Bent Oak Church

David Roush kicks off our Immanuel series by sharing his testimony of how God has been with him even in unseen times. 

Kristen Kansiewicz continues our Immanuel series by exploring what it means follow a "with us God," and how we can place our lives daily in his presence. 

The crowds came because Jesus was doing miracles. Even the religious leaders came having heard about his power and authority. But Jesus turned their attention to sin and his desire to forgive sins. We take a closer look at our tendency to overlook sin and why it was central to Jesus's ministry.

Having been rejected in Nazareth and misunderstood in Capernaum, another crowd formed around Jesus at the sea of Galilee. But Jesus's attention quickly shifted to a few fishermen and their boats. Luke gives us the calling of Peter as an example of how true followers should respond to Jesus.

Having left Nazareth, Jesus continued teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. There, he did many miracles, including casting out demons and healing the sick. Yet Jesus saw something in the response of the people, which caused him to raise another point of objection. Even after all they had witnessed, they did not understand why Jesus had really come. We take a closer look at Capernaum and the response of its people.

Luke records with a brief summary that Jesus was teaching and preaching throughout Galilee. He was being warmly received, that is, until he taught in his hometown of Nazareth. We take a closer look at Jesus's message and how his friends and family could shift from praising him to attempting his execution.

Jesus began his ministry by moving into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan. The passage gives us a sense of Jesus's faithfulness and the depth of his knowledge of scripture. Pastor Barry walks us through the passage and helps us think about Jesus's responses and our own.  

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, and while the gospel writers recognize it as the start of Jesus's ministry, Luke draws our attention also to Jesus in the posture of prayer. It was while praying that Jesus received the Holy Spirit. In this week's sermon, we take a closer look at how Jesus was prepared for the work ahead. 

Luke recognizes John as the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus. But John's preparation is one of warning. Jesus will come as a judgment; that is, he will come as one revealing hearts and motivations. Jesus comes as a sword, ax, and threshing fork. Still, for those willing to receive him, even that word of judgment comes as good news.

Luke narrates the growth of Jesus in a single story. From the infancy of the child to the emergence of his public ministry, Luke overs just one story. Jesus was lost. It took his parents three days to find him. When they did, he was in the temple discussing scripture. Like all parents,  Mary seemed both relieved and frustrated by the situation.  Jesus offered an unexpected answer. One Jesus's parents would have to long consider.