Let us mark, in this passage — the power of a bad conscience. We are told that “when Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by our Lord — he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead.” He said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” As great and powerful as Herod was — the tidings of our Lord’s ministry called his sins to remembrance, and disturbed him even in his royal palace. Surrounded as he was by everything which is considered to make life enjoyable…
Sunday Morning Calls to Worship
Call To Worship January 14 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 8:40-56 Let us notice, secondly, in the verses before us — that faith in Christ’s love and power, is the best remedy in time of trouble. We are told that when Jesus heard the news that the ruler’s daughter was dead, He said to him, “Do not be afraid; only believe — and she will be healed.” These words, no doubt, were spoken with immediate reference to the miracle our Lord was going to perform. But we need not doubt that they were also meant for the perpetual benefit of…
Call To Worship January 7 2018
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 8:26-39 Let us mark, finally — the wonderful change which Christ can work in Satan’s slaves. We are told that the Gadarenes “found the man the demons had departed from — sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind.” That sight must indeed have been strange and astonishing! The man’s past history and condition, no doubt, were well known. He had probably been a nuisance and a terror to all the neighborhood. Yet here, in one moment — a complete change had come over him. Old things had…
Call To Worship December 31 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 8:22-25 “We see, thirdly, in these verses — how great is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We read that when His disciples awoke Him in the storm, “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and the raging of the waters — and they ceased, and there was a calm.” This was, no doubt, a mighty miracle. It needed the power of Him who brought the flood on the earth in the days of Noah, and in due season took it away — who divided the Red Sea and the…
Call to Worship December 24 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 2:1-7 “Let us notice, secondly — the PLACE where Christ was born. It was not at Nazareth of Galilee, where His mother Mary lived. The prophet Micah had foretold that the event was to take place at Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2.) And so it came to pass. At Bethlehem, Christ was born. The overruling providence of God appears in this simple fact. He orders all things in Heaven and earth. He turns the hearts of kings wherever He will. He overruled the time when Augustus decreed the taxing. He directed the…
Call to Worship December 17 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 8:16-21 “We learn, secondly, from these verses — the great importance of right hearing. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ ought to impress that lesson deeply on our hearts. He says, “Take heed how you hear!” The degree of benefit which men receive from all the means of grace — depends entirely on the way in which they use them. Private PRAYER lies at the very foundation of religion. Yet the mere formal repetition of a set of words, when “the heart is far away” — does good to…
Call To Worship December 10 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 8:4-15 “The parable of the sower, contained in these verses, is reported more frequently than any parable in the Bible. It is a parable of universal application. The things it relates are continually going on in every congregation to which the Gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts it describes are to be found in every assembly which hears the word. These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance. We should say to ourselves, as we read it — “This concerns…
Call To Worship December 3 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 7:40-50 We see in this passage that men may show some outward respect to Christ, and yet remain unconverted. The Pharisee before us is a case in point. He showed our Lord Jesus Christ more respect than many did. He even “desired Him that He would eat with him.” Yet all this time he was profoundly ignorant of the nature of Christ’s Gospel. His proud heart secretly revolted at the sight of a poor contrite sinner being allowed to wash our Lord’s feet. And even the hospitality he showed appears…
Call To Worship, November 26 2017
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke J.C. Ryle Luke 7: 24-30 “The first point that demands our notice in this passage, is the tender care which Jesus takes of the characters of His faithful servants. He defends the reputation of John the Baptist, as soon as his messengers were departed. He saw that the people around him were apt to think lightly of John, partly because he was in prison, partly because of the inquiry which his disciples had just brought. He pleads the cause of His absent friend in warm and strong language. He bids His hearers dismiss…
Call To Worship November 19 2017
Luke 7:1-10 “We should notice, secondly, in this passage, the HUMILITY of the centurion. It appears in his remarkable message to our Lord when He was not far from his house — ‘I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof — neither thought I myself worthy to come unto you.’ Such expressions are a striking contrast to the language used by the elders of the Jews. ‘He is worthy,’ said they, ‘for whom you should do this.’ ‘I am not worthy,’ says the good centurion, ‘that you should enter under my roof.’ Humility like this is one…