Luke 12.32-40

This coming Sunday I will be preaching at Long Memorial United Methodist Church ----- 226 N. Main Street - Roxboro.  I will be focusing on Luke 12.32-40.  In the very last verse Jesus says: "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." 

A proper understanding of the end times (eschatology) is to inform our current circumstances and situations.  Here Jesus says there is to be a readiness on our part ------ a readiness that allows us to be prepared for the end.  This end will come like a thief in the night ------- we do not know when it will happen ------ but we do know that it will happen.  Therefore, we are to be vigilant in efforts to live the totality of our lives for Jesus.  We are to be ready for action ----- ready at an unexpected hour to welcome Jesus (v36). 

In this proper understanding of eschatology we begin to see that we are to live holy lives devoted to the one who is worthy of our time, attention, and preparation.  For this readiness is to involve the totality of our lives, for it is all consuming, because we await our master's return (v36).  How are you making yourself ready for the unexpected hour of our master's return?

Luke 12.13-21

This coming Sunday I will be speaking at Faith Harbor Church in Surf City, NC.  We will be focusing on Luke 12.13-21.  In this passage we have Jesus share with us a parable.  Jesus has someone call out in the crowd that he should settle an inheritance dispute.  Interestingly, the man who calls Jesus out regards him as teacher ------ but then proceeds to make demands. 

Jesus goes on to tell the man that life is not about the abundance of possessions (v15) ----- but instead life is something more than that.  That is when we are introduced to the parable of the rich fool. 

The fool is really a good business person.  He has a bumper crop one year ------ and because of his bumper crop he decides that he should build bigger barns to store all of his grains and goods (v18).  Rather than being considered an apt business man ----- Jesus describes him as a fool.  He is a fool because that very night his life is required of him. 

At the beginning of the parable we do not see a clear direction on where Jesus is going to tie this parable into the inheritance question.  But at the end the connection is clearly made.  Storing up treasures on earth is a false form of being rich ------ instead true riches are found in the Lord (v21).  The key turning point for the business man ------ is when he talks to himself (v19).  Instead of consulting the Lord on what to do with the grain and goods that he has accumulated, he only consults his own soul.  For the Lord had something else in store for him, and all the wealth he had accumulated will go to someone else. 

In what ways have we accumulated wealth and possessions, but have not consulted the Lord about what we are to do with those things?