Highlands Baptist Church Sermons (Centennial, CO)

In Genesis 11 people gathered to build a tower and a city rather than disperse as God instructed them. This event reveals humanity’s propensity for self-exaltation (tower) and self-preservation (a city). In God’s wise sovereignty, he has used the confusion of languages to disperse and protect us rather than destroy us. In Acts 2 we get a glimpse of God miraculously reversing the linguistic barrier...

After summarizing the entire Old Testament Law with the statement “love God and love your neighbor as yourself,” the lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” His motives are revealed by the word “test” in Luke 10:25. The lawyer had people he wanted to exclude from his obligation to love and still be considered legally righteous.  Jesus answered his question by telling a story. A man was traveling...

"Who is Jesus?” In this sermon we continue to answer that question by examining three different titles used of him: (1) Messiah (from the Hebrew, or Christ, from the Greek), (2) Son of God, and (3) King. Read the following passages and note how each title is used: John 20:30-31 — our eternal destiny hinges on two of the titles; Matthew 26:57-66; Luke 22:66-72 — the High Priest Caiaphas as well as...

In chapter 10 of Luke, Jesus sends out 72 disciples to prepare the way before him. We learn that every disciple has a mission, an exclusive message, and a high motivation. Our message is exclusive because that is what Jesus taught. He said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” The apostles taught, “there is no other name given under Hea...

In chapter 9 of Luke, Peter confesses that Jesus is not merely one more in a row of prophets — Elijah, John the Baptist, or some other prophet. Peter says, you are “the Christ of God.” What’s interesting is that after Peter gets the person of Jesus correct (his identity), he immediately gets a revelation of his work (sacrificial death). At this point Jesus says, “Follow me.”  In chapters 1 to 8, L...

In chapter 9 of Luke’s Gospel account, he continues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” After explaining the cross work he must accomplish (9:22) and the cross-bearing awaiting those who follow him (9:23-26), Jesus provides hope. “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God” (9:27). In the middle of a string of inquiries about w...

In Luke 9:1-17 we learn more about who Jesus is and we begin to see how the message of Jesus's kingdom will spread. Jesus sends the 12 out to proclaim his kingdom and to heal. Their empowerment to heal reminds us God didn't make the world the way it is today. The miracles aren't primarily an interruption of the natural order, but glimpses into his plan to restore it. He shows us the kind of kingdo...

Luke puts together a collage of four pictures; four miracles; four portraits of people in need. These people are hurting, in trouble, and in need of rescue. The disciples are rescued from the storm, the man from demons, the woman from an illness, Jairus from agonizing grief, and his daughter from death itself. This collage of rescue, the context of each involving desperation and danger, helps answ...

In Luke 8:22-39 Jesus shows he is Lord over the storm and Lord over demonic evil. Jesus must be more than a mere teacher if seasoned sailors turn to him for help in the storm. His simple command calms the storm and invites their faith. When Jesus meets a man possessed by "Legion," although he is outnumbered, he is certainly not outmatched. Jesus has all the power. The demons obey his command and t...

In Luke chapter 8, Jesus tells the parable of the soils in order to help us know whether or not we truly belong to his kingdom. It tells us how the kingdom of God begins in the heart. The emphasis is on hearing (8:8,10,12,13,14,15,18, 21). The parable of the lamp (8:16-17), that follows the parable of the soils, introduces the element of seeing. Hearing and seeing correctly are imperative. Be care...

In Luke 7:36-50 Jesus teaches about debt, forgiveness, and love. Two people find themselves in the same room with Jesus, one was invited while the other was not. Why is one coldly religious and detached from the teacher, while the other passionately and unashamedly worships her Savior? Why is one unchanged and left sitting at the table, while the other is sent out at peace with God? Jesus' parable...

In Luke 7:18-35 we are surprised to hear John the Baptist wrestle with doubt about who Jesus is. This teaches us something about doubt. If the prophet John can doubt, anyone can wrestle with doubt. John's question, "Are you the One?" offers insight into our deepest needs and longings. And Jesus's response further reveals his true identity while also exposing how we are often offended by his true i...

What would make Jesus say, "Wow"? In Luke 7:1-17 we are told Jesus marveled at someone's faith. A centurion had a terminally sick servant. Some Jewish elders begged Jesus to come and heal the servant because the centurion had done good things for Israel. In other words, they believe he is worthy (vs. 4). But the centurion disagrees. He tells Jesus not to come because he isn't worthy (vs. 6). Who i...

