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Luke chapter six is power packed with many lessons. Today I am going to focus on our identity and how Jesus can help us to improve.
Luke 6:43-45 The Tree and Its Fruit43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:43-45 What are you producing? I don't mean what is your career. I mean what would people say about your identity as a human being? How is your temper? Are you gentle? Do you show kindness to everyone? When you are in a hurry or short on sleep, do you still have patience? Jesus says that "a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart." Treasury is defined as: A place you store things that can be distributed when needed at a later time. This would mean that the best way to always be kind, gentle, patient and loving is to invest into your heart with the loving truth that comes from God. We study the scriptures each day like we eat a healthy dinner each day. Luke chapter six is power packed with many lessons. Today I am going to focus on our identity and how Jesus can help us to improve. Luke 6:43-45 The Tree and Its Fruit43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:43-45 What are you producing? I don't mean what is your career. I mean what would people say about your identity as a human being? How is your temper? Are you gentle? Do you show kindness to everyone? When you are in a hurry or short on sleep, do you still have patience? Jesus says that "a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart." Treasury is defined as: A place you store things that can be distributed when needed at a later time. This would mean that the best way to always be kind, gentle, patient and loving is to invest into your heart with the loving truth that comes from God. We study the scriptures each day like we eat a healthy dinner each day. Take a look at how your responded to stress over the last week. Continue to come back here and study God's word with me. Make the investment into your heart to equip you for the future. Love, Pastor Max Take a look at how your responded to stress over the last week. How would you define your identity based on how you responded when you were challenged and tested by someone or a situation? Love, Pastor Max
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Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. Imagine if you were standing at the waters edge listening to Jesus and watching what happened when the fisherman went back out onto the water. What does this story inspire you to do? 1. Go out where it is deeper. 2. Don't be afraid. 3. Seek the untapped potential God has for you. The book of Luke chapter five has a bunch of powerful stories but for today, may we allow this one to help us realize what is possible. Love, Pastor Max Luke 4:1-8
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. 3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” Equip yourself with solid teaching and truth. All of us can improve our knowledge of what is truth. Studying the Bible each day will help you to draw upon timeless wisdom when you need it. Luke 4:16-20 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” The Holy Spirit can work through you to bring good news to people who need it. We will continue to learn from Jesus how to best do this. Today many people are feeling trapped. Unable to see the vision that God has for their life. With the love and wisdom that we gain from studying the scriptures we ourselves can see things for the way they really are. Luke 4:40 people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. Here we see that God showed his favor and power in and through Jesus. Proving over and over again that Jesus was sent by God to change things for the better. As Jesus starts his public ministry, he is also giving us a clear picture of what many people are challenged with and what is possible. If you need a breakthrough, press into God's love. His truth. Pray for a way forward that's better that your past. If you need anything. Please reach out. Love, Pastor Max In the book of Luke chapter three, we will see the story of when John the Baptist was preaching and water baptizing people.
