Is There A Hole In Your Gospel?

Transcription

1 Is There A Hole In Your Gospel?

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3 $40,000 annual income

4 $20,000 annual income

5 $5,000 annual income

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7 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

8 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor.

9 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." ~Luke 4:14-21

10 Jesus Gospel 1. Proclamation of the good news of forgiveness for sin.

11 Jesus Gospel 1. Proclamation of the good news of forgiveness for sin. 2. Compassion, particularly to the poor. 3. Justice for the oppressed.

12 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ~Luke 6:20

13 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ~Luke 6:20 The Poor ptokoi (πτωχοί): those who have been reduced to begging; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor Blessed makarioi (μακάριοι): truly happy

14 The poor are blessed because they understand their dire need of God, and when they find God, they find everything!

15 The poor are blessed because they understand their dire need of God, and when they find God, they find everything! Christianity is flourishing among the poor and persecuted while it atrophies among the rich and secure. ~Phillip Jenkins

16 When we take care of the things God cares about, God will take care of the things we care about.

17 When we take care of the things God cares about, God will take care of the things we care about. God not only cares about lost people, he cares about poor people. If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord and he will repay you! ~ Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)

18 Where have we any command in the Bible laid down in stronger terms, and in a more peremptory urgent manner, than the command of giving to the poor? ~Jonathan Edwards

19 Where have we any command in the Bible laid down in stronger terms, and in a more peremptory urgent manner, than the command of giving to the poor? ~Jonathan Edwards Peremptory: Without any doubt, incontrovertible, a dictatorial declaration of truth.

20 Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. ~Matthew 5:16 (NLT) Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. ~I Peter 2:11-12

21 Remarkable For Serving The Poor 1. I must understand the poor.

22 Remarkable For Serving The Poor 1. I must understand the poor. The overwhelming preponderance of Bible references do not assign the blame for poverty upon the poor. The Bible sees the frequent irresponsibility of the poor as a response to poverty rather than a cause. The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction. ~Psalm 37:4

23 Remarkable For Serving The Poor 2. I must become the poor.

24 Remarkable For Serving The Poor 2. I must become the poor. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ~II Corinthians 8:9 The only way for Jesus to get us out of our spiritual poverty and into his spiritual riches was to get out of his spiritual riches into our spiritual poverty.

25 Change the World? Yes We Can!

26 Change the World? Yes We Can! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it s the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead