Emory Baptist Church

Do You Nag God?

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 18:1.  I want to share a message with you that has a question for its title, “Do You Nag God?”

 

Generally speaking, when we think of “nagging,” we don’t think positively.  As a matter of fact, we probably had some husbands answering in their minds a moment ago about their wife.

 

In the book of Proverbs, this idea is seen multiple times with the word, “contentious.”  BTW…Let me encourage you in the new year to read through the book Proverbs each month by reading the chapter that corresponds with the date.

 

Proverbs 21:9 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

 

Proverbs 21:19 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

 

Proverbs 25:24 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

 

Proverbs 26:21 21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

 

Proverbs 27:15 15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

 

However, in today’s text, we are going to see a parable from the Lord Jesus in which His encourage for us is to nag God.  We do this in a positive way with our persistent prayers.

 

Depending on your translation of the Bible, this parable goes by multiple names.  It has been titled a parable on prayer. It has been entitled the Parable of the Persistent Widow, and it has been entitled the Parable of the Unjust or Unrighteous Judge.

 

Don’t forget what is a parable.  It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or a spiritual meaning. 

 

In verse 1, we see that Jesus spoke this parable to them.  There doesn’t seem to be a reason that we should change contexts.  Therefore, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples.

 

Remember, this is not a special class of Christians.  These are Jesus’ followers.  If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus.

 

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wonder or guess what this parable means.  Jesus told us in verse 1.  We ought to pray and not lose heart.

 

We are to pray and keep in praying and be persistent in praying.  Consequently, don’t become discouraged.  Don’t faint or tire.  Don’t give up.

 

 

1. The Unjust Judge

The first character we are introduced to in this parable is a judge in a certain city in verse 2.  We also see something about his character.

 

He did not fear God, and he didn’t regard man.  In other words, he didn’t respect people.

 

Look what Jesus called him in verse 6.  He is called an unjust judge or an unrighteous judge.  That is where some get the title for this parable.

 

 

2. The Persistent Widow

The second character is a widow in the same city.  She is introduced in verse 3. 

 

BTW…In this day and age, widows were considered outcasts.  They didn’t have anyone to care for them.  That is why Luke highlights them regularly in his gospel demonstrating the gospel is for everyone.

 

The reason this widow came to the judge is because he was only one who could defend her or fight for her.  Therefore, she came to him and requested that he get justice for her from her adversary. 

 

Your bible may say opponent or enemy.  Even though we don’t know the specifics, someone had taken advantage of her.

 

However, she didn’t just come to the judge with this request once.  She can EVERY single time he held court.  She came again and again and again.

 

The judge thought she would give up.  He thought he could wait her out.  However, he couldn’t.

 

Finally, he decided to give in.  Even though he didn’t fear God and didn’t care what others thought of him, he got tired of her nagging him.

 

Verse 5 says he didn’t want her to trouble him and make him weary.  She was wearing him out by her continual coming. 

 

 

Conclusion

Verses 6-7 contain the point or conclusion of this parable.  Again, we don’t have to wonder or guess because Jesus told us.

 

It is somewhat odd, but we learn a good lesson from a bad example.  If the unjust judge acts this way, how much more will God our heavenly father do.

 

Therefore, yes, the unjust judge is God the Father.  However, this is a great time to remind you not to press the parable too much.

 

For example, first, is God an unjust or unrighteous judge?  No, He is not.

 

Second, do my prayers bother God or make Him tired? No, they do not.

 

Third, does God care about us unlike the unjust judge?  Yes, He not only cares for you, but He loves you.

 

If the unjust judge answered the plea, how much more will God answer ours?  Notice in verse 7, we are called the elect.

 

Don’t forget that reality in 2026.  Long before you chose God, God chose you! 

 

As His elect, we ought to be crying out to Him night and day with our prayers, and yes, He will answer.  Therefore, keep doing good.  See Galatians 6:9.

 

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

 

Also, don’t forget that God’s timing is not our timing.  See 2 Peter 3:8-9.

 

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

Finally, look at the end of verse 7.  Will Jesus find us faithful in our persistent praying when He returns?

 

Think about this.  What if God is ready to answer your prayers with one more prayer from you?

 

What if God will save that family member or friend with one more prayer?  What if God will save that marriage with one more prayer?  What if God will reconcile that relationship with one more prayer?  What if God will take away that cancer with more prayer?  What if God will provide that money with one more prayer?

 

Will we be faithful in persistent praying?  God wants you to nag Him in 2026!

The First Christmas

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population is approximately 8.3 billion people.  That is an 8, a 3, and 8 zeros (8,300,000,000).

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 117 billion people have lived.  That is 117 with nine zeros.

 

Of that 117 billion people who have ever lived, some have been male.  Some have been female. 

 

Some have been red.  Some have been yellow.  Some have been black, and some have been white, but they have all been precious in God’s sight!

 

Some have gone on to be doctors.  Some have been lawyers.  Some have been Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth or child in all of human history than the one we celebrate this Christmas season, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  Today, let’s remember the first Christmas in the gospel of Luke and chapter 2.

 

 

1. The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

The word incarnation means became flesh.  The Christmas story is about God becoming a man.

 

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem.  A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem. 

 

Therefore, he had to go there to register his family.  Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

 

First, as it relates to the incarnation of God, I want you to see is that it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

 

By leaving Nazareth, but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God revealed in the Old Testament.  See Micah 5:2.

 

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

 

Second, I want to remind you that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit. 

 

Verse 5 tells us that Mary was with child on this trip.  It is very difficult for us to even imagine this young, teenage mother walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant. 

 

However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened.  It was miraculous!

 

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph?  No. 

 

Had Mary and Joseph consummated their marriage? No.

 

Even though they were legally married, they were still in the betrothal period, and were sexually pure.  See Luke 1:35.

 

Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Third, in the simplicity of two verses (6-7), Jesus was born.  God became flesh. God was incarnated.

