Sermon: 6th Sunday of Epiphany  

         Luke 6:17-26 - Spiritual Liberty          
         Various Texts: Our Lenten Series (see below)   
                 Sign up now and get immediate access!

Luke 6:  Jesus died penniless. Roman soldiers cast lots to divide among themselves Jesus' only possessions--the clothes on his back. And he looked at his disciples and said, blessed are you who are poor.

Jesus died hungry. There is no record that Jesus had anything to eat the day of his death. What we call The Last Supper on Thursday evening may very well have been Jesus' last meal. He died on the cross Friday at sunset with an empty stomach. Looking at his disciples he said, blessed are you who hunger now.

Jesus died weeping. After his last supper Jesus headed for the Garden and there in that Olive Grove we call Gethsemane he prayed and he wept. He told his disciples you are blessed when you weep.

Jesus died hated. Caiaphas, the greatest religious authority in Israel called him a blasphemer. The crowds wanted a murderer freed before they would see Jesus pardoned. And his disciples deserted him. Looking at his disciples he said blessed are you when men hate you on account of me.

The beatitudes are a wonderful description of what disciples are suppose to be like. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are you who are poor. They sound so ideal, so spiritual. They probably come in fourth in the “framed scripture hanging on a wall category.” Just behind The Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the Lord’s Prayer. But truth be told few of us ever come close to truly living them out. Why? Here’s the reason: It’s because they are a call to sacrificial living.

When I think of making sacrifices I think of E. Stanley Jones, perhaps United Methodism’s most famous foreign missionary. He authored over a dozen books and converted hundreds of Hindus in India to Christianity. He is the only person of which I am aware who was voted in abstentia to become a bishop. When he received the news, he turned it down. One day E. Stanley Jones came to Emory University and spoke to a Systematic Theology class. One of the students asked him why he turned down the episcopacy. He laughingly replied that if he became a bishop he would have to retire at age 70. "I am now 82," he said, "and I am still going strong."

Then someone asked him: what do you think of the Beatitudes? Several students picked up their pens expecting something profound and they got it. Here's what he said: "At first sight, you felt they turned everything upside down. At second sight, you understand that they turn everything right side up. The first time you read them they are impossible. The second time you read them, nothing else is possible. The beatitudes are not a chart for Christian duty. They are a charter for Christian liberty.”

The Beatitudes: They are admonitions to sacrificial living and sacrificial living is the door to Christian Freedom. Now what does that mean? Let’s take a look.

 

1. A Good Word for Poverty

2. Caution against Riches

3. Sacrificial Freedom Is Greater than Financial Freedom

The rest of this sermon, along with many additional sermons for Epiphany 6, can be obtained by joining eSermons.com. When you sign up you will get immediate access.

CLICK HERE here to join eSermons.com today.

Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-350-8339.

Lenten Series

With your membership you get access to all these sermon series plus our complete library of material for a year.

