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The extent to which you value Jesus determines the extent to which you value Him for others.

The extent to which you value Jesus determines the extent to which you value Him for others.

What is the true impact of the cross.

What is the true impact of the cross?

We are the servants God sends to invite people to the great party. What are some practical ways you can invite people to the great party?

We are the servants God sends to invite people to the great party. What are some practical ways you can invite people to the great party?

The assumption of the women at the tomb was tragedy. Tragedy and hardship are common themes throughout Scripture. But, we have hope for the future, knowing that tragedy and hardship are not the end, and that the reason for hope is the resurrection.

As people we desperately want "our way" This is born within us, and is a trait we work to exercise throughout our lives. To do so, we build and defend our own kingdoms. In Jesus, though we battle for control, we find One to whom we must give control. Otherwise we are not only battling others, but found to be battling God Himself.

As people we desperately want "our way" This is born within us, and is a trait we work to exercise throughout our lives. To do so, we build and defend our own kingdoms. In Jesus, though we battle for control, we find One to whom we must give control. Otherwise we are not only battling others, but found to be battling God Himself.

The "Teacher of the Law" wanted to challenge Jesus and to justify himself. What was Jesus wanting to show him?

A "Teacher of the Law" wanted to challenge Jesus and to justify himself. What was Jesus wanting to show him?

When worlds collide, there is a time to turn the other cheek, and at other times, there must be the response of confrontation. In other words, there is a time to be slapped, and a time to stand up to the bullies and those who are, simply, wrong. We must not absolute one particular response - there is a time for both responses.

When worlds collide, there is a time to turn the other cheek, and at other times, there must be the response of confrontation. In other words, there is a time to be slapped, and a time to stand up to the bullies and those who are, simply, wrong. We must not absolute one particular response - there is a time for both responses.

Why does God call this rich man a fool? What are characteristics of a fool? There are three characteristics that we will examine in this passage; and all of them point to a preoccupation with self. Yes, it's a perfect picture of the pharisees, but what about us? Could this be a picture of you?

Why does God call this rich man a fool? What are characteristics of a fool? There are three characteristics that we will examine in this passage; and all of them point to a preoccupation with self. Yes, it's a perfect picture of the pharisees, but what about us? Could this be a picture of you?

The fool has a false estimate of things; the fool miscalculates time; the fool misconstrues the meaning of life.

There are times we struggle and wrestle with God's Word and God's promises. Questions and even doubts arise. That is normal and part of life. In this account, when John begins to have doubts - based on his circumstances - Jesus does not rescue him from his circumstances, but asks him to look at the words and deeds of Jesus and evaluate for himself.

There are times we struggle and wrestle with God's Word and God's promises. Questions and even doubts arise. That is normal and part of life. In this account, when John begins to have doubts - based on his circumstances - Jesus does not rescue him from his circumstances, but asks him to look at the words and deeds of Jesus and evaluate for himself.

The Sermon on the Mount says to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Who can live up to this and why should we?

The Sermon on the Mount says to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Who can live up to this and why should we?

Collisions shatter our expectations by revealing the depth of our sin, and change our direction by putting us on a mission with God.

Luke is deliberate in mounting evidence of the growing unrest and confrontation between the religious authorities and Jesus. Worlds have collided - the kingdom they were building was not the kingdom of God. Thus wnen God's kingdom came, they had no room for it (Him). The issue: Jesus should do things their way, and it was not so. How do you respond when God or others do not do things your way?

Worlds collide, and this does not always make life difficult. It is meant to bring us hope. A hallmark of Jesus' ministry was His healing. It broke into our world. His healing provided a clue as to what is in store. Even more, it gave Jesus the credentials He needed so that we could be assured He CAN bring about what He has promised - that He will make all things new, around us and in us.

Worlds collide, and this does not always make life difficult. It is meant to bring us hope. A hallmark of Jesus' ministry was His healing. It broke into our world. His healing provided a clue as to what is in store. Even more, it gave Jesus the credentials He needed so that we could be assured He CAN bring about what He has promised - that He will make all things new, around us and in us.

