Tandem
November 20|Tandem Series
November 20|Tandem Series
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
Read: Luke 9:1-6
Listen: Luke 9
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus calls his twelve disciples together and gives them a mission. He sends them into surrounding towns to “proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” (Luke 9:2). He commissions them with his power and authority to do what he does—proclaim and heal. People don’t question what kingdom Jesus means. They have been waiting for generations for the promised king to come through King David’s line and restore their relationship with God. Jesus announces the kingdom is here. He’s the king bringing a kingdom of restoration. Then he proves it by healing. The words of announcement and deeds that follow always go together.
We see two separate things that always go together—the gospel and the results of the gospel. The gospel is the announcement, or good news, that God has brought our salvation through Jesus. Our relationship with God is restored when we place our faith in Jesus. The results of the gospel should then be our good works. Faith and works go together, like a tandem bike that cannot be separated. Our good works flow from the gospel and point back to it. They are two parts of one thing.
Throughout this series, we will see how faith and works go together. We are prone to separate them or lean more toward one. We can also put them in reverse order, thinking we need to work to earn the gospel. When we let the power of the Holy Spirit work in us, we can live with these in harmony.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray and ask God to reveal throughout this sermon series how you can balance faith and works. Ask him to show where you are out of balance or have gotten them in reverse order. Pray for growing wisdom and God’s help to balance faith and works. One step to balance these might be learning to share your faith with others. Join us for SHARING YOUR FAITH on December 7 at the Kentwood Campus to learn simple tools to share. Learn more and sign up HERE.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
November is BIBLE MEDITATION. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.