Luke #80: The Substitute (Luke 23:13-25)

Product sample lady at the store: “Try these kale chips! They’re the perfect substitute for potato chips!”

Me: “You’ve never eaten potato chips have you?”

I’m not always a big fan of substitutes – when I was a kid my mom was fully immersed in the fledgling hippie organic health food world. For a while I wasn’t allowed to eat commercial candies, but my mom gave me carob bars from the health food store which she described as a substitute for the poisonous candy I wanted. It tasted exactly nothing like chocolate.

Trying to substitute something good for something bad doesn’t always work – but there is one substitute for which I will be eternally grateful. In this case, the good was substituted for the bad on a cosmic scale, and because of it, we can breathe deeply the air of freedom.

We’re going to be considering The Substitute in our study of Luke this Sunday – reading chapter 23:13-25. The trial of Jesus continues as he is bounced back and forth between Pilate and Herod then back to Pilate for a verdict. Pilate wants to release Jesus after whipping him.

We know Pilate from history as a corrupt, ambitious and cruel leader who was in continual conflict with the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders. Factoring in his character and animosity for the Sanhedrin, why might he have wanted to set Jesus free?

Luke gives us no explanation for Barabbas’ appearance – we have to read Matthew 27:15-17 to get that information.

Barabbas appears in all four gospels at this point of the narrative. That means he’s important to the story – at least as a way of telling us about the story. What picture does Barabbas’ release and Jesus’ condemnation present to us? How does it reveal the nature of the gospel initiative?

Put yourself in the sandals of Barabbas. You’ve been brought from your cell into the sunlight and told someone named Jesus of Nazareth will be dying instead of you, and you will now go free. What do you feel? What goes through your mind; what questions would you ask?

The word “release” is repeated five times in this section of Luke. What does that emphasis imply to you? What does it speak about the nature of our lives after being reconciled to God through Jesus?

This is a dramatic section of the story – I’m really looking forward to digging into this text together! I hope you can join us!

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Luke #79: Silence of the Lamb (Luke 23:1-12)

Have you ever noticed how “noisy” it is?  Not honking cars or screaming ambulances, but opinion served up as fact.  Fact that is rarely precise and often delivered with a self serving side of deceit.  Amplified by 24 hour news broadcasts, and social media platforms, the resulting volume is deafening.  The effect often times drives one to outrage.  We are left feeling hopeless, angry and thinking the world is falling apart.  Nothing seems to be going right.

Well, take heart, there is hope for us!

This week we continue our study in the Gospel of Luke beginning the next chapter reading Luke 23: 1-12.  In this section we continue to read about the trial of Jesus but this time Jesus will be brought in front of Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas.  The Sanhedrin and the Jewish religious leaders are seeking to have Jesus put to death but need Roman approval so they bring Jesus before the Roman court hoping for a guilty verdict.

As we read through the trial in front of Pilate, think about how each participant is this event felt. What was the driving force behind the Council?  From who’s eyes did they define justice?  Who was being protected by their stewardship of the Jewish law?  How involved does Pilate want to be?  Is this really a Roman issue or is Pilate being manipulated?  Notice the crowd.  How important a role do they play?  What can we learn form Jesus’ actions or inaction?  There is a lot going on here!  As we saw last week, there is a great deal of hypocrisy and self serving ego being exhibited.

As the story progresses, pay special attention to the “contrasts” described.  Why would Herod look forward to seeing Jesus when Antipas wished to see him go?  Notice the crowd’s reactions when contrasted to Jesus.  The crowd is in an uproar and Jesus is silent.  He refuses to defend Himself at all.  Why is that?  

This is a convicting and wonderful section. It challenges us and it sets us free.  There is some real power in the silence of the Lamb and I’m looking forward to sharing it Sunday.  Hope you can join us

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Luke #78: Trying Times and Closed Minds (Luke 22:54-71)

This Sunday as we continue through the book of Luke we’ll be reading ch 22:54-71. Things have taken a dangerous turn in the narrative. Jesus is arrested, beaten, mocked and subjected to an unjust trial. Yet before we get to that, we read an account of Peter who followed Jesus at a distance after his arrest, and who finds himself fulfilling to the word what Jesus predicted he would do that night.

