Having stated the goals of gospel ministry and the qualifications of elders, Paul explains how the goals of faith and godliness are achieved in the local church: “He [an elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound...
What should leadership in the local church look like? For many, this question is answered with modern business principles and leadership strategies; God’s word is deemed irrelevant and outdated. But how are God’s people to grow in their knowledge of the truth and godliness? How is the church protected from...
The church on Crete was new. Elders had not yet been appointed, the believers were fragile, and false teaching had already begun to creep into their midst. In fact, the problems they faced are no different from what we see today: issues regarding leadership, legalism, liberalism, discipleship, obedience, and overall...
Jesus told the parable of the ten minas to the crowds, Luke explains, “because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately” (Luke 19:11). As we have seen throughout the Gospel of Luke, the person and work of Jesus himself...
After Jesus’ encounter with the Rich Young Ruler—a man who couldn’t bear to consider the cost of discipleship—he made a profound exclamation: “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” This prompted his disciples to ask who then could be saved, to which Jesus...
The story of the blind beggar in Luke 18:31-43 is most often considered as being just another miracle story: Jesus gives a blind man physical sight. However, in our sermon series through Luke’s gospel we have seen over and over again how there’s more to Jesus’ miracle-working ministry than just...
“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'” (Luke 18:18). This rich, young man could not have asked Jesus a more important question. However, he was unprepared to hear the answer, for when he heard it, “he became very sad” (Luke 18:23), and...
The Lord Jesus Christ is returning one day in glory to judge the world, destroy his enemies, and establish his kingdom in righteousness. But when the Son of Man comes, who will be found righteous so as to dwell in his kingdom (Luke 18:8)? This is the dilemma of fall...
The kingdom of God—his reign over all creatures, kingdoms, and history— is one of the central themes of the Bible. Scripture is filled with promises concerning God’s future, everlasting, unchallenged, and glorious rule. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man (Dan. 7:13-14), was the sign that God himself had come in...