Scott LaPierre Ministries

Scott LaPierre
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Scott LaPierre (https://www.scottlapierre.org/) is a pastor, author, and Christian speaker on marriage. This podcast includes his conference messages, guest preaching, and expository sermons at Woodland Christian Church. Each of Scott’s messages is the result of hours of studying the Bible. Scott and his wife, Katie, grew up together in northern California, and God has blessed them with nine children. View all of Pastor Scott’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Scott-LaPierre/e/B01JT920EQ. Receive a FREE copy of Scott’s book, “Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages.” For Scott LaPierre’s conference and speaking information, including testimonies, and endorsements, please visit: https://www.scottlapierre.org/christian-speaker/. Feel free to contact Scott at: https://www.scottlapierre.org/contact/.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    How Young Men Overcome the Evil One: Strength, Self-Control, and God’s Word

    Young men overcome the evil one not by willpower alone, but by spiritual strength, self-control, and the Word of God abiding in them. That is exactly what John teaches in 1 John 2:13–14, and it is a message young men desperately need in a culture that seems designed to weaken, distract, and tempt them. There is only audio for this message, so you can listen to the teaching below through the podcast player. Table of contentsSpiritual maturity has stages1. Young men overcome the evil one by being spiritually strong2. Young men overcome the evil one by being in God’s Word3. Young men overcome the evil one by being self-controlled4. Young men overcome the evil one by not taking the first stepThe answer is not mere effort, but ChristA word to fathers and older menFinal encouragement Let me begin with an illustration from the Army. At the brigade level, there are thousands of soldiers. Brigades are made up of battalions, battalions are made up of companies, companies are made up of platoons, and platoons are made up of squads. A squad may have only around 10 soldiers, but those squads are the building blocks of the Army. And who fills those squads? Young men. When a beach must be stormed, a hill taken, or the enemy confronted at the front line, young men are sent. They exert the greatest effort, endure the greatest hardship, and often make the greatest sacrifices. They are expected to be strong. John says something similar spiritually: “I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one... I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:13–14). Twice, John says that young men “have overcome the evil one.” That repetition matters. It shows that young men are in a serious spiritual battle. They are on the front lines. They face real temptations, real opposition, and real danger. But Scripture does not speak to them as victims. It speaks to them as warriors who, by God’s grace, can overcome. Spiritual maturity has stages In 1 John 2:12–14, John addresses three groups: children, fathers, and young men. Children are told that their sins are forgiven and that they know the Father. These are precious truths, but they are also the basics of the Christian life. Children in the faith know the gospel’s foundational realities. Fathers are told twice that they “know him who is from the beginning.” This points to spiritual depth and maturity. The most mature believers are not defined by flashy experiences or dramatic gifts, but by a deep, seasoned knowledge of God. Young men stand between those two stages. They know more than children, but they have not yet reached the maturity of fathers. What especially marks them is this: they are overcoming the evil one. This suggests that one of the clearest signs of growth from spiritual childhood into spiritual manhood is victory over sin. Not sinless perfection, because no believer achieves that in this life, but real progress. Real resistance. Real self-control. Real refusal to let sin dominate. A spiritually immature person may remain trapped in patterns of temptation and defeat. But young men, in the biblical sense, are learning to fight. They are learning to say no to the flesh, yes to God, and to walk in growing victory. 1. Young men overcome the evil one by being spiritually strong John says to young men, “You are strong.” Because he is speaking about young men, we might first think of physical strength. There is nothing wrong with that. Youth often comes with energy, vigor, and capacity. Those are gifts from God. But the greater emphasis in 1 John 2 is spiritual strength. Young men do not overcome the evil one because they are naturally tough, confident, or disciplined. They overcome because God strengthens them. Their strength is not merely masculine energy. It is spiritual power rooted in truth. This matters because many young men are strong in body while weak in soul. They may be able to lift weights, endure hardship, or work long hours, but they are defenseless against lust, pride, compromise, and the fear of man. Scripture calls young men to a greater strength than that. It calls them to strength of character, conviction, and holiness. This is the kind of strength needed to resist temptation when no one is watching. The kind of strength needed to shut off the screen, leave the conversation, walk away from compromise, and endure mockery for obeying Christ. The kind of strength needed to choose purity over pleasure and faithfulness over impulse. 2. Young men overcome the evil one by being in God’s Word John explains the source of that strength: “the word of God abides in you.” That is the key. God’s Word is the source of spiritual strength. Young men do not become strong by trying harder in their own wisdom. They become strong when Scripture lives in them, shapes them, corrects them, and governs them. Psalm 119 speaks directly to this: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (Psalm 119:9). Then the psalmist continues: “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:10–11). This is not casual Bible exposure. This is not hearing a sermon once in a while. This is the Word abiding in someone. Remaining in someone. Dwelling richly in someone. Young men need God’s Word for at least four reasons. First, it moves them from spiritual childhood toward maturity. Second, it makes them spiritually strong. Third, it equips them to resist temptation and pursue purity. Fourth, it enables them to overcome the evil one. And there is another reason worth emphasizing: whatever God calls a young man to do later in life, he will need the Word of God for it. Young men often wonder what they should do with their lives. Should they go to college? Enter a trade? Pursue ministry? Marry? Lead a family? Serve the church in some particular way? Those are good questions. But before many of those answers become clear, there is one thing every young man needs: God’s Word abiding in him. The years of youth are a strategic season. Responsibilities may increase later. Marriage, children, work, ministry, and many other duties may fill life with greater complexity. That makes youth a precious time to build habits of Bible reading, meditation, memorization, and obedience that will strengthen a man for decades to come. 3. Young men overcome the evil one by being self-controlled Titus 2 reinforces this truth in a striking way. Paul gives instructions to older men, older women, young women, and young men. Older men are told several things. Older women are told several things. Young women are given a substantial list as well. But when Paul comes to young men, he says: “Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled” (Titus 2:6). That is it. One main command. Why? Because self-control is indispensable for young men. They face powerful desires, strong impulses, and serious temptations. If they are going to overcome the evil one, they must learn to rule their appetites instead of being ruled by them. Self-control matters in every area of life: speech, entertainment, ambition, anger, money, leisure, relationships, and sexual purity. But it is especially urgent where lust and sensual temptation are concerned. Our culture does not encourage restraint. It celebrates indulgence. It tells young men to follow their desires, gratify their cravings, and treat self-denial as weakness. Scripture says the opposite. Biblical manhood is not the absence of desire. It is the Spirit-enabled ability to govern desire under the lordship of Christ. 4. Young men overcome the evil one by not taking the first step One of the most practical lessons for young men is this: many devastating sins do not happen all at once. They happen step by step. Some sins erupt suddenly. A person is provoked and becomes angry. A person is embarrassed and lies. A person sees something and immediately covets it. Those sins are serious, but they can happen with little warning. Other sins develop differently. They require movement in a sinful direction. They involve planning, drifting, rationalizing, and putting oneself in the path of temptation. That is what we see in David’s adultery with Bathsheba. David’s first look may have been accidental, but he took a step when he inquired about her. He took another when he ignored the warning that she was another man’s wife. Then he took more steps until he committed the sin that brought immense devastation. The lesson is painfully clear: the final fall may look sudden, but usually it is not. By the time someone commits the outward sin that ruins a ministry, damages a marriage, enslaves him to pornography, or scars future relationships, he has often already taken many earlier steps. That is why young men must learn not merely to resist sin at the last possible moment, but to refuse the first step. That means controlling thoughts before they become fantasies. Turning the eyes away before a glance becomes a gaze. Ending the conversation before it becomes an emotional compromise. Leaving the place of temptation before desire gains momentum. Refusing to browse, search, scroll, or click when wisdom says danger is near. Proverbs says: “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14–15). And again: “Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:8). That is wisdom. It is easier to avoid temptation than to resist it after we have willingly moved toward it. For young men today, this applies especially

