Category Archives: Lent: Luke Encounters

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.”   I John 5:14, 15 Risk is woven into the fabric ofContinue reading “The Parable of the Ten Minas”

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faithContinue reading “The Rich Ruler”

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”   I Peter 5:6, 7 As sinfully and culturally defined, pursuing greatness looks like this: Individuals motivated by self-interest, self-indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue selfish ambitionContinue reading “The Little Children and Jesus”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself andContinue reading “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector”

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullnessContinue reading “Sin, Faith, Duty”

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”   I John 3:1   What happens in the new birth is not getting new religion but getting new life.  What happens in the new birth is not merely affirming the supernaturalContinue reading “The Parable of the Lost Son”

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those whoContinue reading “The Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coins”

“Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”   Paul, Colossians 3:10 [In Luke 14] Jesus famously says one must ‘hate’ all their family members and their own life also, must take up their cross, and must forsake all they own, or he ‘cannot be my disciple.’ Continue reading “The Cost of Being a Disciple”

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”   Jesus, John 10:9, 10  Jesus offers himself as a doorway into theContinue reading “The Narrow Door”

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us in to the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”   Paul, Colossians 1:13, 14 Ultimately the secret [of freedom and peace] is perfect abandonment to the will of God in things you cannot control,Continue reading “The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast”