What’s the point of the passage?

Luke 12:11 “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the

authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what

you should say, 12

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you

ought to say.”

A. When on trial for Christ, the goal is not to make a case to be freed.

“[The Holy Spirit]…is present in such instances in order to teach the persecuted

what to say.” – Joel B. Green

B. When on trial for Christ, the goal is the glory of God.

C. We may never be on trial for Christ, but the goal in daily living is the

glory of God…

“This text addresses our accountability before God. We must fear him, which in

this setting means to respect his authority as judge and his knowledge of us.”

– Darrell Bock

Reflection Questions

1. If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be evidence to

convict you?

2. Do people know by how you live (not just by what you say) that you are

allied to Him?

Meeting Jesus Again…Luke 12:1-12 July 15, 2012

I. Intro: the pressure to deny Christ is all around us…

BI: Remain faithful to Christ because so much is riding on the line.

II. Last Week: Jesus picked a fight – the crowds came to see it (Luke 12:1-3)

“When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn.”

– John Wesley

Luke 12:1 “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered

together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples

first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2

Nothing is

covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3There-

fore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what

you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”

A. “In the meantime…” Jesus ignored the Pharisees to teach…

B. Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees hypocrisy

“…the art of being a hypocrite depends on the ability to keep some things

concealed.” – Leon Morris

C. For All Will Be Made Known by God who is Omniscient

“He sees the inner room, even when the lights are out and when no one else can

see. Respect for his knowledge and our accountability to him means we will

conduct our lives like an open book, where we have nothing to hide.”

– Darrell Bock

III. Hypocrisy comes from fearing people above fearing God (12:4-7)

“An effort to maintain popularity easily leads to hypocrisy.”

– Darrell Bock

Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that

have nothing more that they can do. 5

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear

him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear

him! 6

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is

forgotten before God. 7

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

A. Fear God

“The fear of God is rather out of fashion these days; we much prefer to stress the

love of God.” – Leon Morris

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of

the Holy One is insight.”

“A being who knows all our secrets should be feared.”

– Darrell Bock

B. Hell = Gehenna (not Hades) see Rev. 20:11-15

Hades place of departed spirits

Gehenna lake of fire – eternal punishment

“What a horrid feeling it must be to discover God exists, that Jesus is the answer,

and then to know, after seeing God face to face, that the opportunity for blessing

has been missed.” – Darrell Bock

This is why the teaching about judgment is so important.

This is why it is so crucial to share Jesus with those who need

to know Him.

IV. Therefore discipleship involves acknowledging Christ before men (12:8-12)

Luke 12:8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man

also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9

but the one who denies me

before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10

And everyone who

speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who

blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

What’s the unforgivable sin?

Say with me “Grammar is boring!!! But, grammar is important!!!”

V. 8 – “acknowledges” = to confess Christ before men confessed before

angels of God (statement of certainty).

V. 9 – “denies” [the verb is a substantival participle in the middle voice]

Substantival participle = a continual denier of Christ

Middle voice = heartfelt denial of Christ

Result = you will be denied before angels of God (statement of certainty).

V. 10a – “speaks a word against the Son of Man” [future, active verb] = an

act one may not mean it from the heart the Son of Man will forgive.

V. 10b – “blasphemes” [substantival participle] = continual blasphemer of

the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (statement of certainty).

“It is this continuing attitude that is the ultimate sin.”

– Leon Morris

July 15, 2012

LOOKING AHEAD July 16-19 ······· Community VBS at Lakewood Park July 22 ············ Tussing Wedding during worship Aug 5-9··········· Grace Summer Camp - Miracle Ranch Aug 11 ············ ZeBarth / St. George Wedding - 3pm at Grace Church Aug 15 ············ 1pm Family Fun Center - youth Aug 18 ············ Women’s Forum - foyer Aug 23 ············ Men’s Fellowship Night - Elliott Bay Restaurant - Burien Sept 5 ············· Youth Parent BBQ - shack Sept 8 ············· Fall Kick-off Sept 5 ············· Youth Parent BBQ - the shack Sept 12 ·········· Awana Begins

This amazing VBS outreach ministry to

PROCLAIM Christ begins Monday! Eight

community churches are involved and we

expect over 150 kids from the community!

What a great WAY to reach this part of

Seattle for Christ and to BUILD community.

Register on-line (there is a link on the

Grace Church website under events) or

at 12:20pm in the park Monday. Invite

the children in your neighborhood. Registration flyers are available in the foyer.