  2. 20 APR

    Spiritual Blindness and Spiritual Sight: How Jesus Opens Our Eyes (Mark 8:22-26 and John 9:11-41)

    Spiritual blindness and spiritual sight are at the heart of Mark 8 and John 9. In these passages, Jesus shows that people can have functioning physical eyes yet remain blind to spiritual truth. One blind man sees dimly before seeing clearly, while another grows step by step in his understanding of Christ until he finally worships Him. At the same time, the Pharisees reveal the danger of self-righteousness, because though they claim to see, they remain blind to the truth standing right in front of them. https://youtu.be/qw532eOfigA Table of contentsBlindness Often Pictures Spiritual IgnoranceSpiritual Sight Grows Clearer Over TimeJohn 9 Shows a Man Growing in Spiritual SightSome People Choose to Remain Spiritually BlindSpiritually Blind People Are Blind to Their Own BlindnessThese Passages Give Both Encouragement and WarningHow This Prepares Us for Luke 24Conclusion When I was in high school, Magic Eye pictures became very popular. Maybe you remember them. At first, they looked like meaningless patterns, but if you stared at them long enough, a hidden three-dimensional image would suddenly appear. And once you saw it, you could not unsee it. You even wondered why you could not see it earlier. That provides a helpful picture of what we are considering in this sermon. Spiritually, people can look at something and not really see it at first. They can hear the truth and not really understand it at first. That is what we see in two passages. In Mark 8, a blind man sees dimly and then clearly. In John 9, a blind man’s spiritual understanding of Jesus progressively improves until he finally worships Him as Lord. These passages also prepare us for Luke 24, where two disciples on the road to Emmaus will walk with the risen Christ without recognizing Him until their eyes are opened. One of the Lord’s recurring works is to move people from partial sight to fuller sight. He brings us from seeing dimly to seeing clearly. Blindness Often Pictures Spiritual Ignorance Throughout Scripture, blindness is not only a physical problem but also a fitting metaphor for spiritual ignorance. A person can have healthy eyes and still be blind to what matters most. He can see the world around him, yet fails to see the truth about God, himself, and Christ. The Old Testament makes this point repeatedly. Isaiah 44:18 says, “They do not know nor understand; for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see.” Jeremiah 5:21 says, “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not.” Ezekiel 12:2 says the people had eyes to see physically, but could not see spiritually. Isaiah 6:9 says, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” That final verse sets up the passages we are considering. Jesus quoted Isaiah 6 when He was asked why He spoke in parables. Parables were physical stories that illustrated spiritual truths. In that sense, they acted like tests of spiritual sight. People’s inability to understand parables revealed their blindness, while people’s ability to understand them revealed that God had opened their eyes. In Matthew 13, Jesus explained that some people see physically but not spiritually, and hear physically but not spiritually. Their problem is not a lack of ears or eyes. Their problem is a lack of spiritual understanding. That is why blindness becomes such a powerful biblical metaphor for the human condition apart from God’s grace. Spiritual Sight Grows Clearer Over Time One encouraging truth in these passages is that spiritual sight often grows clearer over time. We do not always go from complete blindness to complete clarity all at once. Sometimes the Lord opens our eyes progressively. That is exactly what we see in Mark 8. This is one of the most unique miracles in Scripture because Jesus heals a blind man in two stages. After the first touch, the man can see, but not clearly. He says that people look like trees walking. Then Jesus touches him again, and his sight is fully restored. He sees everything clearly. Of course, Jesus could have healed him instantly. He had the power to do that. But the two-stage healing appears to portray an important spiritual reality. There is such a thing as partial sight. There is such a thing as beginning to see, but not yet seeing clearly. That is true in the Christian life. Sometimes people genuinely begin to understand the truth, but their understanding is still blurred. They know something of Christ, but not yet as much as they will come to know. They have light, but not yet full clarity. Many believers can testify to this. They believed the gospel, but their spiritual understanding matured over time as they continued in God’s Word. This should encourage us. The Lord is patient with His people. He does not abandon us because our sight is still developing. He continues opening our eyes. He continues bringing us from dim sight to clear sight. John 9 Shows a Man Growing in Spiritual Sight If Mark 8 gives us a picture of gradual sight, John 9 gives us a full narrative of progressive spiritual understanding. This chapter is one of the clearest in Scripture on both spiritual blindness and spiritual sight. The formerly blind man grows in his understanding of Jesus, while the religious leaders remain blind. At first, the man knows very little about Jesus. In John 9:11, he refers to Him simply as “the man called Jesus.” That is where his understanding begins. But as the chapter unfolds, his sight deepens, and his faith strengthens. Later, he calls Jesus a prophet. Then he says that if Jesus were not from God, He could do nothing. Finally, after Jesus seeks him out and reveals Himself, the man says, “Lord, I believe,” and worships Him. That progression is beautiful. He does not begin with full clarity, but he does not remain where he started. He moves from limited understanding to faith and worship. That is what spiritual sight does. It leads us to Christ. It leads us to confession. It leads us to worship. His testimony is also wonderfully simple. Pressed by the Pharisees, he says, “Though I was blind, now I see.” We often think testimony must be long and elaborate, but this man shows otherwise. His testimony was short, clear, and powerful. In many ways, it is the testimony of every Christian. We were blind, and Christ gave us sight. Some People Choose to Remain Spiritually Blind As the formerly blind man grows in understanding, the Pharisees reveal the ugliness of deliberate spiritual blindness. They do not want to see the truth because the truth would make them accountable. If they admit that Jesus healed a man born blind, they would have to reckon with what that says about Jesus. And they do not want to do that. So instead of humbly responding to the miracle, they resist. They question the man repeatedly. They question his parents. They try to explain away what happened. They pressure witnesses and cling to their conclusions. Their problem is not a lack of evidence. Their problem is an unwillingness to believe. This still happens today. Some people prefer darkness because light exposes them. Knowledge means accountability, and some people do not want that accountability. They would rather remain in the dark than come into the light and bow before Christ. The Pharisees show us that spiritual blindness is not always passive. Sometimes it is stubborn. Sometimes it is chosen. Sometimes people work very hard not to see what is right in front of them. Spiritually Blind People Are Blind to Their Own Blindness The climax of John 9 comes when Jesus exposes the deepest problem of all. Spiritually blind people are often blind to their own blindness. The Pharisees ask, “Are we blind also?” The tragic answer is yes. They are so blind that they cannot even recognize their blindness. Jesus says in John 9:41, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” His point is not that some people are actually spiritually healthy. His point is that some imagine themselves to be healthy. Some imagine themselves to see clearly. Because they think they are fine, they feel no need for Christ. This is similar to Jesus’ earlier words in Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31: those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Christ did not mean that some people are spiritually well. He meant that some think they are. Because they think they are healthy, they never come to the Great Physician. That is the tragedy of self-righteousness. It convinces sinners that they do not need saving. It convinces the blind that they can already see. Proverbs 30:12 captures this perfectly: “There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness.” The only people shut out from healing are those who refuse to admit they need it. The only people who remain in darkness are those who insist they are already in the light. These Passages Give Both Encouragement and Warning Mark 8 and John 9 leave us with both encouragement and warning. The encouragement is that the Lord is patient with people whose sight is still developing. In Mark 8, the blind man does not see clearly at first, but Jesus is not finished with him. In John 9, the blind man does not begin with full understanding, but his spiritual sight grows until he confesses Christ and worships Him. That is good news for every believer. If your understanding feels incomplete, if there are truths you are still learning, if there are areas where your vision still feels dim, do not lose heart. Keep coming to Christ. Keep opening God’s Word. Keep asking the Lord to help you see. He is gracious, patient, and faithful to continue His work in you. But there is also a warning. It is possible to hear the truth, discuss the truth, and be surrounded by the truth, yet rema

