Grace Church NOLA

A message based on Luke 1:57-80:  When the time came for Elizabeth to deliver, she gave birth to a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard that God had been merciful to her, they shared her joy.  When all had assembled for the circumcision on the eighth day, they intended to name the baby after his father Zechariah.  But Elizabeth spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.” They pointed out to h...

A message based on Luke 1:39-55:  Within a few days Mary set out and hurried to the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.  As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  B...

A message based on Matthew 3:1-12:  At this time John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea, proclaiming, “Change your hearts and minds, for the reign of heaven is about to break upon you!”  It was John that the prophet Isaiah described when he said, “A herald’s voice cries in the desert:  Prepare the way of our God, make straight the paths of God!’” John was clothed in a garment of camel’s...

A message based on Mark 13:24-37: Jesus said, “But in those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Promised One coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then the angels will be sent to gather the elect from the four winds, from the e...

A message based on Luke 21:5-19: When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he sai...

A message based on Luke 6:20-31:  Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.  Rejoice on that day...

A message based on John 8:31-36:  Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone.  What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyon...

A message based on Luke 18:1-8 (NRSVue):  Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.  He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.  In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’  For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I hav...

A message based on Luke 17:11-19:  On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.  As Jesus entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him.  Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  When Jesus saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  And as the ten men went, they were mad...

A message based on Luke 17:5-10: The apostles said to the Lord Jesus, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at...

A message based on Luke 24:44-53:  Then Jesus said to the apostles, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on...

A message based on Luke 8:22-25: One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing Jesus fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to Jesus and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” An...

A message based on Luke 5:1-11: Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked Simon to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat...

A message based on Luke 14:1, 7-14:  On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.  “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than yo...

A message based on Luke 13:10-17: Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years.  She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”  When Jesus laid his hands on her, immediately she...

A message based on Hebrews 11:29—12:2: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I...

A message based on Luke 12:32-40: Jesus said: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have y...

A message based on Luke 12:13-21:   Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  But Jesus said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”  Then Jesus told them a...

A message based on two lessons: Luke 11:1-13: Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  So Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every...

A message based on Luke 10:38-42: Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by mysel...

A message based on Luke 10:25-37:  An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.  “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?  What do you read there?”  The man answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”  And...

A message based on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20: After this Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolve...

A message based on two lessons:  Matthew 10:40-42 (Inclusive Bible): Jesus said, “Those who welcome you also welcome me, and those who welcome me welcome the One who sent me.  Those who welcome prophets just because they are prophets will receive the reward reserved for the prophets themselves; those who welcome holy people just because they are holy will receive the reward of the holy ones.  The...

A message based on Luke 8:26-39 (Inclusive Bible):Jesus and his disciples came to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.  Jesus was stepping from the boat when he was met by a person from the town who was possessed by demons.  The demoniac had not worn clothes for a long time, and was homeless, living among the tombs instead.  Seeing Jesus, the individual cried out and fell at Jes...

A message based on John 16:12-15 (Spark Bible): Jesus loved his disciples. He knew he was going to heaven soon and wanted to make sure they weren’t afraid. Jesus and his friends sat down on the soft grass. Jesus said, “It’s important to remember all I’ve taught you. Love God. Love other people. Help each other. Remember, God is most important. God will always love you.” Jesus looked at each of his...