 

Verse 7 says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  In other words, she would have more. 

 

 

2. The Proclamation by the Angels, Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

 

Beginning in verse 8, we are introduced to a group of shepherds.  They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds did, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them. 

 

In verse 10, the angel began to speak.  He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news or good tidings for them and for us.

 

The first part of the good news is that the Savior was born. 

 

Jesus was born, and He is the Savior for all people.  He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class.  Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

 

The second part of the good news is that God offers salvation to those who believe.

 

He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins. 

 

I can’t do it for you.  It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was. 

 

God didn’t just create you for 70 or 80 or 90 years of living on earth.  He created you to live with Him for eternity. 

 

The third part of the good news is that we can be at peace with Him by receiving His Son as our Savior.  Salvation only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

Suddenly, in verse 13, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel.  Was this fifty more?  Was this one hundred more?  Was this one thousand more? 

 

Probably, it was the latter.  Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 

 

Every human being since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin.  No man has been at peace with God on his own. 

 

However, God has provided a way.  The way is Jesus.

 

The angels exalted God in heaven as they proclaimed Jesus as the only way to be saved.  See Romans 5:1.

 

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, on this Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved.  Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him. 

 

You have to accept His invitation. 

 

The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him.  Will you do that today?

 

 

3. The Exaltation from the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

 

In verse 15, the shepherds went on their way after the angels left.  They headed to Bethlehem.

 

Verse 16 says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said.  Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.  

 

In verses 17-18, they told others about this Savior.  In other words, they shared their experience. 

 

Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus? 

 

In verse 20, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.  Ultimately, they exalted God for He what He had done in providing for them a Savior. 

 

 

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple.  How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

 

Will you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior and the only way to be at peace with God?  Will you share your experience and point others to Jesus who may not know?

 

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion.  What will it mean for you?

Will You Be Left Behind?

Introduction

If you have you Bibles, take them and find Luke 17:20.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Will You Be Left Behind?”

 

We return to Luke’s gospel this morning, and let me remind you where we are, and where we’ve been.  Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem.  See Luke 17:11.

 

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

 

However, please remember, He isn’t on a pleasure trip. He is on His way to die.  He is on way to the cross to die for us.

 

The last time we were in Luke 17, Jesus healed ten lepers.  However, if you remember, only one returned to thank Him.  Now, He is going to answer some questions for the Pharisees and His disciples.

 

Today, I want you to see two truths about the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God is Christ, and the kingdom of God is coming.

 

We have seen Jesus talk about the kingdom of God on multiple occasions, and He spoken about the kingdom of God in multiple ways.  First, the kingdom of God has referred to heaven.

 

The kingdom of God has also referred to God’s will and plan working out in the lives of His followers.  That would be you and me.

 

Jesus has also referred to the kingdom of God as Himself.  He is the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God can refer to His kingdom that will come on earth.  In other words, the kingdom of God is also Jesus’ reign on earth.

 

 

1. The Kingdom of God is Christ, Luke 17:20-21.

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

 

In verse 20, the Pharisees asked Jesus about when the kingdom of God.  They were expecting a military Messiah.

 

His response was that they wouldn’t see signs of His coming.  However, that wasn’t because there wouldn’t be signs.  That is because they had wrong expectations.

 

The end of verse 21 says that the kingdom of God was within them.  However, in the language of the NT, the end of verse 21 actually says the kingdom of God was in their midst.

 

In other words, the kingdom of God was standing in front of them.  Brothers and sisters, that is the gospel.

 

Knowing the world was in need of a Savior, God sent His one and only Son.  We celebrate that at Christmas.  His name is Jesus.

 

He came to earth and lived a sinless, perfect life.  He then died on the cross in our place and for our sin.  To authenticate and affirm everything He had said and did, He was resurrected from the grave and ascended to heaven to be with His Father.

 

If you have never accepted Him as Lord and Savior of your life, that is my invitation to you this morning and this Christmas.  The kingdom of God in your midst, and Jesus wants to have a personal, saving relationship with you today.

 

You will never earn heaven and eternal life on your own.  You can’t do with your morality or ingenuity or generosity.  You can have heaven, eternal life, and forgiveness of sins today by admitting that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, repenting of our sin, and calling on Him today to save you.

 

 

2. The Kingdom of God is Coming, Luke 17:22-37.

22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”  37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”  So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

 

In verse 22, Jesus turned His attention of His disciples.  He was speaking to us.

 

Starting in verse 22 and through the end of the chapter, Jesus used His favor title for Himself.  He called Himself the “Son of Man,” and He spoke of His Second Coming or His return or the kingdom of God to come.

 

First, He said it would not be seen by everyone.  In other words, some would die and not be alive when He returned again for the second time.  That includes approximately 2,000 years of His followers.

 

Second, His coming would be obvious to all of those who were alive at the time.  It would be so obvious like that of lightening in the sky.  Matthew 24:29-30 give us some descriptions.

 

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

Third, His coming will be after suffering and rejection in verse 25.  Remember, He was on His way to Jerusalem.  His trip would end in suffering and death on the cross for our sins.

 

Fourth, His coming will be an act of judgement. In verses 26-30, He reminded us of two Old Testament examples of judgment.

 

First, remember Noah.  Noah preached and warned, but the people ate, drank and were married.  None of that is wrong, but they didn’t listen to Noah.

 

Consequently, when the flood came, Noah and his family were saved.  However, the rest were destroyed. See Genesis 7:21-23.

 

21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

 

Also, don’t forget about Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah. They also carried on with their daily lives without any regard for God.

 

What was their fate?  Fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  The only survivors were most of Lot’s family.  The day when Jesus returns will be similar.

 

Fifth, Jesus’ coming will be unexpected.  Look at verses 31-36.

 

Jesus gave four scenarios. When Jesus comes unexpectedly, you can’t gather all your goods.  It will simply be time to go.

