Unit 2: Jesus and Calls In His Ministry
Called to Proclaim | Bible Background • LUKE 4 | Printed Text • LUKE 4:14-22 | Devotional Reading • DEUTERONOMY 8:1-11
AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will COMPREHEND the meaning and significance of Jesus’ inaugural sermon in Nazareth, SENSE the impact of Jesus’ pronouncement at Nazareth, and ALIGN our faith response with Jesus’ call and mission.
IN FOCUS
Pastor Greenborough took to the podium on Sunday morning. “I want to talk this morning about my vision for our community. I won’t be so bold as to say I have a dream. But…well, I have a dream.” He smiled and shuffled with his notes.
“I want us to do something about these poor folk who stand around on our street corners. I know you say, ‘But Pastor if we give them money, they’ll buy booze and drugs.’ Let me tell you, I would buy booze too if I hadn’t showered in a month, hadn’t had fresh socks and underwear for two weeks, hadn’t had a proper sleep in five days, and hadn’t had a proper meal in two days. We must do something.
“I want us to do something about our brothers and sisters suffering from depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts. I know you say, ‘But Pastor, faith will make those people whole. They just need to pray harder.’ Let me tell you, they do pray. They pray every day that they could spare the time and money and self-respect to talk to someone trained to help them out of their dark thoughts. They pray every day that God would send them a friend. We must do something, Church.”
As Pastor Greenborough went on, sister Patsy sat placidly in her pew. It was great rhetoric, she had to admit and of course she wanted to help all God’s children, but still… it was all too great a task for her. What was this “something” their church was supposed to do? Would it really even help?
How do you react to the message of Jesus and the Church’s mission in the world?
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18-19, NLT).