What is your focus? What is your goal? If you are a Christian, your overriding ambition to be the Kingdom of God. But, how do we maintain a focus on the Kingdom when so many things distract us? And, do we see the Kingdom really growing in our day when so much is aligned against the church?
As we come into Luke 13:10-21, we see glimpses of the Kingdom in the way Jesus heals a woman with great infirmity. Whenever a soul is touched by the power of God, the Kingdom is expanded. We see the Kingdom in Jesus’ rebuke of the ruler of the synagogue. A kingdom focus places emphasis on His glory rather than our preferences. And we see a glimpse of the Kingdom in the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, which talk about the kingdom’s expansion and certain impact.
Due to our limited and finite view of history, we may not see the Kingdom growing – but we can be assured that it is. The kingdoms of the world are becoming the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ – and He shall reign for ever and ever.
To help you with your study of this topic, we are also including the study questions prepared each week for our congregation. May the Lord use them, and the sermon, to be a blessing to you. You will find them, as well as a short prayer, directly below the audio link.
Luke 13:10-21
Series: Luke – A Prescription for Doubtful Souls
Pastor James McDonald
- Ponder some excuses the woman in this account may have come up with to stay home from worship. How does her example challenge us today?
- In what tangible ways did Jesus show compassion to this woman? How do you react to strangers with disabilities?
- In what ways was the ruler of the synagogue hypocritical? How did he view the disabled woman? How did he view Jesus?
- Consider the various reactions of the people in the synagogue. How do these reactions mirror those when Jesus returns again?
- What does the parable of the mustard seed point to with regard to the extent of the Kingdom?
- What does the parable of the leaven point to with regard to the influence of the Kingdom?
- In what ways does this section of Scripture encourage you in your walk with Christ?
- Pray that God would help you to see the wonder of His Kingdom, and what He is doing through you.
Father in Heaven, while we are tempted to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, we pray that You would remind us we are finite, that our lives on this earth are like a vapor. And, having reminded us of that truth, help us not to be distracted by the challenges of this world, or puffed up by the sin of pride; rather, help us to remember Your loving call to us. Help us to remember the way You gave us the ability to come to You, setting us free from our sin, and giving us eternal life. Strengthen us yet again, gracious Father, by the work of the Holy Spirit, to be involved in the work of the Kingdom. Help us to remember that the Kingdom is expanding, one heart at a time, and that it is impacting the world, even though we cannot always see it. Open our eyes that we might see the forward progress of the Gospel of Jesus, not only in the world, but also in our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
