Luke 22:43–46

Luke 22:43-46

English Standard Version 

  Here we have prayer.

  Jesus is praying desperately.  He needs strength.  He is clearly suffering the full weight of the trial he is about to endure.  The Father has given him a glimpse of what is to come, and he is in agony.  So he prays.

  The disciples are in sorrow, overcome with sleep.  The world is in turmoil around them, and they are emotionally exhausted.  They collapse in sleep, but Jesus awakens them to pray.  They will pray a different prayer, but all the same, they will be in prayer.

  As you go through this week, you will pass through different moments and different moods.  For each of them, there is a prayer.  They are not all the same prayer, but each can carry you through, from one moment to the next.  God is with you.  Jesus prays with you.  Stay in prayer.

Luke 22:39–42 -- Faithfulness in the Midst of Hard Choices

Luke 22:39-42 

English Standard Version 

  Obedience doesn't always equate enthusiasm.  Jesus asked for another option.  He was looking for plan B.  And yet... he was willing to do whatever was necessary according to the will of God.  Jesus was faithful first, and willing to submit his own desires to God's desires.

  And so we pray for God to change our hearts, but we also have to discern sometimes what God's will is, even if our hearts aren't leading us in the same direction.  Faithfulness and obedience to the call of God matters more.  

  This passage always makes me think of CS Lewis, who notes that the door to hell is locked from the inside.  He wrote that in the end, there will be two types of people -- those who are willing to say to God, Thy will be done, and those to whom God will ultimately say, thy will be done.  

  Whose will shall we follow today?  

Luke 22:35–38 -- Discipleship in Different Chapters of Life

Luke 22:35-38 

English Standard Version 

  There was a time in my life when I moved everything I owned in the back of a Ford Explorer.  It was easy.  I still remember the feeling when I realized that everything we owned wasn't going to fit into the back of the moving truck we'd rented in Chattanooga.  I knew how much we had when we moved into that house -- it wasn't even enough to fill half of the truck.  Things had changed.

  Life changes all the time.  The same is true of our discipleship.  At one point, Jesus sent out the disciples with no moneybag or knapsack, and they had enough.

  Now, Jesus is telling them to take the moneybags and buy a sword.  Much has been debated of this over the years.  I'm not in a position to tell you exactly what Jesus meant when he said this, but it's clear that the church has been oppressed, sometimes violently, over the years.  As we talked about on All Saints' Day, before too long it became a problem to commemorate the martyrs on the anniversary of their death because there were so many martyrs. I don't think that means that each Christian in the present day and age needs to run out and buy a sword... but I do think that our individual calling and equipping changes over the years.  Life and discipleship looks different in different chapters of our lives.  So may we trust in God and lean into the ways God prepares us and sends us into the world.  God will ensure we have enough.

Jurassic Park, Halloween Costumes, and the Gospel

Caleb and I dressed up in Jurassic Park style for Halloween... and I think we mostly confused people.  But there was one person who got it!  And that made it all worthwhile.

Which is a reminder of the Gospel -- in the midst of so much sin and brokenness, there are moments where the Gospel shines through and reminds us all of the grace and beauty in the world.

Luke 22:31–34 -- Failing and Rebounding

Luke 22:31-34 

English Standard Version 

  Being a parent involves the temptation to try and remove every single obstacle from your child's life.  We want the road to be smooth and easy for them.  But it's also a process of knowing that they need some opposition to build resilience.  That's a vital trait, and so how does one decide where to let them stumble and where to clear the way?  I haven't yet figured out the answer to that.  I probably lean towards clearing the way.  

  What's interesting to me is the way that Jesus sets this all up.  Jesus tells Peter that he's about to be sifted by the Devil.  At which point, if I were Peter, I'd ask for plan B.  Jesus tells Peter that Jesus will pray for Peter... but he doesn't remove the trial from Peter.  Peter is going to fail -- Jesus prays that Peter will have the capacity to rebound from his failure and then serve his brothers.  Jesus prays that Peter will use this weakness to strengthen others, that it won't be wasted.

  Peter denies that he will deny Jesus  (spoiler:  Peter denies Jesus soon).  Peter claims he will die before denying Jesus, showing us that we barely know our own weaknesses.

  Jesus loves him anyway.  Jesus knows he will fail, and yet Jesus prays for him -- not that he will avoid pain and trials, but that he will come out of the trials stronger.

  Just because you are going through something hard in your life, it doesn't mean that Jesus has forgotten you.  Jesus is still praying for you.

Luke 22:28–30 -- Remaining Faithful when the Way is Hard

Luke 22:28-30 

English Standard Version 

  The Gospels are always fascinating to me because the disciples get a lot of things wrong.  It's clear that they're often uncertain as to the fullness of Jesus' identity.  Jesus corrects them at times, and sometimes he has to explain things over and over again.  You start to get the feeling that Jesus could've chosen people who might have had more precise insight into the identity of the Messiah.

  But they stayed with him in his trials.  For all their faults, they were faithful.  They were steadfast.  And here, Jesus promises them a seat at the table and a throne in the Kingdom.  Not for their perfection, but for their faithfulness.

  There's a lesson here for us.  We don't have to be perfect.  We don't have to understand everything.  But stay faithful.  Remain.  Even when it gets hard, when the way is unclear and the road is shrouded in shadows... stay faithful.  Cling to God, trusting that God is holding on to you.  Stay faithful -- the Kingdom is at hand.

The Great Company of Saints: Sermon for Nov 1, 2026 (All Saints Day)

 

The Great Company of Saints: All Saints' Sunday What does it mean to be a saint? Is sainthood reserved for extraordinary Christians, or does it describe something much bigger? On All Saints' Sunday, we discuss the ancient Christian tradition of remembering those who have gone before us in faith and the remarkable promise that unites believers across generations. Drawing from Psalm 24:1–6, Matthew 5:1–12, and Revelation 7:9–17, we discover that the saints are not people who have earned their place before God through perfect lives, but those who have been claimed by the grace of Jesus Christ. From the Beatitudes to John's vision of a great multitude gathered before God's throne, these passages remind us that the church extends far beyond the people we see on Sunday morning. We belong to a great company of believers, past and present, united by faith and sustained by the promise that one day God will wipe away every tear.

