Two back-to-back parables in the Gospel of Luke show us that God doesn’t always do what we expect, but he does unpredictably more. God didn’t intend to overthrow the Romans, though that’s what was expected from their Messiah. God’s plan was bigger…
Luke
We can learn just as many lessons about God when we consider the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Even as this son was doing all the “right” things when the other son strayed away, his priority wasn’t to be with the father. His…
The familiar parable of the prodigal son paints an image of a wayward individual, who’s taken love for granted and squandered his blessings. The parable can teach us a lot about ourselves, as we often relate to the son. But the parable probably…
Many people, even people who aren’t followers of Jesus, know the basic plot points of the parable of the good Samaritan, and its application to live a life of compassion. But Jesus’ parable asks more from us than most people think. Jesus’ command…
Why does prayer sometimes seem so difficult? Why can’t you simply pray a prayer, and pow, get the answer you seek? Without a definitive answer to prayers, you might conclude that God isn’t listening, God doesn’t care, or that prayer doesn’t work…
We’re called in the bible to work hard and work diligently, doing everything we do for the glory of the Lord. And it’s true—everyday tasks of our busy lives can be a beautiful expression of worship, and a way to serve the Kingdom of God…
The circumstances of the first Christmas were not too dissimilar from the circumstances many of us may face today… The world was chaotic. The Israelites faced political and social oppression. Life wasn’t always easy. Right in the middle of the…
Romans 12 calls you to bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. It is a dangerous decision to take matters into your own hands by responding to evil with evil—in the moment, the fight seems so right. But when you respond with…
In Romans 12:11, Paul invites you to never be lacking in zeal, and to maintain your spiritual fervor. Maintaining your fire for Jesus isn’t always exciting—it takes work and intentionality—but is critically important. You need to maintain your…
Have you blown it big? Did you make a mistake when you should have known better? Are you living in the shame and regret of your past—whether last night, last year, or a long time ago? Well, the story of Peter’s denial and redemption before and…