    48 min

  3. 20 APR

    Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday? Resurrection, the Lord’s Day, and Sabbath Rest

    Why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? In Part 1, we saw that the seventh-day Sabbath belonged to the Old Covenant mediated by Moses and given to Israel. In Part 2, we move from the covenantal foundation to the New Testament evidence. The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, the worship pattern of the early church, and the fulfillment of the Sabbath in Christ all help explain why Christians gather on Sunday rather than Saturday. Table of contentsThe resurrection made the first day central for the New Covenant people of GodThe early church gathered on the first day of the week1 Corinthians 16:2 confirms the first-day patternThe Sabbath is de-emphasized in the New Testament after the GospelsColossians 2:16–17 says Sabbaths were shadows fulfilled in ChristRomans 14:5–6 shows that observance of days is not a binding church commandSunday is rightly called the Lord’s DayThe true and greater Sabbath is found in ChristConclusion The resurrection made the first day central for the New Covenant people of God Why did the first day become so important? Because that is the day Jesus rose from the dead. The phrase “first day of the week” occurs eight times in the New Testament, and six of those occurrences refer directly to Christ’s resurrection. Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, and John 20:19 all draw attention to the first day in connection with the risen Christ. That is not accidental. The New Testament repeatedly highlights the first day as the day of resurrection. This is important because the resurrection is not a minor event added onto the Christian faith. It is the triumph of Christ over sin, death, and the grave. If the Old Covenant was associated with the seventh day, it should not surprise us that the New Covenant would be marked by the day on which Christ rose and inaugurated the new creation reality His people now live in. Sunday became the fitting day for New Covenant worship because it is the day of resurrection. The early church gathered on the first day of the week The importance of the first day extends beyond the resurrection accounts. The book of Acts shows the early church gathering on that day. Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them.” This gives us a clear picture of the gathered church meeting on Sunday. The reference to breaking bread is most naturally understood as communion in the context of corporate worship. Acts 2:42 supports this understanding by distinguishing fellowship from “the breaking of bread,” suggesting that it is more than an ordinary meal. This makes excellent theological sense. Communion looks back to Christ’s death and forward to His return, as 1 Corinthians 11:26 teaches. Since Christ rose on the first day of the week, it is fitting that the church gathered on that day to worship and remember Him. 1 Corinthians 16:2 confirms the first-day pattern Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up.” The most natural explanation is that Paul instructed believers to do this on the day they gathered together. This fits well with Acts 20:7 and reinforces the pattern of first-day worship in the early church. So the evidence is not only that Jesus rose on the first day. It is also that the early church assembled on the first day. That pattern is exactly what we would expect if the day of Christ’s resurrection had become the fitting day for New Covenant worship. The Sabbath is de-emphasized in the New Testament after the Gospels There is also an important contrast in emphasis. As your notes point out, the phrase “first day of the week” occurs eight times in the New Testament, but “seventh day of the week” never occurs. After the Gospels, the Sabbath is no longer emphasized as a binding Christian obligation. Why is the Sabbath mentioned so often in the Gospels? Because during Jesus’s earthly ministry, the Old Covenant order was still in place. Christ had not yet died and risen. The New Covenant had not yet been instituted. The transition had not yet occurred. But after Christ’s death and resurrection, the emphasis changes. When the Sabbath appears in Acts, it is associated with Jewish practice rather than with the church's gathered worship. That is a very important distinction. Colossians 2:16–17 says Sabbaths were shadows fulfilled in Christ One of the clearest passages on this subject is Colossians 2:16–17: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” This passage makes two truths unmistakably clear. First, believers are not to let anyone judge them regarding the Sabbaths. If seventh-day Sabbath observance were a binding New Covenant command for the church, that would be a very strange statement. Second, Paul says Sabbaths were a shadow. A shadow is not the final reality. It points forward to something greater. The substance, the fulfillment, belongs to Christ. That means the Sabbath had a temporary and typological role under the Old Covenant. It pointed beyond itself to Jesus. Once the reality has come, God’s people must understand the shadow in light of Him. Romans 14:5–6 shows that observance of days is not a binding church command Romans 14:5–6 says, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Paul treats the observance of days as a matter of liberty, not law. That would be impossible if the church were required to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as a continuing covenant obligation. This fits perfectly with Colossians 2. The Sabbath is not treated as a moral command binding the church in the same way as commands against adultery, lying, or idolatry. The New Testament does not speak about Sabbath observance as a universal covenant requirement for believers under Christ. Sunday is rightly called the Lord’s Day Revelation 1:10 says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” This most likely refers to Sunday, the first day of the week, which came to be known by that title because it is the day of the Lord’s resurrection. That title is fitting. The Sabbath was the sign day under the Old Covenant. The Lord’s Day is the resurrection day under the New Covenant. Sunday is not arbitrary. It is rooted in the finished work of Christ, the day He rose, and the worship pattern of the early church. The true and greater Sabbath is found in Christ This is where the lesson reaches its deepest theological point. Hebrews 4:9–10 says there remains a rest for the people of God. That rest is ultimately found in Christ. The Sabbath under the Old Covenant was a picture, a shadow, and a type. The reality is Jesus Himself. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” Christians do not say that there is no Sabbath principle at all. Rather, we say the true and greater Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ. We rest in His finished work. We stop striving to earn salvation. We trust Him. And we enjoy that rest not merely one day each week, but every day in Him. That gives a strong answer when someone asks, “Why don’t you keep the Sabbath?” A helpful response is this: “I keep the true and greater Sabbath by resting in Christ, and I gather with the church on Sunday because Jesus rose on the first day of the week.” That captures both the fulfillment of the Sabbath and the reason Christians worship on Sunday. Conclusion So why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Because the seventh-day Sabbath belonged to the Old Covenant mediated by Moses and given to Israel. Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood. Hebrews 7:12 explains that when the priesthood changed, the law-covenant order changed as well. Christ rose on the first day of the week, and the early church gathered on that day. Colossians says Sabbaths were shadows fulfilled in Christ, Romans says the observance of days is not a binding law for the church, and Hebrews says the true rest is found in Jesus. So the Old Covenant is associated with Moses and the seventh day. The New Covenant is associated with Jesus and the first day. That is why Christians worship on Sunday.

    30 min

  4. 16 APR

    Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday Instead of Saturday? Old Covenant, New Covenant, and the Sabbath

    This post is Part 1 of a two-part Sunday school series on why Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. In this first article, we will lay the covenantal foundation by looking at the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and the Sabbath. Table of contentsThe Sabbath belonged to the Old Covenant given to Israel through MosesJesus instituted the New Covenant in His bloodEach covenant had its own lawGalatians teaches freedom from the Mosaic Law, not freedom from obedienceHebrews 7:12 explains why covenantal change affects the lawWhy this prepares us for Sunday worshipConclusion The Sabbath belonged to the Old Covenant given to Israel through Moses The first thing to establish is that the Sabbath was a sign of the Mosaic Covenant given specifically to Israel. Exodus 31:13 says, “You shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations.” Then Exodus 31:17 says, “It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel.” That is very important. The Sabbath was not presented as a covenant sign between God and the church. It was a sign between God and Israel under the Old Covenant, which was mediated by Moses. So if someone asks, “What covenant is the seventh-day Sabbath associated with?” the answer is clear: the Old Covenant, mediated by Moses, given to Israel. That point matters because it keeps us from treating the Sabbath as though it were detached from the covenantal framework in which God gave it. The Sabbath was not a free-floating universal covenant sign for all peoples in all covenant administrations. It belonged to a specific covenant God made with Israel through Moses. Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood Exodus 24 contains the institution of the Old Covenant. The people agreed to the covenant’s terms, promising to obey all that the Lord had spoken. But the covenant was not formally inaugurated until blood was shed. Exodus 24:6-8 repeatedly emphasizes blood, culminating in Moses saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” As your notes rightly emphasize, there is no instituting a covenant without blood. Hebrews 9:18 confirms this: “Not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.” That Old Testament scene prepares us to understand Luke 22. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” The parallel is striking. Moses instituted the Old Covenant with blood. Jesus instituted the New Covenant with blood. But the New Covenant is greater because it was not inaugurated with the blood of animals. It was inaugurated with the blood of Christ Himself. This means there is a real covenantal transition: Moses mediated the Old Covenant. Jesus mediates the New Covenant. And this is foundational for understanding why Christian worship is centered on Sunday rather than Saturday. We are not dealing with a minor adjustment in religious custom. We are dealing with the transition from one covenant to another, from one mediator to another. Each covenant had its own law The New Testament also makes clear that each covenant had its own law. In 1 Corinthians 9:20, Paul said, “To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.” In context, those under the law are Jews who had not embraced Christ. Paul’s point is that he could temporarily live as one under the Mosaic Law for evangelistic reasons, but he himself was no longer under that law. Then in the next verse, Paul speaks about Gentiles: “To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.” Paul was careful to explain that being outside the Mosaic Law did not mean living lawlessly. He was still under authority, but that authority was now described as the law of Christ. So there is a clear distinction between the two laws and the two covenantal administrations: The Mosaic Law is associated with the Old Covenant and its mediator, Moses. The law of Christ is associated with the New Covenant and its Mediator, Jesus. That distinction matters greatly for the subject of worship. Christians are not lawless, but neither are we under the Mosaic Covenant. We belong to Christ and live under His covenant. Galatians teaches freedom from the Mosaic Law, not freedom from obedience As your notes so well say, Galatians is like our Declaration of Independence from the Mosaic Law. If there is one New Testament book that makes plain that believers are not under the Mosaic system as a covenant, it is Galatians. But even there, Paul still says in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” That is important. Freedom from the Mosaic Law does not mean freedom from obedience. It means freedom from the old covenantal administration and from any attempt to be justified by law-keeping. Christians are still called to holiness, love, and obedience, but our obedience is now tied to Christ and the New Covenant He mediates. Hebrews 7:12 explains why covenantal change affects the law Now we come to the verse that helps explain why this transition could take place at all. Hebrews 7:12 says, “For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.” This verse gives the theological explanation for the transition. Jesus did not come merely to continue the Mosaic system. He came to fulfill it and establish a better covenant with a better priesthood. Under the Old Covenant, the priesthood was Levitical. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our great High Priest. Since the priesthood changed, the law-covenant order connected to that priesthood also changed. That means we should expect changes in how God’s people relate to covenant signs and worship. The Old Covenant was associated with the seventh day. The New Covenant is associated with Christ’s resurrection on the first day of the week. Hebrews 7:12 does not merely tell us that something changed. It tells us why change was necessary. Once the priesthood changed from Levi to Christ, the covenantal order tied to that priesthood could not remain exactly the same. Why this prepares us for Sunday worship At this point, we are in a much better position to answer the question, Why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Part 1 does not yet trace every New Testament first-day text, but it lays the necessary theological foundation. The seventh-day Sabbath belonged to the Old Covenant given to Israel through Moses. Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood. Paul distinguished between the Mosaic Law and the law of Christ. Hebrews 7:12 explains that when the priesthood changed, the law-covenant order changed as well. So the move from Saturday to Sunday is not arbitrary. It is tied to the movement from Moses to Christ, from the old covenantal order to the new, and from shadow to fulfillment. In Part 2, we can look more directly at how the New Testament connects the first day of the week with Christ’s resurrection and the worship of God’s people. Conclusion Why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? Because Christ brought a covenantal transition that changed how God’s people relate to the law, the priesthood, and covenant signs. The Sabbath was a sign of the Old Covenant between God and Israel. Jesus came as the Mediator of the New Covenant and instituted it in His own blood. And Hebrews 7:12 explains that when the priesthood changed, the law changed as well. This is why the discussion is much bigger than personal preference or church tradition. It is about understanding redemptive history rightly. It is about seeing that the Old Covenant was associated with the seventh day, while the New Covenant is associated with Christ’s resurrection and the first day of the week. That is the foundation, and in Part 2, we can build on it further: we will look more directly at Christ’s resurrection on the first day of the week, the early church’s pattern of gathering, and why Sunday is rightly called the Lord’s Day.