 

Don’t be like Lot’s wife who missed out.  You can’t have this life and life and heaven.

 

Beginning in verse 24, two men will be sleeping.  One will be taken.  The other left behind.

 

Two women will be working.  One will be taken.  The other left behind.

 

Two men will be in the field.  One will be taken.  The other left behind.

 

The question is whether the one taken is saved or is it the one left behind.  With the context of Noah and Lot in the previous verses, they were taken or saved.  Those left behind were destroyed.

 

My question for you is this.  When Jesus comes, will you be left behind for the judgement? 

 

I hope not.  I pray not. I’m offering the invitation today to be saved by Jesus and not left behind, but the decision has to be made by you.

 

Our text ends by giving us a gruesome picture of judgement. Look at verse 37.

 

The bodies left behind will be spiritually dead.  They will encounter God’s judgement for rejecting His Son.

 

Consequently, the eagles or your Bible may say vultures will be circling.  This will be a sure sign of spiritual death.

 

 

Conclusion

The kingdom of God is Christ, and He is coming.  Will you be left behind?  If not, are you warning and inviting your spouse, coworker, and neighbor to be saved by Jesus?

Rise Up: 3 Years Later and Moving Forward

I want you to take your Bibles and turn to Proverbs 6:6.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “RISE UP: 3 Years Later and Moving Forward.”

 

Think with me back to the summer of 2022.  We had approved construction plans for our Family Life Center, and we turned our attention capital fundraising.

 

BTW…Please always remember that a FLC is not a silver bullet or the magic solution to seeing people saved in Emory and Rains County.  That is Jesus and only Jesus.

 

If you’re here this morning and aren’t saved, the gospel is that man has sinned and is separated from God because of our sin.  That includes you.

However, Jesus died on the cross for your sins and paid your sin debt.  His death has made it possible for us to be saved in relationship with God again.

 

I invited you to be saved this morning if you aren’t already.  That is the main thing.

 

In September and October of 2022, we experienced a church-wide campaign called “RISE UP!”  That theme and encouragement came from Nehemiah 2:18.

 

18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.  So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

 

For the Sundays in September and October, we did a survey study of Nehemiah.  This was true for our Sunday School Small Groups and my Sunday morning sermons. 

 

Then, at the end of our study, your were challenged to make a commitment to pay for the Family Life Center.  These commitments would be above and beyond your tithes.  It would be your offering.

 

At the end of November 2022, 79 families or giving units pledged $927,405 over a three year period.  However, at that time, our deacons and FLC Committee decided to pause our construction plans until we had more cash on hand.

 

We resumed our plans in 2024 with the selection of Bearing General Contractor as our builder.  They committed to build our Family Center for $3,999,009, and construction began on May 1, 2025.

 

Today is the last day of three-year giving period that started on December 1, 2022.  Some would give once.  Others would give annually.  Even others gave monthly or weekly. 

 

I am so proud to report to you today what you gave over that three-year giving period.  We exceeded our commitments, and gave $1,271,236, and we aren’t done yet.

 

Before we move any further, let’s turn attention to Proverbs 6:6-11.  We are encouraged to got to ant and watch and learn be.  Watch how the ant acts.  Learn from the ants ways.  Be wise!

 

What exactly will we see?  What can we learn?  Ants are eager in their organization.  Ants are earnest in their preparation.  Ants are expectant in their realization.

 

 

1. Ants are eager in their initiation, 6:7.

 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!

Consider her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no captain,

Overseer or ruler,

 

Solomon tells the reader, that he also calls a sluggard, or lazy to go and watch the ant.  We are to watch how they act and learn how they behave, and be wise.

 

Notice verse 7.  They don’t have anyone telling them what to do.  They don’t have a captain or overseer or ruler.

 

Instead, they take the initiative.  They don’t wait to be told what to do.

 

Emory Baptist Church, before we know the price of this project, we made our commitments.  Before we went to the bank to borrow money, we made our commitments.

 

The ants are eager in their initiation.  Emory Baptist Church is too as the FLC Fund existed long before the FLC construction project.

 

 

2. Ants are earnest in their preparation, 6:8.

8 Provides her supplies in the summer,

And gathers her food in the harvest.

 

Summer is not a time that you would normally work in storing food, but the ant did.  The ant was getting ready for the fall during the summer.

 

The ant prepares in advance, and they work hard in doing it.  They also work hard during the harvest. 

 

The bottom line is that the ant always works hard.  They are diligent and industrious.

 

I commend you brothers and sisters for your hard work.  I know that when you have given to the FLC, you have given above and beyond your tithe.

 

Many of you have given from your savings.  Others have given from your retirement.  Even others have given from their estate.

 

You have committed and sacrificed for this project.  You have worked hard in your preparation.

 

 

3. Ants are expectant in their realization, 6:9-11.

9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep—

11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,

And your need like an armed man.

 

Why do ants do what they do?  Because they know winter is coming.  They expect reality.

 

Verses 9-11 speak to the reality of poverty if you don’t work.  It will come and try to take away what you have.

 

Brothers and sisters, our reality is that we had to borrow money to complete this project.  A second reality is that we will have to make loan payments as soon as our cash is spent.

 

Therefore, I congratulate today, but I also challenge you.  Keep giving.

 

You have already proved to yourself that you can do it.  Please keep doing it.

 

The more you give, the less we have to actually borrow.  The more you give and the sooner you give, the later we have to borrow.

 

When all is said and done, we want to borrow less and at a lower rate.  The reality is that we will have to pay back whatever we borrow.

 

1 Thanksgiving and 9 Turkeys

Prioritizing Others

Introduction

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 17:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Prioritizing Others.”

 

In 2002, California pastor and author, Rick Warren, wrote his best-selling work, “Purpose Driven Life.”  It was written as a forty-day devotional.  If you’ve never read it, I highly encourage it.

 

The very first sentence of Day 1 says, “It’s not about you.”  Wow!  You know what?  He’s right.

