S6E44: Great News... For Them? (First Things First pt. 4)

After Jesus' first sermon in his hometown synagogue, the people were at first amazed, then irate that he would not do the miracles in Nazareth that they heard about in the surrounding country. Jesus reminded them that God's kingdom extends beyond the borders of Israel - in fact is borderless - and that in times past non-Jews had received grace that God withheld from the Jews. Though the context is difficult to understand today, the sentiment is the same. We often look around and think that there are others who are far less deserving than us. Yet God loves all of his creation and called it very good in the beginning. Why should we feel sole ownership over the gospel?

Text: Luke 14:21-36

Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on January 31, 2016

S.D.G.