Was Jesus trying to confuse his audience? Possibly, but I suspect he really wanted them to avidly seek the meaning of his Gardening 101 parable. Maybe some did. Luke tells us that the disciples asked him what it meant, and he told them. What we hear is a powerful evaluation tool that all Christians shouldContinue reading “The Four Soils – An Evaluation Tool for Disciples of Jesus – Luke 8:1-15”
Author Archives: joelkime
That time Jesus purposefully wanted to confuse the audience
My family and I started gardening a couple years ago. When we lived in a city rowhome we filled a couple 5-gallon buckets with dirt, planted some tomatoes and peppers and stuck them on our second floor outdoor balcony. Our backyard butted up against a neighboring house that blocked out the sun, so the bucketsContinue reading “That time Jesus purposefully wanted to confuse the audience”
An Awkward Bible Story – Luke 7:36-50
There are some really awkward stories in the Bible. This past Sunday in our series teaching through Luke we came to one those stories. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MojKYm2UqFE When you read the story, if you’re like me you’ve heard it many times, and you have been accustomed to it, so you’ve already classified it inContinue reading “An Awkward Bible Story – Luke 7:36-50”
Questioning Jesus – Luke 7:18-35
In our study of Luke’s Gospel, our next story reintroduces us to a guy who was feeling confused about who Jesus is. He is doubting Jesus. Jesus used to be very real to him. But now it seems that Jesus has gone away. That doubting guy? You’ve met him before. Maybe you know him quiteContinue reading “Questioning Jesus – Luke 7:18-35”
Jesus’ very difficult question – Luke 6:46-49
We so often call ourselves Christians. We look at that as our core identity. We see it as what we truly believe, and we bank on those beliefs as what will get us to heaven when we die. But are we doing what Jesus said we should do? I am asking the question because JesusContinue reading “Jesus’ very difficult question – Luke 6:46-49”
How to be wise or foolish
You remember that children’s song “the wise man built his house upon on the rock”? It is a classic that small children learn in Sunday School, but when you think about it, it’s kinda scary actually. Especially when you think about some of the major tragedies in the last decade or so. The song talksContinue reading “How to be wise or foolish”
Church Has Left The Building recap
On Sunday May 17, Faith Church left it’s building! It was an incredible morning. My group (below) went to Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services, the local social services organization started by area churches to provide free food and clothing to residents in need. It is an awesome place sharing love in the name of Jesus. Continue reading “Church Has Left The Building recap”
How to change a foul mouth to a good one – Luke 6:43-45
Do you have a foul mouth? Has it ever gotten you into trouble? Have you wished you could change? In our ongoing study of Luke, this past Sunday we looked at Luke 6:43-45 where Jesus mentions “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”. All of us have times when we have allowedContinue reading “How to change a foul mouth to a good one – Luke 6:43-45”
How to kill a tree
Have you ever cut down a tree or bush, but it kept growing back shoots? My father-in-law is a wood-cutting master, and he and a friend helped us cut down a tree a couple years ago at my house, and we left a stump about two feet high. That thing grows little bush-like branches allContinue reading “How to kill a tree”
How to transform an over-opinionated, judgmental spirit? THE 10th MAN! – Luke 6:37-42
Last week I introduced Jesus’ next crazy Upside-Down Kingdom teaching. Simply put, he gave us two negatives that should be transformed into to two positives. “Do not judge and do not condemn” should change to “forgive and give.” Instead of being negative-minded about people, we need to be generous toward them, forgiving them. So inContinue reading “How to transform an over-opinionated, judgmental spirit? THE 10th MAN! – Luke 6:37-42”
Engaging Scripture 