Highlands Baptist Church Sermons (Centennial, CO)

In Luke 19:1-10 we meet Zacchaeus, a man most of us have heard about in Sunday School. Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus counterbalances Jesus’ confrontation with the rich young ruler (18:18–30). Both men are described as rich and both hold high office (“ruler”, 18:18; “chief tax collector”, 19:2). One walks away from Jesus sad, for he was extremely rich (Luke 18:23). The other received Jesus joyful...

In Luke 18:35-43, we learn about a blind beggar meeting Jesus on the roadside. Not only is this blind beggar destitute and entirely at the mercy of others, he is also an outcast and excluded from the worshiping community. He cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" This blind beggar stands in marked contrast to the rich ruler (Luke 18:18-24). The rich man had everything the world could...

If you’ve never considered the dragon at Christmas, you’re missing how John presents the birth of Christ in the apocalyptic book of Revelation. Revelation 12 looks at Christ’s incarnation of Jesus from a global, cosmic perspective. The dragon becomes a central part of the Christmas story, as it depicts one of the purposes of the incarnation — the defeat of Satan. “The reason the Son of God appeare...

In Luke 18, after a rich young ruler walked away from the greatest gift in the world, Jesus addressed his twelve disciples. Rather than elaborate on the young man’s departure, Jesus prophesied about his own death and resurrection. Christmas creates a crisis of sorts — a series of questions. Is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ (God’s anointed rescuer of sinful humanity), or not? Is Jesus, the one born...

In Luke 18:18-30 we find a man who had it all – wealth, youth, and authority. Sadly, he lacked what was most important and he walked away from the greatest gift in the world. Jesus exposed the real treasure of his heart by telling him, "Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor" (Luke 18:22). This man refused to loosen his clutch on wealth and would not receive the kingdom like an infant (...

In Luke 18:9-17 Jesus teaches a parable about two people and two destinies to confront any notion that we can trust in ourselves to be righteous. The Pharisee shows us doing good things does not get you into God's Kingdom. The Tax Collector shows us even the worst of the worst can enter God's Kingdom. Entering God's kingdom doesn't require our self-righteous efforts, it requires depending on God's...

Luke 18-1-8 contains a parable and an application that continue the theme of Jesus’ return. The parable forms the conclusion of 17:20-37. Jesus asks a searching question at the close of the parable — “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). What’s the point? Disciples must pray with persistence while waiting for final vindication lest they become despondent during the...

Are you living in the reality of Jesus’ return? Luke 17, instead of providing a timeline of future events to the question of “when the kingdom of God would come” (17:20), Jesus admonishes us to live in anticipation of his return. The world has a track record of being indifferent and smug in the face of imminent danger. To illustrate this, Jesus uses two OT allusions. First, the days of Noah before...

In Luke 17:11-19, as Jesus enters the outskirts of a village, he is met by ten lepers. Rather than cry out “unclean” as the Law commanded (Leviticus 13:45), they cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” (17:13).  The request for mercy comes often to Jesus in the Gospels: Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30–31; Mark 10:47–48; Luke 18:38–39. Whether the suffering is leprosy, blindness, demon oppres...

In Luke 17:1-10, Jesus teaches on three topics related to Christian discipleship. These texts should be read in context of the Gospel, which gives weight and motivation for Christians to obey. While temptations to sin are sure to come, we should never entice others to sin. We should pay attention to how our conduct may be leading others into sin (vs 1-4). While it may be difficult, Christians shou...

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus teaches a parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. In this parable Jesus confronts the Pharisees' love of money. While the rich man and Lazarus seem to be extreme opposites in life, what they do share in common is they both die. Jesus shocks his listeners with surprising outcomes for these characters after their death. The rich man is in torment and anguish whil...

In Luke 16:1-18, Jesus teaches a parable about the values of his kingdom in regard to wealth. Jesus surprises us by commending the dishonest manager. Jesus isn't commending his dishonesty; rather, he commends his shrewdness. He's saying that the people of this world exercise shrewdness and forward thinking about their money. Citizens of God’s kingdom should do so even more. This parable  reminds u...