He was calling people to change and then be a blessing. He said in Luke 3:11 “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Today most people only think of themselves. How about you? Do you consider the needs of others and take action to be a support to them? I read a book about a wealthy woman that came to church trying to look her best. She had just purchase very expensive boots. During the church service the Holy Spirit showed her that there were people all around her with basic needs. He eyes were opened and she felt a wave of compassion wash over her. Before she left to walk out to her car in the pouring rain she took off her expensive boots and left them on the church altar as an offering. She then went home and got a calculator out and added up everything in her closet. When she was done she cried. She said that many of the items in her closet still had the tags on them. She decided to try and only wear 7 things for one month. During this time her eyes were opened to how blessed she was and the impact she could make by seeing others needs as God saw them. Luke 3:16 “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John knew his role. He lived a life that was honest and he made a great impact. Luke 3:21-22 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Jesus was baptized in water as an adult. Probably around 30 years of age. Have you been water baptized? At our church we do full immersion baptisms just like in the Bible. If you have never been baptized, I encourage you to take that step. It is a wondering way to follow the way of Jesus and publicly testify about your faith. Last but not least. In Luke 3 there is a long list of the family tree of Jesus. Way down the line you get to Methuselah. He was Noah's (of Noah's Ark) grandfather. Genesis 5:25-27 When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 27 Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. This always stuck out to me. He lived longer than anyone ever recorded but it doesn't say he did much. Let this challenge you to make the most of your days and be a blessing to both God and to people. You can have a ministry at any age and God will help equip you to love and encourage people who really need it. Love, Pastor Max In the book of Luke, chapter two, we read about the birth of Jesus and then the chapter wraps up with Jesus sitting in the temple with religious teachers who were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Luke 2:1-20 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. (A census was conducted every 14 years for both military and tax purposes. Each Jewish male had to return to the city of his father's to record his name, occupation, property and family.) And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. The Shepherds and Angels That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Interesting fact: Bethlehem means House of Bread. It was the ideal birthplace for Jesus to be born. Later Jesus would say, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again." One of my favorite verses in Luke chapter 2 is found in a prophesy. The Prophecy of Simeon. At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations. In the book of John 12:8 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” In the book of Matthew Jesus gives a famous sermon called, Sermon on the mount. Here he tells the people how to live. In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says, God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God." Then in Matthew 5:14 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world." Jesus is still the light of the world. He helps you and I who chose to learn from him to be people that work for peace. People that are a light to those in darkness. As we continue through this 24 part series on the Gospel of Luke I think it will be helpful to think about what the writer in Hebrews chapter two had to say about Jesus. Hebrews 2:16-18 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. May we be inspired to live like Jesus. Love, Pastor Max Over the next 24 days I would like you to read one chapter each day in the book of Luke.
This book is the third Gospel in the New Testament of the Bible. Luke was a doctor. He became an evangelist. He is also known for being an impressive historian. As you search for peace in your own life, I trust that your journey through this book will enlighten you, to who brings peace, even in the midst of a storm. Here are a few of my favorite parts of this first chapter: Luke 1:13 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. This stands out to me because my research shows that Zechariah's wife was way beyond the age of being able to have a child. Do you think Zechariah was praying for his wife to have a baby when she was in her fifties? Sixties? Seventies... That doesn't seam likely. The angel said, "God heard your prayer." What have you prayed for in the past? Take a few moments and think about prayers you made even years ago. Could it be that the time just wasn't right for God to give you what you wanted. Maybe the time is now! In God's perfect timing and in His faith building way, He blessed Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth with a son. The other thing that made an impact on me as I read this chapter was in verse 38. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Can you say that about yourself? Try it and see how it feels. "I am the Lord's servant." I responded in this way for 31 years. If you know me, I have been a follower of Jesus for 33 years. In the beginning I wasn't mature enough or clear enough on who God is and who I was. That took time. That took effort. And that took faith. When you live your life each day with the attitude and certainty that you are the Lord's servant. There is no limit on what God may do in and through you. Join me on this exciting adventure as we go through these 24 days and these 24 chapters. Love, Pastor Max  Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Do you have a blueprint for your life? Most people don't know what they are doing three days from now. God has a plan for your life and it is important that we work with God to get a clear vision. Once we have the plan, it's time to follow the details and set up systems to manage our time and energy the best way possible. In this sermon I touch upon an incredible story found in the book of Acts. Jesus gave His disciples a blueprint to help people through sharing the good news. Peter and John are on their way to a prayer meeting when they see someone with a need. A big need. Find out what happens by watching the video below. The next 7 blog entries are about my system to being healthy and living a life that is organized.