Put yourself in Peter’s sandals. Have you ever been in a situation where hostile people have suddenly turned their attention to you? What did you feel and what did you do in that environment? Peter distances himself from Jesus as a measure of self-protection – have you ever been tempted to do the same? Have you ever thought it might be easier to figure life out on your own with the intention of returning to Christ later? What does Peter’s experience and his response in v62 teach us when it comes to our closeness to Jesus?

Now put yourself in the sandals of the temple guards who were beating and mocking Jesus. Why do you think they felt the need or even the right to do that? Do you see a contrast between the guards and Jesus – and what might that contrast communicate to us about how God’s kingdom operates in this world?

The trial before the Sanhedrin was a master-class in hypocrisy. Many Biblical scholars have pointed out all the ways in which Jewish laws were broken in conducting the trial the way it was. What does it tell us about the religious leaders that they were willing to violate their own laws to accomplish their goal? Jesus makes some strong declarations which we’ll explore on Sunday – but his bold assertion was based on something other than the Sanhedrin’s assessment of him. What perspective did he identify himself from? How might his example lead us to a more stable response when others are hostile towards us?

It will be an intriguing study, I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #77: The Crisis of Evil (Luke 22:47-53)

I believe that human beings have an innate sense of justice. Nothing can feel more frustrating than when it seems like wrong behavior prevails over what is right. What do we do in those instances, when our sense of integrity is violated and we feel powerless to stop it?

That’s something we’ll be considering in our study of Luke this Sunday, as we continue reading chapter 22, verses 47-53. Jesus has just finished praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and suddenly an armed crowd, led by Judas, shows up.

Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples – we will always puzzle over what changed in his attitude towards Jesus. What should a greeting with a kiss convey? What do you think Jesus’ question means in v48, “…would you betray me with a kiss”? Why would that betrayal be more significant?

The disciples suggest an armed resistance, even going so far as to strike the first blow. What does Jesus say to this, and what does he do for his captor? How should this guide our response in times when it looks like evil has the upper hand?

Jesus turns his attention to the leading priests who were there to supervise his arrest and calls out their hypocrisy. How is their hypocrisy exposed by what he says?

V 53 provides the theme of the passage – what do you think it means that it was the moment that the power of darkness reigns? How do you understand a moment, and what does that tell us about the staying power of evil? How can that help us navigate those times when evil seems to prevail?

I’m looking forward to reading this together on Sunday – I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #76: Prayer Under Pressure (Luke 22:39-46)

This Sunday we’ll be continuing our study in the Gospel of Luke, reading ch 22:39-46. This is the famous account of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The passage is bracketed by a repeated command/warning to His disciples. what do you think Jesus means about falling into temptation? How do you think prayer can head that off in our experiences? Does the fact that Jesus repeats this warning mean anything to you, and if so, what would it be?

When Jesus prays, what does he ask for? How does he qualify his request? What can we learn from his qualified petition about how we should pray?

Compare what Jesus asked for with the answer he did receive. How can that observation guide our expectations about prayer?

I’m looking forward to digging into this subject together, I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #75: Our Relationship With Jesus (Luke 22:21-38)

We were driving along and I half heard her say “Let’s get pizza tonight!”

“That sounds so good! From where?” I replied enthusiastically.

“What? From where we’re going now.” she said slightly annoyed.

“What do you mean? We’re going there now or from where we’re going we’ll go there?” I questioned.

“What are you talking about?”

“You said: ‘let’s get pizza tonight’ and I’m agreeing, but from where will we get it?”

“I said at the next street turn right…and you just missed the turn!”

Sometimes communication is hard. It’s easy to completely misunderstand each other when conversing, especially when you’re convinced you know what the other person is getting at.

I wonder if Jesus got exasperated in the text, we’ll be reading this Sunday in our study of Luke. We’ll be reading ch 22:21-38. Jesus will be giving final instructions to his disciples before his arrest, but they certainly seem to misunderstand him.

First he warns that someone in their group has betrayed him, and their response to this is to start arguing about who should be called the captain of the disciple team. What does that tell us about where their focus is? Have you ever considered how much the idea of reward factors into your trust in Jesus? In response to this, Jesus gives a clear picture of what greatness truly looks like. What do we learn about Christian priorities and leadership from his words?

The final section is a bit perplexing – but keep in mind the idea of misunderstanding. Jesus appears to be speaking figuratively and the disciples seem to interpret it literally. Imagine that v38 isn’t an affirmation of amounts, but a blunt termination of a conversation that is clearly going off the rails. We’ll try to dig in to that a bit on Sunday.

Hope you can join us as we think about what our relationship with Jesus will mean in real life.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #74: The Way of the Bread & Cup (Luke 22:7-20)

This Sunday we are going to continue in the Gospel of Luke and pick up where we left off in Chapter 22. The verses we’ll cover (vs 7-22) begin the story of the (famous) last supper. In this section, we find Jesus proclaiming that this (the bread) is his body broken for them, and this (the wine) is his blood, poured out for them. He tells the disciples who are sitting with him to do this in remembrance of him.

Sometimes it can be challenging to put ourselves in the place of the disciples, especially when it’s a story we have heard so many times. At first glance of reading these verses, we can easily say, “Yep, I know the story, this is where communion started,” and find nothing else of value.

The challenge for us is to look at these verses and find ways to apply it to our daily lives. How our we challenged with a verse and story we have heard so many times? Is it possible for God to reveal himself yet again, or even in a new way, through a familiar story?

I wonder if the disciples, who were sitting down to celebrate Passover with Jesus, thought something similar. This was an event that the Israelite people celebrated every single year. Were any of them restless and eager for this to be over so they could go back to the real work that they were doing? Or were they aware of how world-changing this holiday meal would be?

Join us this week as we look for God in the expected and unexpected places and examine once again, the (famous) last supper.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #73: Bad Religion (Luke 21:37-22:6)

We’re all familiar with bad religion…not the punk band from the 80’s, but the expression of piety that is neither holy nor helpful, but often downright harmful. I don’t know the percentages, but the gospels deal with bad religion a lot. I mean, it was bad religion that got Jesus crucified

One of the regular sayings I hear is that “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship” – and I don’t disagree with that statement. Still, technically, Christianity is a religion – just one that doesn’t place an emphasis on ritualistic performance but rather a dynamic bond with our Creator.

In our study of Luke this Sunday we’ll look at some examples of bad religion and consider why it went bad. We’ll be reading a short section from ch 21:37-22:6.

Everyone was in Jerusalem for the annual Passover celebration – and Jesus was camping on the Mount of Olives with his crew. That’s the setting – but the characters we read about are our focus. While everyone was in town to remember the deliverance from slavery and death that God brought to Israel – what are the religious leaders occupied with? What does that contrast convey to you?

They don’t want to arrest Jesus publicly because of how the crowds might react. Where is their focus, and what does that tell us about how their religious pursuit went wrong?

We aren’t really told what motivated Judas to betray Jesus, except for the phrase that “Satan entered into Judas”. “The satan” means accuser or adversary…an enemy. What is this language telling us about what has happened in Judas’ attitude and intention? How does that clue us in as to the ways in which one’s religion might go sour?

This will certainly give us a lot to think about – I hope you can join us this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #72: Living In View of the Finish Line (Luke 21:5-36)

I love touring ancient structures whenever I get the chance; Mayan ruins, ancient Celtic rock circles, the ruins of Vindolanda – I’ve had the opportunity to see them. What I find so fascinating is to touch those ancient stones and imagine the hands who also touched them so very long ago. At one point, these were thriving communities – now they are curious piles of rock. All things come and go – all things have a limited shelf-life, including humans.

Jesus will be talking about the end of an age in the text we’ll be reading in our study of Luke this Sunday. We’ll be reading ch 21:5-36.

It’s a lengthy section, the heading for which is found in v5-7 – Jesus predicts that the temple in Jerusalem will soon be mere ruins. The disciples want to know when this will happen and what they should look for. The disciples were looking for a fast, cataclysmic end to the temple and the world, simultaneously. He indicates in v9 that time will go on, even without the temple, and that time will be characterized by lots of troubling and confusing things. V8 tells us what we should be cautious of. What does he say and how do you understand his warning; what does it apply to?