Luke 22:24–27 -- What is Greatness?

Luke 22:24-27 

English Standard Version 

  Here are the disciples, in the midst of a sacred moment at dinner, and they decide they're going to have an argument about which one of them is the greatest.  It's comedic... and yet so appropriate.  Humanity is always getting distracted, chasing the flavor of the month, turning from investing serious time with God to pay attention to some notification on your phone.  We plan on getting around to serious things tomorrow, right?

  In the midst of this, Jesus is teaching us that God's Kingdom works differently.  It's not a place where you strive to reach the top.  Rather, you pay attention to the people around you and how you can serve them.  You love them, selflessly, because that's the way God's Kingdom works.  You're not crawling over one another to succeed.  Even Jesus, who is fully God and fully human, is here to serve, to model perfect love, and introduce us to God's Kingdom, where we stop keeping score and pray for the wisdom to love selflessly.

Books of the Bible in 5 Minutes: 1 Chronicles

Why does the Bible tell the story of David again in 1 Chronicles?

And why does the book begin with nine chapters of genealogies?

In this installment of Books of the Bible in 5 Minutes, we look at where 1 Chronicles fits into the larger story of Scripture.

Written for God’s people after exile, Chronicles looks backward in order to remind them that they are still part of God’s unfolding story. The book traces that story from Adam to Abraham, from Israel to David, and then focuses on David’s role in preparing for the Temple.

The Bible is not simply a collection of disconnected books. Each book has a place in the larger story God is telling.

Luke 22:21–23

Luke 22:21-23 

English Standard Version 

  One thing that's always fascinated me about this scene is the disciples debate which of them it might be who would betray Jesus.  In other words, they're not even sure themselves that they aren't capable of such actions.  

  What does that say about how well they know their hearts?  They recognize the way that evil nips at their heels, the way that temptation can break even the strongest man if it catches him in a weak moment.  Jesus has taught them well, and they know their weakness.  Who might it be?  It could be anyone, even in this moment.

  May we recognize our own weakness.  There but for the grace of God go I.  And may we give thanks for the healing grace of Christ that can redeem us.  

Luke 22:14–20

Luke 22:14-20 

English Standard Version 

  If you were Jesus, would you be eagerly desiring to eat this meal?  Or would your stomach be churning from what you know is coming?  I'd be so distracted by fear that I wouldn't be able to concentrate.

  And yet Jesus is there, physically and emotionally present, savoring the time with the disciples.  Must is about to be lost, but that is the future, and in this moment, Jesus is at the table, giving a gift to the disciples.

  Salvation begins with Jesus coming to us, sitting with us, redeeming us.  It's about his presence with us, a calm anchor in the midst of a storm.  He is grace, and we are to receive.  He takes simple elements and transforms them, just as he transforms us through his words.  

  Friends, you are beloved.  Christ comes to you, sits down in your presence, no matter what is coming in the morning, and he savors time with you.  May our anxious hearts be calmed, and may we give thanks for the way that he transforms the simple into the holy.

Internet Security and the Gospel

Luke 22:7–13

Luke 22:7-13 

English Standard Version 

  This Sunday, we'll celebrate communion, re-enacting parts of this final dinner.  Two thousand years later, we observe the ritual, we remember, and we are changed by it.

  Do you think that Peter and John realized the significance of their actions?  Do you think that they expected people in central Ohio to be paying attention to their actions centuries later?  Or do you think they went through the motions and wondered what Jesus was doing?

  We don't always know what actions will last.  What will leave an impression?  I'm willing to be that there are words that were said to you by someone, or actions that were undertaken, that no one expected to resonate, but that you remember decades later.  I bet you've had impacts on people through words or deeds that may not have truly registered at the time.  God can do amazing things through us, but that doesn't mean that we're always fully aware of the weight of what we're doing.

  So may we be thoughtful and patient, and may we act with great care, in the event that God is working through us to impact the lives of those around us.

Welcome

Welcome. 

I’m Keith Jones, and I’m glad you’re here.  I’m a Presbyterian pastor, husband, and father. 

My days include church life, a full-time job, family responsibilities, and the ordinary challenge of paying attention to God in the middle of it all. I’ve been writing here since 2008. Over the years, it has become a collection of devotionals, sermons, prayers, and reflections on the ways the Gospel meets us in everyday life. My hope is that something here will help you pause, spend time with Scripture, and recognize the grace of God at work in your own life. 

The heart of this blog is a series of short weekday devotionals. We move through books of the Bible a little at a time, considering what a passage reveals about God and how it speaks into our lives. You don’t need to catch up or start at the beginning. Read the latest reflection and join us where we are. 

For help finding your way through the Bible, I work on a series called Books of the Bible in Five Minutes, offering short video introductions to individual biblical books. Each overview explores the book’s story, its major themes, and its place in the larger story of God’s redeeming love. If you’ve ever opened a biblical book and wondered what you were supposed to notice—or why all those names were there—this series is for you. 

For a longer reflection, I also share sermons from Highlands Presbyterian Church. These offer more time to explore a passage, consider its context, and ask how we might live faithfully in response. 

I write from within the Reformed Christian tradition, with a conviction that Scripture continues to challenge, comfort, and surprise us. I believe the church’s long history offers wisdom for the present, and that difficult questions deserve patient attention. It is easy to hurry through a day, become absorbed in responsibilities, and overlook the people and gifts right in front of us. Writing these reflections helps me return to Scripture and listen again. You’re welcome here whether you’ve spent your whole life in church, are finding your way back, or are simply curious about Christian faith. Start with whatever catches your attention. If something encourages you, consider sharing it with someone who might need it, too. Thank you for spending a little of your day here. I hope these words help you notice God’s presence—and carry that awareness into whatever comes next. 

In Christ,

Keith

Luke 22:1–6

Luke 22:1-6 

English Standard Version 

  The Passover is a season of deliverance, a celebration of freedom, and in the heart of it, Satan enters into Judas and tempts him to betray Jesus.  In doing so, he gives up his freedom and binds himself to sin and brokenness, shattering the community of believers through his act of betrayal.  For a price, he gave up his friend.