Lenten: A Sight For Blind Eyes

             David E. Leininger

1.   Lent - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

2.   The Devil Made Me Do It  -  Matthew 4:1-11

3.   Nicodemus  -  John 3:1-15

4.   Excuses (Alternate Lent 2)  -  Luke 14:16-23

5.   Unexpected Evangelists  -  John 4:5-42

6.   Sight for Blind Eyes  -  John 9:

7.   The Grief Grinch  -  John 11:17-36

8.   Sometimes You've Got to Shout!  -  John 12:12-16

9.   The Imperatives of the Resurrection - Matthew 28:1-10

Lenten: Salvation at the Skull

             Frank G. Honeycutt

1.  Escape from the Island of Spiritual Sloth – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

2.  On Defeating the Devil – Luke 4:1-13

3.  Headlines and Holiness – Luke 13:1-9

4.  The Waster – Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

5.  Costly Extravagance – John 12: 1-8

6.  Salvation at the Skull – Luke 23:1-49

7.  Pilate Pops the Question – John 18:1-19:42

8.  Resurrection and Remembrance – Luke 24:1-12

Lenten: They Heard Him Gladly

              James W. Moore

1.   The Common People Heard Him Gladly - Mark 12:35-37

2.   Jesus and Andrew  -  John 1:35-42

3.   Jesus and Zacchaeus  -  Luke 19:1-10

4.   Jesus and Bartimaeus  -  Mark 10:46-52

5.   Jesus and Mary and Martha  -  Luke 10:38-42

6.   Jesus and Mary Magdalene  -  John 20:11-18

7.   When The Risen Christ Comes Looking For Us - John 21:15-19

Lenten: The Passion Of The Christ

              Brett Blair

1.   His Triumphal Entry  -  Luke 19:28-40

2.   His Cleansing Of The Temple  -  Luke 19:45-48

3.   His Teachings  -  Luke 20:27-38

4.   His Last Supper  -  Luke 22:14-23

5.   His Trial  -  Luke 23:13-25

6.   His Death  -  Luke 23:33-43

7.   His Resurrection  -  John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-10

Lenten: With an Eye to the New: Preaching and Reading the Old Testament

              Elizabeth Achtemeier

1.  Responding to the Story – Deuteronomy 26:1-11

2.  Living by a Promise – Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

3.  Return and Be Forgiven – Isaiah 55:1-9

4.  Passing from Old to New – Joshua 5:9-12

5.  Endings – Isaiah 43:16-21

6.  Servant Song – Isaiah 50:4-9a

7.  Passover and the Lord’s Supper – Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14

8.  Suffering Servant Song – Isaiah 52-53:12

9.  God Shows No Partiality – Acts 10:34-43

Lenten: The Healing Power Of The Christ

              James W. Moore

1.   The Healing Of Simons Mother-in-Law - Mk 1:21-28

2.   The Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand - Mk 3:1-6

3.   The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac Mk 5:1-20

4.   The Healing of Jairus Daughter and Hemorrhaging Woman - Mk 5:21-43

5.   The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus - Mk 10:46-52

6.   The Healing Power of the Cross - Mk 15:33-41

7.   The Healing Power of the Resurrection - Jn 20:1-18 or Lk 24:1-10

Lenten: Encounters With Christ

              James W. Moore

1.   Jesus & the Man Born Blind  -  John 9:1-12

2.   Jesus and Mary and Martha  -  Luke 10:38-42

3.   Jesus and Nicodemus  -  John 3:1-10

4.   Jesus and the Woman at the Well  -  John 4:7-15

5.   Jesus and James and John  -  Matthew 20:20-28

6.   Jesus and Caiaphas  -  Matthew 26:58-6

7.   Jesus & Mary Magdalene  -  Mark 16:1-7

Lenten: Journey To The Cross

             James W. Moore

1.   Jesus And The Demon-Possessed Man  -  Mark 5:1-20

2.   Jesus And The Hemorrhaging Woman  -  Mark 5:21-43

3.   Jesus And The Extravagant Woman  -  Mark 14:1-9

4.   Jesus and Judas  -  Mark 14:43-51

5.   Jesus and Simon Peter  -  Mark 14:66-72

6.   Jesus And Pontius Pilate  -  Matthew 27:15-26

7.   Jesus And The Women At The Tomb  -  Mark 16:1-8

Lenten: The Man From Galilee

              Thomas A. Pilgrim

1.   The Temptation Of His Life  -  Matthew 4:1-11

2.   The Transformation Of His Call  -  Matthew 4:18-22

3.   The Touch Of His Hand  -  Matthew 8:14-17

4.   The Treasure Of His Kingdom  -  Matthew 13:44

5.   The Test Of His Courage  -  Matthew 20:17-19

6.   The Tragedy Of His Victory  -  Luke 19:28-40

7.   The Triumph Of His Defeat  -  Matthew 28:1-10

CLICK HERE here to join eSermons.com today.

Or, sign up by calling toll free anytime (including weekends) 1-800-350-8339.

eSermons.com offers thousands of illustrations like the one below:

What Is Unique About Christianity?

The story of Jesus sitting and debating the Law with rabbis reminds me of another debate that took place in a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God became incarnate in human form. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead.

Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, armful of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what's all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We're debating what's unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that's easy,” answered Lewis, “it's....

The conclusion to this powerful illustration and many more can be obtained by joining. Look for illustrations under Ephesians 2 to find this CS Lewis illustration.

eSermons.com offers professionally written sermons, sermon illustrations,
and children's sermons that are searchable by lectionary week,
scripture, topic, and author.

---

eSermons.com Contact Us About Us Join Advertise Demo
Our: Newsletter Sermons Illustrations PowerPoint Children's Resources Lectionary Dramas