Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: Luke makes a special note to address two particular groups of people in today’s passage: the self-righteous and children. The first comes in the form of a parable, the second is more direct. Both compel us to pause and consider these particular red-letter words from Jesus. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but this …
Continue reading “Luke: Self-Righteousness and Little Children”
Read: A few days ago we read about the shrewd manager, a nice way of referring to the guy who was about to get fired so he reduced the debt of his master’s clients to gain favor. Today we read a story where Jesus refers to a worldly character, in this case, an unjust judge, …
Continue reading “Luke: The Persistent Widow and the Power of Prayer”
Read: It seems fitting that we should study this passage during the week that follows Easter. How many heard the message of the resurrection? Have we built relationships with those far from Christ to the point that they are open to hearing this incredible news? Jesus paints two portraits. The first is a rich man, …
Continue reading “Luke: The Rich Man and Lazarus — The Great Chasm”
Read: Just a few verses this morning, a pause between two lessons on money, compels us to rethink our perspective on riches of this world. Luke begins by clarifying that the Pharisees have an unhealthy love of money and their reaction to His lesson on the shrewd manager causes them to “sneer” at Jesus. I’m …
Read: One of the most familiar stories in the Bible, otherwise known as the prodigal son. This is every parent’s nightmare as well as every parent’s fantasy. Not that our children would squander whatever we give them, but that they would one day realize just how much we love them and the extent to which …
Read: Make no mistake, Jesus’ call to discipleship is serious and it begins with repentance. The decision to repent is significant. The first domino to fall in a succession of events we like to call sanctification. Luke recalls two of the many parables Jesus used to teach this point: the lost sheep and the lost …
Read: Jesus is teaching on the way to Jerusalem when someone asks: Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? It’s a reasonable question for those who’ve been paying attention to His teaching. While Jesus shows great compassion for the least, the lame, and the forgotten, He also teaches tough lessons about leaving …
Read: Spanning the artificial chapter boundaries, this morning we consider three hard lessons. Jesus loves people, no doubt, but He is not about to hold back when teaching subjects that are challenging. One of the key lessons I take here is this: grow up, learn to read yourself, you have enough information to make a …
Read: A beatitude, a warning, and a parable. Three sections carefully designed to emphasize the call to consistent, faithful service. Beware! The narrative comes with warnings of judgment and dire consequences for disobedience. The warning is clear and the parable is often used to convict those in vocational service within the church, but don’t miss …
One of the hazards of any profession is the inability to take significant breaks. This is especially true in ministry. Many churches offer an extended sabbatical for staff after serving seven years–an absolutely wonderful concept! This notion comes from the Old Testament concept of a sabbatical year, but that’s a whole different story for another …