Are you sure? Sure, I'm sure!
Previous articleBack to Table of ContentsNext article

FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY

Topic: Luke's Perspective of Jesus: Ch. 8 Message Outlines (Include Audio)

Luke 8:16-18 (1)

by Darrel Cline
(darrelcline biblical-thinking.org)

Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 3 Study # 1
February 22, 2009
Lincolnton, N.C.
(Download Audio)

(508)

Thesis:  Disciples of Jesus must be aware of how important their actions are.

Introduction:   We have taken pains to consider the meaning of Jesus' parable of the soils so that we might participate in the benefit He planned for His disciples. We have seen that the large point of the parable of the sower is that those who sow should understand what will happen when they sow. Under that larger point, however, is the explanation of why "what happens", happens. And under that explanation is the implied insistence that the "disciples" avoid all of those "whys" that keep the seed from accomplishing its intent.

The largest "point" that we have tried to make is that there are only two matters that affect the fruitfulness of a disciple. The first is whether the disciple provides sufficient moisture for the plant that sprouts from the seed. This is explained by the general biblical issue of maintaining a sufficiently close relationship with God to allow His "water of life" to flow to us, into us, and out of us to others. Without this "moisture" there can be no fruit.

Then there is the second matter: whether the disciple provides sufficient nutrition to the plant so that it can produce a harvest. This is explained by the necessity of keeping the "worries", the "riches", and the "pleasures" at bay (the unbelieving positions of the soul, the spirit, and the body must be met by faith).

Now, this morning we are moving into the second of Jesus' "parables". It is given in 8:16 and developed in 8:17-18. It consists of three parts: a declaration of something no one does/everyone does; a declaration of a most fundamental reality of God's function in this world; and a warning about methods and consequences. So, we will approach this parable according to its parts.


(return to the top of the article)

Previous articleBack to Table of ContentsNext article
This is article #509.
If you wish, you may contact Darrel as darrelcline at this site.