Luke 15 is Jesus’ response to Pharisaical grumbling (15:1-2). He responds with a parable (a simple story that conveys spiritual truths). It’s one parable (15:3 “So he told them this parable”) with three different episodes — a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. The actions of the shepherd, woman, and father become illustrations of God’s character, and what God is doing through his son, Jesus...

Luke 15 is Jesus’s response to Pharisaical grumbling (v.2). The entire chapter is a response in parable form. It’s one parable with three different episodes. It’s his explanation for why he “receives sinners and eats with them” (v.1). There’s the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost son. Both sons are lost in different ways. What the religious leader...

In Luke 14:25-35, Jesus is very clear about the cost of following him. It demands much more than learning to become a Pharisee, a scribe, or a ruler of the synagogue. It doesn’t hinge on family name, tribal identity, or education. Discipleship involves hate, cross-bearing, counting the cost, and renouncing all to follow Jesus. At one point, Peter seems to have laid his cross-beam down. He had boas...

Luke 14:1-24 is an invitation and a warning. There are four sections that warn how selfishness can keep us from entering the kingdom, and from accepting an invitation to God’s great banquet. Selfishness in relationship to religion (14:1-6) Selfishness in relationship to position (14:7-11) Selfishness in relationship to giving (14:12-14) Selfishness in relationship to priority (14:15-24) The parabl...

In Luke 13:22-35, Jesus’ first response to the question about whether or not it will be few who are saved is to compare the kingdom to a narrow door. It’s not a complex interstate highway system with many ways and options for entrance and exit. It’s a single narrow door. Jesus then explains that this narrow door, which has been left open to all who would strive to enter, will one day be shut. Behi...

Luke 13:10-21 combines the healing-exorcism of a woman on a Sabbath day with two short parables. It’s a conflict story, in a religious environment, on a religious day, with a religious ruler. But the Jews recognize neither the kingdom of God, nor the King himself. Instead they fixate on violations of law. Jesus is provoking them to answer this question — “Why am I healing this woman on this day?”...

Jesus did not hesitate to preach about topics that are largely avoided in today’s church. Sin, judgment, and repentance are unpopular but vital truths for believers and unbelievers. Twice Jesus says in Luke 13:1-9, “I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (vv. 3, 5).  In the Bible, the word  repent  means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance...

In Luke 12:35-59 Jesus tells his followers to be ready for the return of their master by faithfully serving others. Those who he finds ready are given a promise of joy. Joy will be theirs because when he comes he will dress himself to serve them! Jesus also explains that when he comes he will bring God's perfect justice. God's justice might seem severe, but it is also wonderful. It is wonderful be...

Luke chapter 12 explores and exposes whether we seek affirmation vertically from God, or horizontally from people, possessions, and false security. Jesus’s message and life are counter-cultural to everything we’ve been taught: Life Is Much More Than the Abundance of Possessions (12:13-21). Anxiety Is Closely Connected to a Fixation on Stuff (12:22-31). Treasure on Earth Is Corruptible and Insecure...

In chapter 12 Luke continues to show us the urgency of responding rightly to Jesus. What or who we fear reveals what or who we value most. The word “fear” is used 5x in this passage. Fear is directional, and like love and anger, the direction that fear moves reveals what we love and find most important. In this passage, Jesus instructs us to fear God’s omniscience (12:1-3), to fear God’s judgment...

Luke 11:14-36 highlights the need to respond to Jesus. Jesus teaches there is no neutrality between his kingdom and the kingdom of darkness. Two things indicate the crumbling of Satan’s kingdom. First, the defeat of demons (11:14, 15, 18, 19, 20). Second, the undermining of Satan’s fortifications (11:22). Jesus then refers to, “the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh...

In Luke 11:37-54, we see one of the strongest condemnation discourses by Jesus, aimed at the Pharisees and Lawyers. Jesus opens with a principal statement highlighting their religious hypocrisy (vs 39-40). A person cannot expect to please God if he or she is externally obedient yet internally cold, unrepentant, and unloving. God made (and cares) about the outside and inside of a person. Jesus elab...

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? In Luke 10:39 we learn that Mary was focused on the Lord, whereas Martha was distracted, anxious, and troubled about many things (10:40-41). The problem is not Martha’s hospitality or service, but what was revealed in Martha’s comment to Jesus about Mary. Through Mary we learn something about discipleship — we are called into a close personal relationsh...