Darrell paints us a powerful picture of who God is and what He is like through the story of the “Prodigal Son”, or “Prodigal Father” as Darrell argues should be the rightful title. In Luke 15, we see a father, who represents God, respond to his two different rebellious sons. The older son shames the father by refusing to celebrate when his brother returns, thinking that only he had rightly earned his father’s love. The father responds again in scandalous love, by going against what culture demands, taking the humiliation the son deserves, upon himself instead, inviting the older son closer to his heart. The father’s response to his two sons is the same response to us all, no matter what we have done. Come home, and come on in!” Whether we are law-breaking, or law-keeping, we all are in deep need of His grace, and all of us are welcomed into the scandalous and radical embrace of our loving Father.

Darrell explains the parable of the unrighteous steward. This parable is followed by some of Jesus’ many teachings on the practical issue of money. It tells the story of a land manager who squanders his landowner’s possessions, but receives unexpected mercy from the landowner. As a response to experiencing this mercy, the manager extends mercy to the renters of the land, significantly reducing the cost of rent. Jesus is telling us to do the same. Since we have received immense mercy from God, we must respond to this reality by extending mercy to others. A way we extend this mercy is how we use our money. The parable is not saying that we can buy our way into heaven, but it is saying that what we do with money reveals whether or not the Kingdom of God has broken into our lives. One of the clearest signs that mercy has gotten hold of us is that we use money to extend mercy to others.

Darrell paints the parable of the rich man and Lazarus with illustrative detail as he describes each cultural aspect of the story. Wealth can blind us from seeing the needs of those around us, and in this passage, Darrell shows us the subversive values of the kingdom of heaven at work. Instead of the wealthy man, it was the sick, the outcast, Lazarus, who is at Abraham’s side after death. With great regret, the wealthy man in Hades calls out for help from Abraham and Lazarus, but they are unable to do anything. In desperation, he pleads for them to at least warn his family, but is met with the haunting reply “If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won’t even listen if a man raises from the dead.” Darrell shows us that God’s word should illuminate the needs of others around us and that by listening to Jesus’ instructions, we will begin to truly see.

In this message from First Baptist Church in Vancouver BC, Darrell unpacks the prayer of Paul to the Church of Ephesus. In this passage, we learn about what living in the fullness of God looks like.

Darrell dives into the only recorded request made by the disciples to "teach them". Their request, to be taught how to pray, came from their observation of Jesus' relationship with the Father.

In this sermon, Darrell visits the first parable that Jesus taught about new wine, and new wineskins. Similar to the first miracle Jesus performed, this parable sets the stage for the ministry and mission of Jesus’ life. With the wineskins representing the religious forms and patterns, and the wine representing the gospel, Darrell rhetorically challenges the listener to think about which is more important. The main point being that the Church must not lose the ever shaping, potent love of God in order to preserve a form that is at best secondary. All religious activities are a means to an end, and the end being a relationship with the Living God, and enjoying the love of God in Jesus Christ. If it doesn’t lead there, it must be done away with - for we cannot bear to lose the wine.

Darrell unpacks two complimentary parables in the gospel of Luke through which Jesus shares His mission in the world. The kingdom of God is first likened to “a mustard seed which a man took and planted” and also “leaven, which a woman took and mixed”. The context of these parables is Jesus announcing the in-breaking of heaven as he begins healing people and freeing them from the demonic. However, Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God does not come in the way other kingdoms come. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, apparently insignificant alongside all other seeds, yet it grows to a plant larger than any other in the garden. And it is like leaven, which though hidden in the bread mixture, yet causes the mixture to expand and rise. The kingdom of God ordinarily comes in little, hidden ways. Often unseen, yet its effects are visible everywhere. The mystery of the kingdom is that the little is powerful, and the hidden is transformative. The gospel does not need the headlines to have its way in the world. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC, 2014 | Luke 13:18-21 Give to the ministry of Darrell Johnson: www.darrelljohnson.ca/donate

In this sermon, Darrell unpacks the parable of the great banquet. Like many parables, it’s about more than meets the eye. Unlike other parables, it is one of the most autobiographical parables Jesus ever spoke. Here in Luke 14, we learn the depth and breadth of Jesus’ invitation to “come”. We walk through Jesus’ joy, disappointment, and passion in His role as Host. Then Darrell unwraps the scripture further and we realize that, like the guests in the parable, we are a people full of excuses. Not only that, but our excuses reveal to us our TRUE beliefs in and of Jesus, His kingdom, and His character.

Thanks to First Baptist Church for generously sharing this sermon with us!