  Satan tempts us all.  We can be in the midst of celebrations, and Satan is there, like a lion, waiting to devour us.  Our hearts are drawn towards the beautiful and pleasurable things of this world, and we sway towards them, perhaps slowly at first, thinking that we can resist.  We give a little bit of our hearts and think that we're still in control.

  The Gospel calls us to humility and shows us Judas for a reason -- we are all tempted, and we can all fall like Judas does.  May we pay attention to know what our weakness is, to know what our price is, and pray for strength and a community that helps us resist when Satan tempts us.

Reformation Sunday Sermon (2026)

Luke 21:37–38

Luke 21:37-38 

English Standard Version 

  Some people are morning people.  For others, there is coffee and all sorts of variations on the alarm clock to help rouse them from bed.  While alarm clocks are a relatively recent invention, coffee has been consumed for at least the last 500 years, if not longer.  

  And yet, given the right motivation, all people will rise early.  We were having this conversation as a family the other day -- debating what types of things the non-morning people among us would get up early for.  Flights to vacation and large cash prizes were deemed sufficient motivators to rise early in the morning.  

  While the people of the 1st century likely didn't have as many distractions as we did, they were busy people, and so to disrupt their schedule to go hear Jesus would have entailed a sacrifice.  But they still went -- they were compelled to hear what he had to say.

  You don't even need to leave the house to hear the words of Jesus.  In today's world, you don't even need to get out of bed!  You can read and listen to the Word of God from the comfort of your bed.  Is there a better way to start the day?  I cannot think of one.  

Luke 21:34–36

Luke 21:34-36 

English Standard Version 

  What weighs down your heart?

  Jesus warns us about three things.

  Dissipation, which is excessive indulgence in pleasures.  Something to be wary of, but also probably easier to notice when you're doing it.  Hard to do without some planning, I think.  

  Drunkenness, which needs no explanation.  Also fairly easy to notice when you're doing it.  At least at the start.  It's fairly straightforward to make choices to avoid this... most people aren't forced to drink.

  Cares of this life.  What do you worry about?  This one is tough, because we can worry without even thinking much about it.  We can worry in the car on the way to work and worry while we're eating lunch and worry while we're on the phone at 3pm and worry at 4 in the morning when our minds don't have anything else to think about.  Have you ever found yourself worrying because you don't have anything to worry about?  Worry can weigh down your heart.  

  So stay awake, friends.  Pray to have strength to escape these traps.  I don't know that it's the only antidote... but it's the best one.  Pray for strength to resist the temptation of pleasures, the easy lies of drunkenness, and the excessive worries of this life.  Pray for that, clearly and often, that our prayers may be answered and our hearts may not be weighed down but clearly focused on Christ.

Luke 21:29-33

Luke 21:29-33 

English Standard Version 

  If I drive by a grove of trees laden with oranges, even I know that these are orange trees.  That's about the limits of my powers of deduction when it comes to plants, but I can recognize trees when they are producing fruit.  I can apple trees, too.

  Jesus is telling his disciples that they'll know when God's Kingdom is near.  We can spend weeks and months and years trying to interpret exactly what Jesus means when he talks about the end times... or we can simply choose to trust that it will be clear.  The fruit will be on the tree, and we don't need to guess.  When I read Revelation, it doesn't sound subtle.  We won't have uncertainty when Jesus returns.  

  So we can rest in confidence that we will know, and trust in God's Word.  Jesus is reminding us here -- everything else will fall away, but God's Word endures forever.  So why would we place our trust anywhere else?  What other guide do we want to pick up to tell us how to live our lives?  Why choose something that doesn't stand forever?

Luke 21:25-28

Luke 21:25-28

English Standard Version 

  Do you remember the old videos that showed the atom bomb exploding just outside the schoolroom window?  What were the children inside supposed to do in such an event?  Duck and cover.  That will fix everything.

  Jesus tells us to do the opposite.  When there is distress throughout the cosmos, to the extent that the sun, moon, and stars are disrupted by events, and there is distress of nations along with the roaring of sea and waves, as people faint with fear, what are we to do?  

  Duck and cover?

  Absolutely not.  

  Jesus tells us that cosmic disruption isn't a reason to fear.  In the midst of chaos, Jesus is still on the throne.  Christ is still King.  You need not fear -- despite what may be churning outside, God is alive and on the move, so be bold and proclaim your eternal hope in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who will walk through the valley of the shadow of death along with us, and through him, we will endure!

Luke 21:20–24

Luke 21:20-24

English Standard Version 

  For many years, I have set hopes in the Cincinnati Reds to win another World Series.  To be honest, I'd be happy with a victory in a playoff series, which has not happened since 1995 (the longest playoff victory drought in professional sports).  Unfortunately, the Reds leadership is not very serious about winning, and so that drought will continue for the foreseeable future.  To set my hopes in them is to set myself up for disappointment.

  Jesus is warning us about where we set our hopes.  The thought of Jerusalem under siege was heartbreaking to all, including Jesus (remember that he wept over the city).  No one wants to see destruction, but Jesus is warning that it will come, and in 70 AD, the Romans proved him correct.  

  If our ultimate hopes are in mortal things, whether it is money or power or beauty or youth or sports teams or other people, we will end up disappointment.  Destruction can come for all of it - while sin and death were defeated at the cross, they have not yet been fully vanquished, and will not be until Christ comes in fullness.  

  Our ultimate hope should be in something that is worthy of ultimate things, and is strong enough to bear that hope.  Only Christ and his Kingdom can make that claim, and only Christ and his Kingdom have the strength, power, and wisdom to support that.

  Choose wisely where you focus your thoughts and your loves, and order your life appropriately.

Luke 21:16-19

Luke 21:16-19

English Standard Version 

  This feels a little different than the promises some of those TV preachers make about you ending up rich if you send in $50 at the right time, doesn't it?

  Jesus is clear to his followers -- it will not be easy to remain faithful.  There will be division and difficulty and suffering at the hands of those who oppose Christ and his church. Some of his followers will be put to death.

  Can we all admit that if we were listening to this, we'd be wondering if following Jesus was really the best plan?  I don't know many people that get excited to be hated.  

  And then you'd hear Jesus telling you that not a hair on your head will perish, right after he said that some of the people will perish.  Death sounds perishing.  

