February 2019
Learning How to Move Forward
In Luke 9, there are a series of short events Jesus uses to teach His disciples. Like them, there will be times when we do not fully understand or feel equipped to follow, but Jesus reassures that we can continue learning and moving forward as we walk with Him.
Chosen
What does it mean to be God’s chosen people? It is not as much about predestination as it is about God’s desire to have a relationship with those who follow Him. Although the benefits of that relationship are good, there are also responsibilities for His people and their relationships with others.
Storms
When Jesus and His apostles encounter a storm on the lake, He is the only one in the boat who is calm. As we encounter storms in life, He provides that same calm. We need to learn the lesson that people learned in Luke 8, Jesus is the first place to turn in our storms. […]
Forgiven
The woman who shows up for dinner at a Pharisees’ house in Luke 7 gives Jesus the perfect opportunity to teach about forgiveness. We can see ourselves in this story as the forgiven or the one needing to forgive. Too often we may also be the Pharisee who is unwilling to let both move on. […]
He Knows
We learn from scripture that God is all knowing. At times that may bring us comfort, and at times it may cause us to fear. In the end of this chapter we are assured that God’s knowledge is accompanied by a great love for His people. That should help us all remember that we are […]
Upside Down
In Luke 6 we find the Sermon on the Plain, which in many ways is an abbreviated version of the more well known Sermon on the Mount. Unlike the three chapter sermon in Matthew, this one only covers part of a single chapter. The basic message is the same. The life lived following the teachings […]
January 2019
Follow Me
Jesus did not choose the kind of people that we might choose to be His disciples. When they were chosen, they dropped everything to follow Him, and they accomplished more that we would have expected. What could His followers accomplish today if we committed to Him the way that they did?
One Thing I Know
The blind man in John 9 probably woke up that morning expecting just another day of begging by the road. Instead he soon learned what all followers of Jesus know. Encountering Jesus changes lives forever.
Tempted and Rejected
Sometimes in life we may feel alone and that no one understands. In Luke 4, Jesus is tempted by Satan and rejected in His hometown. These events remind us that we follow a Savior who can truly sympathize with us, because He has experienced ups and downs of life.
What Do You Know?
The phrase “that you may know” occurs several times in scripture. This week we will look at several things that God wants us to know, and we will be reminded that knowing those things can help us to be more confident in our walk with Him.