SCRIPTURE: Luke 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jesus warns His disciples about spiritual and material worldliness, as seen in the Pharisees (focusing on religious performance) and the story of the rich fool. Jesus shows that a worldly spirit does not alleviate worry or trouble, it only makes it worse. He then goes on to show that a life of…
Author: Norm
relationship, not religion
SCRIPTURE: Luke 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! [Luke 11:13] This passage reveals the heart of Jesus’ message – a restored relationship with God! God is our Father,…
what if…
I am trying to imagine church in a different way, with a different set of priorities and practices. What if… We were more concerned about, and motivated by, God’s kingdom priorities than the church priorities? We saw each day as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s value system in how we lived life – seeing church…
kingdom is always near
SCRIPTURE: Luke 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ [Luke 10:10-11] Whether we see it or accept it or…
what is the church?
I want to spend some time reflecting on the idea of church, recognizing and celebrating the Lord’s good plan for the church. Jesus was not anti-church, He used the word twice to describe the community He would build [Matthew 16:18], and the community that would support His followers in their kingdom witness and work [Matthew 18:17]. The…
how Jesus exercises power
SCRIPTURE: Luke 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. [Luke 9:1-2] This chapter deals with God’s kind of power and authority, and how the…
warning, church bashing ahead!!!
Please note, I am wrestling with the idea of ‘church’, and some of my reflections may seem overly negative and critical. I include myself in the indictment, I am as much a part of the ‘church’ problem. My intent is not just to bash church, but to rediscover Jesus’ priorities (He only mentioned ‘church’ twice,…
the true church
SCRIPTURE: Luke 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife…
God’s radical value system
SCRIPTURE: Luke 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” [Luke 7:28] Here we see God’s radical value system. John the Baptist is the forerunner of the messiah, yet in God’s kingdom, even…
loving the wicked?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [Luke 6:35] Jesus exposes ‘religion’ (as seen in what the religious…