Luke 4:22-30
Reflect
I recall a preaching class from seminary. Hook your listeners with a good opening; go to the Book for foundation; utilize style with words; only if trust and affection are established, lean in with something to make the listener slightly uncomfortable.
Today we read of Jesus’ first sermon! Clearly, He skipped homiletics. The listeners warmly received His reading from Isaiah 61 (though perhaps, some took exception to His insertion of Isaiah 58). As long as Jesus stayed safe, all was friendly.
The key turning point is when v22 says “gracious words”. Jesus shakes up the pleasantries by guiding the people far beyond the shock of a Jewish carpenter’s son to those understood to be outside of a covenantal relationship with Yahweh, as examples of God’s grace. Was this necessary? True grace does not hesitate to injure, in order to cure. Jesus has the freedom to dispense His unusual sort of grace, whether we accept it or refuse it. The good news is that His grace is loving enough to be truthful. Even today when Jesus speaks, those that “get it” don’t go all quiet, placid and undisturbed. The establishment of Nazareth thought everything was “just fine” before Jesus showed up. Then He opened His mouth, and all history was changed.
What will Jesus’ grace revealed through you today look like for those you influence?
Pastor Dan
Pray
- Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Kenney, Mayor Sohi, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor; Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Assistant and their intern, Ethan Okken.
- Pray for our Hospitality Coordinator, Irene Dickau.
- Pray for all our small group leaders.