    30 min

  5. 13 APR

    Remember His Words — Responding to the Resurrection (Luke 24:7–12)

    Responding to the resurrection is not merely about celebrating Easter once a year. It is about how we interpret the empty tomb, how we respond to Christ’s promises, and how we live in light of Jesus' resurrection. In Luke 24:7–12, we see that the resurrection calls for more than admiration. It calls for remembrance, faith, witness, and wonder. One of the great comforts in the Christian life is knowing that our faith does not rest on vague feelings, religious sentiment, or wishful thinking. It rests on what God has said and done in history. That is especially important when we come to the resurrection. Jesus did not merely rise unexpectedly after a tragic death. He rose exactly as He said He would. https://youtu.be/BLwpyG_dTlg Table of contentsJesus followed the Father’s divine planGod is directing our steps, tooRemembering the Lord’s words strengthens faithThose who believe the good news should share the good newsThe resurrection account bears the marks of truthMarvel at the risen ChristConclusion Jesus followed the Father’s divine plan Before the women remembered Christ’s words, the angels reminded them of something crucial: The Son of Man must be delivered. He must be crucified. He must rise on the third day. That word must matters. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly described His life and ministry in terms of divine necessity. He was not being swept along by events outside His control. He was carrying out the Father’s sovereign plan. From His youth, Jesus said He must be in His Father’s house. In His ministry, He said He must preach the kingdom to other towns. As He looked ahead to the cross, He said the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and be raised. Even His meeting with Zacchaeus was described as something He must do. When we come to Luke 24, that same pattern continues. The crucifixion was not a derailment. The resurrection was not a recovery. Everything took place according to God’s perfect will. This should encourage us deeply. Christ’s death was not a defeat. It was the accomplishment of redemption. And Christ’s resurrection was not an emergency reversal. It was the triumphant fulfillment of God’s saving purpose. God is directing our steps, too Of course, Jesus is unique. He is the eternal Son of God in the flesh. His life, death, and resurrection stand alone in redemptive history. None of us can compare ourselves to Him in that sense. But there is still tremendous comfort here for believers. The same sovereign God who directed every step of Christ’s earthly ministry is also directing our lives. Scripture teaches this repeatedly. Proverbs says that a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Jeremiah confesses that it is not in man to direct his own steps. Ephesians says that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand. That does not excuse sin or rebellion. God’s sovereignty never authorizes disobedience. But it does mean that the Christian can rest in this truth: your life is not random. Many of us know what it is like to look back and realize that God was wise in withholding what we wanted and wise in giving what we would never have chosen. Sometimes His providence becomes clearer over time. Other times it remains mysterious. But in both situations, faith says the same thing: the Lord knows what He is doing. This is why the resurrection strengthens us so much. If the Father directed every step of Christ’s suffering all the way to the empty tomb, then we can trust Him with our own confusing paths as well. Remembering the Lord’s words strengthens faith Luke 24:8 says, “And they remembered his words.” That simple statement marks a turning point. The women were standing at an empty tomb, grieving, confused, and overwhelmed. But when they remembered what Jesus had said, everything began to make sense. They did not need a new revelation. They did not need a new experience. They did not need a dramatic emotional breakthrough. They needed to remember the words Christ had already spoken. That is still true for us. When life is perplexing, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When suffering is heavy, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When God’s plan is difficult to understand, we need to remember the Lord’s words. Our circumstances often confuse us. Our emotions can mislead us. Our fears can cloud our thinking. But God’s Word steadies us. Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” The psalmist’s comfort did not come from affliction being removed. It came from God’s promise sustaining him in the middle of it. How often do we struggle because we have forgotten what Christ has said? We forget that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We forget that He works all things together for good. We forget that His grace is sufficient. We forget that because He lives, we also will live. When we forget His words, we become unstable. We fear, panic, doubt, and despair. But when we remember His words, faith is strengthened, and our vision clears. Those who believe the good news should share the good news After the women remembered Christ’s words, they did not keep the news to themselves. Luke says they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. That is a fitting pattern for every believer. Those who believe the good news should share it. Saving faith is personal, but it is never meant to be private. The resurrection is too glorious to hoard. If Christ is truly risen, then others need to hear that news. We see this pattern throughout Scripture. Philip found Nathanael and told him he had found the One Moses and the prophets wrote about. Peter and John declared that they could not help but speak of what they had seen and heard. The gospel creates this kind of holy compulsion. A famous line often attributed to D. T. Niles says that evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. That captures the spirit of Luke 24 well. The women found the empty tomb, remembered Christ’s words, and ran to tell others. That is what we should do too: We should tell our children. We should tell our friends. We should tell our neighbors. We should tell fellow sinners where forgiveness and life can be found. If we believe Christ is risen, then we should want others to hear about the risen Savior. The resurrection account bears the marks of truth Luke names the women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them. He is grounding the resurrection in real history and real eyewitness testimony. This is one of the many reasons Luke’s account is so compelling. It includes details that do not read like polished propaganda. The apostles did not immediately believe. They thought the women’s report sounded like nonsense. If someone were inventing this account, he would probably portray the apostles as perceptive, confident, and full of faith from the beginning. But Luke tells the truth, even when it makes the apostles look slow and skeptical. Likewise, women were the first human witnesses of the resurrection. In that culture, women’s testimony was often undervalued. If someone were fabricating a story to gain credibility in the eyes of society, he would not likely choose women as the first witnesses. But God did. These details do not feel contrived. They feel true. The resurrection account does not read like a carefully engineered myth. It reads like history. Marvel at the risen Christ Finally, Peter ran to the tomb. He stooped, looked in, saw the linen cloths by themselves, and went home, marveling at what had happened. That is a fitting response for us as well. Marvel that Jesus said He would rise, and He did. Marvel that the grave could not hold Him. Marvel that death had its moment, but not its victory. Marvel that because Christ lives, all who trust in Him will live also. The resurrection is not only a doctrine to defend. It is a glory to behold. It should fill our hearts with reverent wonder. Conclusion Luke 24:7–12 teaches us how to respond to the empty tomb. First, remember the Lord’s words. The women’s confusion began to lift when they remembered what Jesus had told them. The same is true for us. Christ’s words bring clarity, stability, and comfort. Second, share the good news. The women returned from the tomb and told others. If we believe Christ is risen, we should want others to know. Third, marvel at the risen Christ. Peter went away amazed, and so should we. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. Death has been defeated. And for anyone who has never trusted in Christ, do not respond as the apostles did at first. Do not dismiss the truth as an idle tale. Repent of your sins. Believe in the risen Savior. Come to the One who was delivered, crucified, and raised on the third day, just as He said. Because the tomb is empty. Christ is risen. And that truth demands a response from every one of us.

    24 min

  6. 6 APR

    He Is Risen — The Empty Tomb and the Resurrection of Jesus (Luke 24:1–6)

