The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength - Nathan Rages

Neh. 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Lessons:

1. Our grief must give way to joy. 

2. Our joy must be God-centered. 

3. Our joy comes from understanding Scripture.

4. Our joy makes us spiritually strong.

5. Our joy should be shared. 

The Debtors and the Moneylender - James Voon

Luke 7:36-50 describes the prostitute who anointed Jesus' feet with ointment and the parable which Jesus gave in response.  The passage can be broken-down using this outline: 

1. The Setting (v36).

2. The Sinner (v37).

3. The Scene (v38).

4. The Simon (v39).

5. The Sermon (v40-48).

6. The Scoff (v49).

7. The Salvation (v50).

Lessons From a Great Man's Doubts - Nathan Rages

Luke 7:18-35 describes Jesus' response to John the Baptist's unexpected question for Him: "Are You the Expected One, of do we look for someone else?".  This surprising passage yields six lessons for us:

1. Realize great men have surprising weaknesses (v19-20,28).

2. Answer your doubts by focusing on Jesus and Scripture (v21-22).

3. Don’t be offended at Jesus (v23).

4. Expect Jesus to defend His friends (v24-28).

5. Appreciate our spiritual benefits in the New Covenant (v28).

6. Don’t make excuses for rejecting the truth (v29-35).

Young Man, I Say to You Arise! - Nathan Rages

Luke 7:11-17 describes the first time Jesus raised someone from the dead, the widow's son at the city of Nain.  This rich account includes these five themes:

1. Timely Providence (v11-12).

2. Bitter Misery (v12).

3. Tender Compassion (v13).

4. Fearful Power (v14-16).

5. Great Hope (v16-17).