The religious establishment is on him. They’ve been following him ever since he splashed onto the scene months earlier, healing people and preaching and gaining a following of large crowds. These Bible teachers, these Pharisees, are the religion police of their day, and they have dispatched some agents to check Jesus out. Now they’re followingContinue reading “What happens when Jesus tells the Bible scholars they don’t know the Bible?”
Tag Archives: gospel of luke
Why Jesus would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – Luke 5:27-39
Last week I introduced this past Sunday’s sermon with a game of Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition. We had a lot of fun playing the game live in worship on Sunday. I wanted to play Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition because of some lines from his song “Only TheContinue reading “Why Jesus would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – Luke 5:27-39”
Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition (and that time Jesus laughed with the sinners)
Are you ready to play? Remember the TV game show “Don’t forget the Lyrics”? Contestants were given parts of a song, and they had to complete the rest of the lyrics. I loved that show and always thought I would like to be a contestant, that is until I actually tried remembering the words toContinue reading “Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition (and that time Jesus laughed with the sinners)”
Might criminal faith be good? – Luke 5:12-26
Last week I introduced you to a couple guys who had a crazy kind of faith. Have you ever had people think you’re crazy because you demonstrated faith like that? In the case of these two guys who got up close and person with Jesus, we might even say that they had criminal faith. HowContinue reading “Might criminal faith be good? – Luke 5:12-26”
How to start following Jesus – Luke 5:1-11
Last week we saw how Jesus nearly sunk some fishermen’s boats with a miracle haul of fish. They were astonished, after a long night of unsuccessfully catching fish. In the brief conversation that Luke records right after this moment, I believe there are four components that are vital for churches that want to make disciplesContinue reading “How to start following Jesus – Luke 5:1-11”
When churches don’t make disciples
“If you make disciples, you always get the church. But if you make a church, you rarely get disciples.” – Mike Breen What do you think about that quote? Is it right? The first part I think most Christians would agree with. It’s pretty straightforward. Disciples are followers of Jesus, and when you have aContinue reading “When churches don’t make disciples”
What if Jesus turns out to be someone we don’t like? – Luke 4:14-30
What if Jesus turns out to be someone we don’t like? In Luke 4:14-30 we read about how Jesus, having just started his preaching ministry, returns to his hometown. Kinda like the singing competition TV shows. When they get near the final round, they send the remaining contestants home with a film crew to adoringContinue reading “What if Jesus turns out to be someone we don’t like? – Luke 4:14-30”
How much land does a man need? and other temptations and discontentment
Is there a certain area of your life where you are constantly tempted? I am listening to an audio book this week. It is called How Much Land Does a Man Need? by famed Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). Tolstoy is famous for his mammoth works like Anna Karenina or War and Peace, as wellContinue reading “How much land does a man need? and other temptations and discontentment”
How repentance is actually beautiful – Luke 3:1-20
The word “repent” conjurs up horrible images. Awful, judgmental images. Hellfire and brimstone preachers. They scare me. How could “repent” be anything but an ugly word? This past Sunday we studied John the Baptist. You can check out the sermon here. It was looking at Luke 1:80 briefly and then Luke 3:1-20. Luke records JohnContinue reading “How repentance is actually beautiful – Luke 3:1-20”
That time my son got lost in the water park…
Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an amusement park that also has an awesome water park. Tons of water slides, a huge wave pool, a bunch of specialty pools, and other cool water rides. I know because I was there about five years ago, with our family and what seemed like one hundred thousand otherContinue reading “That time my son got lost in the water park…”
Engaging Scripture 