 

Turn to your right and say to your neighbor, “It’s not about you.”  Turn to the neighbor on your left and say, “It’s not about you.”  Look this way and say about yourself, “It’s not about me.”

 

We’re continuing our study of Luke’s gospel this morning, and today’s message is about this profound truth.  Following Jesus is a call to prioritize others above or before self.

 

17:1-10 points out three specific ways we can prioritize others.  Consider others sacrificially.  Forgive others completely, and serve others dutifully.

 

 

1. Consider others sacrificially, Luke 17:1-2.

1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

 

Verse 1 tells us that Jesus is talking to us.  He’s talking to disciples, followers, believers, Christians.

 

1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

 

He then said that it is impossible to avoid offending everyone.  However, do your best not to offend or be a stumbling block to younger Christians. That’s who is in sight when He said “little ones” at the end of verse 2.

 

2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

 

If you do offend younger Christians or cause them to stumble or sin, it would be better for you to die than to have to answer to God for that.  That’s what it means to have a millstone or cinder block tied around your neck and thrown into the sea.

 

In Jesus’ day, just like our day, there were controversial issues.  We have even seen some in our study such as healing on the Sabbath.

 

 

We have controversial issues today.  Sometimes, we call them “gray areas.”  Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol?  Is it ok for a Christian to gamble?

 

There were also controversial issues in Paul’s day.  A well-known one was eating meat sacrificed to idols.

 

Was it ok for Christians to eat meat that from an animal that was sacrificed to a pagan idol?  Paul gives us some counsel in Romans 15:1-3, and it mirrors Jesus’ counsel here in Luke 17.

 

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

 

Paul’s counsel was to not please ourselves, but please our neighbor first like Jesus.  In other words, consider others sacrificially.  Sacrifice your liberty for your neighbor’s good.

 

 

2. Forgive others completely, Luke 17:3-4.

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 

 

The second way we can prioritize others is by forgiving them completely when they hurt us.  Look at verse 3.

 

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

 

The family titles here are our spiritual family.  If our brother or sister sins against us, rebuke them and forgive them when they repent.

 

Did you read that?  Jesus gives us the responsibility to call out the behavior of spiritual family members. 

 

When that family member repents, we are to forgive regardless of the hurt. We are even to forgive again and again and again.

4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 

 

However, if they sin an eighth time, we don’t have to forgive.  No, that is not what Jesus said or meant.

 

When He said forgive seven times in a day, He used seven as the perfect number.  It means completely.  Don’t hold any of your forgiveness back.

 

Again, we can turn to the Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Christians and find similar instruction.  See Ephesians 4:32.

 

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

Paul also calls us to forgive our spiritual family, but notice our standard.  Our standard is not others, but God. 

 

Forgive as God forgave you.  Forgive others completely.

 

 

3. Serve others dutifully, Luke 17:7-10.

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

 

Verses 7-10 encourage us to prioritize others by serving them dutifully or because that’s our duty.  Notice the rhetorical question in verse 7.

 

7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

The implied answer is no one.  No one would invite a servant in from the field to sit down and eat.

 

You would tell your servant to come in and prepare the meal. When you had finished eating, they could eat. 

 

You wouldn’t thank your servant for doing his or her job.  That’s simply their job.

 

In a similar way, we are servants of God.  Therefore, our duty is to serve Him by serving others.

 

For a third time, Jesus is our example.  Remember Hebrews 12:2.

 

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Jesus endured the cross for His Father and for us.  It was His duty, and He did well.

 

It is our duty to serve God by serving others.  We shouldn’t need an “attaboy” for doing what were supposed to do.

 

 

Key

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

 

You might be saying right now, “Bro. Richard, This is so hard.”  You’re in good company. 

 

Look at verse 5.  The disciples thought the same thing, and said to the Lord, this is so hard we need more faith. 

 

Jesus said you don’t more faith.  You just need the faith of the mustard seed.

 

This is not the only time Jesus said this.  See Matthew 17:20, 21:21, and Mark 11:23.

 

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

 

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

 

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 

If we are going to prioritize others as followers of Jesus, the key is not more faith but refocusing the object of our faith.  Your faith must be in the mountain mover rather than the mountain.  You faith must be in the mover of the tree rather than the mulberry tree.

 

Everything Jesus said for us to do in today’s text, He said that He is object of our faith.  He is the source of action.  He is the reason for our behavior.

 

How do consider others sacrificially?  Like Jesus considered us sacrificially.

 

How do we forgive others completely?  Like Jesus forgave us completely.

 

How do we serve others dutifully?  Like Jesus served us dutifully by going to the cross.

 

 

Conclusion

Scott Drew is the head men’s basketball coach at Baylor University.  Several years ago, he received a lot of national attention because of his team’s success and their mantra.

 

Their mantra was “Choose J.O.Y.”  Notice that choose is an active verb.  It takes intentionality. 

 

JOY is both an object and a result.  He encouraged his players to choose JOY.  That acronym stands for Jesus, Others, You…J. O. Y.  Their success as a team was based on their choosing JOY.

 

I would say the same about us.  When we choose JOY in that order, we can consider others and forgive others and serve others even when its hard.

 

And you know what we’ll receive in return?  Our result will be joy.

 

Today, have you chosen Jesus?  Today, will prioritize others.  Following Jesus is not about you!

 

Money Can't Save You!

Money Can’t Save You!

Luke 16:19-31

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

 

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

 

 

 

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, take them, and find Luke 16:19.  I want to share a message entitled, “Money Can’t Save You!”

 

Here in Luke 16, money has been a common topic.  In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus told us the parable of the unjust steward.  Jesus commended his shrewdness or wisdom in spending money on others and planning for the future.

 

In Luke 16:14-18, Jesus addressed the Pharisees.  Dr. Luke called them “lovers of money,” and Jesus condemned their unrighteousness.