  So many of the teachings of Jesus are trying to help us refocus, to lift our eyes from the immediate world around us and teach us to focus on the eternal Kingdom of God.  When we think about investing our money and time and energy and love -- do we think first about the Kingdom?  When we think about legacy, do we think about God's Kingdom?  We get very, very focused on the here and now, and Jesus isn't saying this is bad -- but he wants us to know there is more than what we see, and that our ultimate legacy and security is in God's Kingdom, which transcends this one.

  So setbacks in this world are not eternal.  Even death has been defeated.

  Hold on to hope.  Jesus wins.

Luke 21:10–15

Luke 21:10-15 

English Standard Version 

  Christianity isn't always setting up for the most positive publicity.  The prosperity Gospel always amuses me -- preachers proclaim that being a Christian will set you up for success and fame and wealth, and then I read the Gospels... and it seems to offer a different kind of world vision, one that recognizes the reality of suffering and pain and struggles.  Jesus doesn't shrink from any of this.  It's part of a broken world.  What Jesus does assure us is that when we are caught up in the midst of it, the Holy Spirit will give us the words to proclaim the Truth in the midst of it all.  He tells us not to get caught up in planning ahead of time, but rather to trust that God will be near.

  When there is strife in the world, Jesus has not abandoned us, or the world.  I don't claim to understand the plan, but I trust in God, and so may we faithfully follow Christ through whatever is next, taking life one step at a time, trusting God to give us what we need for today, for this moment.

Luke 21:5-9

Luke 21:5-9 

English Standard Version 

  It's hard to see landmarks struck down.  25 years later, it was still difficult to remember the terrible events of 9/11.  We look at the pictures of those towers and think about what they meant and the tragedy of their loss -- in so many ways, it has shaped the last few decades of American life.  We remember what things were like before that awful day.

  For those around Jesus, it was tremendously hard to hear them talk about the destruction of the temple.  The temple was massive and magnificent and the center of religious life.  They didn't want to think about life without it.  Tragically, that would be destroyed by the Roman army in 70 AD when they devastated Jerusalem.  

  Jesus doesn't want us to set all our hopes and dreams on temporary things.  The Kingdom of God is eternal, and we are to focus all of our aspirations on that Kingdom, for it cannot be taken, cannot be shaken.  Our hopes and dreams are safe there.  If we run in fear at each person who speaks of the end, then we'll be darting through shadows, unable to live as Christ calls us to live.  

  So may we boldly focus ourselves on Christ and his Kingdom, and strive to live in such a way that brings glory to God but doesn't chase every rumor and run in fear from every power in this world.  Remember, every knee shall bow before Christ the Lord. 

Black Belt Tests and the Gospel

Luke 21:1-4

Luke 21:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  I've always thought it was interesting that Jesus sat around with the disciples and watched people put their offerings into the box.  It's not what I would expect -- and I wonder how I would feel about it if I were making an offering.  Regardless, what happens here is interesting -- for all the gifts that Jesus watched go into the offering box, it was this one small gift that elicited a remarkable comment.  Jesus called out this woman who contributed a meaningful gift into the box.  Not out of her abundance, but out of her meager possessions.

  Jesus clearly cares about how we give.  Do we stretch?  Does it hurt a little?  That seems to be where Jesus is pointing us -- to thinking about financial giving as a meaningful part of our life.  He doesn't tell everyone to give everything away, but to think about what we have and give generously.

Luke 20:45-47

Luke 20:45-47 

English Standard Version

  Jesus is warning his disciples about the dangers of using spiritual leadership for personal gain that is driven by exploiting others.  This is not the last time that the church needs to hear these warnings... as we grow closer to Reformation Sunday, Martin Luther's warnings about indulgences, which prey on the fears of the poor to drive financial collections for the church, fit in with Jesus' words here.  God cares about what we use our influence to achieve.  If we're focused on what we get out of it... then that will corrupt us over time.  Some more quickly than others, but greed will consume us.  If we can focus on the Kingdom, however, and use our prayers to serve the glories of God's Kingdom, then God is glorified and the church is strengthened.  

  It's not a choice we make one time.  Those who are corrupted are often done so through a series of small decisions, many of which seem inconsequential.  As CS Lewis says, we have to think about them over the course of eternity.  Which direction are we trending?  The smallest of decisions, when amplified over an eternal time frame, can shape our hearts in ways we don't fully comprehend.  

  So may we spend time examining our decisions and watching our own hearts, praying for humility and thinking deeply about how we serve Christ's church and the members of it.

Luke 20:41–44

Luke 20:41-44 

English Standard Version 

  Everyone is trying to figure out just who Jesus is.  In Jesus' time, the Pharisees were thinking at most, he was another king in the line of David.  But Jesus didn't conform to their expectations -- he had much grander plans than that.  

  In the same way, Jesus doesn't conform to our expectations, either.  He has much grander plans than that.  He takes a large and universal approach, working to redeem God's beloved humanity and the creation in which we live.  God is at work to solve the problems of sin that separate us from each other and that creates a division between us and creation.  God looks at things beyond time and space, so while we see the veil of death, Jesus recognizes that there is life beyond the veil, even if we cannot see it.  

  And so we must trust in Jesus, in the Jesus who sees a greater life than we can and the Jesus who sees problems differently than we do.  It isn't always easy.  When our children were young and we took them to the doctor and they received vaccinations, they didn't really like it... but we thought it was best for their long-term health.  In the same way, there are things in this life that we cannot grasp the good in.  We must learn to trust, to lean into Jesus, and remain faithful, day after day.

Learning Contentment: A sermon on Philippians 4 (Oct 11, 2026)

Luke 20:34–40

Luke 20:34-40

English Standard Version 

  What will marriage look like in heaven?  Will I see the friends I have loved along the way?  Will we recognize one another?  Will I be able to enjoy the beauty of a sunset?  Will every car have a 6-speed transmission, or will some have automatics?  Will it be possible to eat too much ice cream?  Will the Reds still be mediocre then?

  All vital questions to answer.  Many of these, we don't have answers to -- we will only find out when we pass through the veil.  The character and words of God set clues for us, though.  We know that God has compassionate love for us, and that God made us to be in relationship with one another.  It seems likely that the God who forms us for community will not have an aspect of community, of relationship, with one another.  What does that look like exactly?  Hopefully I won't find out for another 60+ years.  

