This sermon encourages Christians to emulate the faith and service of the women in Luke 8:1-3, actively contributing to God's Kingdom rather than passively consuming its benefits.
Beloved brothers and sisters, let us gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of unity and love that binds us as one. It is a joyous occasion whenever we come together to bask in the resplendent light of God's Word, to be nourished by His truth, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a passage in the Gospel of Luke, a passage that speaks to us about faith, about service, and about the role of women in the early church. It is a passage that invites us to reflect on our own faith, our own service, and our own roles in the church today.
The scripture reads as follows: "Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means." (Luke 8:1-3)
In this scripture, we see the embodiment of faith in the lives of these women. We see their devotion to Jesus, their commitment to His ministry, and their willingness to serve Him with their resources. They were not just passive observers, but active participants in the work of the Kingdom. They were not just beneficiaries of Jesus’ healing power, but benefactors to His ministry.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." These women were certainly no imposters. They were true missionaries, true followers of Christ, serving Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. They were fulfilling their faith in a tangible, practical, and sacrificial way.
And what about us? Are we fulfilling our faith? Are we serving Christ with all that we have and all that we are? Are we contributing to the work of the Kingdom, or are we merely consuming its benefits? These are the questions that this passage invites us to ask ourselves.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find a group of women who had been healed by Jesus. They had experienced His power, His compassion, and His love in a very personal and profound way. They had been set free from the torment of evil spirits and the affliction of diseases. These women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, among others, were not content to simply receive from Jesus. They wanted to give back. They wanted to support His ministry. They wanted to be part of what He was doing.
This is the first aspect of their faith that we need to consider. Their faith was not just a matter of belief, but a matter of action. It was not just a matter of receiving, but a matter of giving. They were not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word. They were not just consumers of the blessings, but contributors to the mission.
Next is their commitment. These women were not fair-weather followers. They were not part-time disciples. They were not Sunday morning Christians. They were committed to Jesus and His ministry. They were with Him wherever He went, from one city and village to another. They were steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Thirdly is their courage. These women were not afraid to associate with Jesus, even though He was a controversial figure, even though He was opposed by the religious leaders, even though He was a threat to the status quo. They were not afraid to support His ministry, even though it was unconventional, even though it was challenging, even though it was costly. They were not afraid to stand up for what they believed in, even though it was unpopular, even though it was risky, even though it was countercultural.
The fourth aspect of their faith that we need to consider is their generosity. These women were not stingy with their resources. They were not tight-fisted with their money. They were not selfish with their possessions.They were willing to invest in the Kingdom of God. They were willing to put their money where their faith was.
We see in the scripture that these women were not just passive observers, but active participants in the work of the Kingdom ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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