 

Today’s text includes another parable.  However, some don’t think it is a parable but a real-life story about a rich man and Lazarus.

 

I do believe this is a parable, and it is another parable that is unique to Luke.  Contrary to what you may have been taught, it is not a parable that is primarily about end-times or even heaven and hell.

 

The main idea of this parable is about money.  The truth is that money can’t save you, and it doesn’t matter how much we are talking about. Elon Musk will not go to heaven because of his new worth.

 

Today’s parable revolves around three scenes, and the main character is a certain rich man.  The first scene is about life on earth.  The second scene is about after-life on earth.  The final scene is about eternal choices.

 

 

1. Life on Earth, Luke 16:19-21

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 

The parable begins in verse 19 with a certain rich man.  He doesn’t have a name although this parable is sometimes known as the parable of Dives and Lazarus.  Dives is the Latin word for rich.

 

The certain beggar named Lazarus is introduced in verse 20.  While still being a parable, this is the only parable that Jesus used a proper name.

 

As for life on earth, these two men were complete opposites. Verses 19-21 speak to that. 

 

One was rich.  The other was a poor beggar. On wore purple and fine linen undergarments.  The other wore sores. One lived sumptuously or luxuriously every day.  The other was laid at his gate every day. One ate like a king.  The other desired the table scraps.  One certainly felt the hands of his servants.  The other felt the tongues of the wild dogs who licked his sores.

 

In the minds of the Pharisees gathered around, they knew exactly why these men were like this.  The rich mad had honored God with life and wealth, and now God was blessing him.  The poor man was suffering from some sin and rebellion and disobedience.

 

Therefore, when Jesus uttered what was next, their worlds were turned upside down.  Jesus said they both died, but the rich man went to Hades, and the beggar went to Abraham’s bosom.  Their gasps were audible!

 

 

 

2. After Life on Earth, Luke 16:22-26

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

 

Verse 22 says that both men died.  Shockingly to the Pharisees, the beggar was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom.  This was Jewish idiom that meant the presence of God.

 

BTW…We are told that the beggar died, but we aren’t told that he was buried.  He probably wasn’t.  He was probably was thrown into the city trash dump.

 

However, the rich man was buried, and probably had a funeral.  It would have been very well attended and very elaborate going on and on about his wealth.

 

Verse 23 is where the story turns.  The one who was thought to have God’s favor on his life was now in Hades and in torments. 

 

BTW…It is commonly thought that before Jesus returns, Sheol is the place of the dead, and Sheol has two compartments.  One is upper, and the other is lower.

 

The upper compartment is Abraham’s bosom or Paradise.  It most certainly is the presence of God.

 

The lower compartment is Hades or hell.  It most certainly is the absence of God.

 

There will be an eternal heaven and an eternal hell.  These are not them.

 

Verse 24 says that the rich man looked up and asked Abraham to send Lazarus to comfort him with a drip of water. Verse 25 says his request was denied. 

 

In verse 26, Abraham makes it clear that there is not a going back in forth between Abraham’s bosom and Hades.  The great gulf or chasm is fixed.  In other words, it is permanent.

 

Here we see the main point of this parable.  The majority of this first century audience was shocked and dismayed to hear about this rich man in Hades, but money can not and will not save you.

 

It matters not what your bottom line is.  When it comes to after life on earth, the only thing that matters is what have you done with Jesus? 

 

Have you received Him as Lord and Savior or rejected Him?  Only Jesus can save and will save!

 

A secondary point of this parable is that proof or evidence of our salvation is demonstrated in how we treat others.  This rich man didn’t go to Hades because of how he treated Lazarus. 

 

How he treated Lazarus was evidence of this man’s rejection of Christ.  Conversely, Lazarus had been helped by God, and he went to Abraham’s bosom not because he was poor, but because he recognized his need and called on the Lord to save.

 

Just to be clear, there will be many rich people in heaven and many poor people in hell.  There will also be many rich people in hell and many poor people in heaven.

 

The key is not your wealth.  The key is what you do with Jesus, which takes us to our final scene.

 

 

3. Eternal Choices, Luke 16:

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

 

In verse 27, the rich man in Hades turns his attention to his lost brothers.  He asked Abraham to send someone to warn them about this place of torment.

 

Again, Abraham denied his request.  They should have read their Bibles and listened to the prophets.

 

The rich man made one last request.  He requested that Abraham send someone who had risen from the dead. 

 

For the third time, the rich man’s request is denied.  If they didn’t read their Bibles and didn’t listen to their prophets, they wouldn’t be persuaded by the miraculous.

 

 

Conclusion

If you haven’t already, you have a choice to make.  Where will you spend eternity?

 

Your choices are with God or apart from God.  With God will mean receiving God’s Son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior.

 

If you do nothing, it will be as if you rejected Jesus.  There will be no second chances, and your eternity will be one of torment and torment and torment.

 

God's Plan is Better Than Yours!

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 16:14.  I want to share with you a message entitled, “God’s Way is Better Yours!”

 

We return to Luke 16 and our study of Luke’s gospel. If you were here last Sunday, you remember that were at the beginning of Luke 16 and the parable of the unjust steward.

 

That parable was addressed to Jesus’ disciples and encouraged us how to use money that God gives us in this life. Like the unjust steward, we should act wisely and responsibly by generously spending our money on others and planning for the future.

 

Some commentators believe today’s text is out of place.  However, it is the mention of money here in verse 14 that ties it to last week’s parable.

 

Before we read the text together, look at verse 16, and notice the phrase “kingdom of God.”

 

We have seen this previously in Luke’s gospel, and it has multiple meanings.  It can refer to heaven. It can refer to life on earth during Jesus’ millennial reign. 

 

It can refer to Jesus Himself.  It can refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

It can refer to the way Jesus’ followers live out their lives on earth honoring Him.  In verse 17, it seems to refer to both the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we as His followers are to live out our lives on earth honoring Him.

