{"id":222,"date":"2018-11-07T11:30:44","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T19:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/migrate.bettersermons.org\/?p=222"},"modified":"2020-06-01T11:40:30","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:40:30","slug":"the-good-news-can-get-you-killed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/the-good-news-can-get-you-killed\/","title":{"rendered":"The Good News Can Get You Killed"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Good News Can Get You Killed<\/span><\/div>\n

\".\"
\nText:<\/strong>\u00a0Luke 4:21-30<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I.<\/strong><\/td>\nIntroduction – Cheering for the Wrong Team<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2022<\/td>\nIllustration about football season in Philadelphia \u2013 Giants fans and Redskin fans in the Eagles\u2019 stadium.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2022<\/td>\nInstalled a jail in the stadium.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2022<\/td>\nWhat would be even worse is Philadelphia native at the Eagles\u2019 game, routing for the Giants! That could really get you killed!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2022<\/td>\nLuke 4:21-30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\u2022<\/td>\nPrayer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nToday\u2019s story ends with Jesus getting run out of town.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThe people were not just a little bit upset \u2013 they were irate!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThey had murderous rage in their eyes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nThis is clearly an early foreshadowing of Jesus\u2019 death.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nLuke wants us to get the point early in the story and he then reminds us throughout that Jesus was rejected and ultimately the crowds do succeed in killing him.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
II.<\/strong><\/td>\nWhy so angry?<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nAs you read this story this morning, aren\u2019t you asking yourself, \u201cwhy so angry?\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nWhat could Jesus have said that would set them off like this?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nThere are a lot of stories that end with the preacher getting thrown out of the church and kicked to the curb.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nAnd in this case, this is the first time Luke tells us that Jesus interpreted the scripture in front of the synagogue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nE.<\/td>\nSo, first time in the pulpit, he reads the assigned text for the day, and wow\u2026what a reaction.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nTo their credit, at least the people weren\u2019t sleeping.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nI\u2019ve been in churches where you feel like you could say anything and no one would get upset.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nAt least these folks got his point!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nF.<\/td>\nBut what was his point?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
III.<\/strong><\/td>\nAmazed and Enraged<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nNotice that in the space of a few verses these congregants go from \u201camazed\u201d to \u201cenraged\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nAmazed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nIn verse 22 Luke writes, \u201cAll spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWhat gracious words?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nLet\u2019s quickly remind ourselves.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nVerses 16-20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThe people thought, Hey, this is good news.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nHe\u2019s reading our verse!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThis is like reading Revelation 14:6-13 in an Adventist gathering.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nPeople would immediately recognize this verse as powerfully good news, affirming their place in God\u2019s plan and the promising future that God had in mind for them.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ne.<\/td>\nNo doubt Jesus interpreted these words to indicate that all God\u2019s plans from the very beginning would ultimately be fulfilled.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nf.<\/td>\nDebts (also known as sins) would be forgiven so debt prisoners could go free, blind people will see, the lame will walk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ng.<\/td>\nThe Year of the Lord\u2019s Favor is here \u2013 this is Jubilee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nh.<\/td>\nJubilee is Good News for Israel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nAnd so, the people are amazed!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nBut perhaps, as Jesus detects their unbridled approval of his words, he is thinking to himself,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\n\u201cJudging from their enthusiasm, they are clearly not getting the point. Let me press it home.\u201d<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nEnraged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nAnd when he does, the people become enraged.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nIt begins in verse 23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nJesus quotes two proverbs, predicting what might be going through his listeners’ minds.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThen he shares two stories from the prophets that the people would be well acquainted with.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nStories from the illustrious careers of Elijah and Elisha.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nThe Widow of Zarephath<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nNaaman\u2019s healing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n5.<\/td>\nBoth of these stories indicate that the grace and mercy of God did not come to the chosen people of Israel, but broke through those boundaries and landed on unacceptable people \u2013 Gentiles.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n6.<\/td>\nNow the people can see what they missed earlier in the sermon.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWhen Jesus quoted Isaiah 61, he didn\u2019t finish the quotation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nIf you go to Isaiah 61:1-2 the passage doesn\u2019t end as Jesus leaves it, with \u201c\u2026to proclaim the year of the Lord\u2019s favor.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nIt actually ends, \u201c\u2026and the day of vengeance of our God.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nBut Jesus leaves that part off.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n7.<\/td>\nPerhaps the people didn\u2019t notice it before but now that he\u2019s sharing these stories of God\u2019s\u00a0boundless<\/strong>\u00a0grace, they realize it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWait, those people are not supposed to be the heros of the story, they\u2019re the recipients of God\u2019s vengeance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nSomething is wrong here!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nJesus is changing the script<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nJesus is in his hometown rooting for the visiting team.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n8.<\/td>\nAnd they are enraged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nPerhaps the most infuriating part is that the people have been handed their own story.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nJesus does not come to them preaching a different story<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThese are Israel\u2019s respected narratives.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nThis IS Israel\u2019s story.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nAnd from\u00a0within<\/em>\u00a0their own story they have been shown the bankruptcy of their religion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nE.