Scott LaPierre Ministries

What does it mean to love Christ? In Luke 14:26 Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” We know Jesus didn’t literally mean to hate our parents, spouse, children, and siblings, because that would contradict other verses: First Timothy 5:8 says, “If anyone do...

Isaiah 7:14 says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name Immanuel (which means God with Us).” Prophecy can have a near, partial fulfillment and a future, greater fulfillment. In Isaiah’s day a young girl was a virgin. She would get married, cease being a virgin, have a child, and name that child, Immanuel. There is nothing miraculous about this birth, other than God p...

In Luke 14:26 Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me and does not…” and then he listed things that make it seem like He tried to discourage people from following Him. In this sermon we looked at a few other examples of this happening. Because if Jesus said these things in His day and they’re recorded for us, then we should hear the same thing in our day so that we know what is involved in following...

In the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-24, Jesus said, “A king gave a great banquet and invited many.” Those who had been invited began to make excuses, which represent the excuses many people give to the gospel. In response to the king invited the Gentiles, and all those who are poor, crippled, blind, and lame. Spiritually speaking these people represent all of us. Do we make excuses t...

David and Mephibosheth, in 2 Samuel 9, is one of the most beautiful accounts in the Old Testament. When we read Scripture, we want to be David defeating Goliath or Elijah on Mount Carmel, but we are Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was unable to walk because he was made lame through a fall, and spiritually speaking, we are unable to walk with God, because we have been made lame through the fall. Mephibo...

Jesus said, "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). This is one of the most common themes in Scripture: "God puts down one and exalts another" (Psalm 75:6), "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up," (James 4:10), "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5...

In Luke 14:3 Jesus asked lawyers what was lawful on the Sabbath. They were experts in the law. This is their language! They were always deciding what is and isn’t lawful. If anyone should’ve been able to answer this question it was them. But they couldn’t answer, because they created a complex system of rules that made the Sabbath a burden instead of a blessing. Learn why doing good was appropriat...

Bowing the knee to Jesus Christ is something each person will do, whether on this side of heaven or the next. Everyone will come to the realization that Jesus is the Son of God: Isaiah 45:23 [God says], “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” Romans 14:11 “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Philippians 2:10 At th...

We see Jesus’ compassion for sinners when He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). The Jews murdered the prophets, apostles, and Jesus, yet Jesus still wanted to gather them under his wings to love...

Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). We should consider the following verses to see why many will seek to enter heaven but few will enter. Table of contentsWe Should Consider Why Many Will Seek to Enter Heaven but Few Will EnterThe Question Is, “Does the Lord Know You?”The Lord Doesn’t Know People Who Hav...

Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). There is probably an obvious question you are asking. It’s the same question I asked when reading these verses and I looked forward to studying them to learn the answer. Jesus says we are supposed to strive to enter through the narrow door, so does that mean we get to...

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven in Luke 13:18-21 describe the growth and spreading influence of the church, but from different approaches. The parable of the mustard seed is about outward growth. Birds from outside fly into and become part of the tree. The parable of the leaven is about inward growth. The leaven works from inside the dough. Leaven makes dough rise from within which pic...

The dangers of legalism and spiritual bondage are demonstrated in the account in Luke 13:10-17 when Jesus heals the crippled woman. Legalism makes people captives as much as any physical disability. The synagogue ruler was angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. It is hard to believe that something so beautiful could be so upsetting, but it reveals the bondage he was in—a bondage that was worse...

We must bear fruit in keeping with repentance. The main point of Luke 13 verses one through five is that we must repent. Jesus says, “You are looking at people who died in these tragedies and asking if they died because they are worse than everyone who lived. Instead, you should ask whether you have repented, because they perished physically, but if you don’t repent you are going to perish spiritu...

The common tendency when experiencing trials is to wonder if we are suffering for sin. When Difficult situations occur we wonder what we did to cause the suffering we are experiencing. In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus taught that suffering is not always the result of sin. When Jesus commented on two tragedies that took place, he didn't explain why they happened, because we don't often get to find out why suff...

Each city of refuge served as a beautiful type and shadow of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As Hebrews 6:18 says, "We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." Table of contentsThe Cities of Refuge (Deuteronomy 19:5-6 and Numbers 35:9-12)Christ Is Our City of Refuge (Hebrews 6:18)Pursued by an Avenger (Numbers 35:19)Refuge from Death (1 Corinthian...

We should make every effort to settle with God before we stand before Him. In Luke 12:58 Jesus said, "As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison." If we are involved in legal disputes and we are accused and guilty, the best thing to do i...

Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'” All of this was wonderfully foreshadowed with the bronze serpent. This is part two. Here is part one. Table of ContentsUnder a Curse from the LawTaking the Curse of the Law for UsPersonal Application (Continued from Part One)Complaining abo...

In this sermon I discuss four blessings when choosing God over family. There aren’t many situations more difficult for Christians to face than having to choose God over family. Allow these four encouragements to help you if you find yourself in this situation. https://youtu.be/h9rfdJkGLE4 Choosing God over family is one of the most difficult situations Christians face. Allow these four encourageme...

Jesus established the bronze serpent as a type of Him: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). This is part one. Here is part two. Table of ContentsReject the Manna and Get the SerpentThe Bronze Serpent Represents SinLike the Bronze Serpent, Christ Became Sin for UsThe Bronze Serpent...

God told Moes, "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it to drink” (Exodus 17:6) Read on to learn about this wonderful type of Christ. This is Part II. Here is Part I. Table of ContentsBaptism and Communion with ChristA Firm FoundationProducing Living WaterThe Samaritan Woman at the WellThe Feast of TabernaclesStruck O...

First Corinthians 10:4 says, "The spiritual rock that followed them was Christ." What does this mean? Read on to learn about this beautiful type of Christ. This is Part I. Here is Part II. Table of ContentsComplaining Instead of Asking (Exodus 17:1-7)A New Generation Sounds Like the Old (Numbers 20:1-13)A Heart-Breaking, but Necessary JudgmentThe Spiritual Rock that Followed Them Was Christ (1 Cor...

In Luke 12:42 Jesus asked, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?" In Luke 12:35-40 Jesus preached about being ready for his return. We could almost think that what the guys are doing in Acts 1:9-11, is the best example of doing what Christ wanted: standing there, waiting, staring off into heav...

Jesus said, "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). Jesus wants us prepared to serve Him. Our waist must be girded so we’re ready to act quickly, but we need to be able to see where we’re going! We live in a dark world and the light we need to see comes from God’s Word: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105)...

Acts 2:42 says regarding the early church, "they devoted themselves to the word (apostles' doctrine), and fellowship, communion (breaking of bread), and prayers." This verse can serve as a blueprint for churches. It describes the foundation of the early church, and it can serve as a foundation for us. Peter preached a great sermon on Pentecost and three thousand people were saved. This huge group...