Will relationships in heaven be less loving than the ones here on earth?  I doubt it.  It seems like they would be more.  Again... I don't know exactly how it will work, but I trust in the God who has been crafting and guiding relationships for millennia to continue to do so for eternity to come.  

  What's vital here is that Jesus speaks of the dead as though they are alive.  God does not allow death to have the final word over God's beloved, which includes you.

  So trust in God, and lean into the Savior who came and conquered death so that you might live.

Luke 20:27–33

Luke 20:27-33

English Standard Version 

  This is likely not the burning question that many people have about the resurrection.  Well, at least it's not mine.  You may wonder what the Sadduccees are doing.

  One thing to note is that the Sadduccees didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead.  (Which made them Sad. You See?  Preacher jokes...)  So they're constructing this absurd scenario to make the resurrection look like just an extension of this world, only with comical scenarios caused by the forward projection of some laws.

  But that's what the resurrection is like.  It's not simply this world, only with a few things changed.  God isn't simply trying to tweak this world.  God is transforming us, at work in us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The resurrection is something new, something different, and the focus isn't on us and what our living quarters will be like.  It's about a new relationship with God, one with unlimited worship and joy.  

  So let's not get caught up in debates about what exactly dancing on clouds will be like.  Instead think about the dynamic relationship with your Creator, who is awesome in power and might, filled with love and mercy forever and ever.

Sermon on Philippians 3 for October 4, 2026

Luke 20:20–26

Luke 20:20-26 

English Standard Version 

  The Pharisees set up a trap for Jesus -- they're always working to catch him in his own words.  If Jesus says that they should pay tribute to Caesar, then he's acknowledging and perhaps approving of the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, which would upset some people.  If he says that it's not lawful, then the Romans might want to arrest him for sedition.  There's no right answer.  

  So Jesus doesn't directly answer the question.  Instead, he acknowledges the reality -- that some things belong to Caesar, but much more belongs to God.  Who are we to limit what God has a claim on?  Are the Pharisees going to define this?  

  We often try and offer God some meager corner, or believe that if we do one thing over here, then we've taken care of our offerings to God for the week.  We'd be wise to think seriously on what Jesus has to say here, and recognize God's claim on all of us.  How do we think about giving everything over to God, since God has created all?

Luke 20:17-19

Luke 20:17-19 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus knew the Pharisees and scribes and chief priests objected to his teachings -- but he didn't back down.  He continued to confront them with the Truth, to open their eyes to the ways that sin and brokenness was at work in their lives, hearts, and community. 

  So naturally, they heard his words and repented, right? 

  No... they decided they'd see about getting him arrested instead.  Which looks really bad on your resume when you arrive at the pearly gates and have to explain to St. Peter that time you tried to have Jesus thrown in jail and possibly killed.

  Where would God confront you?  What hard words might God say to you to open your eyes to the ways sin is at work in your heart, in your life, in your relationships?  I think we all know what some answers to that might be, but we often try and avoid asking the hard questions or thinking about these things.  We'd much rather ignore them.  

  But God wants to see us grow, every day.  Sometimes that means stretching, sometimes that means pruning.  

  What might God be asking of you today?

Blue Jackets hockey and the Gospel

Luke 20:13–16

Luke 20:13-16

English Standard Version 

  If you knew that someone was going to turn you away, how much effort would you put into the outreach?  Most of us would limit our effort.  It's the rational thing to do -- direct that energy towards someone more receptive, right?

  Here, the vineyard owner has sent multiple messengers, and they've all been rejected.  The owner hopes that his own son won't be rejected, but he has to expect that, right?  The tenants have shown no interest in receiving messages from the owner.

  God comes anyway.  Despite our hardened hearts, God persists, such is the love that God has for you.  It's easy to underappreciate this love -- we grow accustomed to hearing about the unconditional love, so it's important to take a few minutes and truly appreciate how amazing it is that God persists in pursuing us.  God loves you, and God continues to send the Holy Spirit to awaken our hearts to hear the message of grace once more.

Luke 20:9-12

Luke 20:9-12 

English Standard Version 

  If you owned the vineyard, how would you react?  Would you keep sending servants?  Your patience would certainly be thin after the first was rejected, and you might well blow your top after the second.  When the second one was rejected, you might simply send in the troops.  Would you exercise patience and continue sending servants?  

  One of the lessons that Jesus is teaching us about God is that God has tremendous patience for us.  God continued to send prophets, even when they were rejected and ignored.  God didn't give up on us.  God loves us too much to leave us, which is what leads God to come in Jesus Christ so that we might find healing and wholeness and hope.  

  Thanks be to God for the tremendous patience God shows -- Paul tells us in Romans 2 that 'God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?'

Luke 20:1-8

Luke 20:1-8 

English Standard Version 

  Here we see the chief priests and scribes trying to trick Jesus.  They aren't genuinely interested in the answer... they simply want to make Jesus look bad.  

  Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus engaging with all sorts of people.  Some of them know religion, some do not.  Look at Zaccheaus -- he is honestly seeking Jesus, and Jesus goes in to his house and eats with him.  The same is true of Nicodemus -- he comes with honest inquiry, uncertain of what it means when Jesus is teaching.

  These individuals are not coming honestly.  They have an agenda.  

  So when you have big questions, do not be afraid to ask them.  Seek with an open and honest heart.  Ask tough questions.  Christianity has the intellectual depth to engage with your questions as you seek the Truth.

Luke 19:45-48

Luke 19:45-48

English Standard Version 

  There's only 1,000 different conclusions as to what it means for Jesus to drive the traders out of the temple.  The temple economy and the trading that took place was important to the activity of the temple, but things clearly weren't serving the purpose that the temple was built for -- it wasn't serving as a meeting place for the people and God.  Something was getting in the way, so Jesus clears it out, and then he remains, teaching daily.  He is filling the space with his Word, so that the people can hear the teachings of God.  

  There's things in all of our lives that interfere with our connection with God.  Are we willing to be honest and admit the places where we fall short, and find a way to let God's Word fill that space in our lives?

