Grace in Louisville

Just before his betrayal, arrest, trial, and death, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper with his disciples. On this Good Friday, we meditated on the meaning of the bread and the cup from Mark 14.

On the second anniversary of our church's move to a new neighborhood, we reflected on the why of our move and the purpose of our church. We said that our task is to lift up Jesus for the glory of God and allow him to draw people to himself.

What is necessary to love God? Like Martha in Luke 10:38-42, many of us have a long list in mind, but Jesus praises Mary for finding the one thing that is necessary - listening to Jesus.

Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus helps an expert in the Law understand what is necessary to gain eternal life and what it looks like to love our neighbors as ourselves. In the midst of the parable he also helps us see that he is the Great Samaritan who meets us where we are and shows the greatest love of all to us.

We get a glimpse into what fills Jesus with joy and are challenged to find our joy in the same thing, namely that God hides himself from the wise and understanding and reveals himself to little children.

As the 72 return, they rejoice in the powerful ministry they were a part of in Jesus name, and while Jesus rejoices with them, he encourages them to find their true joy in the fact that their names are written in heaven.

As Jesus gives instructions to the 72 about their mission of proclaiming and bringing the peace and nearness of the kingdom, he teaches us how to respond to those who receive us and those who reject us.

As Jesus sends out the 72 out, tells them of the plentiful harvest of souls and calls them to pray for labors and to go themselves in faith, with urgency, recognizing the opposition, and with a message of peace.

A Samaritan village, James and John, and three would be disciples reveal the sobering reality that if we misunderstand Jesus' mission and his call to discipleship, he may pass us by.

Jesus corrects the disciples, helping them and us see that in the kingdom of God, it is is the humble who are the greatest and give glory to God. True humility welcomes all, hinders none, and gives glory to God.

After coming down from the mountain, having seen the majesty of God revealed, Jesus and the disciples are confronted with the dark realities of the world. Yet even in the darkness, Jesus brings light.

Since Luke 8:22 we have been asking and answering the question, "Who is Jesus?" In this passage Jesus reveals who he is, and God himself answers the question with final authority. Then, in light of who Jesus is, God gives us a clear command: Listen to Jesus.

Jesus calls us to follow him by denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him, but such a call seems to go against our desire for joy and satisfaction. Yet we find that to follow Jesus is to find the fulfillment of our deepest desires in the most unlikely of places.

Abortion is a sin that goes against God's created order and exalts human wills and glory above he will and glory of God. Yet, in a culture of death, hope is found in Jesus, the child of promise, and Christians should call upon the name of the Lord for help.

Jesus polls the disciples about the crowds opinion on his identity, and then he asks them, and us, the most important question we will ever face: "Who do you say that I am?"

In Mark 12, Jesus gives us two ways to measure our spiritual health and maturity - our love for God and our love for others.

Christmas is about the miracle of Jesus, the Lord of Creation and the Lord of Salvation, coming to earth as a human.

What does True Generosity look like, and how is the generosity of Christians to be different from that of all people? 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 helps us see 7 characteristics of the kind of generosity that should mark follower of Jesus.

Care for the neediest of society is not an optional aspect of godliness and righteousness, but is at the core of who Christians should be because it is at the center of who God is in his righteousness and justice.

Matthew, a seminary student in our church, shared from Hebrews 13 that to follow Christ is to join him in all he does, including suffering, applying the truth to all people and to the missionary task in particular.

John, a college student in our church, shares scriptural motivations for taking the good news of the kingdom to the ends of the earth.

Jesus feeds the 5,000, proclaiming that he is the Messiah who provides and makes full - that he is the bread of life who alone can satisfy.

As disciples of Jesus we are sent to proclaim and bring the good news of the kingdom of God in the power and authority he has given. It is a task that calls for urgency, selflessness, dependency, and opposition.

Astounding things happen at the intersection of Jesus' power and our faith. This last part of Luke 8 helps us see the need to believe, despite obstacles to our faith, and it reveals Jesus power over disease and death.

As we continue to answer the question, "Who is Jesus?" he shows his absolute power over demons and the unseen world. We also see that no one is beyond his saving power and that those who have been changed by him are called to tell others how much he has done for them.