www.prisoneralert.com

Thanks guys for all your letters to Zhang Rongliang. Zhang is a pastor in prision, simular to John in Luke 7. I mailed the notes of encouragement this morning. If you would like to do a letter, it is very easy. Just go to the website above.

Also, click on the Luke 7 to listen to the quicktime file. Or go to itunes and subscribe to Monuments podcast!

notes to come...

Hey church- in Luke 3, John the Baptist teaches that we have a responsibility to give to those in need. We are going to help provide clean running (living) water to communities in need in Africa. Here is some info;

Did you know that millions of Africans lack access to clean water?
Did you know that people living with HIV/AIDS are dependent on clean water to survive?
Did you know that $1 provides one year of clean water for an African?

Did you know that YOU can help save lives?
The 1000 Wells Project is building 1000 wells and clean water projects in 1000 African communities. Businesses, churches, schools, artists and individuals are collecting funds so they can sponsor the construction of wells in Africa. In the process, they are learning about how HIV/AIDS affects African communities, and what it means to partner humbly with communities to pursue transformation.

can anybody find Dave Buie? He's the stud in the back row! (if you still can't find him, he's the guy with a rainbow indian rug around his neck). Way to go dave!

Monument Retreat
Alpine, AZ
Labor Day Weekend
Sept. 1st thru 4th

Activities:
Horse shoes, hiking, fishing, four-wheeling, horse back riding

Amenities:
Wireless Internet and Satellite TV

Cost:
Free (other than gas and food)

Itinerary:
Friday: leave after work and arrive late in Alpine
Saturday: hang out
Sunday: return home and arrive around dinner time in Casa Grande

III. Galilean Ministry: The Revelation of Jesus
B. The Gathering of Disciples (5:1- 6:16)
1. The Miraculous Catch and Peter (5:1-11)
a. The Setting: Teaching from Simon’s Boat (5:1-3)

5:1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

b. The Marvelous Fisherman and His Promise(5:4-11)
i. The Miracle of the catch (5:4-7)
1. Jesus’ Question (5:4)
2. Peters Trust (5:5)
3. The full catch (5:6-7)
4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink
ii. Response to the Miracle: Confession and Commission (5:8-11)
1. Peter’s Confession and Fear (5:8-9)
2. The Promise of New Fish (5:10)
3. The departure to follow (5:11)

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

2. Two Miracles of Authority (5:12-26)
a. The Cleansing of the Leper (5:12-16)
i. The healing (5:12-14)
1. The Setting: One of the Galilean cities (5:12)
2. The condition and request of the leper (5:12)
3. the willing Jesus Heals (5:13)
4. The call to go to the Priest (5:14)

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy . And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

ii. The reaction to healing (5:15-16)
1. The result: report and Crowds (5:15)
2. Jesus withdraws for Prayer (5:16)
15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
b. The healing of the Paralytic (5:17-26)
i. The healing Explained (5:17-24)
1. The Setting: Teaching before the Pharisees (5:17)
2. Faith: The Paralytic through the roof (5:18-19)
3. Jesus’ Response: Sins are forgiven (5:20)
4. The Official reaction: Only God can do this (5:20)
5. Explanation: The Son of Man’s Authority (5:22-24)
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

ii. The Healing and the response (5:25-26)
1. The Healing: The Paralytic departs with Joy (5:25)
2. The crowd’s reaction: Praise and Awe (5:26)
25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
3. The call of Levi and a complaint (5:27-32)
a. The call of Levi (5:27-28)
i. Jesus gives Levi the call to follow Him (5:27)
ii. Levi leaves all to follow Jesus (5:28)
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
b. Controversy over Association and mission (5:29-32)
i. A dinner with Tax collectors and sinners (5:29)
ii. Controversy: About Jesus’ company (5:30)
iii. Reply: Jesus is called to the sick and the sinner (5:31-32)
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
4. The Rise of Opposition: 3 Controversies (5:33-6:11)
a. Question over fasting (5:33-39)
i. Question: Why do they Fast and Pray but not you? (5:33)
ii. Reply: A wedding is not for fasting; But… (5:34-35)
iii. Jesus Explains wit parables (5:36-39)
1. One cannot sew new cloth to old (5:36)
2. One cannot put new wine in old wineskins (5:37-38)
3. Those attached to Old Wine so not want new (5:39)
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”