Jesus deliberately picks a fight to stir the members of the synagogue to thought. We get set in our ways and we box Jesus in so much so that we mold Him into our image rather than seeing Him and bowing in worship and submission. Jesus makes us uncomfortable, and when He does we tend to keep Him at arms length. How do you do that? How do you make comfort your God rather than Jesus? How can you exchange that god for the true and living God?

Jesus deliberately picks a fight to stir the members of the synagogue to thought. We get set in our ways and we box Jesus in so much so that we mold Him into our image rather than seeing Him and bowing in worship and submission. Jesus makes us uncomfortable, and when He does we tend to keep Him at arms length. How do you do that? How do you make comfort your God rather than Jesus? How can you exchange that god for the true and living God?

Worlds Collide when we Face Temptation

Worlds Collide when we Face Temptation

Collisions shatter our expectations and change our direction.

Collisions shatter our expectations and change our direction.

The promise was that a Deliverer would come from Bethlehem, of Judah. Was it a lucky turn of historical events, or God's providence - His plan unfolding? God will have His way, even when circumstances lead us to believe the opposite.

The promise was that a Deliverer would come from Bethlehem, of Judah. Was it a lucky turn of historical events, or God's providence - His plan unfolding? God will have His way, even when circumstances lead us to believe the opposite.

The announcement to Mary and her response which was one of Humility, gratitude and amazement.

The announcement to Mary and her response which was one of Humility, gratitude and amazement.

The angelic announcement is world changing. There is an assumption behind the work, "Peace". The workding is peace to a specific group of people and comes when we so desperately need the promised peace.

The angelic announcement is world changing. There is an assumption behind the work, "Peace". The workding is peace to a specific group of people and comes when we so desperately need the promised peace.

When our pride is wounded, we want to defend, vindicate, and sometimes, go on the attack. Yet, Jesus tells us to respond in a radically different manner. He assumes this life will be filled with insults to our pride and ego. Our response is to reflect His grace and the way He has given Himself to us.

The culture of the church: Would God have us develop a church which welcomes those who come to share in our life, or is our culture a closed door, where people find it difficult to "break in" and share our fellowship? What kind of culture would Christ have us develop toward those who come to see what we are all about?

Jesus' story is remarkable strange for a number of reasons. What if the rich man really got what he wanted.? Should we be like the beggar? You can be content, yet dissatisfied.

We are always in danger of having nothing intelligible to say to the world outside the church. We seem to marginalize ourselves. Yet, what we have in Jesus is to be that which is shared with the world around us. Jesus did not come in order to be a well-kept secret, b ut to be known.

The desire to be "someone" and to be recognized; the safer position -- humility. The tables will be turned: The first will be last and the exalted will be humbled. Invite those who cannot repay; God takes notice. That's the way God has treated us. What are the implications for Church officers?

The imagery: The new and the old cannot co-exist. The birth, then, of New Covenant Christianity, was, historically, a difficult beginning, and this parable explains the tension. One must "let go" of one to embrace/use the other.

Do we take Jesus seriously? There were many times His closest disciples did not. Actually, they did not know how to respond to His teaching. Like them, we tend to "hear" what we want to hear, and let the rest bounce off. Because we fail to "hear" we can set ourselves up for disappointment and frustration. God wants usto take Him and His Word seriously.

It is so easy, so easy, to walk through life with Christ and yet have fairly severe blind spots. More scary is the fact that Jesus identifies "the religious" as being the blind guides. It can be our goal to ask Jesus in the context of fellowship and family, to help us see - and to do something about our blind spots. If Jesus is making us more like Himself, then that is a worth goal. How will this be accomplished in your life?

As difficult as it might be to trust God and His Word, we need to consider the source (God) and understand, in trusting His promises we are trusting One who is quite trustworthy. The contrast between Sarah and Mary in the announcement of the birth of a child is quite remarkable.

Where does lasting wealth come from? In what do we find lasting value? Is it the material "things" we possess, or is it that which wse are given in Christ?

We must be careful not to despise the grace of God by holding to a theology of merit; as though we are accepted by God because of our own efforts. Sometimes it becomes easy for Christians to frorget grace.