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…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
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…
Call to Worship January 13 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 22:14-23 “We should notice, for one thing in these verses — that the principal object of the Lord’s supper was to remind Christians of Christ’s death for sinners. In appointing the Lord’s supper, Jesus distinctly tells His disciples that they were to do what they did, ‘in remembrance of Me.’ In one word, the Lord’s supper is not a sacrifice. It is eminently a commemorative ordinance. The bread that the believer eats at the Lord’s table, is intended to remind him of Christ’s body given to death on the cross…
Call to Worship January 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 December 30 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 21:21-38 “Let us learn from these verses — the spiritual danger to which even the holiest believers are exposed in this world. Our Lord says to His disciples, ‘Watch out! Or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life — and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap!’ These words are exceedingly startling. They were not addressed to carnal-minded Pharisees, or skeptical Sadducees, or worldly Herodians. They were addressed to Peter, James, and John, and the whole company of the Apostles….
Call to Worship December 23 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Matthew 1:18-25 “These verses begin by telling us two great truths. They tell us how the Lord Jesus Christ took our nature upon Him, and became man. They tell us also that His birth was miraculous. His mother Mary was a virgin. These are very mysterious subjects. They are depths, which we have no line to fathom. They are truths, which we have not mind enough to comprehend. Let us not attempt to explain things which are above our feeble reason. Let us be content to believe with reverence, and not…
Call to Worship Decembver 16 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 21:10-19 “We should notice, for one thing, in this passage — Christ’s prediction concerning the nations of the world. He says, ‘Nation will be raised up against nation — and kingdom against kingdom. There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places — and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from Heaven.’ These words no doubt received a partial fulfillment in the days when Jerusalem was captured by the Romans, and the Jews were led into captivity. It was a season of unparalleled desolation to…