FOOTNOTES:
5:1 Lake Gennesart: Sea of Galilee
5:2 Washing their nets: cleaning nets from the evenngs labor
5:10 Do not be afraid Jesus does not drive the sinner who recognize his condition away. He accepts the confessing sinner and offers him the opportunity to work with God
Catch Men: The picture is a commission to rescue men from the danger as this verb “to catch” is used in the OT (Jer. 16:16)
Followed Him: Jonah, the father of Andrew and Simon, and Zebedee, the father of James and John had formed a cooperative. The calling of their four sons would have had an economic sacrifice for the two families. Jesus may have softened the crisis by healing Simon’s mother-in-law (4:38)
5:12 Leprosy: This was a broad term for those who where ostracized. (Lev 13:45-46). For this guy to approach Jesus was brave. The closest equivalent in our culture to ostracism is AIDS.
5:17 Pharisees: where a lay movement of about 6,000 highly pious, influential teachers in the synagogues. Other groups where the Sadducees and Essences. Judaism was not monolithic in the first century, but consisted of a bunch of different movements. Today, we have many different denominations.
5:20 Your Sins are forgiven: Luke directly links faith and forgiveness. In the OT, only God forgives sin. (Ps. 103:12). So Jesus direct claim, rather than announcing God will forgive, says He will forgive! This would be highly offensive to the theologically sensitive audience. Nowhere in Rabbi cal material is there a claim like this.
5:24: Son of Man: idiom in Aramaic meaning “I”. Jesus was using the name as a title and drew it from the Image of the Son of Man in Daniel 7:13-14. The name means the one who shares authority with the Ancient of Days.
5:27: Tax Booth Levi is further down the administrative tax collection later from Zacchaeus. Levi would have reported to someone like Zacchaeus. He sat at the booth collecting customs taxes from business men.
5:31 No need of a Physician: Jesus is saying only those who know they are sick can be treated. Pharisees don’t realize they too are sick.
5:32 Sinners to Repent: This statement summarizes Jesus Mission. Repentance is our response. When the Holy Spirit justifies you, sanctifies you, you respond in repentance. If you are dead, Only Jesus the great Healer can bring you to Life.
5:33: Fasting: Pharisees fasted twice a week like clockwork. The goal was to dedicate oneself to prayer and focus on god. Jesus fasted occasionally.
5:36 The new makes a tear: Jesus is saying one cannot mix old things Judaism) with new things (the way he brings). With cloth, the new would shrink on the old and the two would not match. This remark indicates the discontinuity between the old way and the new. A new era is coming
5:37 Will Burst: new wine (the new way) in old wineskins (Judaim) does not work, because as new wine ferments, it will stretch out the old skin until it breaks. So to mix the two would be destructive.
5:38 The old is better: Jesus final point is one who likes the old will not try the new. He is explaining why some people in his nation will not come to him.

Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops…
Jesus taught that our money is an indicator of our hearts and Paul taught that if we are loved by God and love Him in return we would give cheerfully, sacrificially, and regularly.

At Monument, you are free to give via the weekly offering in the service, by mailing your contribution in to the office, or by the internet. We welcome you to give whatever God has called you to, however God has called you to.

In our digital age when people are increasingly paying bills and conducting commerce online, Monument has chosen to make online tithing available to those who are interested. Some may protest that in the Bible God's people never used credit to tithe, which is true. They also did not use checks or get a tax write off like we do. Nonetheless, the principle is that God's people should give and the methods vary from culture to culture.

A pastor in a cashless bartering society may receive animals or their milk as part of a tithe. In a suburban American church the plate may pass and be filled with checks. Those who have stocks, bonds and the like also tithe them to their church. Still other Christians may give property or other goods as part of their tithe.

The point is simply that God be honored with the first of all our wealth and in a digital economy that would include a digital tithe.

The technology that permits online transactions via debit cards also permits giving via credit cards and makes no distinction between the two. We strongly urge no one to put their tithe on their credit card unless they are able to pay it off each month because we do not want God's people going into debt. But, if you intend to pay off your balance each month we believe that is an issue of conscience and leave that between you, God, and your frequent flier miles.

15B. Jesus: The One who Comes (3:21-4:13)
3. Messianic Preparation: Resistance of Satan (4:1-13)
a. The setting
4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

b. The temptation of Bread and God’s care
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

c. The Temptation of Rule Through false Worship
5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time , 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”
d. The Temptation to test God’s protection
9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
11 and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
e. The devil departs
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

16 III. Galilean Ministry: The Revelation of Jesus (4-9:50)

A. The Overview of Jesus’ Galilean Ministry (4:14-44)
1. Summary of Jesus’ ministry (14-15)
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
17-18
2. An example of Jesus’ preaching (16-30)
a. The setting of the scripture (16-17)
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
b. Cycle 1: the scripture reading and its exposition (18-21)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

c. Cycle 1: response (22)
22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?”

d. Cycle 2: Jesus rebuttals with proverbs and their historical rejection
23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

e. Cycle 2: response (28-29)
28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

f. Jesus departs rejected at Nazareth (30)
30 But passing through their midst, he went away.
3. 19 An example of Jesus’ Ministry (31-44)
a. Setting (31-32)
31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

b. Exorcism: unclean spirit cast out (33-37)
i. The demonic Cry of recognition and confession (33-34)
ii. The rebuke by Jesus (35a)
iii. The departure of the demon (35b)
iv. Crowds amazement (36)
v. The report spreads (37)
33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon , and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
c. Healing: Simon’s mother-in-law healed (38-39)
38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
d. Jesus’ healing and demonic confession (40-41)
40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
e. Teaching: Jesus must preach the kingdom (42-44)
Jesus Preaches in Synagogues
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