    The empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus stand at the center of the Christian faith. Luke 24:1-6 brings us to the greatest event in human history: Jesus Christ, who was crucified for sinners, did not remain in the grave. He rose again. After all the teaching, miracles, compassion, confrontations, betrayal, suffering, and burial, Luke’s Gospel reaches its glorious climax here. Jesus was not merely born to be an example, perform miracles, or teach moral truths. He came to die for sinners and rise again so that all who repent and believe might have eternal life. https://youtu.be/NYWLSN52JfU Table of contentsThe darkness of Christ’s death gives way to the light of the resurrectionAfter the resurrection, Jesus is revealed as the LordDo not seek life among the deadHe is not here, but has risenConclusion If Christ had remained in the tomb, Christianity would be empty. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But because Jesus rose, everything changes. Sin has been paid for. Death has been conquered. Salvation has been accomplished. Eternal life is offered to all who trust in Him. Luke’s careful account shows us not only that the tomb was empty, but what that empty tomb means. The darkness of Christ’s death gives way to the light of the resurrection Before Luke tells us about the resurrection morning, he wants us to remember what took place at the crucifixion. In Luke 23:44-45, darkness covered the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. This was no ordinary event. It was a supernatural sign accompanying Christ's death. Luke says, “the sun’s light failed,” language that seems meant to draw attention not only to physical darkness but also to spiritual symbolism. Jesus had said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). As He gave His life, the light failed. The Light of the World was being extinguished in death. That makes the opening of Luke 24 all the more powerful. The women come to the tomb “on the first day of the week, at early dawn” (Luke 24:1). The timing is deeply significant. The resurrection is announced at daybreak. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of Sunday morning. When Christ died, darkness covered the land. When Christ rose, a new day began. These women came with spices they had prepared before the Sabbath. Their actions reveal love, devotion, and faithfulness. They had followed Jesus from Galilee. They had remained near Him at the crucifixion. They had seen where His body was laid. While many others scattered, they stayed. Now they return at the earliest possible moment after the Sabbath, not expecting resurrection, but expecting to honor a dead body. That detail matters. They did not come anticipating a celebration. They came anticipating sorrow. They did not expect life. They expected death. Yet when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away. This did not mean Jesus needed help getting out. The stone was rolled away so the women, and later the apostles, could see the evidence that He had already risen. God opened the tomb, not to free Jesus, but to reveal that death could not hold Him. After the resurrection, Jesus is revealed as the Lord Luke 24:3 says something remarkable: “but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” This wording is striking. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus most commonly refers to Himself as the Son of Man. That title emphasizes His humanity, His humiliation, His service, His suffering, and His mission to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). It fits Christ's earthly ministry as the One who came to serve and suffer. But here in Luke 24, at the empty tomb, Luke uses the title “the Lord Jesus.” That is significant because, after the resurrection, the New Testament increasingly emphasizes Jesus as Lord. In Acts and the epistles, believers preach the Lord Jesus, trust in the Lord Jesus, are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and testify of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection serves as the bridge between Christ’s humiliation and His exaltation. This does not mean Jesus was not Lord before the resurrection. He always was. But now His resurrection openly reveals and confirms His identity in power. The crucified Son of Man is the risen Lord Jesus. The One rejected by men is exalted over all. The One who came in humility is now proclaimed in majesty. That is why the resurrection cannot be reduced to an inspiring ending or a moving miracle. It is the public declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord. The empty tomb is not merely evidence that a body is gone. It is evidence that the crucified Messiah has conquered death and reigns in victory. Do not seek life among the dead When the women found the tomb empty, they were confused. Luke says they were perplexed. Then two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. These were angels appearing in human form, and their question is one of the most profound in all of Scripture: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). At one level, this question gently rebukes the women. They should have remembered what Jesus had taught them. He had already told His followers that He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day. They had come looking for a dead Savior when they should have remembered they served a risen Lord. But that question reaches far beyond the women at the tomb. It speaks to every generation. It exposes the tragedy of seeking life where life cannot be found. Many people seek life in a dead religion. They trust rituals, ceremonies, traditions, or external forms of godliness. Yet Scripture warns of those “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). Religion without Christ cannot save. It may make a person appear spiritual, but it cannot make a dead sinner alive. Others seek life in dead works. They think they can do enough, improve enough, or serve enough to make themselves right with God. But salvation is “not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:9), and “by works of the law no human being will be justified” (Romans 3:20). Dead people cannot raise themselves. Sinners do not need mere self-improvement; they need resurrection life through faith in Christ. Still others seek life in dead idols. They give their hearts to things that cannot speak, save, or satisfy. Psalm 115 describes idols as having mouths but not speaking, eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing. Jeremiah 2:13 describes the tragedy perfectly: people forsake the fountain of living waters and dig broken cisterns that can hold no water. That is what idolatry always does. It turns from the living God to empty substitutes. Some even seek life in a dead faith. James 2:17 says, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” It is possible to profess faith without possessing saving faith. A person can know biblical language, attend church, and say the right things while remaining spiritually dead. Only living faith in the risen Christ saves. And of course, many seek life in money, pleasure, success, morality, or relationships. Yet none of these can give peace with God. None of them can remove guilt. None of them can conquer death. Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25). The world cannot give life to a soul dead in sin. Life is found only in Christ. Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Jesus Himself declared, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The empty tomb proclaims not only that Jesus is alive, but that He alone is the source of life for all who come to Him in faith. He is not here, but has risen The angels then announce the message of Easter in its simplest and most triumphant form: “He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:6). They do not merely say the tomb is empty. They interpret the empty tomb for us. Christ is risen. That is the heart of the Christian message. The resurrection is not an emotional symbol of hope. It is not merely the disciples carrying on Jesus’ memory. It is not a poetic way of saying His influence lives on. It is the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is why Christians do not focus on venerating the grave of Jesus the way followers of other religions honor the burial places of their founders. Jesus’ tomb is not the center of Christian devotion because Jesus is not in the tomb. Whatever uncertainty may exist regarding the exact burial location today, the message remains unchanged: the grave could not hold Him. The Lord Jesus is risen. Christianity stands or falls on this truth. If Christ is not raised, our faith is futile. But if Christ is raised, then every promise of the gospel is true. The resurrection means the Father accepted the Son’s sacrifice. It means sin has been paid for. It means death has been defeated. It means all who belong to Christ will also live. Conclusion Luke 24:1-6 leaves us with one glorious truth: the tomb is empty because Jesus Christ is alive. The darkness of the cross has given way to the light of the resurrection. The suffering Son of Man is revealed as the risen Lord Jesus. And the angels’ question still searches our hearts: Why do you seek the living among the dead? So, where are you seeking life? Are you looking for it in religion, works, success, pleasure, money, relationships, or morality? None of those things can save. None of them can give eternal life. None of them can conquer death. Only the risen Christ can. The good news of Easter is that Jesus, who was crucified for sinners, is not in the tomb. He is risen. He has defeated sin, conquered death, and offers eternal li