Each day of the week there is a focus. If you need to get healthier than you are right now, give them a read through and see if there is something there for you to use for your own life. Sunday - Rest. I aim to get 9 hours of sleep a night. Monday - Exercise. Workout Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuesday - Nutrition. No eating till 11:30 a.m. and no eating after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday - Education. Study for self improvement. Thursday - Work. Manage my time and get my work done with excellence. Friday - Adventure. Get outside and explore this beautiful planet. Saturday - Leisure. Make time to relax and enjoy life. Scroll down to Rest as that was the first entry in this series. Leisure refers to the free time that we can spend our own way, not working but instead resting, relaxing and enjoying life. Proverbs 16:20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. Listening to the Holy Spirits instruction for your day to day life should put things in order - eventually. There are times in our life, especially when we are young, that we need to work overtime. We manage a lot of learning. All of us have to earn our keep and work our way to a position where money increases and free time also increases. Leisure comes with hard work and planning. I did what Proverbs 16:20 said to do and worked my way into living a debt free life. I make my own schedule because I paid my dues and worked hard in building a good life for my family and for myself. Wether you can plan to have 2 hours of leisure a week or two days of leisure, it will serve you well to plan for it. Trust the Lord that you can make some time to relax. Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. As this proverbs says - A cheerful heart is good medicine. My renewal system has helped me to maintain a cheerful heart. Getting more than enough sleep, good exercise, healthy nutrition, keeping my mind sharp with continues education, working smarter, going on adventures and planning out some time for leisure is a recipe for a cheerful heart. Live an organized life and watch the stress fade away. Matthew 6:25-27 Do not worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Hang around a young person and it is likely that you will see that they worry about a lot of things and have a difficult time because they dwell on the things they worry about. Hang around an older person and it is likely that you will see that they do not worry about things and can manage their thoughts better. So why wait till you are old! Learn from Jesus and be get it together. Lean on scriptures like this when you find yourself worrying about stuff. Do not let the cares of everyday life rob you of the blessing of some leisure time.  Use a calendar or daily planner and book yourself some leisure time. Plan for it so that when something or someone attempts to take your time you can protect it.
At the end of your leisure time take a moment and thank God for the life He has given you. Ask Him to help you to manage it well. Love, Pastor Max Friday I have a focus on adventure. The logo I created for the Renewal system was inspired by my love for adventure and the great outdoors. When was the last time you went for a hike and tuned out of "the noise," and tuned in to nature? It makes a world of difference in the way you feel. Climbing a mountain and getting to the summit is a great feeling. Some of the best adventures I have been on are with friends and family, navigating our way to spectacular views. Jesus said in the gospel of John 10:10 My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. There is something so satisfying, so valuable, to exploring this beautiful planet. Don't miss out. We all have people that we can minister to and help. The needs never stop. I learned from Jesus that He would lead his disciples away from the crowds from time to time. They would rest and they would pray. Such a great example for us to follow. Some people in ministry get burned out. The time I spend on my adventures may be one of the biggest reasons I feel so good. Strong in faith and stable in my emotions. Where I live most people are busy. Their schedules are filled day and night seven days a week. No time for adventure. Yet all around our area there trails that lead to peaceful rivers, ponds and fields. Beautiful quiet areas where the wildlife and the wild flowers thrive. I try to get out there every day for at least 30 minutes. I have been doing this since my outdoor challenge back in 2020. Here is a photo I took of Maddox on his Kayak late one night in October of 2020. We went Kayaking on the Charles River on a night when the moon, and mars were visible.  Maddox on his Kayak with a headlamp on while exploring the river with the moon & mars overhead. This is a good time to recap what Renewal is about. Rest. I aim to get 9 hours of sleep a night. Exercise. Workout Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Nutrition. No eating till 11:30 a.m. and no eating after 7:30 p.m. Education. Study for self improvement. Work. Manage my time and get my work done with excellence. Adventure. Get outside and explore this beautiful planet. Leisure. Make time to relax and enjoy life. When I get good rest, I have more energy to do adventures. My workouts become more motivating because I know I will have more strength and endurance for future adventures I am dreaming about. I'm inspired to eat well so I am healthy for more adventures. A great tip. Download the app All Trails and look what is around you. I bet you won't have to travel far in order to find some beautiful places. A great place to pray is in the woods, in the mountains and on the water. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Plan your next adventure today. Love, Pastor Max Adventure to me is |
Pastor Max MarcouxDD and I have been married for 27 years. We have 4 children and have pastored since 1999. We believe with God in the center of our lives, our marriage, our parenting and our church, life is so much better. We hope you discover God the way we have. |
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Elevation Chapel
Pastor Max Marcoux
150 Lowell Avenue
Newtonville, MA 02460
[email protected]
617-447-5077
Pastor Max Marcoux
150 Lowell Avenue
Newtonville, MA 02460
[email protected]
617-447-5077