FOOTNOTES:
Jesus’ temptations where no accident. Jesus shows his ability to resist the devil and His allegiance to God. What Adam could not do, Jesus does. When Israel fails in the wilderness, Jesus succeeds. Just as the Spirit accompanies Jesus in his ministry, so the Spirit will also accompany the church in its ministry.
Jesus had fasted 40 days, he was hungry and at his weakest. (EX: Christine gets hungry)
4:3 Satan is the head of the rebellious angels. Satan was created absolutely perfect and seems to be the greatest of the angels God created with special access to the presence of God. Satan fell thru pride by desiring to exalt himself. Satan was cast out of heaven as his permanent abode but still has limited access until banishment is complete. Satan snatches away the gospel from unbelievers and has them carry out his own will. (Is 14:12; Ez 28:12; Zech 3:1; Rev 12:9, 20:1-3, 9-10).
E. His work among unbelievers
1. He Binds unbelievers to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor 4:3-4 "and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blind the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ").
2. He snatches away the gospel from unbelievers (Matt 13:19 "and when anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart").
3. He leads unbelievers to carry out his will and plans.
2 Tim 2:26 "and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will."
Eph 2:1-2 "and you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air."
4. He promotes unbelievers to do evil.
1 John 3:8 "the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning."
John 13:2 "and during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him."
5. Through his demons, he promotes false religion to lead people away from the truth of the gospel. This takes place through occult practice and false religions, as well as through false teachers in Christian churches.
1 Tim 4:1 "but the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons."
2 Cor 11:13-15 "for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds."
6. He leads unbelievers to oppose the gospel and believers.
Acts 13:8, 10 "but Elymas the magician...was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Paul...said 'you who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil.'"
4:3 If you are the Son this presents the premise as if it is for argument sake. “Let’s assume you’re the Son of God…” Jesus is challenged concerning His authority as Son.
4:4 It is Written Deut. 8:3. Jesus refuses to operate independently of God.
The temptation to make bread from a stone (vv. 2b-4) is really a temptation not to trust God for sustenance − Israel's failed to trust God for sustenance in the wilderness. The Israelites complained to Moses, "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger" (Exod. 16:3). In response, God gave them manna, but forbade them to gather more than the day's supply (Exod. 16:4-5). God told Moses that this was a test to see "whether they will follow my instruction or not" (Exod. 16:4). "But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul" (Exod. 16:20).
* Note the connection between manna (Israel's bread in the wilderness) and the bread with which the devil tempts Jesus in the wilderness. "Israel's need for bread was secondary to Israel's need to understand that God gives bread. Jesus, because he understands that fact, can resist the temptation to take matters into his own hands" (Cousar, 197).
4:5 All the Kingdoms This attempts to offer power by detour of the cross and take the easy way to power.
4:6 Has been delivered to me Satan’s claim is exaggerated here. He has great authority over the things of earth (Jn. 12:31, 14:30; 16:11), but no authority to deliver the Kingdom. Has been delivered to me is much harsher than the English translation suggests; Like a prisioner handed over to the jailor, so has God handed over the world to Satan until the time of final redemption.
4:8 You shall worship Jesus cites Deut. 6:13. He knows only God is to be worshiped and served.
− The temptation to gain the kingdoms of the world by worshiping the devil (vv. 5-8) is comparing Israel's temptation to worship other Gods. God commanded, "The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God" (Deut. 6:13-15). The Israelites first failed this test at the base of Mount Sinai when they made and worshiped a golden calf (Exod. 32:4; Deut. 9:16) − but that was only the first of many such failures.
4:9 On the pinnacle 450 feet, which Josephus described as making one dizzy. To survive a fall from such great heights would require special protection.
4:10 He shall give Satan cites Ps. 91:11-12. He is reminding Jesus of God’s protection, but the mere use of biblical words may not revel God’s will, if placed in the wrong context.
− The temptation for Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple (vv. 9-12), forcing God to protect him, is really a temptation to test God. This is a comparison to Israel's testing of God at Massah and Meribah, where the people complained to Moses, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" (Exod. 17:3). Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and Meribah (which means "quarrel") "because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, 'Is the Lord among us or not?' " (Exod. 17:7; see also Deut. 6:16).
4:16 This is an essential tradition to understanding Jesus’ preparation for ministry. How did Jesus learn the scripture? He was too poor to own his own scrolls, let alone the entire canon. An educated guess is that Jesus would have studied under the local Synagogue attendant in Nazareth who was responsible for teaching Torah to the local children. He seems OK with Jesus reading scripture and giving a lesson on this particular Sabbath. Why? Probally because like the Rabbis in the Jerusalem Temple, the attendant saw Jesus had a unique insight to scripture. The scroll Jesus reads from, is probally the same scroll he studied as a child in this local synagogue, the same scroll where he bagen to understand that God was calling Him to be the Messiah of Israel and the world, by following the way of the suffering servant.
4:16 Stood up to read in the synagogue services had a reading from the Torah and from the Prophets with an exposition that tied the two together.
4:18 Liberty to the Captives In the OT, this is a description of the captives of exile, but here the captivity is mainly release from sin.
4:18-19 The spirit of the Lord Jesus gives a summary of His mission. By citing Isaiah 61, Jesus makes use of images from the Babylonian captivity. Jesus cites the anointing of the Spirit as fulfilled in light of His Baptism (Lk. 3:21) Jesus is proclaiming to have both a regal position as well as a prophetic mission. Year of the Lord is an illusion to Jubilees., which forgave all debt every fifty years, freed all slaves, and gave ancestral land back to its original family, allowing for a new start according to the law. (Lev. 25:10) Jesus offers such a total cancellation of spiritual debt and a new beginning to those who respond to his message.
4:20 Attendant was a salaried officer, who was responsible for the scrolls of scripture. In service the attendant would bring the scroll out, deliver it to the reader, receive it back after the reading, show the text to everyone, then roll it up and put it back. He also announced the beginning and ending of Sabbath from the rooftop of the synagogue with a triple blast of a trumpet (Ram’s horn).
4:21 Today Jesus proclaims He himself is the fulfillment of Gods plan and promise.
4:22 Is this not? But doubt remains, since a humble carpenter’s son surely cannot be such a central figure in God’s plan.
4:25-27 Elijah/Elisha Jesus issues a strong warning comparing the reaction to a period of great national unfaithfulness. (1 kings 17-18) During this time, there was judgement by famine on the nation. The only people who received healing where gentiles. The point is that the crowd of Jews are warned not to be unfaithful and reject Jesus.
4:28 Wrath The Jews new their OT. They got Jesus point and they where ready to throw down.
Demons are rebellious angels who joined Satan and carry out his will. During the tribulation demons will torment people on earth. (Rev. 9:10-11, Matt 12:24)
4:34 Holy One of God Here is a significant confession by the demons. In the OT, it referred to one with a special call from God. (Ps. 106;16). It is probably a messianic confession.
4:35 rebuked technical term in Aramaic for calling evil into submission.
4:36 With authority and Power The reaction focuses on what for Luke is the central issue about Jesus: His authority and power. Luke is making the point that Jesus possesses the authority to deal with salvation and with all opponents to it.
4:43 I must preach Jesus is carrying out his commission to preach the Kingdom of God to others. The Kingdom Luke talks about 30 times in his gospel is about the announcement of the rule of God through Jesus, both in dealing with sin now, in promising to distribute the spirit as He mediates blessing from God’s side, and in reigning on earth with His “freed to serve” saints according to the OT promise. The kingdom is what Zechariah looked for back in Luke 1:68-79.