V13 tells us something else important about all the troubles and possible persecution. What does he say these troubles provide for us? Is that the direction your mind goes when troubles show up or you’re treated unfairly?

Jesus throws a series of hyperlinks into his speech in V20-28 – we’ll go over those more in depth on Sunday. It’s all language intended to convey how serious the events surrounding the temple’s end will be for the people of Jerusalem. V28, again, tells us what these troubling events actually mean for Jesus’ followers. What does he say this is all leading towards in that verse? How might that effect our attitude when the world seems to spin out of control?

V34 is Jesus’ last bit of instruction about how we should live in light of the finish line. What does he say? How might we be tempted to do the opposite when troubles seem to pile on in this life?
We certainly saw how deeply troubled our world is last week in Uvalde Texas – the senselessness and violence that spills out onto the youngest and most vulnerable among us. It’s so heartbreaking – we, of course, must be praying for those left to try and navigate such a horrible losses…I can’t even imagine….word’s completely fail me. Jesus’ words in v28 of our text take on so much more weight…and seem more difficult to follow, when we’re spattered with the blood of innocents.
God have mercy on us, a sinful, prideful people. May we somehow, someway, hear your voice above the clatter of gunfire, and follow your words to sanity and salvation.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #71: Hidden In Plain View (Luke 20:41-21:4)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked for some item in our refrigerator at home and turned away declaring “we don’t have any” with absolute confidence…only to have my wife reopen the door and point to said item on the front of the shelf at eye level (and then walk away muttering something about living with an overgrown toddler).

I’m just sayin’, some things seem to hide in plain view.

The reality is, God is often like that. There are things going on and aren’t too easy to spot on the surface, but given time, consideration and prayer, emerge in a fuller detail. In Isaiah 45:15 the prophet declares “Surely, You’re a God who hides Himself!” and I can’t argue with him on that.

We’re going to continue our study in Luke this Sunday, reading ch 20:41- ch 21:4, where we’ll encounter a few “hidden” things. Jesus will pose a riddle, give a rebuke and make an observation about these somewhat obfuscated things.

In 20:41-44 Jesus has his turn to present a riddle – one that quotes Psalm 110 about the promised messianic King – and Jesus asks why David, the ancestor, makes himself subservient to the descendant, instead of the other way around. What do you think Jesus is trying to communicate in this riddle about His own nature? What might be hidden in the person of Jesus that many were overlooking at the time, and many overlook today?

In v 45-47 Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for making an empty show of their spirituality. What might be hiding out behind an emphasis on outward religious performance?

Jesus is people watching in ch 21:1-4 and makes an observation about something that could easily have remain hidden and gone unnoticed. A poor widow gives to the temple treasury out of her poverty and outgives all those who gave from a fraction of their abundance. Take some time to contemplate the lesson of that observation. We usually hear it taught as an impetus to give more to the church…but there is something deeper going on than that. Refer back to Jesus’ rebuke in ch20:47…who were the religious leaders taking advantage of? Think back to what Jesus did when he first entered the temple in ch 19:45-46. What do we make of this woman’s gift and God’s response to it in light of who the recipient of the gift is? That’s something to really ponder for a bit.

This is an intriguing group of texts we’ll be exploring this Sunday – I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #70: God of the Living (Luke 20:27-40)

We’re going to continue in our exploration of the gospel of Luke this Sunday.  We’ll be reading ch 20:27-40.

It’s an odd little encounter that Jesus has with a group of Sadducees. Because the Sadducees don’t believe in an afterlife at all, they pose a riddle that is supposed to show the absurdity of the concept.

They learn the first lesson they needed to learn…never argue religion with Jesus.  He dismantles their proposition very simply…how does he do it…how does he indicate to them that they aren’t starting from the right premise?

Is there anything about what he says about relationships in the afterlife that bothers you? Do you think that Jesus was setting out to describe in detail how life will be after this life, or is there a deeper point you think he’s making?

The hope of an afterlife is actually a very meaningful influence on this present life, isn’t it?  I would say that the hope of an afterlife will revolutionize our present life.  What are some of the positive ways an eternal hope can have on present life…and what could be some negative ways?  How can we, as followers of Christ who have a hope of resurrection and redemption maintain the positive influence of that hope, and not succumb to the negative tendencies?

I look forward to exploring this passage together on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #69: Image Bearers of God (Luke 20:20-26)

There is a famous quote, usually attributed to Ben Franklin, though he was actually quoting someone else, that says: “only two things are certain in life….”. I’m sure you know what the quote says. I read a funny Bizarro cartoon that showed the Grim Reaper sitting in an IRS office being audited and the Reaper was saying “I suppose this was inevitable.”. Made me laugh, anyway.

This Sunday as we continue our study in Luke, we’ll be reading ch 20:20-26. In these short six verses we have the makings of a lifelong study. It’s the famous passage where Jesus is asked about paying taxes to Rome, and his answer is both brilliant and thought-provoking.

First and foremost, what do you make of the religious leaders sending spies intending to entrap Jesus and get him in trouble? How does that seem to square with God’s character? What observations might we make about what had happened to the spiritual leaders of Israel?

How do you read Jesus’ answer? He takes an either/or question and turns it into a both/and response. What do you suppose he means to give Caesar what belongs to him? Does that seem to guide us in how we as God’s people understand the role of government, and if so, what guidance does it seem to yield?

The word Jesus used for “image” is significant. It’s the same word the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Jewish Bible) used for Gen 1:26 – “Let us make man in our own image”. How might that weigh into what Jesus is saying, especially the last part of his answer? In what ways can we give God back whatever it is that bears His image? Again, as I said, thought-provoking stuff that doesn’t seem content to produce one answer alone.

I’m stoked about this passage, it’s really a lot of fun to dig into. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we examine it together!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #68: Problem Tenants (Luke 20:9-19)

Has someone ever taken something that belonged to you – or at least you felt belonged to you? Have you ever been in charge of something, and someone comes along and undermines your decision or takes over entirely? How did that make you feel?

We’re going to be considering something about God’s kingdom along those lines in our study of Luke this Sunday, reading Luke 20:9-19.

Jesus tells another parable that further explains the motivation behind his shutting down of the temple in our last section. The story is about a group of share-croppers – renters who tend to a landowner’s vineyard – who decide to take the vineyard for themselves. The story takes very commonplace circumstances (for that time and region) and exaggerates the nefarious behavior of the renters to the point of being absurd.

It’s a story that grows out of last week’s question: “By whose authority do you say and do these things?”. Jesus sort of expands the scope, asking “Just exactly whose Kingdom do you suppose this is?”

As you read the parable, consider who the renters might be (remember who he’s been in confrontations with). Who might the son be? Who would the landowner represent? Now, consider the event that set in motion the destruction of the renters. What does that seem to indicate to us? How might we read this parable as 21st Century American Christians and understand it’s import for our present life as God’s representatives?

It may prove to be a challenging story for us to read – but well worthwhile. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we examine it together.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #67: The Temple's End (Luke 19:45-20:9)

Easter was such a wonderful time of remembering the hope we have in Christ through the power of his resurrection. This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in the Gospel of Luke – even though Easter was a bit of a spoiler on how this story will turn out.

We’ll be reading what may be a familiar passage – what has been traditionally called “the cleansing of the temple”. Our text will be Luke 19:45-20:8. Normally when we hear about Jesus driving out those who were selling sacrificial animals and exchanging money in the temple, we assume his motive is to rebuke commercialism/consumerism within the house of worship. I would say the majority of people read it that way…I know I always did.

This Sunday we’re going to challenge that idea. Jesus was certainly staging a prophetic rebuke…but of what? There is an alternative proposition about what Jesus was doing that I find quite persuasive, and the message if far deeper and heavier than mere consumerism. (Not to excuse a consumer mindset within the sphere of worship – there are other places in Scripture that address that as improper, but I’m not convinced that’s what Jesus was doing in this particular text)

Here’s some homework: read Isaiah 56:6-7 as well as Jeremiah 7:4-6,9-11. These are the passages that Jesus is quoting. If we employ Tim Mackie’s idea of using those references as hyperlinks, what are those passages making a point about? How do they expose what Jesus may be getting at? What might it mean that the temple had become a criminal hideout (den of thieves)?

