We continue this week’s sermon series, The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee in Luke 11:29-32, with this passage where Jesus confronts the religious leaders about their insistence on signs and their motivations behind that ask. Using the example of Jonah, the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, Jesus points to His own death and resurrection as the ultimate sign, requiring a response of belief and repentance.

Newley’s Main Points:

*Jesus rebukes unbelieving sign seekers.

*Jesus points to Himself as the ultimate and final sign.

*Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection demands belief and repentance.

Key Takeaway:

Jesus rebukes unbelieving sign seekers.

*The religious leaders’ sign seeking was a symptom of unbelief in Jesus as the Messiah.

*Motivation is key to discerning if sign seeking is righteous or evil. *Righteous Sign Seeking

Example: Moses and Gideon seeking confirmation from God versus the religious leaders seeking a miracle when they had sufficient evidence already.

Danger is relying on signs: worship of the sign, seeking more signs, believing false signs

*God doesn’t owe us a sign. His attributes merit our belief in Him. He is worthy of our faith.

*Our faith in Jesus in its richest density exists without the proof of seeing.

*Evil Sign Seeking
Example: unbelief, test the sign giver, determined not to believe

*Unbelief in any way is sin and evil and even as believers, we can fall into unbelief.

*Our sinful flesh fights our belief so we must rely on and seek God’s grace.

Jesus points to Himself as the ultimate and final sign.

*The sign of Jonah was a dual sign: sign of the resurrection (3 days/3 nights in the belly of a big fish) and Jesus (3 days and 3 nights in the grave)

Jonah: a prophet; hated the Ninevites; ran from God; figuratively raised from the dead; was a sign to a specific sinful nation

Jesus: is God; loves sinners; resolved to go to the cross and complete the mission; physically raised from the dead after being murdered and tortured on the cross; His sign is the gospel for all people

*No greater sign will ever be given than the resurrection.

Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection demands belief and repentance.

*What Jesus has done demands a response. What will you do with Jesus?

*When presented with the good news of Jesus Christ we must: Hear, Believe, Repent

*The Queen of Sheba is an example of one who came to hear, sought to understand, took action and after seeing, responded in faith.

*The religious leaders had more wisdom, more information and the presence of Jesus, and yet they did not believe.

*We have access to even more with the whole of scripture available.

*It is not an information problem, but a heart problem that leads to unbelief.

*The Ninevites serve as an example of repentance. As a result of Jonah’s message, the Ninevites changed their minds about God leading to a change in action.

*The religious leaders had even more evidence and yet they refused to repent.

*We have an even greater revelation and are called to repentance. Personal Application:

*Where do you struggle with unbelief? How can God’s Word and attributes assure you and encourage you in that struggle?

*Newley said that Jesus is the ultimate and final sign. How does the person of Jesus and His work on your behalf, increase your faith and give you peace?

*We are to hear, believe and repent. How does the good news of the gospel impact your daily life? How will you respond to what Jesus has done?

Discuss with your community group: (Newley’s assignment).
Have each person share with the community group areas of unbelief. Have each person confess their unbelief and pray for each individual. Speak out loud the truth of the gospel over that unbelief.
Tell each other how the truth of the gospel applies to their specific unbelief. Hear the truth; Believe; Repent.

Worship Set List

Worthy Of More, Hope Has A Name, Ancient of Days, All Sufficient Merit, Build My Life