2. 11. All will be Revealed Luke 12:1-12 p. 960

3. New Year  The Queen’s Christmas address  2015 not an easy year – “moments of darkness”  Sure hope – “light shines … darkness has not overcome it”  Knowing what matters  Warnings and promises to ponder...

4. 1. Where to Focus  Understood in context:  Jesus spoke harsh words to Pharisees & others (Lk 11:43ff)  Jesus teaches the crowd and his disciples:  Beware the yeast of the Pharisees – hypocrisy (v 1)  Redefining “good” to fit with what we do.

5. 1. Where to Focus...  Two ways to be good:  Learn what is required and do it. (Hard)  Re-define what is required – lower the bar. (Easier)  Yeast if the Pharisees:  Self-justification, self-righteousness.  Looking to 2016 – be wary of “yeast of the Pharisees”

6. 2. What to Fear  Passage is preparing disciples for persecution.  Paradox:  “fear him who … can throw you into hell” (v 5)  “Don’t fear: you’re worth more than many sparrows” (v 7) Should we, or should we not, fear God? YES !

7. 2. What to Fear...  We have become very used to security and safety. What do you fear?  Only one thing to fear – Hell for eternity. Fear only the one who will make that decision.

8. 2. What to Fear...  Resolution of the paradox:  If you do … you have nothing to fear.  He cares very deeply for us.  A New Year’s resolution:  I will only fear God (because then I will have no fear).

9. 3. Who to Follow  Toughest choice – who will we follow … publicly?  A public dimension to aligning ourselves with God.  Jesus critical of making public “acts of righteousness”  Doing it for public acclaim.  “They have received their reward in full” (Matt 6:2, 5)

10. 3. Who to Follow...  We should do our good deeds in private.  People will notice (Matt 5:16)  God will receive the glory, not us.  The risk –  Being nice is another way to enhance our social standing.

11. 3. Who to Follow...  It is not the same if we do it because God is real.  Requires humility, but also poses a big question:  What will they do if God is real and alive?  Acknowledging Jesus as Lord is both –  Liberating (He can set you free)  Challenging (You should let him)

12. 3. Who to Follow...  When we step up we are not alone – the Holy Spirit speaks through us.  Two specific contexts of encountering Jesus:  Caring for poor and outcasts (Matt 25:40)  Testifying to Jesus in public (Luke 12:11-12)

13. Living It  Where to focus?  Beware the yeast of the Pharisees.  Resist the temptation to re-define good or self justification  Who to fear?  Fear only the One who will take away all your fears.

14. Living It  Who to follow?  Publicly acknowledge Jesus at every opportunity All our choices will be revealed.