Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

1) Jesus comes in the power of the Holy Spirit to do ___________ work, not ____________.

2) The preaching of Jesus evokes two responses: __________ and __________.

3) Jesus doesn't help us achieve our ___________, He gives us a new _____________.


Scripture Readings
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:16-30


Take It With You!

From now until Lent we will be examining the early parts of Jesus ministry. Here we will offer thoughts and meditations on the various aspects of Jesus ministry to help us as we contemplate and discuss and wrestle with the messages.

The challenge before us as Christian witnesses is whether we will offer Jesus Christ as the key to fulfilling our narcissistic preoccupation or as the Redeemer who liberates us from its guilt and power. Does Christ come to boost our ego or to crucify our ego and raise us up as new creatures with our identity in him? According to the apostle Paul, there is glory awaiting us to be sure, but it is the glory that comes to us by virtue of our being in Christ: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:3-4). Our righteousness before a holy God is not inherent; it is a gift to those who are in themselves unrighteous.

By the way, I do not think this means we simply write off the desire for fulfillment and happiness. The gospel neither meets our narcissistic goals nor denies the truth of which they are a perversion. People were created for meaning, purpose, joy, and fulfillment. As C.S. Lewis reminds us, it's not that our desires are too strong but that they are too weak. While God wants to give us everlasting life, we settle for trivial satisfaction of superficial needs that are to a large extent created within us by the culture of marketing.

Michael Horton, Christless Christianity. p. 33-34