Welcome to New Covenant Church!

We are so glad you have joined us to celebrate the Risen Lord! This week, we will hear a lesson from Fr. Christopher Caudle called "Beginning to Talk."  Here are the scriptures for this week:

Scriptures
Psalm 71:1-6
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 7:11-23

We look forward to seeing you online with us!

Hear the sermon now, "Beginning to Talk" - Fr. Christopher Caudle

Summary

This sermon by Fr. Christopher explores a unique passage from Luke 7, focusing on Jesus' miracle of raising a widow's only son from the dead and the subsequent message to John the Baptist's disciples. The sermon emphasizes Jesus' compassion, the narrative focuses on the widow, and the challenge of trusting Jesus' heart even when outcomes are unpredictable. It also addresses the importance of sharing the full story of one's struggles and faith journey.

The Miracle at Nain: Compassion in Action

The sermon begins by setting the scene in Luke 7, where Jesus heals a centurion's servant and then moves to the town of Nain. Here, Jesus encounters a funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow, surrounded by a large crowd. Two crowds meet at the city gate—Jesus' followers moving uphill and the grieving crowd moving downhill. Jesus notices the widow, His heart goes out to her, and He commands the dead man to rise. The young man sits up, begins to talk, and is returned to his mother. This story is unique in Luke's gospel for its detailed depiction of Jesus' emotional response: He sees, feels compassion, and acts deliberately.

The widow is central to the narrative—the "deictic center"—with the text repeatedly highlighting her status as a widow and the young man as her only son. This focus draws attention to the vulnerability and significance of her loss, paralleling Jesus' own future experience with His mother. Jesus' compassion interrupts His journey, illustrating His priority to respond to those in deep need.

Seeing, Feeling, and Acting: A Model for Compassion

Fr. Christopher emphasizes Jesus's threefold response—seeing the widow's pain, having His heart moved, and taking action—as a model for how believers should love one another. The sermon warns against incomplete responses, such as only seeing or only acting without empathy, which can lead to judgment or treating people as problems rather than individuals. Allowing others to be the center of attention, even briefly, facilitates the movement of the Holy Spirit and genuine compassion.

The Importance of Telling the Whole Story

The sermon discusses the significance of sharing the whole testimony of one's faith journey, including struggles and fears, not just the miraculous outcomes. It challenges the notion that believers should wait until a breakthrough to speak or omit the difficult parts of their story. Instead, telling the whole story honors God's presence throughout the process and invites others to witness His faithfulness in both hardship and deliverance.

John the Baptist’s Question and Jesus’ Response

After the miracle, news spreads, and John the Baptist, imprisoned, sends disciples to ask Jesus if He is "the one who is to come" or if they should expect another. Jesus responds by pointing to His works—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead—which fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy and demonstrate the Kingdom of God’s arrival. He concludes with a blessing for those who do not stumble because of Him, acknowledging that His ways may not always meet expectations.

John’s question arises from his difficult situation in prison, contrasting with Jesus’ visible acts of mercy and power. Jesus’ reply invites trust in His heart and mission, even when His methods seem unexpected or slow.

Trusting Jesus’ Heart Amid Unpredictability

The sermon reflects on how Jesus sometimes acts with dramatic power and other times offers grace to persevere through hardship. It acknowledges that some believers may not experience immediate deliverance but receive strength to endure. The message is to know Jesus deeply enough to trust His heart, even when His responses differ or when the anticipated breakthrough has not yet come. This trust is vital for living faithfully in challenging circumstances.

A Blessing for the Persevering

Fr. Christopher concludes by encouraging those who are struggling or uncertain to seek Jesus’ heart and receive grace for the present moment. He affirms that there is a blessing for those who do not stumble in faith, inviting the congregation to receive strength and hope from the Lord as they continue their spiritual journey.

He uniquely highlights Luke’s detailed portrayal of Jesus’ compassion, the importance of narrating the full faith story, and the call to trust Jesus’ heart in all circumstances.

Prayer

Kids

Youth

Give