 

 

1. God’s Kingdom values the internal more than external, Luke 16:14-15.

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 

 

Even though Jesus was previously addressing His disciples, the Pharisees heard the parable of the unjust steward.  Do you remember who these people were?

 

The Pharisees were male Jewish religious leaders who were experts in the Old Testament Law. They were assumed to understand it and how to apply it. 

 

They gave every outward appearance of being devoted followers of the God of Israel. However, their hearts indicated otherwise.

 

Jesus said they were lovers of money. Is that bad? Actually, it was. 

 

If you remember from last Sunday, I reminded you of 1 Timothy 6:10. Paul didn’t tell Timothy that money was bad. However, he did say the love of it was the root of all evil.

 

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Because the Pharisees loved money, they didn’t like what Jesus had to say last week. Specifically, you can’t serve God and money. 

 

Consequently, they derided Him. They literally turned up their noses at Him.  Your translation may say they ridiculed Him.

 

Jesus responded to them in verse 15 by pointing out that God knew their hearts, and their hearts didn’t value what God valued. They thought money was an indication of God’s favor and blessing.

 

They were more concerned about their outward appearance than the condition of their heart. Jesus said that was an abomination in the sight of God.

 

The Bible is consistent. God and His kingdom have always valued the internal more than the external. 

 

Do you remember Saul and David? Israel demanded that God give them a king.  Do you remember why chose Saul? See 1 Samuel 8:4-5 and 9:1-3.

 

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 

 

Turn to 9:1. There was one candidate that caught their eye more than the others.

 

9:1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

 

If you know anything about Saul’s reign, you know it didn’t end well. In this, God let Israel have their way.

 

Do you remember when Goliath was taunting Israel? They almost overlooked David for the same reasons. See 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

 

1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have [a]provided Myself a king among his sons.”  2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”  But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”  4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”  5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify[b] yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.  6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”  7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [c]refused him. For[d] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”  And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not [e]sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with [f]bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

 

Brothers and sisters, more than your physical appearance and worldly success, how are fruits of the Spirit growing?  See Galatians 5:22-23

 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

 

2. God’s Kingdom will endure, Luke 16:16-17.

16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. 

 

In verse 16, Jesus said the law and the prophets were until John. This is John the Baptist, and he was the last Old Testament prophet.

 

However, the Biblical record didn’t end with him because he was also the forerunner for Jesus. That means he announced Jesus and pointed others to Jesus as the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophesied about.

 

Since John arrived, the kingdom of God was preached. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there were plenty who were excited about it.

 

However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the Old Testament offered one way to be saved and the New Testament offered another. That is NOT true.

 

Sometimes we  think that only Jews were saved in the Old Testament. That is not true.  There were plenty of Gentiles who followed and were worshipers of Yahweh.

 

Sometimes, we think that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the Old Testament Law. No one was perfect then, and no one is perfect now.

 

Turn to Romans 10:13. This is a verse that we often use in personal evangelism.

 

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

We believe that Paul is talking about Jesus.  Call on Jesus, and you will be saved.

 

However, notice something unique about this verse.  Paul is actually quoting the Old Testament.

 

Did you know that? See Joel 2:32.

 

32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.  For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

 

In Joel 2:32, they were to call on Yahweh to be saved. Yahweh in the Old and Jesus in the New…we are talking about the same God and the same way to be saved.

 

God’s Kingdom endures. It doesn’t change, and it won’t fade away. 

 

It is here today and will be here tomorrow. That is illustrated in His word enduring. 

 

Not even the smallest Hebrew marking will change or fade away. The jot or tittle will endure illustrating the same is true for God’s Kingdom.

 

 

3. God’s Kingdom and plan are always best for us, Luke 16:18.

18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

 

Our text ends this morning on what you might think is an odd subject. Jesus spoke on divorce and remarriage.

 

However, in reality, He was continuing to expose the evil of the Pharisees. They believed that Old Testament only prohibited divorce and remarriage for women.

 

In other words, when they did it, it wasn’t adultery.  Jesus had something to say about that.

 

BTW…This is not Jesus’ comprehensive position on divorce and remarriage.  However, it is certainly representative.

 

God’s plan for you is to get married and stay married. You might think your life would be better if you weren’t married to your spouse, but God’s plan is better.

 

Here is one more thing before we leave here.  I don’t think the Bible teaches that if you commit adultery that you are living in the perpetual sin of adultery. 

 

Why not? Would the solution be divorce? Absolutely not. 

 

If you’re married now, God’s plan is for your to stay married. If you plan to get married, God’s plan is for your to find your spouse for a lifetime.

 

 

Conclusion

As we think about God’s Kingdom and plan this morning, consider these two invitations.

 

God has a plan to save you, and its better than your plan.  Will you call on Jesus today to save you?

 

God’s plan is for you to be connected one, single, local church, and commit your lives to it. Will you join EBC today and make that commitment?

 

Using God's Money in the Devil's World

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 16:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “God’s Money in the Devil’s World.”

 

We are studying the gospel of Luke here at EBC on  Sunday mornings.  Please don’t think today’s sermon is some special occasion for a special audience.  It is simply the next text as we left off from last Sunday at the end of Luke 15.

 

Again, we are going to see another one of Jesus’ parables.  While some parables can be found in other gospels, today’s is unique to Luke.

 

Also, it is hard parable to understand.  Most commentators agree that it is the most difficult to understand in Luke’s gospel.  Therefore, today, I am going to do the best I can in teaching it to you.

 

Here is what I think is the best understanding and main point of this text.  For followers of Christ, we are to be as responsible as we can be with God’s Money in the Devil’s World specially with generosity to others and planning for the future.

 

Here is one more think before we look at this text.  One of the reason today’s parable is so difficult is because Jesus use a bad example to teach us a good lesson. 

 

However, that is not new for us.  Think about the lesson, “Don’t drink and drive.”  That is a good lesson from a bad example.  Hopefully, remember this, that Jesus can use a bad example to teach a good lesson, will help us today.

 

 

1. The Parable of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:1-7

1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’  3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’  5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

 

Before we get to verse 1, look at verse 8.  In that verse you find the phrase “unjust steward.”  This is how the parable gets its traditional name.

 

Notice in verse 1 that Jesus was speaking to His disciples.  Therefore, this parable is meant for followers of Christ and to reveal mysteries about the way God’s wants us to live.

 

The parable begins with a certain rich man who had a steward.  We don’t use that word often, but other translations use the word “manager.

 

This manager was in charge of the rich man’s wealth. We might think along the lines of a financial planner.

 

Some people who knew the rich man and his manager brought an accusation to the rich man that his manager was not doing a good job.  In fact, the accusation was that he was wasting his goods.

 

This is the reason he was called an unjust steward.  Other translations say unrighteous manager of dishonest manager.

 

As a result, look at verse 2. The rich man called him in and made him give an account of his behavior. 

 

Consequently, the rich man had one thing to say to the unjust steward.  YOU’RE FIRED!

 

However, because of the rest of the parable, it seems that the unjust steward had a little time with the rich man’s business before he gone completely.  The text indicates he went to some of the rich man’s business partners.

 

Why did he did this?  He realized an awful reality. He no longer had a job.

 

Therefore, he thought through several options.  First, he thought manual labor, but knew that wasn’t for him.

 

Second, he thought about becoming a beggar.  However, he was too proud for that.

 

Verse 4 said another idea came to him.  He would go to the rich man’s business partners and make friends with them by doing something favorable to them so that they might remember him when he was jobless.

 

In verses 5-7, we have to examples.  First, the unjust steward told this man to only payback to the rich man half of the olive oil he owed him. 

 

Second, the unjust steward went to another man who owed the rich man wheat.  He was told to only pay back 80% of what he originally owed.

 

One of the difficulties of this parable is to figure out how the unjust steward got away with this.  I would say that the difference in what was paid back was either his commission or interest.

 

Regardless, these two business partners now the viewed the unjust steward as favorable.  He decreased their bill but yet the rich man wasn’t out anything.  He gained nothing, and he lost nothing.

 

 

2. The Point of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:8a

8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

 

In verse 8, the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. However, this verse is full of questions.

 

Is the master the rich man in the parable or Jesus?  I would say the rich man.

 

What made the manager unjust?  Remember why he was fired?  He was wasting the rich man’s wealth.

 

What had he done that was shrewd that deserved commendation?  Maybe, we should try to understand the word shrewd.

 

As I have referenced others translations this morning in trying to understand this parable, consider the King James Version.  Instead of shrewd, it uses the word wise.

 

I would say the master commended the steward for dealing wisely.  How so?

 

He planned for the future by treating benefiting the rich man’s business partners?  How was this wise?

 

Look back at verse 4.  By giving them a break, they might remember him when he was out of job and needed a place to live.

 

Do you remember what I told you was the main point of this parable?  As followers of Christ with God’s money in the Devil’s world, we should be responsible with our resources specially by being generous to others and planning for the future.

 

That is what the unjust steward did.  He cut their bill being generous, and the was planning for the future by endearing them to him.

 

At the end of verse 8, Jesus said we can learn a lesson from lost people. They are often more responsible with their money in planning for the future than Christians are.

 

 

3. Our Practices because of the Unjust Steward, Luke 16:9-13

9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?  13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

 

So what should we take away from this parable?  What should be our application or practices?

 

First, look at verse 9.  Use God’s money in the Devil’s World being generous to others so that you may be rewarded in heaven.

 

Make friends for yourself.  In other words, spend you money on others rather than self.

 

When you fail or literally the money fails and is no longer good, they, being your friends that you have evangelized and discipled, will welcome to you in heaven. 

 

Don’t bribe people, but spend your more generously on others with a spiritual goal in mind.  When we do this, we are investing in eternity.

 

Second, look at verses 10-12.  Use God’s money in the Devil’s World responsibly so that God will give you more.

 

God will give me more money?  Not necessarily, but maybe.

 

These verses seem to indicate God will give more responsibility to those who are faithful in using the resources they have responsibly like being generous to others and planning for the future.

 

Finally, if ever you think you must choose between money and God, choose God.  You can’t serve both.  They are mutually exclusive.

Our Faithful Father is Waiting for You!

Our Faithful Father Who is Waiting on You!

Luke 15:11-24

Sunday, October 19, 2025, 10:30 AM

Emory BC

 

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.  17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’  20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.  25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’  28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’  31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

 

 

Introduction

If I were a betting man, I would bet that Luke 15 is one of your most cherished chapters in all of the Bible.  I understand why.

 

Last week, Bro. Ronnie preached to you the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin.  Today, I am going to remind you of the parable of the lost son.

 

Remember that parables are earthly stories with spiritual or heavenly meanings.  BTW…Charles Dickens is on record as saying that the parable of the prodigal son is “the finest short story ever written.”

 

In short, Luke 15 illustrates the act of salvation.  The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin teach us that God seeks to save those who are lost. 

 

The parable of the lost son teaches us that God can’t make that decision for us.  We must respond to God’s initiative.

 

In today’s story, we are going to see three main characters.  A father has two sons.  Obviously, one is older, and one is younger.

 

As it relates to symbols, traditionally, the father is a picture of God.  The prodigal symbolizes the lost or the unsaved, especially those referenced back in 15:1-2.

 

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

 

The older brother pictures the self-righteous leadership of the Jewish People.  These were the Pharisees and scribes.

 

1. The Younger Rebellious Son, Luke 15:11-19

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.  17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 

 

Here you have a Jewish family consisting of a father and two sons.  The younger son was probably around 17 years  of age or so.

 

In verse 12, he decided in his own mind that he is old enough and wise enough to take the world on by himself.  Therefore, he asked for his inheritance early, before his father died.

