Christ Presbyterian Church | Bible books Luke

Loved to Love

Bible Text: Luke 7:36–50 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: For the Life of the World

Because God loved us so much that he has forgiven us an inestimable debt, we must show others the same kind of grace.

Luke 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Hospitality

Bible Text: Luke 14:12-24 | Preacher: Adam Feichtman | Series: Guest Preacher

We often have the narrow view of hospitality as just tea parties, entertainment, hotels, etc. In this passage in Luke, Jesus is addressing the quid pro quo practice of the day (favor for a favor in hosting.) Here we see that Jesus is the host, guest, and servant and the gospel sets the pattern and gives us the power to practice Christian hospitality.

Luke 14:12-24 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Co-Laborers and the Ministry of Jesus

Bible Text: Luke 6:12–16; 8:1–3; Matthew 28:16–20 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Co-Laborers in Christ

Any author will tell you that the cast of characters is central to every great story. In the true stories of the New Testament, we find a large cast of characters throughout. This character list includes both men and women who support the ministry of Jesus and the work of his Church. Mary and Martha, though they aren’t apostles, play as vital of a role in the gospels as James and John. What can we learn from the New Testament about the work of men and women together in God’s mission to the world?

Snatch Others from the Fire

Bible Text: Jude 23, Luke 15:1–10 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jude: Exhortations for Tenuous Times

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not good advice; it is good news. It is the news that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ accomplished salvation for all who depend on him in faith. Good advice tells us what to do. Good news tell us what has been done. Yet in a world of suspicion, how do we convince others that the gospel of Jesus Christ is really good news for them?

Praying in the Holy Spirit

Bible Text: Jude 20, Luke 11:1-13 | Preacher: Reed Jolley | Series: Jude: Exhortations for Tenuous Times

“Do you have anyone to talk to about that?” We often hear this phrase when we’ve let down our guard and admitted to someone that we are struggling. It’s often meant as a well-intentioned concern, but it also sends the signal that the current listener is not up to the task. What if you had someone you could call on in times of both bad and good news, someone who would always answer the phone and be glad to hear your voice? Join us this week as we continue our series on the Book of Jude and learn about the gift of prayer.

Let Us Keep the Feast Pt. 2

Bible Text: Luke 14:12-24 | Preacher: Joshua Burdette | Series: Let Us Keep the Feast

Join us this Sunday as we complete a two-part series on food and feasting.

Let Us Keep the Feast Pt. 1

Preacher: Joshua Burdette | Series: Let Us Keep the Feast

We all enter life hungry, crying out for someone to feed us. It’s one of the basic needs that every human shares. Does God care about our daily bread or how we eat it? What place does food have in spirituality? Join us this Sunday as we begin a two-part series on food and feasting.

Praying in the Prolonged Delay

Bible Text: Luke 18:1-8 | Preacher: Paul Kim | Series: Guest Preacher

We just celebrated the triumph of life over death accomplished by Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. Yet we don’t have to look very far to see that death still operates in the world. How do we reconcile this contradiction and what do we do? This Sunday we look to a story Jesus told about justice.

Thank You, God, For The Fleas

Bible Text: Luke 17:11-19 | Preacher: Eddy García Solís | Series: Guest Preacher

After dealing with severe quarantine restrictions all we want is to get back to normality. But at times, we take this well-intended desire to such an extreme that it ends up affecting our gratitude and how we worship. This Sunday we look and learn from one leper who ran to Jesus’ feet to worship him in thankfulness after being healed by him instead of rushing to return to normality.

Recognizing Glory

Bible Text: Luke 2:21–35 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Christmas

In times of crisis and confusion, we often utter the cliché, “God moves in mysterious ways.” It reminds us that God is always at work even when we don’t see him. Yet we still tend to expect that God’s work in this world will be unmistakable and obvious. How can we train our eyes to recognize the glorious work of God’s mission among us in the mundane and everyday things? Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Christmas and join the angels’ refrain: Glory to God in the Highest!