New Focus Church

Luk 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.Luk 16:2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.Luk 16:3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.Luk 16:4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.Luk 16:5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?Luk 16:6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.Luk 16:7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The work of grace in the life of a believer is a work of God. It is Our Triune God who has begun the work of grace and it is He who will complete it until the end of our lives.

Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.Luk 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.Luk 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.Luk 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:Luk 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.Luk 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The Apostle Paul’s epistle to the church at Philippi teaches us the importance of grace and peace in the preaching of the gospel. Grace is God’s free gift and peace with God has been obtained for all who believe by the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ asks us to examine our hearts before God and see if we are walking in the light of Christ's saving work and gospel grace. He admonishes those who walk in darkness to return to the gospel and the Lord who first saved them.

The Lord Jesus Christ sent the Apostle Paul and His fellow-preachers into Europe to minister in Philippi. There Lydia and the Philippian Gaoler were converted and joined to the church of Jesus Christ. The circumstances of their conversions were quite different and help us to realise how the Lord orders the lives of His people to accomplish His will.

Luk 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.Luk 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,Luk 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?Luk 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

David calls upon God's mighty angels to join him in blessing the Lord. Then he solicits the praise of the church of the redeemed in heaven, the church on earth and her ministers and every born-again child of God's workmanship. Finally the psalmist returns to his own soul and ours saying, Bless ye the Lord.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

God's mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. David understood that while men and women were frail, weak and bound by time the Lord loved His own from before time and promised to gift them everlasting life. David's psalm is a testimony to God's everlasting love to His elect in the covenant of grace.

David is teaching the church about the mercy, grace and love of God in Christ. He explains the dimensions of mercy and the pity of God for those who love and honour Him in the Lord.

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was known and believed by God's servants of long ago just as surely as it is known and believed by His people today. David tells us that Christ made known his ways unto Moses so that Moses knew the gospel of distinguishing, sovereign grace and substitutionary atonement.

Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

David's psalm of praise to God is a call to us all to bless the Lord from our soul for all His benefits. David expounds what these benefits are and calls every child of god to testify with him to the grace, mercy and love of God in Jesus Christ.

Luk 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,Luk 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;Luk 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.Luk 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.Luk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

James' practical epistle concludes with a call to prayer for the sick in body and soul. As Christ's church and members of His spiritual body we are blessed and privileged to pray for and encourage one another as we make our way through the challenges of life.

Luk 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.Luk 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.Luk 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?Luk 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;Luk 14:5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?Luk 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Trials are hard to endure but they carry in them the seeds of spiritual blessing for men and women of faith. James is encouraging the Lord's people to exercise patience, trust in the Lord and use the experiences of hardship as opportunities to grow in grace and deepen our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

James tells the church that the Lord of Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts hears their cries for help and will come in power with authority to judge the wicked and redeem His people.

Luk 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

James encourages the Lord's people to reflect upon the fickleness of life and our own daily need of God's help. He speaks of time and how fast our lives are spent. These matters should create humility in our soul which will draw forth God's grace for our daily needs.

James calls for humility amongst the Lord's people that we might by faith draw help from God's hand for our daily troubles.

Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gives grace to His people sufficient for all our daily needs, even when we don't know what to ask for and pray for as we ought. James calls us to be humble in our requests, trusting the Lord who knows knows what we need better than we know ourselves.

Luk 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.Luk 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.Luk 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.Luk 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.Luk 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?Luk 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Righteousness is a free gift from God. Righteousness is imputed to sinners for their justification and imparted in the new creation. Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousness and all who are in Him are pure and perfect in the new man as He is pure and perfect in us.

Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:Luk 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Paul was single-minded. He made it his determined approach to speak as becomes a servant of Jesus Christ, to speak as becomes an ambassador of God in a foreign land, to speak as Christ’s mouthpiece, as Christ’s tongue on this earth.

Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Good works are the fruit of conversion, not the means. Abraham and Rahab acted as they did because they trusted the Lord. The Spirit of God within them motivated their works, their worship and their service.

Luk 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.Luk 12:55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.Luk 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?Luk 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?Luk 12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.Luk 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

The beauty of James’ practical emphasis again comes to the fore. True good works before God are works of faith, done for the glory of God, in love for the brethren and generally to care for those in need.

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:Luk 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.Luk 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Has Jesus made you free?Then you are free indeed;Ye sons of liberty,Ye chosen royal seed,Walk worthy of your Lord, and viewYour glorious Head, in all you do. William Gadsby

Those who have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory are rich beyond the wealth of this world and heirs of God. How we act, how we live and treat others is to be conditioned and regulated by our experience of God's love and Christ's salvation.

James teaches us about pure religion and distinguishes it from vain religion. Pure religion is the effect of the engrafted word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the heart of a sinner and the outworking of grace in a believer's life.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

James teaches us the difference between those who look into the gospel and see themselves and those who look into it and see Christ.

James is teaching us that the Lord Jesus, and salvation and everlasting life by Him, is God's free gift, His good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of lights. Preaching the gospel is the means by which the gift of grace is received and experienced by faith.

Luk 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.Luk 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The old man and the new man in the nature of every believer battle for supremacy and cause us to trust the Lord more and more. The trials and temptations of life are our occasion to trust Christ more but they also supply the devil with an opportunity to stir up the old man to sin.

Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.Luk 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.Luk 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:Luk 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God revealed to sinners. Here James asks if any believer needs spiritual wisdom. He is pointing us to Christ to supply all our needs during times of trial, trouble and temptation.