trust in Jesus and those who do not. We will either confess and believe that He is the Savior, the Son of God, or we will reject His claims over our life. Luke 11 teaches us that those who reject Jesus, reject both us and the Father who sent Him.
Where will our hearts lie? Where will our treasure be? We need God's grace to find our treasure in Him alone; not in family, friends, career, riches, and possessions. If our treasure is in anything other than Jesus, it will lead to emptiness and ultimately, death. God delights to give us all we need, though. He knows our needs, spiritually and physically, and delights to provide for us. He graciously gave us His Son; how will He not give us all we need (Romans 8:32)!
What is even more astounding is that when we acknowledge Jesus before men, even with the division it may bring, Jesus promises us acknowledgement before the angels. He is proud to acknowledge us! What a gracious truth.
While the division that comes in this life might bring a temporary heartache, the acknowledgment of the Son leads to infinite and eternal joys. May we weigh those out rightly and live our lives acknowledging the Son.
March 19, 2020
by JT Overby
Read Luke 13
Scripture teaches that apart from Christ, all of us are dead in sin - under God's wrath. Yet to those who are perishing, He shows grace. The fig tree has no right to remain standing after it continues not bearing fruit, yet even it is shown grace. Jerusalem, the city of God, filled with those who would kill its prophets, is still shown grace by Jesus.
They ask Jesus if those who are saved will be few. His answer is not about number, but about those who will be saved will be unexpected to them. People will come from the east, west, north, and south and feast in the Kingdom. The door is narrow. Elsewhere, Jesus calls Himself the door to the sheep gate. There is only one way to the Father, only one way into the Kingdom, only one way to salvation. The door is narrow, but the door is Jesus. The way in is Jesus, full of grace and truth, full of steadfast love and kindness to His people! He makes it possible for us to enter.
Those who are left out of the Kingdom will be unexpected. There will be very religious people left out. They are the types of people angry at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They are those who would try and get to God by their performance, by how often they attend church, by how much they tithe, how much they know, how much they pray. They try and become their own way to the Father. They remain under God's wrath.
We all remain under God's wrath unless we come near, by faith in Jesus. The door is narrow, but Jesus lived, died, and was raised to make a way. Let us enter in.
March 31, 2020
by Kevin Calhoun
Read Luke 21
Our reading for today begins with a very challenging picture concerning offerings to the Lord. Jesus praises a widow who gave an offering of two small copper coins.“Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”
Nowhere do we read that this widow received any material gain as a result of her offering. Her reward was a word of praise by Jesus to those who were standing nearby. In fact, she probably did not hear the words spoken by Jesus. Her only desire was to participate in worship by giving sacrificially to God.
I am reminded of Paul’s words of praise for the Macedonian Christians in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. Even though they were suffering poverty in their own lives, the Macedonians begged Paul for the privilege of giving an offering beyond their ability to give. Their one desire was to give themselves entirely to the Lord (vs. 5).
I find these passages of scripture (and others like them) to be both convicting and challenging. What are my motives for giving? Do I give simply to help our church meet the budget? Or do I give because I find great joy in participating in the ministry to which God has called us?
Application:
What about you, what motivates you to give unto the Lord?
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List ways you might be able to give more to the Lord through your time, talents, and treasures. ________________________________________________________________
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Prayer:
Almighty God, open my “eyes” to any faulty motivations I have in giving. Show me how I can give more generously of myself to Your church. Amen!