Pentecost Week Five - Luke 6:42-47 - A Church on Quicksand

When I preached my first sermon here (June 23, 2013 – Good Grief), I closed that sermon by saying that this church has a chance to reinvent itself—to step boldly into the Missio Dei, God’s mission, as a new expression of Christ in Coldspring, Texas.

This week, I’m reminded that knowing what God wants isn’t the hard part. God’s desire is clear: for us to be a missional people, living out His purpose in the world. The real question is whether we, as a church, are ready to embrace that calling fully.

Writing this blog—and preparing the sermon—is part of how I process this tension. It’s a way to reflect, to wrestle, and to express what God is stirring in my heart for the Sunday sermon – and the church.

This week’s reading plan is designed to help us do the same. We’ll be revisiting some of Luke’s text on purpose, especially Luke 6:46–49, so that we can reflect more deeply on what Jesus is saying about the foundation we’re building our lives on. These familiar words challenge us to not just hear His teaching, but to live it out in obedience.

We’ll also dig into Isaiah 28, where God speaks of laying a sure and precious cornerstone, and Ephesians 2, which reminds us that we are being built together as a dwelling place for God. These Scriptures invite us to pause, to reflect, and to process what it means to be the kind of people—and the kind of church—that lives out God’s mission.

Are we building on a foundation that will last? Are we stepping into something new and eternal, or are we just trying to prop up what’s comfortable? These are the difficult but necessary questions we’ll wrestle with this week, both as individuals and as a church.

This isn’t an easy process, but it’s an important one. My prayer is that, together, we’ll take the time to reflect, to listen, and to trust that God is using this season to build something new in us and through us—if we’re willing to step into it.

New Here?
Please click on the Bible icon at the bottom of the app, then you will see at the bottom of that page, a calendar and the word " Plan."   Click on that - Each day a new pairing of verses will appear.  

Once you read that and check it off - hit the down in the top left corner arrow to get get back to the main screen - THEN look over to the bottom right at the word Blog.  Click that.

(Actually if you are reading this - you already found it...) Doh!

I do not make a new new blog file for each day - I simply add to this blog.  So each day - open this up - scroll down to a picture you have not seen - and voila... the blog for the day.

Sometimes I babble, sometimes I emote (this week - yup).  

But I think the blog is engaging, and I ask you to feel free to comment.  (NOTE: If you do not see your comment appear at the bottom of the blog by the next day, send me an email - I literally have to approve all comments!  I am working on that!)

Monday: Why Do You Call Me 'Lord'?

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:46
Old Testament Connection: 1 Samuel 15:22

Historical and Cultural Context
In first-century Judaism, calling someone “Lord” (Greek: Kyrios) was a term of honor and respect, acknowledging their authority. For Jesus’ followers, this title likely went beyond mere respect—it reflected their belief in Him as the Messiah and their commitment to His leadership.

Saying “Lord, Lord” carried even more weight, as repeated phrases in Jewish culture often expressed deep emotion or urgency.

Jesus’ question in Luke 6:46 would have shocked His audience. Remember – we are still in chapter 6 and this is the end of the Sermon on the Plains!  Jesus is not trying to make friends.  (and I get it!)

For a devout Jew, obedience to God was central to their identity. They would have been familiar with stories of Israel’s disobedience and the consequences that followed. To hear Jesus challenge their integrity—essentially saying their words of devotion meant nothing without action—would have been deeply convicting.

This wasn’t just about good behavior. In Jewish thought, obedience was about covenant faithfulness. To obey God was to live in alignment with His will and reflect His character. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, made it clear that true discipleship wasn’t about outward rituals or appearances; it was about a heart fully surrendered to Him.

Fast forward to today, and Jesus’ words feel just as urgent. Congregational apathy nationwide, and a lack of true discipleship, have become growing concerns in modern Christianity.

Many profess Christ with their mouths but stop short of living out His teachings in their daily lives.

This trend reflects a broader cultural shift toward individualism and self-centered faith. For many, Christianity has become more about personal convenience than communal commitment. It's a twice a year check box - or necessary bottom text on a resume.

While our church has an increase in attendance (hallelujah), Church participation, once central to spiritual growth and discipleship, is increasingly seen as optional. Faith is reduced to a private, feel-good experience rather than a call to obedience, service, and transformation. (If anyone looking for a good FAAAT book, read Charles Taylor, A Secular Age – you will understand your Pastor better!)

When church becomes a place where we show up occasionally, consume a sermon, and leave unchanged, we are no longer engaged in the kind of discipleship Jesus calls us to. (Read that sentence again).  

Many Sunday's, I fear this is happening with us.  But, but , pastor - we are growing...

Here is the problem, this apathy is not just a personal issue—it affects the entire body of Christ. A disengaged congregation cannot effectively live out the mission of God in the world.

The result is a version of Christianity that is comfortable and convenient but lacks the depth, sacrifice, and commitment that Jesus demands.

Faith without action is hollow. Christianity without discipleship is powerless. And a church without obedience is stagnant.

A Call to True Discipleship
Jesus’ question, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”—forces us to confront this disconnect. True discipleship is costly. It requires us to move beyond apathy and convenience into a life of obedience and surrender.

When we call Jesus “Lord,” we are pledging to follow Him, not only when it’s easy but also when it challenges us. Obedience means forgiving when it’s hard, loving when it’s uncomfortable, and serving when it costs us something. It’s about putting His mission above our preferences, His kingdom above our comfort.

For the church, this means recommitting to being not just a gathering of believers but a community of disciples. It means creating spaces for genuine growth, accountability, and action—where faith isn’t just something we talk about but something we live out together.

The mission of God depends on a church that is awake, engaged, and obedient.

That's enough for today - Let's pray... 
Lord, we confess that apathy and comfort have too often replaced true discipleship in our lives and in our churches.

Forgive us for calling You “Lord” but failing to follow Your commands. Stir our hearts to love, obedience, and action.

Help us to be a church that is fully alive, fully engaged, and fully surrendered to Your mission.

Teach us what it means to truly follow You as our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday: Digging Down Deep

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:47–48
Old Testament Connection: Isaiah 28:16

Wednesday: Beware of the Sand

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:49
Old Testament Connection: Psalm 127:1

Thursday: When the Storms Come

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:48
Old Testament Connection: Isaiah 43:2

Friday: Faith in Action

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:46–48
Old Testament Connection: Micah 6:8

Saturday: The Eternal Rock

New Testament Scripture: Luke 6:48
Old Testament Connection: Deuteronomy 32:4