Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThe bulk of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew is centered on the kingdom of heaven. His intention was to get his followers to see and enter the kingdom (v. 4). In this passage, Jesus anticipates a problem arising among “brothers” in the community of believers. Therefore, entering the kingdom is not the end of the journey. We have to continue on together until we reach our destination. Along the way, we will likely run into problems with our traveling companions. read more…
Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. Luke 12:1-2 (read verses 12:1-34)
INTRO: Here it is, summer so I thought we might briefly revisit The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
There were two weeks when Tom was bedridden with the measles
– when he was well enough to get out and about, he noticed a change in town
– people seemed melancholy
Mark Twain explains, “There had been a ‘revival,’ and everybody had ‘got religion’”
“Got religion” is a classic example of American slang read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youJesus challenged the disciples to think, to probe beneath the surface of their culture’s attitude toward children. With a little imagination and logic, they would be able to understand “the will of your Father” regarding “one of these little ones” (v. 14). read more…
Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. Luke 11:37-38 (read verses 37-54)
INTRO: Have you ever worked for a boss that was a jerk?
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when a wicked man rules, people groan. (Pr. 29:2)
– in other words, a jerk with power is the worst jerk of all
What was your boss’s favorite weapon? Ridicule? Rage? Threat? read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youJesus did not pour cold water on the disciples’ ambition, rather he redirected it (see also Mt. 20:20-28). He turned the focus of their zeal toward humility, compassion, and the care and recovery of others. But he also made it clear that before they started thinking about who would be greatest in the kingdom, they needed to make certain that they would enter the kingdom. read more…
No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, you whole body is full of light; but when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Luke 11:33-34 (read verses 14-36)
INTRO: My plan was to begin our study this morning talking about distractions
But trying to come up with an illustration to introduce distractions became frustrating. So I browsed the Internet searching for ideas. I came across a couple of interesting news articles, but realized I was wasting time, panicked, and came back to my notes. I experimented with a couple of illustrations, but they were stupid so I got frustrated again. Then I opened my email to see if I had any new messages. Soon I panicked again because I still didn’t have an opening for the study, came back to my notes, but still no luck. I thought, maybe if I got myself a soda it would help–put some caffeine in my brain. But I still couldn’t think of a way to illustrate distractions and how they keep us from doing what needs to be done. read more…
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (read Lk. 11:1-13)
INTRO: A few weeks ago, a friend asked if I saw myself as a spiritual director and I told him, “No, I talk too much”
I try to give too much help, provide too much information
– I have difficulty letting people struggle
One way to define spiritual direction is one believer helping another with his or her prayer life
– this is assuming that prayer is the central expression of our connection with God
– so spiritual direction would include bringing up all of the issues of our spiritual progress
– it is something we see Jesus doing all through the gospels and especially here read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youMatthew 17:24-25
Taxes! What a burden to place on people. Taxed for being alive. Taxed for your initiative, innovation and hard work. Taxes taken from your earnings and invested in institutions, programs and laws that you oppose. Taxed on every purchase. And a jumble of tax laws that few people can decipher. Taxes burden the mind and wear on the soul.
Peter was hit with a tax question. When he came to Jesus with it, before he had the opportunity to bring it up, the Lord already knew what he was going to ask. And Jesus already knew what he was going to do about the tax. But before he resolved the problem, he gave it to Peter by asking him a challenging question. read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youMatthew 17:24-25
I find this passage so intriguing that I am going to spend two days with it.
There is no hint in their conversation that Jesus had recently called Peter “Satan,” and no indication that Peter carried any residual shame from that rebuke or that he had any discomfort being with Jesus. Peter had not lost the revelation he received regarding Jesus–in spite of his lapse into the mind-set of human self-interest. He did not lose the spiritual growth he had experienced traveling with Jesus. Rather, he learned a valuable lesson that he would not have learned apart from his error. read more…
Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42 (read verses 38-42)
INTRO: Last week, a lawyer challenged Jesus with a couple of tough questions
First, what should he do to inherit eternal life
– since he asked about doing, Jesus sent him back to the Law
– there it is made clear that doing works of love is the path to life
Then, secondly, the lawyer tried to hide behind the old game of “define your terms”–e.g., “Yes, but what do you mean by neighbor? That is a rather complicated subject, isn’t it?”
– Jesus responded by telling the story of Good Samaritan, and then sent him off to “do the same”
This is one of the classic episodes in the story of Jesus, but it leaves a question unanswered–in fact, unasked! read more…
Daily Meditations From the Scriptures