Posts with the category “pentecost-2025”

We all have warning signs in life that pop up when we’d rather not see them. Worry, creeps into our minds, whispering worst-case scenarios and stealing our peace. STOP IT.   Read More

If God cares for the birds, how much more will He care for His children?  Read More

The phrase “something greater is here” is not just a comparison—it’s a declaration of Jesus’ divinity.  Read More

The call to repentance isn’t just for individuals; it’s for communities, families, and churches. What would it look like for us to repent collectively and turn our hearts back to God?  Read More

Are we like the Queen of Sheba, willing to go to great lengths to seek God’s wisdom? C’mon – all of you paid more than you should have to see some singer sing on a stage!!!  Read More

Jesus has given us not just a sign but Himself—His life, death, and resurrection. The question isn’t whether God will forgive us; the question is whether we’re willing to repent.  Read More

We have been walking through Luke, so we are used to the crowds. We are in the next scripture after Jesus' healing of the mute man and the obnoxious crowd. Guess what – we are still there…. in the crowd! sigh!  Read More

The people listening to Jesus would have understood the stakes immediately: spiritual forces were at work, and Jesus had come to confront them head-on.  Read More

Today, Jesus makes a profound statement about the power of God and the arrival of His kingdom. Jesus’ miracles are more than acts of compassion; they are signs that God’s kingdom is breaking into the world.  Read More

Without unity, destruction is inevitable.   Read More

Jesus’ critics weren’t looking for the truth; they were trying to discredit Him. Their accusations revealed the danger of hard hearts that resist God’s work, even when it’s right in front of them.  Read More

In the world of 1st-century Judea, demon possession wasn’t just seen as a strange phenomenon; it was considered a direct assault on a person’s body, mind, and spirit.  Read More

We consumed the text already for this week – but I was wondering something important. Do you realize how much of the interpretation of these five short verses are made up in your head  Read More

We often hear Mary and Martha’s story framed as a lesson in balance—work and rest, action and stillness, doing and being. But the more we sit with this passage, the more we realize it’s not about balance at all. What if it’s about something deeper?  Read More

Luke is not telling a story about Mary (he’s positing her for later) this is all about Martha!   Read More

Today is going to be a little different because this scripture begs us to dig into cultural context today. The ONLY way one can understand even a little bit about what Luke is doing here is to know a lot about historical context.  Read More

The story this week will have an interesting pace. We will almost feel Martha scurrying around while Mary is all chill and laid back. What we need to think about as the reader of Luke is how does he the Samaritan’s act of compassion merge with Mary and Martha’s private moment with Jesus?   Read More

When we get to the end of the story of the “Good” Samaritan, most readers think to themselves, “Ahh yes, a good neighbor does the good deed.” But is that what it means?  Read More

Every act of compassion the Samaritan demonstrates is deliberate, sacrificial, and deeply personal. Luke is making a huge point and the listeners were hearing it  Read More

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was dangerous. A barren, winding path where robbers waited to strike. And here, on this cursed road, a man was ambushed. Stripped. Beaten. Left half-dead in the dirt—a shadow of a human being, clinging to life.  Read More

Leviticus 19:18 wasn’t just about legalistic definitions; it was about embodying God’s character in relationships. By asking for a definition of “neighbor,” the lawyer revealed a heart more concerned with boundaries than with love.  Read More

Most people are familiar with the Good Samaritan story. We'd call it a story about treating others as you would want to be treated. The Golden Rule. But that’s not the lesson at all. It’s actually a lesson about how, sometimes, we need to break cultural rules and laws if we want an Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God.  Read More

We’re stepping into one of the most profound moments in Jesus’ ministry It’s a passage filled with lessons about mission, rejection, authority, and joy…. the cosmic vision of Satan falling from heaven. Lot’s going on in this week’s readings that is intended to remind us of the power of God’s Kingdom.  Read More

God's abundance often shows up in unexpected ways: peace in the midst of chaos, strength when we feel weak, or relationships that enrich our lives. Many/most of the time... we overlook these blessings because we’re focused on what we lack.  Read More

We live in a world that often tells us to focus on what we lack: not enough time, not enough resources, not enough strength. But God calls us to see things differently. He asks us to bring what we have, however small it may seem, and trust Him to multiply it.   Read More

Does anyone remember this comedy sketch? Lucy and Ethel are working on a candy conveyor belt and become overwhelmed by the speed at which the candy is arriving. They can’t keep up, so they start eating the candy and stuffing it into their dresses to hide it. I think the disciples feel a little overwhelmed today!  Read More

The crowd that followed Jesus wasn’t small—it was massive. Luke’s account mentions 5,000 men, but that was just the headcount for males, which was customary for the time. When you include women and children, the total could have easily been 15,000–20,000 people. That’s like a packed sports arena showing up in the middle of nowhere!  Read More

In our world, we rush from one task to the next, thinking rest is something we’ll get to later. But Jesus shows us that rest is essential. It’s in those quiet moments with Him that we find the strength to keep going.  Read More

Jesus didn’t send the disciples out aimlessly—He gave them a clear purpose. They were to proclaim the kingdom of God, heal the sick, and bring hope to the hurting. Their mission was rooted in God’s plan for redemption, a plan that continues through us today.  Read More

If you think about it, the disciples went out to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick, demonstrating the reality of God’s power and love. I mean - c'mon - they could heal the sick. We'd have a cult following if we tried that out. But that was/is not the point.  Read More

In America, we have difficulty with the customs of other nations, such as when they are mandated by cultural laws to take care of a complete stranger. In the story today, it is important to understand that Hospitality was a cornerstone of Jewish culture.  Read More

In today’s world, where self-sufficiency and preparation are highly valued, the idea of relying entirely on God can feel foreign. Yet, the call to trust Him remains the same.  Read More

Every journey begins with a call. For the disciples, Jesus’ words to go and proclaim the kingdom of God were both an invitation and a challenge. They were being sent out with authority and power, yet without material preparation, to trust entirely in God’s provision and guidance.  Read More

In first-century Jewish thought, faith wasn’t just about belief; it was about action. To have faith in someone meant to trust them enough to act on their words. For the disciples, Jesus’ question wasn’t an accusation—it was an invitation to grow.  Read More

Do you believe in the power of God’s Word? Sometimes, we treat Scripture like a nice suggestion rather than the living, breathing Word of God. But the same voice that calmed the storm is the same voice that speaks into our lives today.  Read More

How often do we hesitate to cry out to God because we think we need to have it all together? Modern culture prizes self-reliance, but faith invites us to admit our need for help. The disciples’ cry wasn’t polished or eloquent—it was raw, messy, and   Read More

Sometimes, God “sleeps” in the storm—not because He’s unaware, but because He wants us to learn to trust Him. Today’s culture is obsessed with control; we want solutions, answers, and guarantees. But faith means believing that God is present, even when we can’t see Him working.   Read More

By asking His Jewish disciples to cross to the Gentile side, Jesus was challenging their cultural and religious boundaries. The command wasn’t just about crossing water; it was about crossing the invisible barriers of prejudice, fear, and comfort.  Read More

No matter where you are in the story, God never stops sowing His Word, patiently working to help you grow.  Read More

The beauty of this parable is that it offers hope. No matter how long the lamp has been hidden, it can always be placed back on the stand. God is ready to replenish your oil, reignite the flame, and use you to bring His light into the world.  Read More