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A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon

Preaching Text: Luke 2:39-52

Mary and Joseph experience every parent’s nightmare: they can't find their child.  After searching frantically for three days, they are shocked to find Jesus in the temple and ask, "How could you treat us this way?"  Then we hear Jesus speak for the first time in the entire Bible, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" Jesus' answer shows complete security about where he is and what he is doing.  How can that be?

Jesus has true security because he knows his ultimate authority (his Heavenly Father).  He answers to God first, even if that means that he disappoints his parents and their cultural expectations.  Likewise, we find true security when we make God our ultimate authority.  He frees us to stop trying to live up to other's expectations (family, boss, friends, self) and rest in his gracious direction of our lives.  

Furthermore, we hear Jesus' urgent priority, "I must be in my Father's house." As another translation puts it, "I must be about my Father's business."  Jesus has a laser focus to do God's will.  Likewise, he wants us to respond to his priorities not other people's pressure.  So what is Jesus' priority for you?  Well if Jesus' first words in the Bible tell us his authority (God), his last words tell us his priority "Go and make disciples of all people."  Therefore, if you want true security, make Jesus' authority your authority and Jesus' priorities your priorities.

Taking It Home:

What are the three most important priorities for you?  How are you intentionally seeking to make disciples in those areas of emphasis?