The Baptism of Jesus

The Baptism of JesusLuke 3:15-22October 13, 2024 We know little about the ministry of John the Baptist; we only have one sermon (really, just one line from a sermon — “be baptized for the forgiveness of sins”). Yet, for all the limited information about him, he was an important person. He came from humble beginnings, […]

The Son of Man as a Child

The Son of Man as a ChildLuke 2:39-52September 22, 2024 A mom and dad were still sleeping one morning when their young son came bounding into the bedroom and jumped onto their stomachs with significant news: “Today’s my birthday! It’s here! I’m five-years-old today!” And then holding up his open hand with all five fingers […]

Having Seen God’s Salvation

Having Seen God’s SalvationLuke 2:21-38September 15, 2024 At least for some things, I am not the most patient person in the world. I have been known to get a little hangry while waiting for dinner to cook. I don’t like waiting for traffic lights or for accidents to clear. I don’t like waiting in checkout […]

Christ Has Come

Christ Has Come: Give Glory to GodLuke 2:8-20September 8, 2024 Five years ago, prior to moving to California, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle had a baby. While babies are born every second of every day, this birth captured the attention of royal followers around the world. Like many other parents, the birth was first […]

The Birth of the Son of Man

The Birth of the Son of ManLuke 2:1-7August 25, 2024 While perhaps not the most significant authority on the subject, a couple of years ago the India Times compiled a list of “The 10 Most Important Events in Human History.” They didn’t reveal what the criteria for making the list was, or who voted on […]

God’s Visitation

God’s VisitationLuke 1:67-80August 18, 2024 For those of you have children, was your experience with your newborns like mine? I would stand over the bassinet and hear her cry and wonder, “what will your voice sound like?” I would look at her hands and wonder, “what will you like to do?” and her feet and […]

What’s in a Name?

What’s in a Name?Luke 1:56-66August 4, 2024 One of Raye Jeanne’s sisters was married and pregnant before we got married; one day when I was at her parent’s home, the family was in earnest discussion about names for the coming baby. As soon as suggestions were made, they were rapidly shot down for all […]

“My Soul Exalts the Lord”

“My Soul Exalts the Lord”Luke 1:46-56July 28, 2024 After a second deployment in Iraq, Stacy Bare returned home but he wasn’t doing well: he was drinking too much, thinking suicidal thoughts, and struggling to think about the future and manage life. “What am I doing with my life? What does it mean to be […]

God’s Confirmation of The Son of Man

God’s Confirmation of the Son of ManLuke 1:39-45July 21, 2024 It has been called, “The button that could have changed the internet.” About 25 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee, a computer programmer who has been credited with inventing the world wide web and the HTML computer language for writing those pages gave a talk in which […]

Luke and the Holy Spirit

All of the gospel writers tell the story of Jesus. They are all Christ-centered, Christ-exalting, Christ-revealing books. Consequently, there is much overlap between the books, especially the first three (the Synoptic) gospels. Yet they also tell the story of Christ from their own perspectives and emphases. There are distinctives in the accounts that make each […]

The Son of Man, announced

The Son of Man, AnnouncedLuke 1:26-38July 14, 2024 The promise of the Messiah who would redeem Israel and serve as her King was no secret; it had been declared throughout Israel’s history, beginning with Moses: “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise […]

The Forerunner of the Son of Man

The Forerunner of the Son of ManLuke 1:13-17July 7, 2024 Every child wants to believe his dad is a hero; but John Cromwell Jr.’s father really was a hero. A Navy Captain, John, Sr. died in 1943 in his submarine off the Gilbert Islands in the south Pacific. His submarine was one several that was […]

“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me”

“This is the Way the Lord has Dealt with Me”Luke 1:5-25June 30, 2024 In A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond describes the birth of a giraffe: The first thing to emerge are the baby giraffe’s front hooves and head. A few minutes later the plucky newborn calf is hurled forth, falls ten feet, and […]

How Luke told the story of Jesus

The gospels are not just a succession of stories — they are one story of one Man — the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Yet each of the gospel writers tells the story of Jesus in different ways with different emphases. As we begin a study of the Gospel of Luke — the story of the Son […]

The Story of the Son of Man

The Story of the Son of ManLuke 1:1-4June 23, 2024 Everyone likes a good story: Perhaps this evening you will turn to the guide on your TV and scroll for a good movie to watch. Maybe this week you will finish that blockbuster novel you’ve been reading; it’s not really great literature, but it’s a […]