Trust & Obey, Week 3: Luke 6, Part 5 I teach English language development classes in my community. In a recent class, the curriculum included a story about a family who immigrated to the US, worked hard, and opened a restaurant, because they wanted their son to experience the American Dream. Around the table inContinue reading “How Jesus’ upside-down view can change the world”
Tag Archives: woe
Your physical circumstances do not reveal what God thinks of you
Trust and Obey, Week 3: Luke 6, Part 4 In Luke 6, Jesus makes the shocking assertion that the poor are in favorable circumstances, because theirs is the Kingdom of God. The people in the crowd that day listening to his Sermon on the Plain would have been blown away by this. Jesus’ ideas soundedContinue reading “Your physical circumstances do not reveal what God thinks of you”
Woe to you, Christians – Part 2 – How to stop the two main things that will cause your death
Imagine you have been invited to your pastor’s house for dinner and some leaders of the church are there. It is a nice meal with pleasant dinner conversation. Do you think you would take this time to point out all the things you didn’t like about the people around the table? Some of you might! Continue reading “Woe to you, Christians – Part 2 – How to stop the two main things that will cause your death”
Woe to you, Christians! – Part 1: How a woe oracle could save the church from death
“Woe!” but not “Woah!” What’s the difference? “Woah” is an utterance of surprise, or a command to “Stop!” But “Woe” is a wailing of sadness. In the Bible there are Woe Oracles in the Old Testament. That word “woe” was used in Israel primarily at funerals. People would loudly proclaim “woe” at the passing ofContinue reading “Woe to you, Christians! – Part 1: How a woe oracle could save the church from death”
Why Jesus says the poor are blessed – Luke 6:17-26
We want to be rich. We do not want to be poor. In Luke 6:17-26, however, Jesus takes that normal desire and turns it on its head. He says the poor are blessed, while he says “Woe” to the rich. To understand why in the world he would say that, we need to take aContinue reading “Why Jesus says the poor are blessed – Luke 6:17-26”
Engaging Scripture 