In Jesus’ final and perhaps most difficult test, Satan uses the word of God against him. What will Jesus do when it seems that God’s word only promises him safety and security and never frustration and pain? What do we do when it feels like God’s word has failed us, and we ask, “God, where are you?” Jesus shows us that the subtle temptation to demand that God should operate on our terms lives in all of our hearts and how to better overcome it.

The post The Gospel of Luke | War in the Wilderness Pt 3 – Luke 4:9-15 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

In the second week of our series on temptation, Jesus is still in the wilderness. This time Satan shows Jesus what success, glory, and authority could be if he’s willing to walk away from God’s plan for his life. We all want to be successful, but at what cost? Are we willing to sacrifice our vision and dreams for our future because of our faithfulness to God’s will and word? Jesus shows us that the source of this temptation lies in what and who we’re willing to serve.

The post The Gospel of Luke | War in the Wilderness: Pt 2 – Luke 4:5-8 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

We need a Savior who has been tested in every way that we are and knows what it’s like to be human, beset with weakness and sins. For Jesus to be a help and our hope, we need to know that he’s stronger than the sin that so easily trips us up. Before Jesus enters his preaching ministry, he faces Satan and takes on the most powerful temptations we will ever face. The first of these temptations comes in the form of a temptation to follow our desires. Jesus shows us that defeating the father of lies comes down to trusting God’s word rather than what we want.

The post The Gospel of Luke | War in the Wilderness: Pt 1 – Luke 4:1-4 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

Jesus’ public ministry begins at his baptism. Luke places two significant realities next to each other—Jesus’s relationship to heaven and his relationship with us. As God’s beloved son, Jesus lives his life in the light of His Father’s approval. While the recipient of heaven’s affirmation, Luke also shows us Jesus’ human genealogy that fully embraces his humanity and identification with us.

The post The Gospel of Luke | God With Us – Luke 3:21-38 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

Luke records John’s public ministry and introduces us to one of the most powerful preachers of the New Testament. Explosive, confrontational, and desperately earnest, John seeks to shake people out of their spiritual lethargy. His preaching causes many to confess their need and repent. But John’s preaching causes Herod to silence the prophet. How do we react when confronted with our sin? With humility and confession, or in cold silence and anger?

The post The Gospel of Luke | The Good News – Luke 3:7-20 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

From the birth narratives, Luke’s research moves into the public ministries of John and Jesus. John, the forerunner of Christ, appears in the wilderness. Led by the Word of God, John begins proclaiming a baptism of repentance from sin, fulfilling the promises of Isaiah 40 to remove any and all obstacles to meeting God. John’s ministry forces us to consider what barriers stand in the way of our relationship with God but also encourages us to consider the power repentance has to prepare us to commune with God.

The post The Gospel of Luke | The Forerunner – Luke 3:1-6 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

The post The Gospel of Luke | A Certain Word – Luke 1:1-4 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

The post The Gospel of Luke | The Heart of Prayer – Luke 1:5-25 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

The post The Gospel of Luke | The Mother of the King – Luke 1:26-38 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.

The post The Gospel of Luke | Joy to the World – Luke 1:39-25 appeared first on Citadel Square Church.