LESSON: Luke 6.37-42, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Measure for Measure

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. ILLUSTRATION


    2. Twelve ministers were on a plane going to a conference in Seattle.

    When they came into a large storm, they told the flight attendants to tell the pilot that everything would be okay because 12 ministers were on board.

"Later, one flight attendant returned from the cockpit. 'What did the pilot say?' one preacher asked playfully.

"'He said he was glad to have 12 ministers aboard, but he would rather have four good engines.'" (1)

  1. What would you rather have?
    1. When you fly?
      1. 12 clergy or four good engines
    2. When you drive?
      1. 12 clergy or a dependable automobile.
    3. When you make an investment?
      1. 12 clergy or a wise and decisive investment counselor.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. What do you desire when you make a life sustaining investment.
    1. An investment in the future.
    2. An investment in eternal life.
    3. An investment in the ability of the other person to be able to perform the assigned tasks.
    4. Or an investment in the Chrsitianity as taught by Jesus Christ.
    5. What is going to get you from here to there.
  2. We are participants in a process.
    1. In this process we make an investment
      1. We do this through our acceptance of Jesus' life and teachings.
      2. We do this through our willingness to apply Jesus' teachings
      3. We do this through the willingness to do what we can to apply Jesus' teachings.
    2. God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.
      1. This is what Jesus demonstrates for us in his relationship with his heavenly father.


        2. Ephesians 1:20 (NRSV) 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

      2. This same power and purpose is available to the Christian in all activities. 

        2 Corinthians 6:1 (NRSV) 1As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.

        2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV) 8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

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Galatians 3:5 (NRSV) 5Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Philippians 2:13 (NRSV) 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Colossians 1:10 (NRSV) 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.

  1. This is not a quid-quo-pro.
    1. Quid-Quo-Pro = An equal exchange or substitution.
      1. God is not a vending machine
      2. You do not insert a coin and expect to receive equal value.
    2. What is being offered is a gift for a very specific purpose.
    3. The purpose is the purpose of Christianity.
      1. What is the ultimate purpose of Christianity?
      2. It is to restore in men, women, and children the image of God.
      3. The image that we have lost or misplaced or mis-valued.

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  2. In Luke 6:37-42, (NRSVA) Jesus is pointing out some of the problems that may come to us because we do not fully comprehend or apply his teachings.
    1. 37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged;
      1. What happens to those who judge?
      2. This is not evaluation for the purposes of relationship.


        3. Romans 2.1-4, NRSV, 1Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." 3Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

    2. do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
      1. What happens to those who condemn?


        2. James 5:12 (NRSVA) 12Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
         

      2. Condemnation = hypocracy
      3. We have had anough of hypocracy.

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    3. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;
      1. Failure to forgive leads to a state of unforgivness.


        2. Matthew 6:12-14, (NRSVA) 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
         

      2. A state of unforgiveness is the unpardonable sin of which Jesus spoke.
    4. 38give, and it will be given to you.
      1. Giving is not voluntary, it is mandatory.
      2. Giving is the natural result of receiving, groing and despensing the gracious love of Jesus.


        3. 2 Corinthians 9:7-11, (NRSVA) 7Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God...

      3. Withhold and the consequences may be serious indeed.

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        4. Acts 5:1-2, (NRSVA) 1But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

        1. They both died.
  3. If one is willing to gove and does give,
    1. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap;
    2. Remember "for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
  4. The parable that Jesus tells is designed to help us to understand constantly confusing and conflicted state of every human life.

    39He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person?

Will not both fall into a pit?

40A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.

41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

42Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

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    1. Do we ever get the log of whatever size out of our own eye?
      1. Its doubtful.
      2. O we may get one out, but there are others.
    2. That is why we ought never
      1. to judge
      2. to condemn
      3. to withhold forgiveness
      4. or stop giving

CONCLUSION:

  1. God desires that we have eyes that see, ears that hear, and minds that can comprehend.
    1. So which would you rather have?
      1. 12 ministers on board or four good engines?
  2. True giving and receiving is illustrated by a child who was walking to Grandma's house after attending Sunday School.
  3. His lesson for the day had been Jesus' "Parable of the Last Judgement,"

He couldn't get out of his head the teacher's comment "When you give something to another person, you're really giving it to Jesus."

Walking through the park, he noticed an elderly women sitting on a bench, feeding some pigeon.

She looked lost and lonely.

So he went over to her, sat down, took from his pocket a package of M&M's, and offered her some.

She smiled and took them.

The boy liked her smile so much that, after she had eaten the M&M's, he gave her some more.

This time they exchanged smiles.

For a while, they sat together in silence, just smiling at each other.

Finally, the boy got up to leave.

As he began to walk away, he turned, ran back to the bench, and gave the woman a big hug.

She gave him her very best smile.

When he arrived at his grandmother's house, she saw a big smile on his face.

She asked, "What made you so happy?"

He said, "I shared my M&M's with Jesus, and she has a great smile.

Meanwhile the woman on the bench returned to her little apartment where she lived with her sister.

"You're all smiles," said the sister. "What made you so happy today?"

She replied, "I was sitting in the park, eating M&M's with Jesus, and you know, he looks a lot younger than I expected."

  1. What a way to see and know Jesus and this is all that needs to be said.

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