Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today we’re going to dive into a portion of Scripture that I believe is going to challenge us, encourage us, and maybe even shake us up a bit. We're going to take a look at Luke 4:14-30. In these verses, we see Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, teaching in the synagogues and stirring up quite a reaction among the people. We're going to explore three aspects of grace today - The power, offense, and necessity of grace.

Before we get started, let's hear a quote from Philip Yancey, who said, “Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.” It's a simple statement but one that packs a punch when you really think about it.

Now, let's read the Scripture passage for today:

[Read passage]

Let us pray.

Father God, we ask that you open our hearts and minds today as we explore your word. Help us to grasp the full measure of your grace, its power, its offense, and its necessity in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Alright, let's dig into this rich passage and see what it has to teach us about grace!

The Power

When we talk about the power of grace, we are referring to the transformative and liberating power that God's unmerited favor can have in our lives.

The passage: We see Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returning to Galilee. He begins teaching in the synagogues, and the people are amazed at the gracious words that come from his lips. This is the first glimpse we get of the power of grace in this passage. Jesus, the embodiment of God's grace, is teaching, and his words are so full of grace that they leave the people in awe.

In the actions that he performs: He proclaims good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and sets the oppressed free. These are not just physical acts, but spiritual ones as well. Jesus is not just healing physical blindness, but spiritual blindness. He's not just freeing physical prisoners, but those who are imprisoned by sin and guilt. This is the power of grace - it reaches into the deepest, darkest parts of our lives and brings light, freedom, and healing.

Also about empowerment: In the passage, Jesus says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him because he has been anointed to proclaim good news. This is another aspect of the power of grace - it empowers us to do God's work. When we receive God's grace, we are not just recipients of his favor, but we are also empowered to be his representatives, to proclaim his good news to others.

Its ability to challenge and confront: In the passage, Jesus challenges the people's understanding of who is worthy of God's grace. He reminds them of the stories of Elijah and Elisha, who were sent to help a widow and a leper who were not Israelites. This would have been a shocking reminder to the people that God's grace is not limited to a particular group of people, but is available to all. This is another aspect of the power of grace - it challenges our prejudices and biases, and calls us to a broader understanding of God's love and favor.

Its ability to fulfill God's promises: In the passage, Jesus declares that the scripture is fulfilled in their hearing. This is a powerful reminder that God's grace is not just a concept, but a reality that fulfills God's promises in our lives.

The Offense

The offense of grace is a concept that may seem paradoxical at first ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO