Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Notes

Grief and Hope Sunday is coming up.

On the Sunday night we will start a new series in Lamentations.

Tonight we will end Proverbs.

Bible Reading Introduction

It has been 4 weeks since we have been in Luke together.

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Greg teach about the 10 lepers last Sunday

Title comes from vs 3. Take Heed to Yourselves - alternative title “Check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self”

Much of the journey narrative (9:51–19:44) consists of teaching given to the disciples.

Jesus is teaching the disciples how to walk in humility.

In Luke 17:11 “11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.”

Luke reminds us that Jesus and his disciples are still on the journey to Jerusalem.

Luke 17:1–10 (KJV 1900)

1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?

I trow not.

10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Review from last time we were in this passage

Do not make the Gospel difficult to understand?

Luke 17:1 “1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”

In their message that Jesus is not the Messiah

In their hypocrisy

In their perversion of Scripture

In their disdain for the people.

They caused people to be offended by the work of Christ.

The Pharisees were just heaping up stumbling blocks in front of everybody they could who was moving in the direction of Christ.

Be willing to lovingly, rebuke and forgive often.

Luke 17:3 “3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

We don't lead people into sin.

We lead them out of it.

And that starts with rebuke.

Luke gives a principle, "If your brother sins, rebuke him."

Matthew gives the process.

This call to forgive is difficult and led the disciples to say Luke 17:5 “5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”

Now we see how Jesus helped His disciples increase their faith.

How does Jesus help them?

In two ways, both of which are by telling them truth.

So even in the way he responds he shows us that faith comes by hearing.

Knowing certain things should increase our faith.

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Jesus tells them that the crucial issue in doing the impossible is not the quantity of their faith but the power of God.

Luke 17:6 “6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”

We must ask at times what the disciples asked “Why could we not _________?”

Fill in the blank.

- for them caste out demons for us in this passage; forgive.

Paul is emphasizing faith enabled, faith dependent discipleship and devotion.

Faith is not abstract

Faith isn’t abstract; we put our faith in the promises of God

Faith is not adrenaline.

Faith is not warm feelings.

Faith is Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is looking to God’s promises and acting upon them.

Friend sent me this from their devotions.

It gives a good definition of faith.

Acts 27:25 “25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Here is a simple definition of faith.

Faith is believing what God said is true, and letting that affect your attitude and actions.

Paul has just announced that all of their lives will be spared, but their ship will be lost.

Now we move on to the second lesson Jesus teaches to those who ask for help to increase their faith.

When you have done all that you are commanded to do you are still dependent on God’s grace

Have you ever been told this as a kid to watch your attitude?

Adult?

That is what is about to happen.

Let me help you understand the context that the original audience would have understood.

We are not looking at a person under bondage or slavery, as we would know it, but a servant who would have received housing and food.

These relationships were not typically lifelong.

This is the afternoon meal that happened daily.

These were agreed upon terms.

It was art of the servants job description to take care of this meal before they would sit down and eat.

Jesus is not describing the way it is between God and His children but the way the Pharisees think it is.

And He is explaining how it is illogical even with their worldview.

Luke 17:7-10 “7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?

I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

Summary: God is never our debtor.

Remember the Prodigal Story: The older brother is suspicious that somehow his father is not gracious towards him even though he has performed on such a high level.

They viewed obedience as something that gave them leverage over God.

We will never work our way up out of debt to a place where God is in our debt.

Romans 11:35 “35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”

Great encouragement!

Why?

Because it means that God is just as free to bless us before we get our act together as he is after.

This story is followed by the story of 10 lepers.

None of them had anything to offer Jesus when He came to them and brought healing.

Last week I spent some time on the phone with one of our missionaries to Turkey.

Also I spent time with a pastor who thought his church would close.

I found myself envying their awareness of their need for God to work.

They were desperate.

They were committed to living by faith.

We should trust God for great things in our little faith, and not be paralyzed by what is left to be done in our lives and in our church.

Why is this so difficult for us?

The Bible says a lot about the connection between obedience and blessing

One of the great themes of the Old Testament and of the New Testament is that the way of blessing is the way of obedience.