THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 11:1-7 “When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.” (Mark 11:7) When the pope came to America, he opted to be driven in a Fiat. “His choice to stick to an understated classic in a country where big cars rule the road and…
Complicating faith?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:45-54 “You have taken away the key to knowledge.” (Luke 11:52) I often think the church of history is guilty of a similar offence. Jesus presents a very simple message: trust Me, put your hope in Me. This simple message of faith has morphed into a complex message of beliefs. You must…
What about you?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:37-44 “A Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.” (Luke 11:37) What happens when we invite Jesus into our life? We invite Him to see the inside of our heart — the nice and not so nice. And because Jesus cares, He speaks…
Bright eyes
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:33-36 “Your eye is the lamp of your body.” (Luke 11:34) In what sense are my eyes the source of light or darkness in me? What I look at, what I focus on, these determine whether I am light or dark. If we focus on God and His kingdom, our life will…
The way to God’s blessing
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:27-32 “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28) There are definite advantages to be related by blood… to be kin. People tend to care for, and bless their own, most of all. For the Jews, being Jewish was as much a racial thing as…
Kingdom confidence!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:14-26 “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20) Genesis 1 gives us the first description of the kingdom of God. Adam and Eve, created to be like God, ruling over creation with God’s authority. But in Genesis 3 we find…
The best prayer request!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:5-13 “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13) God wants the very best for you. God wants everyone to have the ‘very good’ life we were made for. God also respects our freedom, He does not force feed us pressure us….
To pray like Jesus
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:1-4 “One of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1) How long have they been together? And Jesus has still not taught them to pray? Prayer is one of the first lessons we usually teach in a disciples class. Or was Jesus teaching them, but the disciples…
In the spirit of Mary
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 10:38-42 “You are anxious and troubled about many things… (Luke 10:41-42). Boy can I relate to Martha. Anxious and troubled about many things, way beyond what is needed. Like Mark Twain said, ‘I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.’ The problem here is not that…
Love along the way
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 10:29-37 “As he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.” (Luke 10:33) For a time I was struggling to find ways to love my neighbour. Help at a soup kitchen, volunteer at a youth shelter, visit at a nursing home or hospital. I felt the…