The next section we’ll read is ch 20:1-8 where the leading authority figures challenge Jesus about his authority to do what he did in the temple. The section is rich in irony, which drives home the point about what the temple had become. When Jesus reverses the question on them, who do they look to for answers? What is it that motivates their response? What does that tell us about their view of authority, and how does that reflect on the temple?

I hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig in to this text together!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #66: The King Who Brings Peace (Luke 19:28-44)

This Sunday is Palm Sunday – and amazingly, our study of Luke just so happens to be the very section that covers the events of that day! I wish I could say that I was smart enough to plan that out way back when we started…but I think we would all know better than that.

We’ll be reading Luke 19:28-44. There are so many things going on with Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Luke doesn’t mention Palm branches, but John 12:12-13 gives us that detail. This event is pointing back to ancient prophecies about the Messiah, as well as prior historical events, and all of it is meant to create a contrast between the kingdoms of this world and God’s reign and rule.

Do your best to imagine the scene. How intimidating does someone look riding on a donkey? What message is that meant to convey? Why do you think the Pharisees were upset with the crowds singing about a coming King in Jesus’ direction? What do you suppose the significance of the rocks taking up the song if people were to quit?

The section ends on a somber note. Everyone else is stoked, but Jesus is crying…sobbing even. He sees Israel’s rejection of him as King and the consequence of their future path of violent revolt against Rome. What might that warning be speaking to us, if anything? Does it mean anything to you that Jesus speaks this warning through weeping and tears?

We’ll have a LOT of interesting details and puzzle pieces to arrange together on Sunday! Hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #65: A Powerful Purpose (Luke 19:11-27)

“We don’t do this well” is a phrase you will often hear on Sunday mornings at Eastgate. This well used phrase is meant to be a reminder that we do not participate in a works based salvation system. We are all invited to rely, not on our own abilities, but the consistent grace of God and the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. In this understanding, and the secure place of belonging to God, we are able to begin making those positive changes in our daily life.

This Sunday, we are going to be reading Luke 19:11-27, and there we will find a parable that seems to be giving us a job while we wait for Jesus’ return. The snag however, is that in this parable, the King (who seems to be representing Jesus) returns to let his servants know that he has been keeping track of their work and he is angry with the one servant who didn’t do their job well.

In our private reading of scripture we might be tempted to skip over the parts of the text that don’t fit neatly in our narrative, but when we study a whole book together as the church we are forced to confront every word of Jesus that’s recorded. We are forced to ask questions like, “Is it still okay if I don’t do this well even though these verses show a side of Jesus that is angry with someone who doesn’t do this well?” How might we balance this text with the emphasis we find on grace in other parts of the Gospel?

Together, at Eastgate, we will be exploring the context of these verses, and we’ll search for the truth of what Jesus was trying to communicate here… even if it means we find ourselves challenged along the way.

I hope you can join us as we examine this intriguing passage.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #64: Grace For A Tree Hugger (Luke 19:1-10)

Usually when we say so and so was “up a tree”, it’s a bad thing.  It’s an old saying that alludes to an animal, like a squirrel or racoon, that will climb a tree in order to flee from an attacker – but once in the tree, they can’t descend because the threat is still present.

In our study of Luke this Sunday, we’ll be reading about a guy who went up a tree, but found his life profoundly altered and expanded by the experience. Not because of the tree, so much, but because of who saw him there.

We’ll be reading Luke 19:1-10 in our ongoing study of that book this Sunday.

In the story, why did Zacchaeus climb a tree? What was obstructing his view? How might we draw a lesson from that about how accommodating we are to those around us who might want to see Jesus? What things in our modern church might hinder someone’s view of a Savior?

Jesus invites himself to dinner, and that is good for Zacchaeus, but bad in the view of those surrounding Jesus and observing it. Why do you think the people murmur at this? Can you think of a lesson for us to learn from their reaction?

Zacchaeus expresses his intention to radically alter his life choices which will result in a radically diminished lifestyle. What did Jesus say or do to precipitate that sort of response? What might we learn about heart transformation from this account?

I hope you can join us for this intriguing look into one man’s encounter with the King.