Hey! Glad to see the church came out to what I guess was our first church function. YOu guys are the coolest.

http://www.myspace.com/monumentbiblechurch

Hey Everyone, we are now on myspace. (Now the kiddos will dig our church!) Check it out and be a friend.

Hey church- today we started a partnership with the thousand wells project in Africa. As we read Sunday night, in Luke 3, John the Baptist teaches that we have a responsibility to give to those in need. We are going to help provide clean running (living) water to communities in need in Africa. Here is some info;

Did you know that millions of Africans lack access to clean water?
Did you know that people living with HIV/AIDS are dependent on clean water to survive?
Did you know that $1 provides one year of clean water for an African?

Did you know that YOU can help save lives?
The 1000 Wells Project is building 1000 wells and clean water projects in 1000 African communities. Businesses, churches, schools, artists and individuals are collecting funds so they can sponsor the construction of wells in Africa. In the process, they are learning about how HIV/AIDS affects African communities, and what it means to partner humbly with communities to pursue transformation.

Here is the email we recieved from Adam Sands, a rep. from Blood Water:
Thank you for your contribution to the work of Blood:Water Mission. We hope you will return to our website frequently for updates on our work and upcoming opportunities.

Description : For Blood:Water Mission
Amount : 25.00 (USD)
Payment Method : Visa

A. John the Baptist Prepares the Way (3:1-4:13)
1. The ministry of John the Baptist (3:1-6)
A. The historical Setting of John Ministry (3:1-2)
B. John preaches a Baptism of repentance (3:2-3)
C. Isaiah’s promise of a Preparer for Salvation: (3:4-6)

3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch (ruler of a fourth) of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:6: and John was clothed with Camels hair and a leather belt around his waist. And he was eating locusts and wild honey.

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

2. The preaching of John the Baptist (3:7-14)
A. Warning of God’s judgment and call to repentance (3:7-9)
i. The rebuke that is a warning about judgment (3:7)
ii. The call to make fruit of repentance (3:8)
iii. The warning about not relying on Ancestry (3:8)
iv. The second reminder of Judgment (3:9)

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

B. The Appropriate Fruit of Repentance (3:10-14)
i. Fruit of repentance described for the crowd (3:10-11)
ii. Fruit of repentance described for tax collectors (3:12-13)
iii. Fruit of repentance described for the soldiers (3:14)

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

3. The promise of john the Baptist (3:15-17)
A. Johns promise of a greater One to come (3:15-17)
i. The popular Messianic Speculation about John (3:15)
ii. The promise of a greater Baptism (3:16-17)
B. Summary: John preached good news (3:18)

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

4. The imprisonment of John the Baptist (3:19-20)
A. John Preaches against Herod’s evil (3:19)
B. Herod Locks up John in Prison (3:20)

19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

B. Jesus: The one who comes (3:21-4:13)
1. Jesus’ Baptism (3:21-22)
A. The Setting (3:21)
B. The Testimony: God’s pleasure in His Son (3:22)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying , the heavens were opened , 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

2. Jesus’ Genealogy: Son of Adam, Son of God (3:23-38)
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

CONCLUSION:
He is the second Adam. This is important because as we go into Chapter 4, and Jesus is challenged as the Son of God, and it won’t be that he is just fulfilling a messianic role, but also because he is the son God, in the sense of the end of chapter 3 has raised, The son of Adam, the Son of God, the one who is the representative for all mankind.
The one who will go thru temptations, just as Adam did, but their will be a difference, Jesus will not succumb to the temptations of the devil, as Adam did. And in this way, it will show that he is ready for the mission the Father has put before Him.
The Genealogy sets the stage for this transition from out of the endorsement of Jesus Christ from the Heavenly voice into the preparation for Ministry that begins with the temptation. Luke 4:1-13 will conclude this initial section of the gospel, introducing the ministry of Jesus. Then at 4:14 we will begin a discussion of Jesus ministry proper. And that will wait for another time.