May 03, 2026 | Zach Schlegel
Passage: The Gospel According to Luke Luke 8:1-21
During the Great Awakening in America in the 1740’s, God used this time of revival to bring many to saving faith. The response to the sermons were often great physically emotional displays from those under the conviction of the Spirit causing some to doubt the genuineness of the conversions.
At the end of chapter seven, we see a woman who, in her passion toward Jesus, showed great emotion. This might cause us to ask if her faith was truly genuine. How can you know if your faith is genuine, real, saving faith? It isn’t how strongly you feel, but how you hear God’s word and what kind of life comes as a result.
Here, Jesus was preaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is God’s people, living in God's place under God’s rule. In Mark 1:15, Jesus came and proclaimed that He would open the door to the Kingdom. The good news is that Jesus came, fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life so that He could die as a sacrifice for our sin. On the third day, He rose again. Today, He lives to offer forgiveness and salvation and to show us the way to the kingdom. We come by repentance and faith.
We see at the beginning of chapter eight, that there were women who came in just that way - repentance and faith. They followed Jesus and helped to provide for His ministry. Jesus then will show that there is a difference between listening and hearing? The central idea of this text is verse 18: “Take care how you hear.” Are your ears open to the good news? Do you need to trust in Jesus and come into the Kingdom?
Saving faith is hearing that obeys. Not all faith is saving, but saving faith hears and obeys. This is so important to Jesus that He lays our three pictures to help us understand: A field, a lamp and a family.
Sermon Outline
1. Persevering obedience Vs. 1-15
2. Public obedience Vs.16-18
3. Personal obedience Vs.19-21
Series Information