 

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

 

BTW…This was unheard of.  He was essentially saying to his father, “You are dead to me.  Give me my inheritance.”

 

What did the father do?  The father obliged and gave him his part.  According to the OT, that would have been 1/3 of the estate leaving 2/3 for the older son.

 

In verse 13, the text seems to indicate that this younger son liquidated whatever was his and left town.  However, he not only left town, he left the country.  He went into a country that probably was Gentile. 

 

13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

 

We aren’t told exactly what he did with his money.  However, we are told that he “wasted his possessions with prodigal or wasteful living.” 

 

15:30 tells us that this “prodigal living” definitely included harlots or prostitutes.  I would guess it also included drunkenness and gambling.

 

30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

 

Verse 14 says he spent it all, and his problems only got bigger as a severe famine swept the land.  Not only was he broke, but now he was hungry, yet no prospect of eating.

 

14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

 

So he got a job, but not just any job.  He got a job feeding pigs, and his boss was a Gentile. 

 

Remember this young boy was Jewish.  His family saw pigs as the scum of the earth.  He had hit rock bottom.

 

It got so bad that he was not only feeding the pigs, but he also began to eat the pigs’ food.  Hitting rock bottom may describe some of you this morning.

 

However, look at 15:17.  The younger, rebellious son came to his senses.  The light bulb came on. 

 

Implied in this verse is the idea of repentance.  Repentance means to turn around or change behavior.

 

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 

He realized that it didn’t have to be this way.  He didn’t have to live at rock bottom.  He didn’t have to eat pigs’ food.

 

Verses 18-19 tell us about his plan.  He had been humbled, and that humility was demonstrated in his planned speech.

 

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 

 

BTW…When we sin, every sin is first and foremost sin against God.  It may also be sin against our neighbor.

 

 

2. The Faithful, Waiting Father, Luke 15:20-24

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 

 

Its in verse 20 and following that our attention turns to the faithful, waiting father.  However, to be candid, this story is more about the faithful, waiting father than anyone else.

 

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

 

We talk about the prodigal son and the lost son.  However, count the number of times the word “father” is in this parable…12.

 

The main character of this parable is the father.  The secondary  characters are the sons.

 

In verse 20, when the son had gotten home, his father didn’t even let him finished his rehearsed repentance speech.  His father just embraced him and brought out the best robe for him, and killed the best calf for him, and gave him the best shoes because his son was lost, but now he was found. 

 

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

 

Also in verse 20, we see that all this time, his father had been waiting for him.  We aren’t told how long it was.  Maybe it was days or weeks or months. 

 

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

 

Regardless, every day that the son was gone, his father had gone to the top of the hill and looked down in the valley and said, “Maybe today my son will be home.” 

 

In the son’s own mind, he thought his actions deserved that of being a slave and he was prepared for that.  However, his father restored him to being a son.

 

He was a son worthy of honor and praise and celebration.  For he was lost, but now he was found.

 

For those rebellious sons and daughters, there is a faithful, heavenly father waiting on you.  For those who think you have to get cleaned up before you come to Jesus, come to Him first.  Then, He will clean you up.

 

 

3. The Self-Righteous Older Brother, Luke 15:25-32

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’  28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’  31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

 

This father had two sons. Now, we encounter the second.  He was the self-righteous, older brother.

 

Verse 25 says he was out doing his thing. He was out being faithful at work, but he heard all of the commotion.

 

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

 

Verse 26 says he asked a servant what was going on.  The rebellious, younger son had come home safe and sound.

 

26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

 

This was reason to celebrate, right?  Verse 28 says the older brother was ANGRY!

 

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

 

How could dad take him back and not ask where he’d been and where was his money and what had he been doing?  How could dad take him back and even celebrate?

 

He was so mad that he wouldn’t even go in the house.  However, the father went to him.

 

Verse 28 says the father pleaded with him to welcome back his brother.  All he could do was share his resume and claim what he deserved.

 

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

 

You know what the older brother was guilty of?  We hear a lot about it today.  The Republicans charge the Democrats with it.  The older generations describe the younger generations this way.

 

The older brother felt he was entitled!  He felt he had earned his father’s favor and approval.

 

BTW…If this parable is about salvation, you can never earn God’s favor, and you cannot work for your salvation.

 

In verses 31 and 32, the faithful father assured the older brother of his love for him.  However, he also assured him of his love for his son that was lost and was now found.

 

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’

 

 

Conclusion

This story doesn’t end like we think it should.  We don’t know what the older brother did.

 

However, in one regard, you can decide how this story ends by identifying with a brother.  Do you identify with the rebellious, younger brother?

 

If so, I invite you to come home today.  God isn’t going to ask where have you been.  He isn’t going to ask what have you been doing.  He isn’t going to ask why did you go. 

 

He is only going to embrace you and kiss you and say, “You’re home.  I love you!”  English Baptist Pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness.”

 

If you identify with the self-righteous, older brother, my invitation for you is to get over yourself, and also to come to the father.  In the same way the faithful, waiting father forgives disobedience and rebellion, He also forgives self-righteous arrogance and pride.

 

Helmut Thielicke, “In our lives, we may have squandered what we would.  Perhaps we have squandered and mismanaged our marriage.  We may have squandered away our good reputation.  We may have ruined our bodies or our imaginations.  Perhaps our thinking has been corroded by envy and the heat of harmful passions.  Perhaps we have dragged the faith of our childhood in the gutter and become nihilists and cynics.  All this maybe true.  But right here comes the great surprise. God has not given me up.  He still counts me his child.  He tells me that he cannot forget me.  When anybody has done as much for me as my Father in heaven has done, when he sacrifices his best beloved for me, he simply cannot forget me.  And therefore, I can come home to him.  God pays no regard to what I have lost. He thinks only of what I am…his unhappy child, standing there at his door again.”