Click here for the pdf version of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #63: The Power of Love and Mercy (Luke 18:31-43)

Lately there has been a big push to find alternative sources of energy, I would think especially since gas prices have escalated so much. Beyond solar and wind, there are all sorts of strange ideas being proposed for cheaper and renewable power sources.

We’re going to be reading about a very surprising source of power in our text this Sunday as we continue our study of Luke. We’ll be reading Luke 18:31-43.

The first section of this passage has the 6th prediction Jesus makes in Luke’s gospel about his approaching arrest and execution. The disciples are fairly blind to what he’s saying – but it’s yet another important reminder of where God’s greatest demonstration of power took place. How would you characterize Christ’s death on the cross? In what ways can we see that same power working through us?

The second part of the passage recounts the healing of a blind man outside of Jericho. It’s a story told in all three synoptic gospels – and it’s the very last healing miracle recorded in Luke’s account of Jesus. What does the blind man cry out for? What does that tell us about the nature of God’s mission?

Why do you think the crowds “in front” tell this man to be quiet? What are some of the pressures you face in our society about your value or place? How might Jesus’ response to this man inform us of where we find our true value?

I love this story so much! I’m really looking forward to exploring this on Sunday – hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #62: Entering the Kingdom (Luke 18:15-30)

One of the consistent and repetitive themes of the gospel is that Jesus’ presentation of God’s kingdom on earth is VERY different from the way the kingdoms of this world work – whether that’s the leaders of Israel or Caesar in Rome or any president in our country.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 18:15-30 as we move ahead in our study of this Gospel.

We’ve seen all through this gospel that what Jesus presented and MODELED in his ministry and teachings was quite different from what people were expecting when God’s will is done on earth like its done in heaven.

This, of course, is the calling of the church – to LIVE this upsidedowness out in our own understanding of self, and how it is we relate to the people around us.

This is what Jesus means when he talks about entering the kingdom –we usually relegate that to “going to heaven when I die” – but that’s just one small aspect of it.

The passage we’ll be reading contains two encounters which highlight the subversive nature of God’s kingdom and identifies ways that we enter the kingdom – that is, how we represent it into our world.

In v 15-17 we find the famous account of Jesus blessing the children. In the ancient world, children were not protected nor given any of the agency many children of our present age have. They were humans of non-status. What might that indicate to us about how we are to represent God’s kingdom to the world around us?

We encounter the rich, religious leader in v18-30, who, according to his own testimony, is a decent guy who cares about the law of Moses. He is the picture of success in any culture, including our own. We’ll go into more detail on Sunday about the interaction between Jesus and this guy– but let’s focus on what Jesus tells him. He has everything going on for him by the world’s standards, and that is the very place where Jesus places the ax in his response. “Here’s what you lack – here’s what you could do to be complete – sell all your stuff and give it to the poor and you’ll have riches in heaven and you can follow me.” That was a bridge too far for that young man.

The Bible has a lot of challenging things to say about wealth and the eagerness for riches. Why do you suppose the young man walked away from Jesus at this point? What would you be afraid of losing when it comes to following Jesus? It’s a tough question, I know.

There will be a lot to consider as we examine this text – I hope you can join us as we do!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Luke #61: Getting Right By Getting Real (Luke 18:9-14)

The opening lines of the Parable we’re reading this Sunday almost sounds like a tired joke: “A Pharisee and a Tax Collector walk into the temple….”. It isn’t a joke though, quite the opposite. We’ll be progressing in our exploration of the Gospel of Luke this Sunday, reading ch 18:9-14.

Interestingly, This is the only place where Jesus uses a religious backdrop for one of his parables. That change of approach should give us pause. It’s always important to remember that parables are never about what they describe on the surface. What might that mean in this case?

We witness another reversal in this story, where the respectable and spiritually minded Pharisee is characterized with less regard than the thieving tax collector. Who are the respectable in our society and who are the pariahs? It’s tempting to insert them into the characters of this story, isn’t it?

It’s important to know that this parable contains a trap – we’ll discuss that on Sunday. Needless to say, try the characters on for size and see what happens.

The idea of being justified is at the heart of this story – that of being declared just or right before God. Compare the two prayers and consider what Jesus is trying to convey to us about humanity’s plight and how that is resolved.

I’m really looking forward to examining this parable together – hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.