Jesus is constantly telling his disciples how much it will cost them to follow Him. He tells them it will cost them everything, even their lives. Yet there is one thing he asks of his followers that may even be more costly than that- forgiveness. Exactly what do we mean when we talk about forgiveness?…
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What stops you from believing? Jesus calls out the Pharisees for their love of money and misuse of the law- two things meant to glorify God and point them to his grace. Instead, the Pharisees had made those things an end to themselves and missed God altogether. What about you? What have you misused, misunderstood,…
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“Well done, good and faithful servant.” -or- “Good enough, moderately devoted church-goer.” We all say we want the first one, but most of us would probably be content with the second, especially if it means we get to live a more comfortable life here. In a parable that goes in a way you probably wouldn’t…
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By definition, things that are valuable will spur people on to pursue them. If it’s worth something, people will give up something else to acquire it. The challenge is determining just how much something is worth. What are you willing to give up to get it? Jesus tells us that God finds value in things…
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Jesus never failed to draw a crowd. His teaching and his miracles attracted people far and wide. Yet every time his popularity seems to grow, he makes statements that thin the crowd and challenge their interest. He goes out of his way to say that following him isn’t easy- it has its cost. Of course,…
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When you have the right ticket, invitation, or all-access pass, you can find yourself in some places where you feel like you just don’t belong. As Jesus continues teaching on his way to Jerusalem, one of the things he makes clear is that there is an open invitation to anyone who would accept his offer….
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Once Jesus had set his course toward Jerusalem, He had plenty of chances to quit. A death threat from a conniving, dangerous ruler would deter most people, but Jesus doesn’t flinch. In fact, His resolve to move forward on his journey only seems to deepen. What is it that motivated Him to walk a path…
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What happens when our expectations don’t follow along with God’s plans? Can we adjust to the truth that God is teaching us when we’ve always believed something else? This was the situation some questioners of Jesus found themselves in as Jesus taught about the nature of the Kingdom of God. For all that the Jews…
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Our culture rewards hustle. Hard work is seen as an essential quality in the people we want leading us and working for us. Busyness is the default mode for most. Yet the Bible teaches us of the need to slow down, stop, and rest. It’s even built into the structure of our weeks. So why…
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There are countless ways that we feel the brokenness of this world. Personal and heartbreaking, widespread and tragic- sin will always bring suffering and pain with it. So what do we do when we feel the effects of that sin- when the brokenness just keeps showing up? When Jesus is asked a question about this…
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Not all hospitality is created equal. Sometimes it’s about finger sandwiches and impeccable taste. Biblical hospitality, however, calls us to something much greater. When practiced faithfully, it becomes a soul-shaping practice that God uses to change us and sustain others…and it isn’t optional. (Note: Some elements of the message have been edited for privacy purposes)….
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The common paradigm for Christian living in this world is that we should “in, but not of” the world. Surely this is good advice; after all, Jesus used those very words when He prayed for his disciples in John 17. However, when you see that advice in action it often looks more like “us vs….
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Peter Pan was convinced that the worst thing that could happen to you is that you would grow up. Walt Disney said that the trouble with the world is that people grow up. Jesus said that if you weren’t like a little child, you would never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet Peter, Paul, and…
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Contentment or restlessness? Which one does God call us to? The answer seems simple. Paul even tells us the secret to contentment and exhorts us to embrace that along with him. But is it really that simple? Was Paul really content? Or was he driven by something within him- a restlessness that sent him out…
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Throughout the Bible, we are called to many things that seem to contradict each other- two callings that seem to tell us to do things that are exactly opposite. Fasting is a common religious practice for many and one that Jesus assumes his followers will do. Yet when asked about the practice, Jesus makes it…
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The Christian life is full of paradoxes. In following Jesus, we can find instructions that tell us to do things that seem to be in complete contradiction to one another. So how do we do that? Is it about finding balance or is there another way forward for us as we follow Jesus? As we…
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There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the middle. It can feel like all the important things are on either side of you while you’re stuck feeling like you’ve missed the good parts. Sometimes that’s how it can feel when we talk about Jesus. He isn’t here now, he’s coming one of these days, but…
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Music is one of, if not THE, biggest parts of the Christmas season. It helps us to not just pass the time as we listen to music, but it helps us to mark the time because it is specifically music for Christmas. In scripture, music is used throughout the Old and New Testaments to teach us…
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We sit between two advents. This places us with a unique vantage point that theologians call the “already/not yet.” The season of Advent is designed to highlight the tension that arises from this unique vantage point. Has prophecy already been fulfilled or is our hope delayed? And if it is delayed, does it make our…
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God’s people are a waiting people. That has been true since the prophecies that were delivered right after the fall. In the Old Testament, they were waiting on God’s promised deliverer- The Messiah. However, in the New Testament, Jesus has already come. If He has come, then are we still a waiting people? If so,…
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