<\/td>\nAnd so, Luke reports that the people throw him out of the synagogue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nPerhaps they rush to the front of the room, grab him and, as an angry mob, they force him through the doors and out into the town square and then through the town to the edge of town to throw him out of the town gates.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nJust as they\u2019re reaching the edge of town one of them notices the cliffs just outside the gates and shouts, \u201cOver there\u2026the cliffs!\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nAnd just as they are reaching the cliffs Jesus, miraculously, escapes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nF.<\/td>\nNow that\u2019s a rough Sabbath!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nG.<\/td>\nLater in Luke\u2019s story \u2013 in Acts \u2013 the message of the gospel really takes off among the Gentiles.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nDon\u2019t miss Luke\u2019s point\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nJesus does not welcome the Gentiles because he is rejected in Israel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nJesus is rejected in Israel because he welcomed the Gentiles.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nMake no mistake, Jesus\u2019 primary mission is to Israel, but Luke in particular will never let us forget that the stories of the Gospel going to the ends of the earth, that we read about in his second volume, called Acts, has its roots in the early teachings of Jesus.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
IV.<\/strong><\/td>\nGood News, Bad News<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nWhat is obvious in this story is that what is profoundly good news to some, is very bad news to others.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nGood news for the poor is often bad news for the rich.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThe good news that Jesus is Lord is bad news for Caesar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nAnd the point today is this: Jesus had a message of good news for the outcasts and rejects of the world.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nAnd good news for the outsiders is bad news for the entitled and arrogant insiders.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nWe insiders (yes, WE insiders) don\u2019t want those people crashing our party!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nLet me speak for myself:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nAs an insider \u2013 who has been an insider all my life in every possible way\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nLet me count the ways.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na)<\/td>\nBorn in America<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb)<\/td>\nTo middle class parents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc)<\/td>\nOf Western European descent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd)<\/td>\nHighly educated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\ne)<\/td>\nRaised in the church<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nI find the open welcome of God disturbing at times.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nCan\u2019t heaven just be populated by \u201cnice\u201d people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nYou know, nice, middle class, religious people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2)<\/td>\nBut Jesus, in story after story, demonstrates that the outsiders are the invitees to the party.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nIn teaching as he did in the synagogue that morning, Jesus extended the good news beyond Israel to the whole world.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThis teaching, which we call \u201cthe gospel,\u201d brings a violent reaction.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
V.<\/strong><\/td>\nConclusion<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nA.<\/td>\nWe shouldn\u2019t have too much trouble finding ourselves in this text.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nB.<\/td>\nWe are the ones who like to know who\u2019s in and who\u2019s out, who\u2019s saved and who\u2019s lost, who\u2019s welcome and who\u2019s not.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nC.<\/td>\nWe are in the middle of the season that the church calls, Epiphany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThe word comes from the Greek word, epiphania, or manifestation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nD.<\/td>\nIn this season we celebrate how Jesus is made known \u2013 manifested in the world as God\u2019s Messiah<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nE.<\/td>\nBut today we are also revealing something else\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\n\u2026something else is being manifested in our midst\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nF.<\/td>\n\u2026that we, like the congregation in Nazareth, are those who like to draw lines in the sand,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nto demarcate who\u2019s in and who\u2019s out.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nG.<\/td>\nWe, like they, are a people with a persistent, \u201cus-them\u201d mindset.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nIt\u2019s a worldview that has plagued us from that time until today.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nH.<\/td>\nBut this is Hollywood!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nI.<\/td>\nIf ever there was a place where the boundless love and grace of God could be manifest \u2013 certainly it is here.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nAnd when I say, \u201cboundless\u201d, I hope you hear, \u201cboundary-less\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nWithout limits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nWithout restrictions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nAs Paul would later say about the Fruit of the Spirit, \u201cThere is no law against such things.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nJ.<\/td>\nMy prayer and my expectation is that in Hollywood, we would not run Jesus out of the church at the suggestion that maybe we aren\u2019t the only ones God loves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThat we aren\u2019t the only ones favored by God<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nThat we aren\u2019t the only ones with truth to share<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nA vision that drives my life is that around the world, from Iraq, Iran and Syria to Israel to Thailand to Northern Ireland and the US of A, that Jesus would be welcomed in our pulpits to teach that God\u2019s grace extends to whoever we consider to be an outsider.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThat YHWH is the God of the Muslims<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nAnd Allah is the God of the Christians.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nK.<\/td>\nBut what if it started here, with me?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThat God\u2019s special favor comes to whoever I consider to be an outsider in my little club:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThe poor and homeless<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThe gay and lesbian community<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThe mentally ill<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nL.<\/td>\nWhat if I could, taking the lead from my Master, Jesus?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nLive from love rather than fear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nDrop my judgments and open my arms in acceptance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nM.<\/td>\nThat would be crazy!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Submitted by Ryan J.\u00a0Bell. Better Sermons \u00a9 2005-2007. Click here for<\/span>\u00a0usage guidelines.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Good News Can Get You Killed Text:\u00a0Luke 4:21-30 I. Introduction – Cheering for the Wrong Team \u2022 Illustration about football season in Philadelphia \u2013 Giants fans and Redskin fans …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222\/revisions\/223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}