Jesus concludes his sermon on the plain (Luke 6:17-49) with two poignant illustrations: two trees and two foundations. The fruit of a tree reveals the root — its nature (verses 43-45). It’s the same with hearts. The heart produces fruit after its true inner nature. Houses reinforce the point further. The foundation is what matters most, not the above ground appearance. Similar to fruit, which can...

Is Jesus Christ the anointed Promised One or not? In Luke's gospel we see Jesus made numerous claims that all proved he is indeed God's Promised Anointed One. These powerful claims are confirmed in two ways: (1) Jesus repeatedly predicted his own resurrection (Luke 18:33, 24:7); (2) The Apostles saw undeniable proof of Jesus' resurrection and believed in it so tenaciously they died for this belief...

Jesus orchestrated the details of his entry into Jerusalem. It is highly symbolic. Jesus presented himself as a different kind of king. In Luke 18-19, we see Jesus as the promised Messiah-king, a humble king, a compassionate king, and a sacrificial king who is also the coming king.

In Luke 6:20 Jesus begins to teach how radically different the values and priorities of his kingdom are compared to this world's kingdom. The Kingdom of God is an alternate community where radical, generous, self-sacrificing love is extended, even to our enemies. This kind of love is vastly different from the "love" so commonly demonstrated in this world's kingdom. How is this kind of radical love...

What Jesus does in the context of  growing opposition in Luke 6 is not only instructive, it’s surprising. First, he withdraws to a mountain where he spends the entire night in prayer (Luke 6:12). Second, he calls twelve men to assist him in his mission (Luke 6:13). Third, he preaches the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20).

Jesus is the Lord and object of worship. Whether fasting and praying, or eating and drinking, our worship should focus on Jesus Christ (5:33-34). The natural tendency is to focus on form rather than substance and religious structures and liturgy rather than God himself. Jesus taught that we should love God and others rather than fixate on the strict mechanics of the law (6:1-11). Jesus exampled th...

In Luke chapter 5 we get a more accurate glimpse of who Jesus is. That’s Luke’s primary pursuit, “Who is Jesus?” Jesus has a holiness that provides us an accurate self-awareness (Simon-Peter in Luke 5:1-11). Jesus’ salvation transforms our relationship to ourselves (a biblical psychologically). Jesus has a holiness that cleanses us before the Father (the leper in Luke 5:12-16). Jesus’ salvation tr...

In Luke 5:12-26, we read two accounts where Jesus cleanses a leper and heals a paralyzed man. Luke provides this historical record to show who Jesus is. When Jesus cleanses the leper, he touches him. Surprisingly, instead of Jesus becoming contaminated (an outcome Old Testament code taught) the leper is cleansed and healed in an instant. And when Jesus sees the faith of the paralyzed man when he i...

In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus turns an amazing catch of fish (the miracle) into a parable about catching people for the kingdom (the universal lesson that applies to everyone). In other words, Jesus was not merely teaching the word of God as he sat in Peter's boat (5:1,3), he was demonstrating something by his actions and with his words. He showed how he means for his followers to catch people for the kin...

Who is Jesus? That is what Luke is answering for us, and that is the most important question you will ever grapple with. In Luke 4:31-44, Jesus reveals himself as the Son of God who has authority in three domains: Teaching (vv. 31-32, 42-44) Demons (vv. 33-37, 40) Sickness (vv. 38-39, 41) Jesus has authority in every single realm both seen and unseen, physical and spiritual. “For I am sure that ne...

In his first sermon (Luke 4:14-30) at the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus claimed to be the Servant of Yahweh described in Isaiah 61:1-2. Initially, the people spoke well of him. However, when Jesus illustrated his ministry and who the Messiah came to deliver, the people were murderously furious. Why? Jesus referenced two Gentiles (the widow of Zarephath and Naaman). Jesus made it clear that the king...

The wilderness scene in Luke 4 teaches us something about the identity of Jesus, the identity of our enemy, and the identity of our struggle. The Identity of Jesus . Jesus is the Son of God. This was pronounced at Jesus’ baptism, and seen in how the devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness. Twice the devil says, “If you are the Son of God” (Luke 4:3, 9). The Son stands in our place to defeat the dev...