Rise Above Excuses: Luke 9:28-62
1. Excuse: “It’s Confusing” - Stop Guessing & Start
28 About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. 31 They were glorious to see. And they
were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. 35 Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” —Luke 9:28-35
“The Bible has ruined a lot of my bright ideas.” —Harold Bullock
Listen: To believe something and
44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. —Luke 9:44–45
46 Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. 48 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” —Luke 9:46-48
“Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.” —Luke 9:49–50
51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village. —Luke 9:49–56
2. Excuse: “It’s Too Hard” - Choose
37 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.” 42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. —Luke 9:37-42
“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” —Mark 9:22–24
But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power. —Luke 9:42–43
“Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” —Matt 17:19–20
“This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” —Mark 9:29
Prayerlessness is a sign of
3. Excuse: “It’s Not What I Want” - Put
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” —Luke 9:57–58
Choose Christ’s
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” —Luke 9:59-60
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” —Luke 9:61-62
But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. —Gen 19:26
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. —Luke 9:23 ESV
What’s Your Next Step?
• Stop Guessing & Start Listening
• Choose Prayer Over Despair
• Put Jesus Above My Preferences
Application Questions: What areas of my life do I to listen to Jesus about? Why don’t most people pray more? What are some potential preferences that Jesus might ask someone to give up?
Reminders
After emailing your notes- Please complete your Connection Card let us know if you are interested in any of the following:
- Sat April 17th: Baptism Celebration
- Sat April 24th: Men’s Pizza, Poker, & Prizes Hangout
- Let us know if you are interested in helping out where needed at Compass
College Students
- Join us Thursday for College Night. Join us this week as we continue going through our 1 John Study!
WATCH ONLINE OR IN PERSON (MONTEZUMA PARK) NEXT WEEK AT 11AM