Luke 19:41–44

Luke 19:41-44 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus has foreknowledge of the destruction that is coming to Jerusalem in 70 AD. Roman forces will besiege and destroy much of the city, and Jesus has heartbreak for the devastation that will occur.  

  It's an important aspect of our faith to hold onto -- God weeps when destruction is visited upon God's people.  God made the world and all that is in it, and it is all precious to God.  In an age where we are bombarded by bad news from all over the world, it's easy to become numb to it.  But God still feels pain for the tragic loss that occurs around the world.  May we remember that and let it soften our hearts as we seek to follow Christ and love the world the way God loves it.

Sermon for Sept 27 on Philippians 2

Political Ads and the Gospel

Luke 19:35-40

Luke 19:35-40 

English Standard Version 

  One of the things that's interesting here is that the Pharisees are trying to have Jesus hush the disciples, but Jesus acknowledges the reality -- God will be praised.  

  Sometimes, it's easy to praise God.  The sun is shining and life is grand.  

  Other times, it's harder.  Things are going against us.  But this doesn't mean that God has abandoned us, or that God doesn't care.  It simply means that God is at work in ways we cannot understand, but God is still mighty and good, even when we cannot comprehend it.  God will be praised, and creation itself will praise the God who has made it.  When we are silent at times, the song of praise continues, unabated, until such a time as we rediscover the words and our hearts learn to praise God once more.  

Luke 19:28–34

Luke 19:28-34 

English Standard Version 

  The Lord Jesus Christ is, without a doubt, the most powerful human being who ever lived.  He has the power to create the universe through his speech, and we'll see here in a few chapters that he can conquer death.

  And yet, he rides an ordinary colt in to Jerusalem.  He didn't come on a mighty warhorse meant to intimidate all those who were near.  He rode something that was on their level -- he didn't want to be separated from the people.

  We don't know much about the people who provided the colt.  They were likely ordinary, too.  Did they realize that their animal would be discussed for thousands of years?  I doubt it.  They were simply filling their role, doing what they were called to do, perhaps not even wondering what the long-term consequences of their actions would be.

  We are mostly ordinary people, with ordinary gifts.  But God can and does use them, all the time, and they have eternal repercussions.  That's one of the great things about being a part of the eternal church -- the ways we serve and love echo over generations.  

  So treasure your ordinary gifts, and use them wisely.  They'll linger in the halls of heaven forever.

Cookies and the Gospel

Luke 19:20–27

Luke 19:20-27 

English Standard Version 

  In summary, what do you believe is the defining characteristic of God?

  The servant here believes that his master is a severe man, and so his fear drives him to act in a certain way.  Everything is shaped by his fear of the master.  Imagine how this might have been different if he believed that his master was kind and gentle -- he would've thought differently about the money that was entrusted to him.

  In the same way, our belief about God will shape how we live and act.  If we believe that God is harsh and severe, then we'll respond in fear.  We'll be enveloped by it, and will think about obedience in terms of how we can avoid punishment. 

  If, however, our belief about God is that the same God who comes to judge is the God who comes to save, and we read the New Testament and see a God there who comes searching for us, then we'll respond differently.  We'll be motivated by love and gratitude rather than fear.  

  So what do you believe?  What does the broad witness of Scripture tell you about God?  It's important that we read widely and form that belief for ourselves, for we'll act out of that over all our days.

Sermon on Philippians 1 for September 20

Luke 19:16–19

Luke 19:16-19 

English Standard Version 

  Do you measure yourself against others?  It feels like this happens a lot in our culture -- we're always looking around to see how we're doing compared to others.  It's only natural that we assume that God is doing the same --  measuring us against the competition.

  But the master here doesn't scold the servant for only making five minas.  There is satisfaction and reward.  We are expected to be faithful stewards, and that looks different for each of us.  Stop worrying that your life and ministry don't look like someone else's life and ministry.  You have particular gifts for your particular call.  You are equipped for ministry that only you can do, so go and do that.  Serve and love the world in a way that only you can.  No one else can do what you are uniquely gifted to do.

Luke 19:11–15

Luke 19:11-15 

English Standard Version 

  Who here loves waiting?

  Most of us don't get terribly excited about the prospect of waiting.  We want things now, and the modern economy does a fantastic job of reinforcing immediate gratification.  The challenge for the economy now is to perfect same-day delivery, because next-day simply wasn't good enough.  We've got to get faster!

  Jesus is talking about a ruler who has gone away, and his followers were charged to wait faithfully.  This is the mission of the church -- our ruler has come, and yet he has departed, and we're charged to wait faithfully.

  What will we do while we wait?  How will we serve in the meantime?  What gifts has God given us, and how will we use them while we wait for Christ's kingdom to come in fullness?

Luke 19:5-10

Luke 19:5-10 

English Standard Version 

  Going through these section by section, it stands out how much grumbling there is in the Gospels.  People are always grumbling at what Jesus is doing and how he is doing it with.  Here is Jesus, healing people and changing lives dramatically... and rather than applause from everyone, he hears grumbling.  Remember that when you're pressuring yourself to keep everyone happy!  

  The people are grumbling because Jesus is granting legitimacy to Zacchaeus by dining with him while he's still a sinner, but it's a remarkable pattern that Jesus is establishing.  Jesus doesn't wait for Zacchaeus to change his life before dining with him.  Jesus goes in to eat with him, and then his life changes.  

  He does the same with us, too.  May we receive Jesus and fully acknowledge our broken state.  We are not worthy of the King, but he makes us worthy by coming to us.  Such is his unconditional love.  We are broken, but we are his and we are precious to him.  He has come to seek us out, and may we celebrate as he finds us, in whatever state he finds us.

Luke 19:1–4

Luke 19:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  The Gospels give us lots of stories about a variety of people -- some very rich, some very poor, to demonstrate the desperate need that all people have for grace.  Modern America would have some of us think that we're isolated from need... but the Bible knows better.  It understands humanity better than we do, because it was inspired by the same God that created humans in God's own image.

  Zaccheaus is one of the ones who is very rich, but he has recognized that his wealth has not filled the hole he has in his life.  He needs God, and so he goes looking.  He cannot see Jesus due to the crowd, but he is so driven that he climbs a nearby tree in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Jesus.  In a society where it was considered shameful to run and show your legs (thus part of the scandal of the parable of the Prodigal Son when the father runs to his son), I can't imagine they'd look kindly on a man climbing a tree.  But Zaccheaus doesn't care.  He needs to see Jesus.

  Zaccheaus doesn't realize that all along, Jesus has been looking for him.  Tomorrow, we'll read about the surprising way that Jesus calls out to Zaccheaus.  Who is seeking who?  God is seeking you.  God is on the move, reaching out to you before you can even form the thoughts and motions to seek him out.  This is how God's love works -- God reaches out to us, and we respond to God.

  Thanks be to God for such wondrous love as this.

Luke 18:40-43

Luke 18:40-43

English Standard Version 

  How would you answer Jesus' question?

  Sometimes when we pray, we can be very vague and non-specific.  When you're praying for something, ask God directly for it, whatever it may be.  One of the things we see throughout the Psalms, the prayerbook of the Bible, is that the Psalmist can be very upfront and honest with God.  Sometimes, I read them and think that perhaps something could have been worded differently... but then I remember, who am I to judge?  That was on the Psalmist's heart, and so he prayed it.  

  May we take after the Psalmist, and may we follow the example of the blind man.  Just because we ask, that doesn't mean that we'll receive, but we should be direct when we pray and ask God specifically.  May we pour ourselves out honestly before God at all times.

Luke 18:35–39

Luke 18:35-39 

English Standard Version 

  What I love about this blind man is that he refuses to let the pressure of others change his interactions with Jesus.  Think of all the ways that disappointment, embarrassment, and pressure changes the way you act.  We like to blend in with the crowd.

  This man was desperate, and he was not about to let the pressure of the crowd disrupt his relationship with Jesus.  May we all have such a single-minded focus on Jesus, that praying to God is sitting so heavily on our minds and hearts that we simply pray, aloud or silently, whenever necessary, such that God hears our prayers.

Western Michigan, Big 10 officiating, and the Gospel

Luke 18:31–34

Luke 18:31-34

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever tried to assemble something from IKEA with those instruction booklets and you're staring at the picture and it seems like it should make sense but it just doesn't and you have no idea what the next step is?

  That's the world the disciples are in during this passage, and it's often a similar place we end up in.  It feels like we have faith, and therefore the next step of life should make sense.  

  But sometimes, we understand none of these things.  It doesn't make sense why something happened when it seemed like something else should have happened.

  The disciples were still thinking that Jesus was going to lead a triumphant victory over the Roman army.  They expected victory.

  Crucifixion was not in the cards in their minds.  Jesus was talking about death, but they didn't grasp the fullness of what would seem like defeat.

  That defeat would go on to be the first step in a massive victory over sin and death, but the path to get there didn't make sense to the disciples, any more than the path we wander in life sometimes doesn't make sense at all.

  But just because we cannot make sense of it, this does not mean that God is not at work.  Stay on the road with Jesus, take the next step, and entrust the destination to God.

Sermon on the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18)

Luke 18:26–30

Luke 18:26-30 

English Standard Version 

  With 3 kids, there aren't many meals that everyone agrees on.  As tastes have changed, foods slowly were eliminated.  Some nights, it feels like there isn't anything that everyone agrees on, except for ice cream, so maybe it is the perfect food and we should simply start with that.

  As Jesus has taught the crowds, it feels like he's whittled away all the paths to salvation that we can try and create on our own.  Religious obedience, morality, achievement, possessions -- each of these has been taken off the shelf and discarded.  The disciples might have thought that their sacrfices would be enough, but even those fall short.  What is left?

  This is where faith begins, Jesus says, because where humans fall short, God steps in.  The Kingdom is something to be received.  Peter is looking at all that the disciples have sacrificed, but Jesus is redefining what it means to follow God.  There isn't a scoreboard that they are tracking, but rather through Christ, they are entering into a new identity, a new creation, where there are riches untold.  Can they entrust themselves to God?  

  May we lean into the Kingdom of God, even in the midst of uncertainty.  May we pursue Christ, trusting in God that what is ahead is far greater than anything that is behind us.

Luke 18:18–25

Luke 18:18-25 

English Standard Version 

****************

  This guy sounds like the model for all of us to follow, right?  He has kept the commandments from the time he was a child, and he's ascended to a level of power and influence as a ruler.  He's rich as well.  What's not to like?

  Like each of us, he has one thing that he loves more than God and is hard for him to give up.  Jesus, knowing all, is aware of exactly what it is for him.  Money can easily come to rule our hearts -- we desire it and begin to think about it, day and night.  We are saddened by the thought of losing it, just as this rich young ruler is.

  What would be the hardest for you to surrender?

  We should each be willing to ask ourselves this question.  It's so hard for us to keep our hearts in line.  We start to have disordered loves, opting to love something more than God.  It's probably different for each of us, but we all have something.  

  Thanks be to God that Jesus comes to show us what those things are, and he loves us and redeems us to give us hope.

Luke 18:15–17

Luke 18:15-17 

English Standard Version 

  In those days, children had no power of influence.  They weren't regarded as terribly important.  Many people didn't give them much thought.  The disciples assumed Jesus had far more important things to do than to spend time with people who didn't bring much to the table.

  Jesus is teaching us that this is how we come to God.  We are sinful and broken, and we don't bring anything to the table.  

  God loves us anyway.  God makes time for us.  God saves us.  

  Not because we bring something that God is lacking. 

  But because God loves us.

Luke 18:9–14

Luke 18:9-14 

English Standard Version 

  I just preached a sermon on this passage on Sunday -- this is a story of comparison.  The Pharisee defines himself on a basis of comparison.  The sin of the tax collector is useful to him because it makes the Pharisee feel better about himself.  He looks at the tax collector and feels pride.  The Pharisee will also look at anyone who is ahead of him and feel envy.  He's looking around to his peers to find his own place in the standings.

  The tax collector looks only to the holiness of God.  His spirituality doesn't rest in the status of another person.  It's rooted in God's mercy.  He finds his justification in God and in God alone.  

  So when you look to the people around you, what do you see?  Comparison, we're told, is the thief of joy.  If you're anxiously wondering how you measure up, then relationships with others are only going to give you stress.  If you stop looking to others to see how you're doing and instead opt to look to Christ to define yourself, then you can experience others as a community of people working together to serve one another.  We're not competing for a limited supply of grace, but instead enjoying one another's company on the road to discipleship.

