Luke 6:20-26 — Four blessings and four corresponding woes. With these Jesus opened the sermon that takes up the greater part of Luke chapter 6. How are we to interpret these blessings and woes? To whom are they addressed? Is this Luke’s version of the Beatitudes that we find in Matthew chapter 5? Before we address…
I Corinthians 13:7 — Cynicism is the inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest. A cynical person is overly skeptical, constantly distrustful and generally pessimistic. We live at a deeply cynical time in history. People are more distrustful and contemptuous of institutions than ever before. Unfortunately this attitude can find its way into…
Luke 6:17-19 — Jesus came down the mountain with his freshly chosen apostles and was immediately met by a great multitude. Many in the crowd were sick and disabled, some were troubled by evil spirits. They pressed in upon Jesus hoping just to touch him and thereby receive healing. How would Jesus respond to this…
Colossians 3:3-4 — A belief in the return of Jesus Christ is definitional to the Christian faith and it’s what Paul talks about in the second half of this text. His return is the consummation of His redemptive work and the end of our salvation. When He appears in glory so will we. Our everlasting…
Colossians 3:3-4 — After an extended break we pick up our study through Paul’s letter to the Colossians and we come to a section where Paul explains why Christians should look and live heavenwards. He then moves to talk about our everlasting life and why it is secure forever. We hope the truth unfolded in…
I Kings 21:1-16 — Letters had come from the queen to the elders of Jezreel. It was her wish that an innocent man be falsely accused and executed. They complied and Naboth died. Why did these leaders do what Jezebel wanted? How will we respond when we are pressured to do something that violates our…
Luke 6:13-16 — Jesus chose twelve men from among His disciples to be His Apostles. These men would go on to play a unique and special role in God’s unfolding plan of redemption. It’s also true that these men were called to do what every disciple of Jesus is called to do – that’s what we…
Luke 6:13-16 — As we continue our study in the Gospel of Luke we come to the place in Jesus’ public ministry where He chose from among His disciples the twelve apostles. So what’s the difference between a disciple and an apostle? What makes for a good disciple and why does it matter? These are…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 — How should a Christian think about time? Our life unfolds as a series of events in linear succession. This movement from beginning to end is inescapable. We are, as it were, bound by time and yet we think about realities outside of time. Why is it that we have a sense of…
Luke 6:12 — It is often difficult for us to receive teaching on the subject of prayer and that’s because it’s a part of the Christian life with which we struggle. Many of us know our prayer life is not what it should be, and yet if there is anything we need to do in…