Sunday 26 th August 2007 Morning Service Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS Jesus: Lord of our ambitions Luke 6:12-36 “…he called his disciples to him and chose twelve.

Sunday 26th August 2007

Morning Service

Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS Jesus: Lord of our ambitions

Luke 6:12-36 “…he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them...” Vs 13

PSALM 36:5-9 (p. 251)

5 Thy mercy, LORD, is in the heav’ns;thy truth doth reach the

clouds:6 Thy justice is like mountains great;

thy judgments deep as floods:

PSALM 36:5-9 (p. 251)

LORD, thou preservest man and beast.7 How precious is thy grace!

Therefore in shadow of thy wingsmen’s sons their trust shall place.

PSALM 36:5-9 (p. 251)

8 They with the fatness of thy houseshall be well satisfied;

From rivers of thy pleasures thouwilt drink to them provide.

PSALM 36:5-9 (p. 251)

9 Because of life the fountain pureremains alone with thee;

And in that purest light of thinewe clearly light shall see.

Brief Prayer

Prayer of Approach to God

Prayer & Children’s talk

PSALM 123:1-4* (p. 169)

1 To you, O LORD, I lift my eyes,The God enthroned above the

skies.2 As servants watch their master’s

handOr maids before their mistress

stand,So to the LORD our eyes we raiseUntil his mercy he displays.

PSALM 123:1-4* (2/2)

3 O LORD our God, your mercy show;Take pity, LORD, on us below.For scorn your people all have

known;4 Our foes’ contempt has made us

groan.The proud have covered us with

shame;With insolence they mock our name.

Scripture Reading

Luke 6:12-36

Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS Jesus: Lord of our ambitions

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1033)

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John,

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of

Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,

16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,

18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.

33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.

35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:12-36 (p. 1034)

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Prayers of INTERCESSION

PSALM 117:1-2* (p. 155)

1 Praise the LORD, O all you nations;all you peoples, sing his praise.

2 For his love is great towards us;his commitment lasts always.

He is faithful now and ever.Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!

(Sing through twice)

Sermon

Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS Jesus: Lord of our ambitionsReading: Pew Bible page 1033-1034

Jesus: Lord of Our Ambitions (Luke 6 - The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath)

Are Christians intolerant? One atheist writer says:

"certainty about the next life is simply incompatible with tolerance in this one.“

Strange then that Christianity produced liberty and democracy: atheism produced Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.

Intolerance?

1 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Religion (1-11)

Jesus makes striking claims against religious leaders…

He is Lord of the Sabbath that they spoil by legalism…

Have you misunderstood Jesus? MORE than a good example to follow: IS HE LORD OF YOUR RELIGION?

…his disciples began to pick some ears of

corn…

2 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Ambitions (12-

26) Jesus chose 12 ordinary

men… but NOT an ordinary number.

Twelve announced the arrival of the new kingdom.

Jesus knew what Judas would do. Beware complacency: leaders beware!

The 12 Apostles, Victoria, Australia

2 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Ambitions (12-

26) The blessings and woes (20-

26) guide the disciples away from earthly ambition.

‘Blessings’ for Four: the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated.

Corresponding ‘woes’ for Four: to the rich, well-fed, laughing, and popular.

Woe to you when…

3 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Values (27-36)

Jesus’ ethic goes deeper than social ills, deeper than poverty, drugs, or family crisis. Deeper than values, or economics.

Jesus goes to the HEART and SOUL of men and women. Inner motives.

bless those who curse you

3 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Values (27-36)

Not yet a Christian? Read 35-36. But love your enemies, do good to

them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Ready yet to admit that, apart from God, we are all ungrateful and wicked?

3 – Jesus Claimed to be Lord of their Values (27-36)

Christian? Are you ready to admit

that you too do not deserve God’s love?

Answer Christ’s call to love humbly, to live with gratitude, to love differently!!!

‘Rabbi’ Duncan’s Prayer

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,Look upon a little child;Pity my simplicity,Suffer me to come to Thee.

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,In Thy gracious hands I am;Make me, Saviour, what Thou art,Live Thyself within my heart.

from a children’s hymn by Charles Wesley

Psalm 86:9-13 (p. 341)

9 All nations whom thou mad’st shall come

and worship rev’rently Before thy face; and they, O Lord,

thy name shall glorify.

Psalm 86:9-13 (2/5)

10 Because thou art exceeding great,and works by thee are done

Which are to be admired; and thouart God thyself alone.

Psalm 86:9-13 (3/5)

11 Teach me thy way, and in thy truth,

O Lord, then walk will I;Unite my heart, that I thy namemay fear continually.

Psalm 86:9-13 (4/5)

12 O Lord my God, with all my heartto thee I will give praise;And I the glory will ascribeunto thy name always:

Psalm 86:9-13 (5/5)

13 Because thy mercy toward mein greatness doth excel;And thou delivered hast my soulout from the lowest hell.

God Calls Us to delight in

Christ and to Share His

Hope.

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