Cross Section from the Summit View Church of Christ

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — When he shared the sacred bread and cup at the Last Supper and linked them to his body and blood, Jesus taught and modeled three ways in which sharing in the Lord's Supper should transform our relationships with one another. Text: Luke 22:1-30

This episode covers the final segment of Section 4 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's United Kingdom) and opening segment of Section 5 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's Divided Kingdom). From Section 4, we cover two references to angels in Psalm 78 and two brief explorations of the state of the human spirit after death in Ecclesiastes. Beginning Section 5, we consider the story of a prophet i...

Jesus’ Parable of the Tenants called the ancient Jews to consider whether they were giving God what he was due as the rightful Lord of Israel. In the same way, it calls us today to consider whether we are giving God the fruit due him as Lord of our lives—and especially whether we are showing proper honor to Jesus, the Son whom God sent to reconcile us to himself. Text: Luke 19:45 to 20:19

In this fourth segment of Section 4 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's United Kingdom), David faces the angel of the Lord, who brings punishment on Israel for David's sin. Also, we consider what some of David's psalms say about angels, including cherubim.

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — Faith in different people can express itself very differently: as people bringing babies to Jesus, as a rich ruler wanting to be saved, as a blind man begging for sight, as a tax collector ready to turn his life back to God. But in all its odd shapes, faith in God always involves pursuit of Jesus. Then it faces a question: When we come to Jesus, will we follow him?&...

In this third segment of Section 4 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's United Kingdom), we examine three recurring themes that arise in the stories and psalms of David and continue elsewhere in Scripture: (a) similarity to angels used to describe character or power; (b) angels praise and exalt God; and (c) not much goes on in the realm of the dead (or does it?). Download worksheets for "The In-Be...

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — With three parables, Jesus explained how God feels about sinners who turn to God and are saved. How does God feel about them? He is filled with joy! Jesus calls us to share in that same joy, and to come to him trusting that he will rejoice over us, too. Text: Luke 15

In this second segment of Section 4 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's United Kingdom), Israel's King Saul does what God has forbidden: he consults a medium in order to speak to the spirit of a deceased person. And it works! Can human beings really speak to the dead? Why does God prohibit such an act? What does this tell us about the situation of people who have passed from this life? Find the S...

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — Responding to a dispute over an inheritance, Jesus warned his listeners to be on guard against greed, and to seek what makes one rich toward God. Then we will not be selfish or scared, but—trusting in God our good Father—we will be generous to use what God gives us to bless others. Text: Luke 12:13-34

In this first segment of Section 4 (The Spiritual Realm During Israel's United Kingdom), an evil spirit from God comes upon King Saul. Does God have evil spirits? Does he send evil spirits upon people to punish them? What does this tell us about the spiritual realm? And what warnings and encouragement does this story offer us today? Download the Section 4 worksheet at http://www.summitviewchurch.n...

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — In explaining who we should consider our neighbor, Jesus told the shocking story of the most unexpected person modeling godly behavior for us by not choosing who his neighbor should be, but by choosing to be a neighbor to a person in need. (This lesson was shared over Zoom because in-person services were closed due to weather.) Text: Luke 10:25-37

The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and then to the soon-to-be parents of Samson. In both cases, he brings prophecies of God's work to rescue Israel from its enemies. And in both cases, the recipients of the message seem not to understand at first who it is that is speaking to them. Their responses remind us to diligently and wisely seek God's will, testing the messages we receive to find...

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — Following Jesus requires a cross-centered attitude, an attitude of selflessness. This attitude sets the self aside, rejects pride and practices humility, and gives full devotion to Jesus as Messiah and King. Texts: Luke 9:18-26 & 9:43-62

The commander of the army of the Lord appeared to Joshua. Who was this being—God, Jesus, or an angel? What do his words mean for us today in politics, war, and any kind of conflict? Also, the angel of the Lord speaks to Israel, and Deborah refers to the angel of the Lord in her song. Download the Section 3 worksheet at http://www.summitviewchurch.net/class-materials.html.

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — In this lesson, we examine three teachings of Jesus from his Sermon on the Level Place and consider how obedience to the teaching of Jesus builds a solid foundation for our lives, so that we can withstand every storm of life. Text: Luke 6:17-49

In this week's class on the spiritual realm between God and human beings, our focus is the fascinating story of Balaam, the angel who confronted him, and (of course) Balaam's donkey. Can animals see angels? Do angels need swords? And why does God send angels in the first place? Download the Section 2 worksheet at http://www.summitviewchurch.net/class-materials.html.

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — Three times in Luke's gospel, Jesus heals someone on the Sabbath, knowing that doing so would arouse criticism. Yet he did so intentionally, to show his love for people and to help us learn how to prioritize the commands of God. Texts: Luke 6:6-11, 13:10-17, 14:1-6

In this week's class on the spiritual realm between God and human beings, we study prohibitions in the Law of Moses against attempts to communicate with spirits of the dead and against involvement in sorcery and divination. Download the Section 2 worksheet at http://www.summitviewchurch.net/class-materials.html.

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — In three consecutive stories in Luke's Gospel, Jesus commits an offense against the Jewish religious establishment. Who did he think he was, doing such things? He thought he was a doctor sent to heal the spiritually sick—and he thought of them as people God loves and wants to help. Text: Luke 5:12-32

In this week's class on the spiritual realm between God and human beings, we consider the representation and significance of cherubim in Israel's decoration of the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle, and the temple. Download the worksheet for Section 2 at http://www.summitviewchurch.net/class-materials.html.  Images used in this lesson are found at  https://www.freebibleimages.org/illus...

Sunday sermon by Kevin Jensen — Why would the people of Jesus’ own hometown try to throw him off a cliff? At first, they seemed delighted by him and his teaching. But when his teaching became too demanding—when he called them to turn their hearts to God—his townspeople turned against him instead. Text: Luke 4:14-44

This week's class on the spiritual realm between God and human beings examines the appearance of an angel in the burning bush, the "destroyer" sent by God at the first Passover, and the angel who led Israel from Egypt to the promised land. Worksheet available at http://www.summitviewchurch.net/class-materials.html.

Guest Sermon by Jim Mendenhall. In Thessalonica, the apostle Paul reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that Jesus was the Christ. What might Paul have shown them from Scripture? Scripture continues to persuade us of the truth about Jesus today, and it strengthens us as we continue in faith through a difficult time. Text: Acts 17:1-4

Sunday Sermon by Kevin Jensen — Mary wasn't expecting to be expecting. Joseph wasn't expecting to be a father so soon. The shepherds of Bethlehem weren't expecting to encounter angels. But our God does the unexpected—in the life of Jesus, and often (more subtly) in our lives today. Text: Luke 1-2

In this week's class, we study an important appearance of Satan in the opening of the book of Job and what that appearance tells us about this evil, enigmatic person. We also examine a few references to angels and to the realm of the dead in Job. Bible texts in this episode come from the book of Job. Find a link to the class worksheet in the episode notes at www.summitviewchurch.net/podcast.html.