OURUF

RUF Winter Conference- Romans 8 - The Wonders of New Creation

 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 (Rom 8:18-30 ESV)

Small Stories, Big Ideas #13- No Talent Left Behind

 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Mat 25:14-30 ESV)

Small Stories, Big Ideas #12- The One about Ten Virgins and Lamps

ESV  Matthew 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

 6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Mat 25:1-13 ESV)

Small Stories, Big ideas #11 The Story of the unjust Judge and the Widow

ESV  Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'

 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"

 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luk 18:1-8 ESV)

RUF Parent's Weekend Sermon- Luke 21

ESV  Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,

 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

 3 And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

 (Luke 21:1-4 ESV)

Small Stories #10 - Story of the Guy Who Got Mercy

 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

 (Luke 18:9-14 ESV)

Small Stories, Big Ideas #9 - The Workers and the Vineyard

ESV  Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'

 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'

 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'

 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.

 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,

 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'

 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'

 16 So the last will be first, and the first last." (Mat 20:1-16 ESV)

Small Stories, Big Ideas #8 - Jesus, the Wealth Manager?

 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

 15 And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

 17 and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'

 18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."'

 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'

 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

 (Luke 12:13-21 ESV)

Small Stories, Big Ideas #7 - Unexpected Mercy

 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

 26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

 28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

 (Luk 10:25-37 ESV)

Small Stories, Big ideas #6 - The Sower

ESV  Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.

 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 9 He who has ears, let him hear."

 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive."

 15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'

 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

 18 "Hear then the parable of the sower:

 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

 (Mat 13:1-23 ESV)