Through Ages and Stages

'Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”' - Ephesians 6:1-3

The way we relate to our parents changes over the course of our lives.

It can be hard to adapt to different seasons and situations.

Jesus chose to honor the Father even when it was hard.

'Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.' - Ephesians 5:1-2

'Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”' - Matthew 26:38-39

Choose honor when you relate: evaluate, consider the weight, then add grace to the plate.

“Honor your father and mother…” - Ephesians 6:2

'“Honor your father and your mother…' - Exodus 20:12

'Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” - Ephesians 5:1

God blesses us when we bless our parents.

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”' - Ephesians 6:2-3

The Love That Releases - When Love Becomes Sacrifice

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” 8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” - Exodus 2:1-10, NIV

Love releases what it’s not called to change.

3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile - Exodus 2:3

Love watches without withdrawing.

4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. - Exodus 2:4

Love trusts God to return what’s released.

Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. - Exodus 2:9

Show Us How to Love

'For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. '

- Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV

God’s love for us can show us how to love our families.

‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. '

- Ephesians 2:4-7

Remember what you’ve received and offer it freely.

'Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. '

- Ephesians 2:11-13

Safe in His Will

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.””

- Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”

- Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The safest place in the world: God’s Will.

Not all are persecuted, but all are opposed. 

“We must obey God rather than human beings!”

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

- Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

- 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

- Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Changes Everything!

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

- Luke 24:13–16 (NLT)

When you can’t see Him, He still Walks With You.

As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

- Luke 24:15–16

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

- Luke 24:27

When You feel Unsettled, His Word Grounds You. 

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

- Luke 24:30–31

When the Breaking Comes, Clarity Follows.

Because He Lives

'For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,'

- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

All of Christianity’s validity and authority depend on the resurrection of a Man from the dead.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.'

- 1 Corinthians 15:14

Death is an intimidating opponent.

'For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.’

- 1 Corinthians 15:16-19

Jesus defeated Death when He rose again!

‘But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…’

- 1 Corinthians 15:20

’that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. '

- 1 Corinthians 15:4-7

We can look forward to eternity because He lives.

'But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. '

- 1 Corinthians 15:35-37,42-44

‘When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”’

- 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

We can live with excellence because He lives.

'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.'

- 1 Corinthians 15:58

He Came Back Different

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:17-26, ESV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

- Romans 6:4, NIV

You’re not just saved - you’ve been resurrected.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

- John 10:10b, ESV

You’re not just alive - you’ve got access.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

- John 11:25, ESV

You’re not just present - you’ve got a part to play.

…and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:26, ESV

No Escape

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, NIV

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21

God entrusted the Ministry of Reconciliation to all believers.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

- Mathew 7:28-29

“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

- Mathew 8:1-4

“Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.”

- Mark 1:45

“Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.”

- Leviticus 13:45-46

When a student is ready, he will summon the teacher.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

- Romans 8:28

What happened to the leper?

1. He saw Jesus

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

- ‭‭ Matthew 5:1-2 

2. He heard Jesus

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

- Matthew 7:28-29 

““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

- Matthew 5:43-44 

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”

- Matthew 5:46 ‭‭

““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

- Matthew 6:25-26 

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21 

3. He experienced Jesus

“Taste and see that the Lord is good…”

- Psalm 34:8 

“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord…..”

- Matthew 8:1-2 

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

- John 1:17 

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

- Phillipians 2:6-8 

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

- Matthew 8:2 

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

- Romans 10:17 

‭“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”

- Matthew 8:3 

A Bridge Between Heaven and Earth

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” - John 1:43-49

Friendship can form a bridge to Jesus.

Our invitations might not be received well.

Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth.

And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” - John 1:51

We can commit to building friendships and bringing Christ with us.

Friendships with strong foundations can become bridges when needed.

A friend loves at all times... - Proverbs 17:17a

You Are the Light of the World

' “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ' 

- Matthew 5:14-16

A light shines by nature.

Light can reveal good things.

Light can reveal flaws.

'For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ' 

- 1 Corinthians 2:2-4

Light is necessary.

We can bring our light into darkness.