October 20, 2024

Luke 6:20-36

Bearing the Family Image

Sunday Sermons

In Luke 6:20-36, Jesus reveals what the life of a disciple looks like in His kingdom. What Jesus teaches will challenge our values, reshape our priorities, and call us to a new way of living. From what the blessed life looks like to the command to love our enemies, Jesus invites us into a world where true happiness is found in the most unexpected places. What does it mean to live out these countercultural truths? How can we love those who don’t love us back? Join us as we explore the heart of Jesus’ teaching and discover what a true disciple of Christ looks like.

Speaker

Ryan Motta

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 6:20-36

Topics
Community Life Growth & Discipleship

Sermon Notes

“In the Beatitudes, Christ promises a blessed life to those who are utterly destitute of all human advantages and comforts, so that they may rely wholly upon the mercy of God.”
John Calvin

BRADY: “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings, and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey man, this is what is.” I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think: God, it’s gotta be more than this. I mean this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be. I mean I’ve done it. I’m 27. And what else is there for me?
KROFT: What’s the answer?
BRADY: I wish I knew. I wish I knew.

“Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”
CS Lewis

What does life as a disciple of Jesus look like?

1. A disciple of Jesus lives with an eternal perspective (vv. 20-26, 35)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14

“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs”
Jonathan Edwards

2. A disciple of Jesus reflects the heart of God (vv. 27-36)

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son”
Romans 5:10

“The world is watching, and it needs to see something of the character of God in the people who claim to belong to Him.”
Martin Lloyd Jones

“Forgiveness is often (or perhaps usually) granted before it’s felt inside. When you forgive somebody, you’re not saying, “All my anger is gone.” What you’re saying when you forgive is “I’m now going to treat you the way God treated me. I remember your sins no more.”
Tim Keller

3. A disciple of Jesus must receive God’s love for themselves (vv. 35-36)

“The key to Christian living is not our perfection but the forgiveness of our imperfections. That’s why Christ died.”
John Piper

“What is it that enables us to forgive others so radically by giving us the inner resources of supernatural humility, confidence, love, and joy? It is the atoning death of Christ on the cross.”
Tim Keller

Discussion Questions

  1. “And He lifted his eyes on His disciples and said…” (Luke 6:20)
    How does knowing that Jesus was talking to His disciples change how you look at Luke 6:20-36? Do you assume that all following Jesus at that time believed He was the Messiah?
  2. As a disciple today, how do you balance the comforts we enjoy in the West with Jesus’ words to be careful with earthly riches and rewards?
  3. When you hear that we should “love our enemies (v.27),” who does God bring to mind? Name some practical ways you can love someone who you consider an enemy.
  4. Eternity with God is our promise…are you living with an eternal perspective? How does this look in your day-to-day life?
  5. Ryan emphasized that the well-known idea of “turn the other cheek” (v.29) does NOT refer to accepting physical abuse. It refers to allowing an insult without taking revenge. Have you been confused by this passage in the past, thinking that it means allowing abusive behavior?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs:

“Almost Home“ by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Lauren Papa
“Come People Of The Risen King“ by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
“We Will Feast In The House Of Zion“ by Sandra McCracken and Joshua Moore
“Be Thou My Vision“ by Mary Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois

All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #200369

Call To Worship: Congregational Prayer

Lord, fill our hearts with reverence for You. Make us hunger for Your Word and passionately desire to walk in Your ways. Forgive us our sins, for they are many. Give us a greater glimpse of Your glory as we offer You this praise and worship. We thank You for the way You have rescued us over and over, through many difficult things. Come now and help us in this: to place our trust, hope, and confidence in You. May Your name be honored in our conduct. May Your kingdom be made visible in our relationships. May Your will be done in our hearts and minds. This we pray in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, to Whom belongs all glory, forever and ever, amen!

Confession: The Glory of God and Everlasting Life

LEADER: How can we glorify God?
PEOPLE: We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.

LEADER: What is idolatry?
PEOPLE: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.

LEADER: What hope does everlasting life hold for us?
PEOPLE: It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and the new earth, where we will be fully and forever freed from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation.

New City Catechism, Questions 6, 17, 52

Classic Prayer: Dallas Willard, 1935-2013

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we are so thankful that you have said, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” We are thankful for the ease with which you walked upon this earth, the generosity and kindness you showed to people, the devotion with which you cared for those who were out of the way and in trouble, the extent to which you even loved your enemies and laid down your life for them. We are so thankful to believe that this is a life for us, a life without lack; a life of sufficiency. It’s so clear in you, the sufficiency of your Father and the fullness of life that was poured through you, and we’re so thankful that you have promised the same love, the same life, the same joy, and the same power for us. Lord, slip up on us today. Get past our defenses, our worries, our concerns. Gently open our souls and speak your word into them. We believe you want to do it, and we wait for you to do it now.

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