SCRIPTURE: Luke 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up… And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [Luke 18:1,7] Pray, and not give up. ‘Lord, I…
oh my…
how we view God
Obviously there is no one word that can capture how God is. But I do wonder sometimes whether our dominant thought about God is helpful or harmful – to us and to others. Do we primarily think of God as mad or sad… or joy-filled? This is not an ‘either/or’ choice, but a question of…
in me… through me…
SCRIPTURE: Luke 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you. [Luke 17:20-21] What is the kingdom of…
my kinda church?
community of brokenness
I recently read a quote about “community” and its impact on us. This relates to my struggle with ‘church’, but in a positive way. This quote shows how community can function positively. It seems to me this is a clue for when ‘church’ (or better, Jesus community) is working well: “Living in community I discovered…
stewards of blessing
SCRIPTURE: Luke 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. [Luke 16:9] At first it seems that Jesus is commending dishonesty. But Jesus is showing that “people of this world” are more serious about succeeding in a worldly sense…
who is my Jesus?
Please tell me what you think?
older brother syndrome
SCRIPTURE: Luke 15 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ [Luke 15:1-2] Are you sensing a pattern yet? How often in Luke do we not sense God’s frustration with religious people for…
chosen for what?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 14 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This reading makes me think of another saying of Jesus, For many are invited, but few are chosen. [Matthew 22:14] Jesus urges the Pharisees to show hospitality to “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind”, and says in His parable that this is who God invites to His kingdom banquet. The invite…