Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Travis McGowen's sermon from Luke 24:13-32.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Travis McGowen's sermon from Luke 24:13-32.
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair and I’m joined by Bobby Gilles. This past Sunday Pastor Travis preached Luke Twenty-Four. He said that transformation takes time.
When we think about our own transformation, or the hope that we might have for someone else’s transformation, we often feel impatient and have our own ideas as to how it should go. Pastor Travis’ sermon was a great reminder that it will take time. We can ask the Lord to help us be patient, and then wait on His timing.
Bobby, what stood out to you?
Bobby: I loved the Emily Dickinson quote: “Tell the truth, but tell it slant.” Sometimes the light of truth burns too brightly to be revealed in an abrupt manner. We need to pray for God’s wisdom.
Now, for anyone who missed the sermon or needs help remembering, let’s do a quick recap.
Lindsey: Pastor Travis began by saying that we know that life is orderly, in that there is a pattern and for that matter formulas. But we need to realize that we aren’t the one who determines the pattern or the formula. We belong to a God who is our Maker and King and he is the One who determines the when, where, and what of our lives. The wise Christian will learn to embrace his ways, patterns, and his timing over their lives. So transformation takes time, and the first way we can learn this is that circumstances carry us away from the truth.
Bobby: The sermon text introduces us to two disciples who were disappointed that the Romans had executed Jesus. They had expected a Messiah who would tell Caesar, “Let my people go!” We are not that different from these two men. Have you ever been disappointed that someone else didn’t turn out the way that you hoped they would? Every person will experience dashed hopes. These early disciples had their hopes set on something contrary to the plans of God. Their story causes us to examine ourselves.
Lindsey: Next, transformation resides outside of us. Jesus points these disciples to the Old Testament, showing that all the scriptures are about him, and God always keeps his promises. He points them to truth that is outside of them, and within Scripture. We can know a lot of things by a lot of means. But no matter how long you look at the stars, they will never tell you that Christ was crucified and on the third day he arose. And regardless if you look into a microscope or the motor of a car, you will only find the message of a crucified, buried, and raised Lord within the pages of Scripture.
Bobby: And ultimately, the timing belongs to the Lord. The eyes of these Emmaus disciples were blinded from seeing Christ for who he was, until Jesus decided the time was right. It doesn’t mean that the Bible study from earlier in the day was in vain. It wasn’t time for harvest. There is a pace that the truth travels. And that pace is determined by the Lord. Study the Bible with others but when you share the truth, walk away from the experience and wait for the Lord to make someone hear what you have to say. We only receive the truth of the Lord when the Lord wants the truth to be received.
Lindsey: You and I have to embrace our own limitations. We can’t make someone else see that the Jesus of Scripture is Lord and Savior. We have to learn to wait for the Lord to open their eyes after the breaking of bread or a bowl of soup or whenever the Lord chooses to show himself to them.
Bobby: This Sunday we’ll have a unique service, which will be the first of four Missions Sundays this summer. And in Bible Fellowship we’ll continue talking about Acts Sixteen together, where Paul gets arrested for healing a young female slave, which leads to the salvation of the prison guard.
Join us, and bring a friend.