Derek Griz

Colin Smith recently shared some thoughts on the preaching of Jesus out of Luke 4.

Smith noted Four Distinguishing Marks of Jesus’ Preaching:

1. Jesus preaches the scriptures.
2. Jesus preaches directly to the human condition.
3. Jesus preaches himself.
4. Jesus preaches Grace.

But, as Smith points out, the hearers were filled with wrath despite the excellent preaching. Smith therefore concludes Grace will make you angry or lead you to worship.

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of posts summarizing The Gospel Coalition Conference 2013 plenary sessions. I hope my shorthand will prove helpful to you.

DeYoung outlines his sermon on Luke 15 in the following way:

1. DeYoung wants to give us 1 key point to understanding the text.
2. DeYoung wants to give us 2 things we should note about God from these stories.
3. DeYoung wants to give us 3 things we need to do.

One. To properly understand the stories of Luke 15, we must remember what provokes them: criticism about Jesus hanging around sinners. All the stories that follow address this tension.

Two. We see a minor theme and major theme developed in these stories, each disclosing something about the heart of God.

• Minor Theme: God seeks out sinners.
• Major Theme: God rejoices when sinners are found.

Three. From these reflections, we can make three applications.

• Let us be mindful of the need for relationships and repentance. Jesus fellowshipped with sinners and called sinners to repentance. We should do the same.
• Let us seek out and find all kinds of lost people. The story of the prodigal son is really a story of two sons. We should be mindful of both kinds of estrangement.
• Let us in our churches be marked by the experience and expectation of joy. All of these stories suggest the act and anticipation of ministry is joy.

May these applications mark us!

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of posts summarizing The Gospel Coalition Conference 2013 plenary sessions. I hope my shorthand will prove helpful to you.

At the 2013 Gospel Coalition Conference, John Piper exposited Luke, chapters one and two.

He outlined the chapters thematically, breaking them into four topics: God, Jesus, Salvation, and Faith.

1. God. In Luke 1 & 2, we see God as the initiator of all that follows. God is the main actor. The Gospel according to Luke is thoroughly God besotted.
2. Jesus. Luke 1:32-35 suggests this man will be more than just an ordinary man. His unique birth marks him as unique. Both Luke 1:43 and Luke 2:26 corroborate this uniqueness.
3. Salvation. Luke 2:11 describes a Savior. This is key to understanding all that is unfolding.
4. Faith. In these opening two chapters, we already see the proper response to this work of God in Christ: Faith (cf. Zechariah’s response to Mary’s). Luke 1:45 reminds us the blessing falls on she/he who believes.

And all of these themes are marked with Joy! When God comes, joy comes!

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of posts summarizing The Gospel Coalition Conference 2013 plenary sessions. I hope my shorthand will prove helpful to you.