The flaming tongues, the rushing wind, and more have one aim—to empower us to be disciples of Jesus. To do what Jesus did. What did Jesus do? He led people to the Father, to God through his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—and sacrifice.
Read MoreWhen I can hold in my mind that he is friend and Lord, I am better able to live with him working through me because he is ascended into heaven, and the Spirit has descended in me.
Read MoreTraipse around any airport and you find quite a few one-way doors. You know those doors that once you walk through, you cannot go back. In life we have metaphorical one-way doors. Events and situations, that once we cross through, life is different, and there is no going back.
Read MoreWhen you “go and wait” it implies a degree of trust. They don’t know Jesus is about to ascend before their eyes. I expect, after it happened, they were really disoriented. Yet he gives them a very important command. It’s as if he says, “I got your backs, now go and wait for what you’ve been waiting the last 2,000 years for, trust me.”
Read MoreI suggest we each think about whether or not we are certain about just who Jesus is. I am asking myself: Am I certain he is the Son of God come to earth? Am I certain his death on the Cross was for my sins? Am I certain his resurrection defeated the curse of sin in my life? Will I follow him?
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Read MoreAs we have come to end of reading the Gospel of Luke, I would love to get some feedback from you! It would be a great help to know what I can improve on and what you really enjoyed. Please complete this short survey!
Read MoreWhen we say we believe in the resurrection of Jesus, we are not proclaiming the eternal significance of an idea—nor are we saying that Jesus lives on in somebody’s memory or that his reappearances were simply visionary experiences. The confession of the Church of Christ for two thousand years has been, and must continue to be, an unequivocal conviction of the bodily resurrection.
Read MoreHow do you process this mostly empty tomb? Along the logic—emotions spectrum, where do you generally sit? How does the Bible fit into all of it for you?
Read MoreCertainty. That is what Luke started with. Does it seem like Luke is certain Jesus is dead? How about you?
Read MoreJesus’ phrase, the power of darkness, has my attention. This is more than a youthful fear of the dark. Perhaps those childhood fears are not so misplaced.
Read MoreFor me, it can be easy to overcommit. I can be carried away with the excitement of the moment. I have friends who do a much better job thinking through just exactly what they may, or may not, commit to. In other words, before you commit to being passionate for a cause, or a person—make sure you are sold out on the purpose.
Read MoreBeyond the widow’s offering, Jesus hears people focusing on the temple. He shifts to predicting the fall of Jerusalem, and some not-so-straightforward words regarding the end of the age are spoken, and Jesus ends by encouraging us to stay awake.
Read MoreI am able to see the path through other people’s situations, and not my own. So maybe the exercise I ought to do is write out my questions for Jesus—not in an attempt to trick or trap him, but rather in an attempt to identify what is getting in my way to love him more.
Read MoreIt seems out of nowhere a crowd appears and there is a parade. For most days, the crowd has been silent. The voice of the religious of the day has been filling our ears. The people are excited. Today they are yelling, “Hosanna!”
Read MoreThere has been a group of people following Jesus and all they do is grumble and pick at him, and what he is doing. They are locked in this negative cycle. It has blinded them. So, I am wondering, where and at what am I grumbling? How is this blinding me? How about you?
Read MoreWhen you “see” Jesus, who do you “see”? A historical figure, who started out from humble beginnings and was a great teacher? Or the God Incarnate, announced by angels, born of a virgin, and with power over all the world?
Read MoreWhat does Jesus point out today? He gives us a persistent person of prayer, a contrast between someone overly religious and a sinner, and a man who had quite a bit of money. In total we read, be like this widow, be like this tax collector, be like a child…place my confidence in God and have a humble heart.
Read MoreAre they so focused on this perceived brass ring, that they miss the kingdom of God that is in their very presence? When people are restored to wholeness, physical and spiritual, has not the kingdom of God become present? Jesus even says in verse 21 that the kingdom is in their midst.
Read MoreJesus returns to his team. His comments are set against the religious of the day, their attitude and behavior. Jesus’ words are strong and spot-on. For his team, there will be many temptations. For his team, it will be easy to decide to let others serve them. Both are deadly. How many people today look at the church and consider it either corrupt, lazy, or both?
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