Luke 2.41-52

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Luke 2.41-52. In this passage we see the only example of the young Jesus in all the gospels. Here he goes with his parents to the Temple at the festival of the Passover. This annual pilgrimage was when he was 12 years of age. Jesus had been memorizing from the Torah and ended up staying behind and engaging with the rabbis that were at the temple. His parents had to return to Jerusalem to find him there. After asking where he had been ----- for they were surely nervous when they did not find him in the caravan ----- he said: "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2.49) It then says that Jesus went back home with his parents and was obedient to them. During these growing up years it says that "Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor." (Luke 2.52)

What we will be focusing on this coming Sunday is how Jesus grew in holy habits. Habits of scripture reading, engaging in the Word of God, obedience, wisdom, and worship. As we come to the beginning of 2013 we would like to be intentional in giving each of us an opportunity to make commitments to the Lord in our holy habits. We would look to Jesus, who is our example and guide, so that he can show us what it means to be one dedicated to the Lord. I would encourage all of you to be in prayer, considering the commitments that the Lord is laying on your hearts ------ and then come and make that commitment before the Lord this coming Sunday.

The Gospel of Luke

For the months of December 2012 through March 2013 we will be focusing on the Gospel of Luke. In Luke we find an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Luke writes this gospel he confesses that there were others who had written an account of the life of Jesus. What he wants to do is write an account of the life of Jesus in dedication to a man named most excellent Theophilus (Luke 1.3). Luke then says he wants to write this for Theophilus "so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed" (Luke 1.4).

Many of us have had instruction in the ways of Christ ----- what we want to do during our time in the Gospel of Luke, is to learn more about this Jesus ---- "so that you may know the truth."

We would like to invite you to come and learn the truth concerning Jesus Christ. Not the assumptions that people make of the God-man ---- instead may we know the truth ----- and the truth will set us free. This teaching series will be during our 8:45am & 11am services at Warren's Grove (www.warrensgroveumc.org). All are invited!

Below you will find a listing of what passage we will be focusing on each Sunday:
December 2nd, 2012: Luke 21.25-36
December 9th, 2012: Luke 3.1-6
December 16th, 2012: Luke 3.7-18
December 23rd, 2012: Luke 1.39-55
December 24th, 2012: Luke 2.1-20
December 30th, 2012: Luke 2.41-52
January 6th, 2013: Matthew 2.1-12 (Epiphany Sunday)
January 13th, 2013: Luke 3.15-22
January 20th, 2013: Luke 4.14-21
January 27th, 2013: Luke 4.21-30
February 3rd, 2013: Luke 5.1-11
February 10th, 2013: Luke 6.17-26
February 13th, 2013: Luke 12.22-34
February 17th, 2013: Luke 4.1-13
February 24th, 2013: Luke 13.22-35
March, 3rd, 2013: Luke 13.1-9
March 10th, 2013: Luke 15.11-22
March 17th, 2013: Luke 20.9-19
March 24th, 2013: Luke 19.29-40
March 31st, 2013: Luke 24.1-12

Flash Mob

Luke 1.39-55

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Luke 1.39-55. In this passage we have Mary going with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. In this encounter, the child in Elizabeth's womb leaps and causes Elizabeth to prophecy that Mary is pregnant with the Lord. And then Mary goes on to sing a song of revolution ------ where God will come and make things right with the world.

What a strange and beautiful passage. God's great plan is wrapped up in a teen-age girl hastily traversing the Judean hill country ----- God's great plan is wrapped up in the child leaping in the womb which causes his mother to pronounce that "the mother of my Lord comes to me" ------ God's great plan is wrapped up in a song that sends the rich away empty and fills the hungry with good things. This is God's plan.

Mary teaches us that when God shows up things change ----- social systems change ----- hierarchy changes ----- status changes ------ reality changes. We journey hastily with Mary, looking expectantly for our Lord and God to come, and make things right. Come Lord Jesus! Come!

Luke 3.7-18

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Luke 3.7-18. In this passage we hear John the Baptist proclaiming to the people that they are to repent and flee from the wrath to come. He even says that they are like snakes that flee from the fire! But in the midst of all of those dire warnings John the Baptist says: "Bear fruits worthy of repentance" (v8). All of this is good news (v18). It is good news because repentance is a gift that the Lord gives us. Just think if we could not repent. We would wallow in our sin ----- never having a way to turn away from the evil that ensnares us.

John outlines some ways that the people are to bear fruit. He told the congregation that had gathered at the river's edge to give of what they have [coats and food (v11)], collect only the share that is owed to them (v13), to be satisfied with what they have, and to not extort (v14). The question for us is what fruit do we need to bear that is worthy of repentance? Repentance is truly an action on our part ----- a turning away from sin ----- therefore, bearing fruit should be a natural repercussion to the life of faith. Are you bearing fruit that is worthy of the great gift of repentance that the Lord has given you?

"Oh Great God Give Us Rest"

Beginning of Advent