Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 23:44-49 “Let us observe in these verses — the miraculous signs which accompanied our Lord’s death on the cross. We are told that there was ‘a darkness over all the earth’ for three hours. ‘The sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.’ It was proper and right that the attention of all around Jerusalem should be arrested in a marked way — when the great sacrifice for sin was being offered, and the Son of God was dying! There were signs and wonders wrought…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
Call to Worship March 17 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 23:39-43 “We see, firstly, in the history before us — the sovereignty of God in saving sinners. We are told that two criminals were crucified together with our Lord, one on His right hand and the other on His left. Both were equally near to Christ. Both saw and heard all that happened during the six hours that He hung on the cross. Both were dying men, and suffering acute pain. Both were alike wicked sinners, and needed forgiveness. Yet one died in his sins, as he had lived, hardened,…
Call to Worship March 10 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 23:26-38 “We ought to notice, in this passage — our Lord’s words of prophetic warning. We read that He said to the women who followed Him, as He was being led away to Calvary, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me — but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ These words must have sounded particularly terrible…
Call to Worship March 3 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 23:13-25 “We should observe, for one thing, in this passage — what striking testimony was borne to our Lord Jesus Christ’s perfect innocence by His judges. We are told that Pilate said to the Jews, ‘You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence, and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod — for he sent him back to us; as you can see — he has done nothing to deserve death.’ The…
Call to Worship February 24 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 23:1-12 “Let us observe, for one thing, in this passage — what false accusations were laid to our Lord Jesus Christ’s charge. We are told that the Jews accused Him of ‘subverting the nation, forbidding to give taxes to Caesar, and stirring up the people.’ In all this indictment, we know, there was not a word of truth. It was nothing but a devious attempt to enlist the Roman governor against our Lord. Lying and slander are two favorite weapons of the devil. He was a liar from the beginning,…
Call to Worship February 17 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:63-71 “We should notice, firstly, in these verses — the shameful treatment that our Lord Jesus Christ underwent at the hands of His enemies. We read that the guards ‘mocked’ Him, ‘beat’ Him, ‘blindfolded’ Him, and ‘struck Him in the face.’ It was not enough to have taken a prisoner a person of most blameless and charitable life — they must needs add insult to injury. Conduct like this shows the desperate corruption of human nature. The excesses of savage malice to which unconverted men will sometimes go, and the…
Call to Worship February 10 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:54-62 “The story of Peter’s fall teaches us, firstly — how small and gradual are the steps by which men may go down into great sins. The various steps in Peter’s fall, are clearly marked out by the Gospel-writers. They ought always to be observed in reading this part of the apostle’s history. The first step was proud self-confidence. Though all denied Christ — yet he never would! He was ready to go with Him both to prison and to death! The second step was indolent neglect of prayer. When…
Call to Worship February 6 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:1-13 “We see, firstly, in these verses — that high offices in the church do not preserve the holders of them from great blindness and sin. We read that ‘the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Jesus.’ The first step in putting Christ to death, was taken by the religious teachers of the Jewish nation. The very men who ought to have welcomed the Messiah — were the men who conspired to kill Him. The very teachers who ought to have rejoiced at the appearing of the…
Call to Worship January 27 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:1-13 “We see, firstly, in these verses — that high offices in the church do not preserve the holders of them from great blindness and sin. We read that ‘the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Jesus.’ The first step in putting Christ to death, was taken by the religious teachers of the Jewish nation. The very men who ought to have welcomed the Messiah — were the men who conspired to kill Him. The very teachers who ought to have rejoiced at the appearing of the…
Call to Worship January 20 2019
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:24-30 “Let us observe, in this passage — how firmly pride and love of preeminence can stick to the hearts of Christian men. We are told that ‘There was a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.’ The strife was one which had been rebuked by our Lord on a former occasion. The ordinance which the disciples had just been receiving, and the circumstances under which they were assembled — made the strife particularly inappropriate. And yet at this very season, the last…