    45 min

  7. 31 MAR

    How to Get God’s Wisdom: What Proverbs Teaches About Wisdom and Foolishness

    We live in a world overflowing with information but lacking wisdom, which is why we desperately need God’s wisdom. People have endless access to opinions, advice, and content, yet lives are still marked by confusion, bad decisions, and foolishness. The problem is not that we need more knowledge. The problem is that we need the wisdom that comes from the Lord. Job asked this same question when he grew weary of his friends’ clichés and empty platitudes. He wanted real wisdom, so he asked where wisdom could be found. That is still the right question for us today. And the good news is that Scripture does not leave us guessing. James 1:5 gives tremendous hope: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God is not stingy with wisdom. He does not give it begrudgingly. He gives it generously to those who ask. https://youtu.be/LgA58i5HxQQ Table of contentsLesson One: God Wants to Give Us WisdomLesson Two: Fools Don’t Apply KnowledgeLesson Three: Wisdom Calls for RepentanceLesson Four: Rejecting Wisdom Brings Severe ConsequencesLesson Five: Acquiring Wisdom Requires EffortLesson Six: Wisdom Must Be Our Daily PursuitConclusion Lesson One: God Wants to Give Us Wisdom James 1:5 is one of the clearest New Testament verses on this subject, but Proverbs makes the same truth abundantly clear: God wants to give us wisdom. Wisdom is not hidden from those who seek the Lord. It is not reserved for spiritual elites. It is available. Proverbs 1 presents wisdom as a woman crying aloud in the street, raising her voice in the markets, and speaking at the city gates. That imagery is meant to show how near wisdom is to us. Wisdom is not whispering from some remote location. She is calling out in the busiest places of life, making herself known right where people live, work, and make decisions. This is encouraging. If you want wisdom, God is not playing hide-and-seek with you. He is not reluctant to guide you. He wants you to hear His voice through His Word. But there is also a warning here. Proverbs says wisdom cries out in the “noisy streets.” That reminds us that many competing voices are trying to drown out wisdom. Social media, entertainment, news, shallow conversations, and foolish influences can all make it harder to hear what God is saying. This means we should each ask ourselves: What is drowning out wisdom in my life? What distractions are keeping me from hearing God’s voice clearly? Lesson Two: Fools Don’t Apply Knowledge Proverbs 1:22 identifies three groups: the simple, the scoffers, and the fools. Each one reveals something about the human heart apart from wisdom. The simple are gullible. They do not know what to believe. Proverbs contrasts them with the prudent, who think carefully and consider their steps. The simple are easily led astray because they lack discernment. The scoffers are different. They are not merely uninformed; they are arrogant. They smirk at the correction. They mock wisdom because they think they already know better. Then there are fools. Proverbs says fools hate knowledge. That sounds surprising at first, because many fools are actually knowledgeable. They may know the truth. They may have heard sermons, read Scripture, and received counsel. But they do not apply what they know. That is what makes them fools. Wisdom is not merely possessing information. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. A wise person does what is morally and spiritually right with what he knows. A fool may know the right thing to do and still refuse to do it. That is why James 4:17 is so important: “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Fools live in that dangerous place of knowing better while choosing disobedience anyway. This is deeply convicting because it moves the conversation from intellect to obedience. The issue is not simply whether we know the truth, but whether we will submit to it. Lesson Three: Wisdom Calls for Repentance Proverbs 1:23 says, “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” The call to turn is a call to repent. Why does wisdom begin there? Because wisdom exposes our foolishness and sin. If we are going to grow in wisdom, we must first be willing to repent of the ways we have rejected God’s truth. This is what happens whenever we read Scripture honestly. God’s Word confronts us. It reveals where we are wrong. It exposes sinful habits, prideful attitudes, and foolish patterns. If we humble ourselves and turn, we grow in wisdom. If we scoff, excuse ourselves, or refuse correction, we remain fools. There is also a beautiful promise here. Wisdom says that if we turn, she will pour out her spirit and make her words known. This points us to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates Scripture and gives understanding. Ephesians 1:17 speaks of “the Spirit of wisdom,” reminding us that true wisdom is not merely academic. It is spiritual. God Himself helps His people understand His truth. Lesson Four: Rejecting Wisdom Brings Severe Consequences Proverbs 1 takes a sobering turn when wisdom says that because people refused to listen, ignored counsel, and rejected reproof, calamity and distress would come upon them. The language is intentionally severe. It is meant to warn us. This can sound harsh at first, but it is actually merciful. Warnings are loving. When God shows us where foolishness leads, He is being gracious. He is urging us to turn before we reap the consequences of sin. Still, the warning is real. There comes a point when those who repeatedly reject wisdom are left to suffer the fruit of their choices. Proverbs says they will eat the fruit of their own way. That is one of the most frightening forms of judgment in Scripture: God turns people over to what they have chosen. Jeremiah 2:19 teaches the same truth: “Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you.” Sin carries its own penalties. Our foolish decisions often produce their own pain. God does not always need to add further judgment because the consequences of sin can be punishing enough on their own. This should cause us to take wisdom seriously. Foolishness is not harmless. It is destructive. Rejecting wisdom is not a small matter. Lesson Five: Acquiring Wisdom Requires Effort If wisdom is so available, why do so many people remain foolish? Proverbs 2 answers that question by showing that although wisdom is available, it is not automatic. We must pursue it. The father in Proverbs 2 tells his son to receive his words, treasure his commandments, make his ear attentive, incline his heart, call out for insight, raise his voice for understanding, seek wisdom like silver, and search for it as hidden treasure. These are action words. They show that wisdom requires deliberate effort. No one becomes wise by accident. Wise people become wise because they value wisdom enough to pursue it consistently. Just as people work hard for money, promotions, and success, believers must be willing to work diligently for spiritual riches. This also reveals something about the heart. We pursue what we value. If we truly saw the worth of wisdom, we would chase after it more earnestly than we chase after earthly gain. Lesson Six: Wisdom Must Be Our Daily Pursuit Proverbs 2 does not describe wisdom as a one-time event. The verbs are ongoing. Receive. Treasure. Listen. Seek. Search. These are not occasional hobbies. They are the daily disciplines of a lifetime. This is much like physical training. People do not become strong because of one workout, one meal, or one good week. Growth comes through consistency over time. The same is true spiritually. Wise believers usually cannot point to a single sermon, devotional, or Bible study that made them wise. Instead, wisdom develops through years of hearing God’s Word, receiving correction, and walking in obedience. That is encouraging because it means ordinary faithfulness matters. Each day you read Scripture, sit under preaching, seek counsel, pray for discernment, and obey what God shows you, you are growing in wisdom. Conclusion Wisdom is available, but it is not automatic. God wants to give us wisdom generously, and He makes it available through His Word, godly counsel, and the work of the Holy Spirit. But we must still humble ourselves, repent where needed, and pursue wisdom diligently. We should ask ourselves two questions. What is drowning out wisdom in my life? And what do I already know is right, but have failed to do? There is a price to gaining wisdom: time, humility, and effort. But there is a far greater price to rejecting it: the pain and consequences of foolishness. So let us seek the Lord now and pursue wisdom daily, because the one who gains wisdom gains a treasure far greater than anything this world can offer.

    31 min

  8. 23 MAR

    Joseph of Arimathea and the Women Who Faithfully Honored Jesus (Luke 23:50-56)

    In Luke 23:50-56, Joseph of Arimathea and the women who faithfully honored Jesus show us what true discipleship looks like when following Christ is costly, quiet, and seemingly unrewarded. Jesus had been abandoned by His closest followers, condemned by the religious leaders, and executed by Rome. But in that dark moment, God still preserved faithful disciples who stayed near Christ and honored Him. https://youtu.be/PlAKLqOodfw Table of contentsThe Shepherd Was Struck and the Sheep ScatteredGod Preserves Faithful Disciples Even in the Darkest TimesJoseph Shows True Disciples Remain Faithful When There Is No Personal AdvantageJesus’ Burial Fulfilled ProphecyThe Women Show That True Disciples Honor Christ With Persevering DevotionWhat This Passage Teaches Us About FaithfulnessFinal Thoughts The Shepherd Was Struck and the Sheep Scattered This passage becomes even more powerful when we read it in light of Old Testament prophecy. Zechariah 13:7 says, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” Jesus applied this verse directly to His disciples on the night of His arrest in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. When Jesus was taken, the disciples fled. When He was condemned and crucified, they were nowhere to be found. Even Peter, who had confidently declared he would die with Christ, denied three times that he even knew Him. That is one of the painful realities surrounding the crucifixion. Jesus was not only rejected by the world but also abandoned by His own followers. Yet Luke 23 does not leave us with only that sorrowful picture. After the sheep are scattered, God shows that He still has faithful people. Joseph of Arimathea and the women from Galilee do what the disciples should have done. They step forward when others step back. They identify with Christ when others distance themselves from Him. God Preserves Faithful Disciples Even in the Darkest Times Luke introduces Joseph in a striking way: “Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:50-51). Joseph was from Arimathea and, more surprisingly, a member of the council. He belonged to the Sanhedrin, the very body responsible for condemning Jesus. Yet Luke distinguishes him from the rest. He was “a good and righteous man,” not because he was sinless, but because he feared God and lived with integrity. Most importantly, he was “looking for the kingdom of God.” That final description explains everything. Joseph acted differently because his heart was set on the Lord. This is deeply encouraging. Even in corrupt and hostile places, God preserves His people. Among the religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead, there was one man who had not consented. God had not lost all witnesses, and He never does. This theme runs throughout Scripture. Elijah once believed he was alone, telling the Lord in 1 Kings 19:10 and 14, “I, even I only, am left.” But God corrected him in 1 Kings 19:18: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal.” Elijah thought the remnant had disappeared, but God had preserved one. The same is true here. If we looked only at the Sanhedrin, we might assume every one of them had given himself over completely to darkness. But God had Joseph there. He had a faithful man in an unlikely place. The Lord always preserves a remnant. This should strengthen us when we look at our culture, churches, institutions, or communities and feel discouraged. God still has His people. There are still faithful men and women who have not bowed the knee. Joseph Shows True Disciples Remain Faithful When There Is No Personal Advantage “This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus” (Luke 23:52). That single verse reveals remarkable courage. Jesus was dead. He had been publicly condemned, shamefully executed, and abandoned by nearly everyone. There was no earthly advantage in being associated with Him at this point. No crowds were cheering. No miracles were drawing admiration. No influence could be gained by identifying with Christ now. It is one thing to follow Jesus when the crowds are large, the excitement is high, and the blessings seem obvious. It is another thing entirely to identify with Him when obedience appears costly and public loyalty seems to bring only loss. Joseph did not attach himself to Jesus for personal gain. He was not seeking advancement, recognition, or approval. He honored Christ when doing so likely damaged his future with the religious establishment. While Scripture does not tell us exactly what Joseph lost, it is difficult to imagine that his actions were well received by the council that had demanded Jesus’ death. That is what makes his example so compelling. True discipleship is revealed when following Christ brings no worldly benefit. It is tested when obedience costs something. This lesson presses on us today. Will we remain faithful when honoring Christ is unpopular? Will we obey Him when doing so costs friendships, comfort, reputation, opportunities, or income? Will we speak the truth in love when silence would be easier? Will we remain morally pure in a culture that mocks holiness? Will we forgive when bitterness feels more justified? These are the moments when real devotion becomes visible. Joseph shows that true disciples remain faithful when there is no personal advantage. Jesus’ Burial Fulfilled Prophecy “Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid” (Luke 23:53). It is striking how much detail the Gospels give to Jesus’ burial. The crucifixion itself is often described with stunning brevity. But here we are told how Joseph took down Jesus’ body, wrapped it carefully, and laid it in a new tomb. That detail matters because Jesus’ burial was not incidental. It fulfilled prophecy and confirmed the reality of His death. Paul included the burial as part of the gospel itself in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” Jesus did not merely appear to die. He truly died, and He was truly buried. His burial confirms the reality of His sacrifice and prepares the way for the glory of the resurrection. But more than that, the manner of His burial fulfilled Isaiah 53:9: “They made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death.” That prophecy is astonishing in its precision. Wicked men intended for Jesus to be treated like a criminal in death, just as He had been treated like one in life. He was crucified between criminals, and His enemies would have gladly consigned His body to further humiliation. But the Father had other plans. Though men intended disgrace, God ordained honor. Joseph, a wealthy man, buried Jesus in his own new tomb. John 19 also tells us that Nicodemus brought an extravagant amount of myrrh and aloes for Jesus’ body. In this way, Jesus was buried not only with a rich man, but by rich men, exactly as Isaiah had foretold centuries earlier. This should encourage us deeply. If there were ever a moment when it might appear that God had lost control, it would be the murder of His Son. Yet even here, in the burial of Jesus, every detail is governed by divine sovereignty. The death of Christ was not a tragic accident. It was the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan exactly as Scripture had said. And that means the same God who governed the details of His Son’s burial governs the details of our lives as well. Nothing is random. Nothing is outside His control. The Women Show That True Disciples Honor Christ With Persevering Devotion Luke then turns our attention to the women: “It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:54-56). These women had followed Jesus from Galilee during His ministry. They remained present at the crucifixion, and now they continued following Him after His death. That may sound simple, but in context, it is profound. Others had fled. Others had disappeared. But these women stayed near Christ in their grief. Their devotion was not loud or dramatic. It was quiet, tender, and persevering. They watched carefully where His body was laid. They prepared spices and ointments to honor Him. They rested on the Sabbath according to God’s commandment. In other words, they did not abandon either Christ or God’s Word in their sorrow. They could not stop the crucifixion. They could not undo Jesus’ death. They could not change the grief of the moment. But they could still love Him. They could still follow Him. They could still serve Him in the small ways available to them. That kind of devotion matters greatly. Most acts of faithfulness are not performed in front of crowds. They happen quietly, in grief, in obscurity, and without recognition. These women remind us that true disciples honor Christ with persevering devotion even when the future is unclear. They did not yet know resurrection morning was coming. All they knew was that Jesus was dead. Yet their love for Him remained. That is the kind of steadfast love the Lord delights in: a love that continues in sorrow, obeys in silence, and serves without applause. What This Passage Teaches Us About Faithfulness Joseph and the women together provide a beautiful picture of genuine discipleship. Joseph honored Christ publicly when it was costly. The women honored Christ quietly when no one was looking. Joseph remind

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About

Scott LaPierre (https://www.scottlapierre.org/) is a pastor, author, and Christian speaker on marriage. This podcast includes his conference messages, guest preaching, and expository sermons at Woodland Christian Church. Each of Scott’s messages is the result of hours of studying the Bible. Scott and his wife, Katie, grew up together in northern California, and God has blessed them with nine children. View all of Pastor Scott’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Scott-LaPierre/e/B01JT920EQ. Receive a FREE copy of Scott’s book, “Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages.” For Scott LaPierre’s conference and speaking information, including testimonies, and endorsements, please visit: https://www.scottlapierre.org/christian-speaker/. Feel free to contact Scott at: https://www.scottlapierre.org/contact/.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott LaPierre
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    297
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Scott LaPierre
  • Show Website
    Scott LaPierre Ministries

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