Jennifer

Tussing Tracy

The honor of your presence

is requested at the marriage of

Jennifer Tussing and Tracy Tussing

on Sunday, the twenty-second of July

Two thousand twelve

during Sunday Worship

at Grace Church

at ten-thirty in the morning

10323 - 28th Avenue Southwest

Seattle, Washington

Let us LOVE God & people by

praying for: Trisha Croom (gallbladder

surgery), Cristina Thorson (kidney stones), Jo Howard (healing), Paul ZeBarth (health

issues), Jim Gifford (advanced kidney

cancer), Kendall Johnen (diabetes

complications), Wilma Palmateer (health),

and those with ongoing health needs:

Cole Sonsteng (gastro paresis), Kim Smith

(seizures), Martha Miller & those

unemployed. Please also pray for our

Elder Board: Larry Watson, Ron Sasaki,

Josh Hanson, Ryan Faust, Kevin Anway &

Drayton Lemert.

ST. GEORGE/ZEBARTH WEDDING Everyone is invited to attend the wedding

celebration of Mandy ZeBarth (grand-

daughter to Joyce and Gary ZeBarth, Dean

and Carol Smith, and daughter of Paul and

Trish ZeBarth) and Alec St. George (son of

Todd and Amanda St. George), August 11

at 3pm at Grace Church with a dessert

reception to follow.

NOE & LISA MARTINEZ: MISSIONS UPDATE NIGHT!

Come hear about what God is doing the

lives of Noe & Lisa Martinez and their

family as they prepare to serve in Papua

New Guinea. Refreshments, fellowship,

and some fun for all! Sponsored by one of

our Home Communities. Grace Church

foyer July 26th, 7:00pm to 8:00pm. RSVP

for childcare.

100 ENVELOPES FOR KIDS TODAY Help SEND a kid to camp - choose an

envelope! The amount on the envelope is

the amount to donate to ’Grace Summer

Camp’. Please designate it on the

envelope or your check. The kids thank

you! And we appreciate you support for

this important outreach of Grace Church.

PICK up you SUMMER booklet TODAY!

FOLLOW THE YOUTH MISSION BLOG!

Find out how to specifically be praying for

the team in Louisiana from July 6-15.

Check out their blog at:

gracechurchlouisiana.wordpress.com

GETTING CONNECTED AT GRACE Where do I fit in? What are my gifts and

how can I use them at Grace? How can I

get more involved in this community? I

would like to serve in another way than I

am right now, but I’m not sure who to talk

to about that. Email or call Janis Lemert,

Community Life Director at janisl@

gracechurchseattle.org or (206)937-8400.

SUMMER SCHEDULE Coffee SERVED Sunday’s

until 10:20am Espresso cart CLOSED

until FALL.

Visiting Grace? If this is your first time of worshiping with us, we joyfully welcome and thank you for coming! Please visit the Welcome Center

in the foyer to learn a bit more about life at Grace. 10323 28th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146-1202

Phone: (206) 937-8400 Fax: (206) 937-0881 info@gracechurchseattle.org www.gracechurchseattle.org

THIS WEEK AT GRACE SUNDAY, JULY 15

10:00 am Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 am WORSHIP CELEBRATION - sanctuary

Kids dismissed to Children’s Church - 1st-3rd grades - room 122

Kid’s bulletins are available for 4th and up at the Welcome Center

MONDAY, JULY 16

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

1-4:30pm VBS @ Lakewood Park (12:20pm if you need to register at the park)

TUESDAY, JULY 17

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

1-4:30pm VBS @ Lakewood Park

6:30-9:00 pm Celebrate Recovery - foyer, rooms 128 & 129

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

1-4:30pm VBS @ Lakewood Park

6:45-8:00 pm Financial Peace University - rooms 128, 127, 126

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

1-4:30pm VBS @ Lakewood Park

FRIDAY, JULY 20

Church Office closed

Pastor Ryan Faust, Senior Pastor prfaust@gracechurchseattle.org Pastor Jerry Buell, Children’s Ed & Family Ministry jerryb@gracechurchseattle.org

Pastor Nathan Schlaud, Youth & College Ministry nathans@gracechurchseattle.org Janis Lemert, Community Life Director janisl@gracechurchseattle.org Kathie Varney, Executive Assistant kathiev@gracechurchseattle.org Sherry Croom, Bookkeeper sherryc@gracechurchseattle.org