Parables And Prophecies

Luke 16:14–18
Discover the biblical perspective on divorce and remarriage in this thought-provoking sermon by Stephen Davey. Drawing from Luke 16:14-18, Stephen explores the challenges of marriage, the importance of commitment, and the consequences of unrepentant sin within the marital relationship. Gain insights into the exceptions for divorce outlined in the Bible and learn how to navigate difficult situations while upholding God's design for marriage. Stephen answers common questions such as, "Must an abused wife remain in her marriage?" Find encouragement and guidance for your own marriage or for supporting others who may be facing marital struggles.

Luke 16:19–31
Our world finds hell too disturbing, too painful, too seemingly cruel, too convicting to talk about. Some pastors and teachers have watered down the orthodox teaching of hell, saying instead that hell is not painful, or not permanent, or not real. But Jesus’ teachings on hell are clear, and so are the lessons we need to learn from it. For the believer, if the reality of hell isn’t spurring on your evangelism, you don’t understand it well enough. And for the unbeliever, if the reality of hell isn’t causing you to turn to God for mercy, you haven’t yet realized the eternal judgment that right now awaits you—but can be avoided.

Luke 17:1–10
Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, but He also called them to be in community with each other. Jesus wanted them, and us, to understand that the Christian life is not meant to be lived in solitude. Accountability is a vital element of our discipleship, our sanctification, and our service. Through three teachings, Jesus urges us to make accountability a vital part of our churches and our fellowship.

Luke 17:11–19
Because we can’t physically see God—although we do see His works—and although we can’t physically hear God with our ears—although we do read His words in our Bibles—it can be hard to remember to thank God for the blessings He gives us. It’s much easier to remember to be grateful when you can see and hear and touch the person you’re thanking. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one remembered to be grateful. Stephen Davey challenges us to be like him in this lesson.

Luke 17:20–37
Just like our world is today, the disciples in Jesus’ day were obsessed with the end times. What happens next when the world ends has been a fascination of all cultures in all times throughout human history. And Jesus provides some clarity and guidance about how future events should impact our present living.

Luke 18:1–8
What are your expectations when you pray? Do you expect God to answer in a certain way, or on a certain timeline? The truth is: our prayers are only effective when we conform to God’s will, not when we insist upon our own. Jesus taught His disciples this truth using a parable of a poor widow and a corrupt judge.

Luke 18:9–14
Things—and people—are rarely what they seem to be. Social media has trained us to be more “image conscious.” People even arrive to church more concerned with displaying a righteous exterior than experiencing the convicting of the Holy Spirit. And this is nothing new. In Jesus’ day, He often rebuked the Pharisees as self-righteous, image-conscious hypocrites. Let’s learn to avoid their tragic example.

Luke 18:15–17
If it’s a dangerous time to be a child in the 21^st century, it was exponentially more so during the days of Jesus. Many children never lived to adulthood, or even to their teenage years. Those who did survive infancy were marginalized in their culture. But Jesus changed all that. Through a simple act of showing interest and care in the lives of children, Jesus began a cause that, to this day, Christians all around the world continue to strive for: protecting and cherishing our children.

Luke 18:18–30
We know that there is no works-based test to become a Christian. You don’t have to present your bank account to God and prove how poor you are for Him to allow you into heaven. So why does Jesus connect our entrance into God’s kingdom with how much money we have? As Stephen Davey explains, it’s not a matter of prosperity, it’s a matter of priority. Money is not the same as love of money—particularly the love of money that supersedes all other loves. That’s the lesson Jesus taught the rich young ruler, and it’s a lesson He’s still teaching today.

Luke 18:31–43
Physical sight doesn’t guarantee spiritual insight. Physical blindness doesn’t limit spiritual vision. Jesus demonstrated perhaps the ultimate Messianic power when he restored sight to a believing blind man. But many people in the crowd had perfectly good vision, but couldn’t see their Savior standing right in front of them. Stephen Davey teaches on Bartimaeus’ miraculous healing.

Luke 19:1–10
While you probably know the Sunday school song about Zacchaeus the tax collector, chances are you may not understand the extent of his sin and the miraculous nature of his restoration. Only Jesus Christ can deliver the kind of life-transforming grace that would cause the richest cheat in Israel to become a compassionate, benevolent, above-and-beyond kind of follower of Christ.

Luke 19:11–27
In Luke 19:11-27, you are confronted with the potential responses of diligence, laziness, and defiance in your service to Christ. The parable illustrates that, as a follower of Christ, you are entrusted with divine investments, and your response determines your position in the coming kingdom. Develop a godly perspective of anticipation, recognizing that you are entrusted with divine assets. You are called to engage in service for the Lord until His return, using your talents, responsibilities, and opportunities to honor Him.