A note from Jake.

For the last five and half months we have been faithfully preaching through the Gospel of Luke. This is a worthy task for the church today. The faithful expository preaching of God’s Word forces the church to discuss and apply the tough passages. The same is true for youth ministry. On Wednesday nights, we have been studying through Luke with the idea of God’s big story in mind. Here is what we’ve been exploring:
 
God’s big story begins in the first book of the Old Testament. In Genesis, we are introduced to a Holy God who creates mankind in His image and likeness (Genesis 1-2). This means that mankind represents God. In some ways, mankind is royalty. We were created to represent and rule over what God had given us. However, in Genesis 3, mankind was plunged into darkness because of their sin and it’s from this point God had to restore His creation. From this point, God begins to progressively plot the way for a coming king that will restore creation.
 
As this progressive act of redemption continues to be revealed to the reader from Genesis 3-Malachi, we see God working, mankind messing it up (again), and God having to fix it (again). When we get to the Gospel of Luke, God’s redemptive plan begins to become as clear as ever.
 
As the students and I began to trace God’s plan in Luke, we were introduced to Jesus. The character in Luke’s narrative begins to be elevated as a coming king that will restore creation from their sin and corruption. We learn that Jesus was actually the Son of God who came to show us how to represent God and rightfully bear God’s image and likeness. This truth is at the heart of the Gospel. This message of hope is what God was progressively revealing through history. It’s through this message that God’s covenant faithfulness is revealed, that Jesus is the coming king that will come to redeem a wicked and corrupt world.
 
Yesterday, we explored God’s plan and saw that He was, and continues to be, in full control over His plan. It is in this truth that we see Christ’s Lordship over creation. Specifically, that Jesus, being the Son of God, is in control, has authority, and is present in and over creation. We saw how God’s plan leads his followers to unlikely places and tasks. This plan motivates Christians to overcome our fears (to share the good news of the Gospel with those around us), to persevere through persecution (because it is promised that it will come), to rely on Christ alone (for our redemption), and to proclaim the good news of the Gospel (and the hope it brings to sinners).
 
God’s Word leads His Church to these unlikely places and tasks. It is my hope that Pleasant Ridge sees the explicit imperative in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples. The Gospel motivates us to this mission and His church must never stop pursuing such a task. 


Jake Kersh