THE GOSPEL OF LUKE - Hear Him
Waging War on Worry
April 28, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 12:22–34
INTRODUCTION: I wonder if anybody here can relate to what the great theologian and philosopher, Irma Bombeck, once said: I've always worried a lot, and frankly I'm good at it. I worry about introducing people and going blank when I get to my mother. I worry about a shortage of ball bearings, a snake coming up through the kitchen drain. I worry about the world ending at midnight and getting stuck with three hours on a twenty-four hour cold capsule. I worry about getting into the Guinness World Book of Records under "Pregnancy: Oldest Recorded Birth." I worry what the dog thinks when he sees me coming out of the shower. I worry that one of my children will marry an Eskimo who will set me adrift on an iceberg when I can no longer feed myself. I worry about salesladies following me into the fitting room, oil slicks, and Carol Channing going bald. I worry about scientists discovering someday that lettuce has been fattening all along.
Freedom from Covetousness
April 21, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 12:13–21
When I am asked to speak to a group of Pastors often they want me to speak on the subject of giving or generosity. Our church is known as a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the trends on local church giving. They presume it is something I harp on a lot, they will often ask, “How many times a year do you do a series of sermons on giving?”. I rarely do that. In fact, we hardly mention it in the service. Yet, week after week, the Lord provides far beyond all we could ask or think through your eager generosity. I can’t explain why that is the case. I can tell you that our commitment to preaching through books of the Bible has served us well, simply because the subject will come up at appropriate intervals and when it does, no one has to suspect an ulterior motive. It’s simply, what’s next. Such is the case today - as we study through the Gospel of Luke, we find that Jesus was not speaking on the subject of money, but someone from the crowd raised a question that sparked this week’s teaching from the lips of our Lord.
Freedom from Fear
April 14, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 12:4–12
The Antidote for Hypocrisy
April 7, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 12:1–3
Remember the last time we were together in Luke; we looked at the subject of Jesus and Hypocrisy. WE said that - The Greek word Jesus used is hupo - crates - The word means an actor. The Greek actors would wear masks that portrayed whatever emotion the part required. • SAD - So if the Actor was playing a sad role, he would wear a mask with a frown and tear drops rolling down the cheeks. • ANGRY - If the Actor was playing the part of an angry character, the mask would be an angry mask. A Hypocrite does the same thing—he or she portrays something externally that is incongruent with internal reality.
The Reasonable Savior
March 3, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 11:14–26
Pastor Zach Terry's sermon, rooted in Luke Chapter 11, delves into the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over the source of His power to cast out demons, providing profound insights into the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of Satan, the unity within the kingdom of Satan, and the imperative of not just reforming one's life but being regenerated through faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that mere behavioral change without spiritual rebirth can leave one more susceptible to spiritual downfall, underscoring the necessity of inviting Jesus into one’s life, not just as a reformer but as a redeemer and ruler.
Motivations to Pray
February 25, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 11:5–13
Pastor Zach Terry's sermon focuses on the importance and power of persistent prayer. He draws from Luke Chapter 11, emphasizing Jesus' teaching on prayer through the Lord's Prayer and subsequent parables. Terry illustrates how lack of motivation and misunderstanding the nature of prayer often hinder people from praying consistently. He stresses that prayer should be seen as a privilege rather than a duty, a first resource rather than a last resort. Through biblical stories and personal anecdotes, Pastor Terry conveys three main reasons to pray persistently: knowing God as a friend, understanding the format God desires for prayer, and recognizing God as our loving Father who is inclined to give good gifts to His children. He also addresses common reasons prayers might seem unanswered, encouraging the congregation to examine their faith, obedience, and persistence in prayer.
Worship and Work
February 4, 2024 • Pastor Zach Terry • Luke 10
The sermon discusses the familiar story of Mary and Martha from Luke's Gospel, emphasizing the importance of balancing service with worship. While Martha is preoccupied with serving, Mary chooses to sit and learn at Jesus' feet. The sermon highlights the dangers of putting work before worship, suggesting that such an imbalance can lead to divided priorities, a distorted view of God, decreased emotional health, and deprivation of our greatest resource—time with God. Pastor Zach Terry encourages creating more margin in life, focusing on what God wants us to do, honoring the rhythm of Sabbath and corporate worship, having a designated time and place for meeting with God, and teaching others to do the same. The key takeaway is the importance of prioritizing personal worship and time with God to ensure that service and ministry come from a place of spiritual fullness and alignment with God's will.