1. Struggles of Elimelech’s Family vv. 1-5

​a. Famine in the land v. 1

​b. Family introductions and sojourn v. 2

​c. Famine and three widows vv. 3-5  

d. Our Struggles-

Testimony

2. Famine Over!  vv. 6-7

​a. God helps His people, the famine is over, v. 6

​b. The spiritual famine is over

​c. Headed home v. 7

1. Restlessness – The problem

a. The example of the Exodus

2. How do I get spiritual rest? (v.28)

a. Finding rest means understanding our need

b. Finding rest means action

c. Finding rest means understanding what rest truly is

i. The source
ii. The definition

3. Spiritual Benefits of rest

a. Part of the design

b. Necessity of rest breeds dependence (builds faith)

c. It helps reveal our fallen nature

d. Shows the rejuvenating work of Christ and anticipates the future

4. The biggest roadblock to spiritual rest

a. We don’t believe v. 30

Isaiah 30:15-16 and Heb 4:9-11

1. A Restless World

a. The Signs

b. The Consequences

2. The Root of Restlessness

a. Restlessness is

b. The need to prove

c. Why the need to prove?

3. The Remedy for Restlessness

a. Enter God’s Rest

b. Continue in God’s Rest

Luke 23:32-49

Part of our series: When Grace Advances

32  Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38  There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39  One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Five voices speak, all of which contribute to our understanding of the testimony of God’s grace through Christ:

2. Voice of Hero-longing: the rulers

3. Voice of Horror: the people, his acquaintances

4. Voice of Humility: the other thief

5. Voice of Hope:  Jesus

a. The plea: forgive them, they know not what they do.

b. The promise: today you’ll be with me in paradise

c. The ground : into thy hands I commit my spirit.

Luke 23:1-5 & Luke 23:13-25

Part of our series: When Grace Advances

Five ways of salvation that are destined to fail:

1. Spiritual powers

2. Individualism

3. Religion

4. Government

5. People

Dr. Sam Logan a former president of Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, now executive director of the World Reformed Fellowship, shared with Redeemer about his current work with the World Reformed Fellowship, and how his work, connecting Christians all over the world is extending the reign of Christ in marvelous ways.

Part of our series: When Grace Advances

Luke 22:39-46

Teaching: Bryan Rigg

1. Must focus on the sickness and not the symptoms

2. Must understand that prayer is essential

a. Prayer is the best that we can do

b. Prayer is to be without ceasing

c. Prayer requires our attention

3. Must know that we have a great High Priest

Part of our series: When Grace Advances

Luke 22:24-30

24  A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25  And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26  But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Grace greatness :

1. Resists

2. Rests

3. Receives

1. Grace greatness Resists human inclinations toward greatness

Mk 9:33-37 (Luke 9:46)

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

James 4: 13

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

2. Grace greatness Rests in the promise of future exaltation

 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30  that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Peter 5:5-6

Acts 20:22-24

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

3. Grace greatness Receives  the service of Jesus

Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.

Mark 10:45 

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Ps.138:5b-6 

For great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is exalted, yet He regards the lowly; but the haughty He knows from afar. 

Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy–laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”