Luke 18:1–8

Luke 18:1-8 

English Standard Version 

  Every once in a while, I can cook a pretty good meal.  But if you go to a restaurant with a professional world-class chef... how much more consistent will the food there be?  How much better will it be?  Any person who cooks regularly will get it right every now and again... but a trained chef is in a different league.

  Jesus is telling this parable as a lesson for us -- broken and sinful people every once in a while get something right.  In this story, the judge doesn't fear God or respect man, but he eventually grants this widow's request.  

  How much more, Jesus is telling us, will God look to serve us?  If a broken and sinful man can get it right, then God is so much greater than that.  Jesus is telling us this so that we won't lose heart.  He wants us to persevere.  Jesus knows that waiting can cause us to lose heart, so he encourages us to be patient, to persist, and to keep praying.

Wheel Bearings and the Gospel

Luke 17:34–37

Luke 17:34-37 

English Standard Version 

  I remember the Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is perched in a tree, waiting for a victim to come by... when Linus comes by and tells him that he's looking the wrong way.  Snoopy didn't make a great vulture.

  When you see a group of vultures circling in the sky, you can conclude that something has died.  It's not a lovely visual, and I wish Jesus would've picked something happier as well, but this is what we have.  We all know what a group of vultures mean.

  In the same way, Jesus is telling us that when the end times come, it will be very obvious.  We won't miss it.  There aren't going to be signs that are unclear or ambiguous about whether Jesus has returned.  It'll be clear.  

  Since we don't have to worry about that, we can instead focus on how to live in the here-and-now.  I think that's why Jesus is telling us that the end times will be clear -- once we stop worrying about that, we're free to focus on living faithfully today.  

  So what does it mean for you to be faithful to God this morning?  Maybe even leave the afternoon and evening for later.  What can you do now to serve Christ, to be a faithful disciple, to invite Christ into this day, into this moment?  Perhaps it is to stop and pray now, or to pick up a book and read, or to make that call you've been putting off.  There's something that could wait if you get distracted... but you can also take the next step now.  Glorify God this morning.

Parable on the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 17:31–33

Luke 17:31-33 

English Standard Version 

  There's so much to try and hold onto!!!  There are often so many good things, and we want to hold them tightly in our hands, never letting go.  

  Do we trust God enough to put everything into his hands?  What we place there is ultimately preserved in a way that it cannot be if we hold onto it on our own.  Life is safe in God's hands.  

  It's a constant choice.  Everything we have is a gift from God.  We can offer it back to God, or we can try and keep it on our own.  

  How can we make each day, and whatever is in it, an offering to God?  How do we set out hearts on that mindset, so that we're aware of what a gift the good things are?  May we pray for an open mind and open heart and open hands, so that we treasure God's gifts while offering all of life back to God.

Luke 17:28–30

Luke 17:28-30 

English Standard Version 

  What occupied most of your time 10 years ago?  What about 20?  Jesus is being incredibly serious here -- he's challenging people to think about all the substitutes we use in life that grant us security, and he wants us to think about what grants us our deepest sense of security.  We use all sorts of things in different phases of life, but we ultimately learn that the things we often hold onto in life aren't ultimate things.  They can be good, even great, but we have to look at them, appreciate them, and then look beyond them to the One who is the giver of every good thing.  If you look to your job for affirmation that you're a smart and successful person, then what happens when you lose it?  Or you can look to your job as a gift and an opportunity to use the gifts that God gave you, and if the job goes away, you still have the gifts and can find other opportunities.  Which approach prepares us for change?  

  God alone is able to be an ultimate thing for us.  Only God will not fail us if we define our lives based on him.  May we choose wisely what the most important thing in our life is.

Political Ads and the Gospel

Luke 17:26–27

Luke 17:26-27 

English Standard Version 

  What were you doing before your life changed?  Many of us remember what life was like before 9-11, a turning point in our country and our world.  I remember getting up that morning and living an ordinary day, not thinking that everything was about to change.  What about other monumental days?  

  Jesus is talking about the days of the Son of Man, and he points people back to Noah.  When Noah was building the ark, no one thought everything would change.  They thought Noah was nuts, and they lived their ordinary lives, ignoring whatever God might be doing or calling them to do.  They didn't have the time or patience for paying attention to God -- everything was fine.  

  We often busy ourselves to the point that there's no extra room, sometimes even leaving God out.  We are eating and drinking and running around... are we missing the larger point, paying attention to how God is at work in the world and our lives?  Do not neglect to make time to listen to God.  God is calling, each and every one of us, whether we're listening or not.

Sermon on the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

Luke 17:22–25

Luke 17:22-25

English Standard Version 

  The disciples must have been uncertain about the day of the Lord -- they were afraid they were going to miss it.  Here is Jesus, assuring them that it will be like lightning racing across the sky, something unmistakable that they cannot miss.

  But rather than stare into the sky and wait, there is much for the disciples to deal with in these present times, because there is much suffering in front of them.  I don't think this message ever resonated well with the disciples, no better than it resonates with us.  We don't like suffering, or really even the idea of suffering.  We want victory in Christ and we want it now! 

  Unfortunately, that's not how the Kingdom of God works.  It's not on our timing, and our minds cannot wrap themselves around the ways that God is at work.  God is infinite and eternal, and there's an element of trust that comes into play.  If we are to remain faithful, then we are called to trust God, even in the midst of our suffering.

Luke 17:20–21

Luke 17:20-21

English Standard Version 

  We were driving home the other night from Cincinnati and saw a massive storm ahead of us, with lightning and some rather imposing clouds.  We stopped for dinner, and by the time we were done, there was a huge rainbow going clear across the sky.  It was all very dramatic.

  That's what we expect when we think about the coming Kingdom of God.  The Pharisees were waiting for the same.

  Jesus tells us that the Kingdom often comes in quiet ways, and it's already in our midst, for in the coming of Jesus, the Kingdom has come.  There is much still in the future, but it's already breaking in, and we're invited to live into it in the here and now, to join with Christ in forgiving and loving and serving.  The Kingdom has come, and the transformation Christ offers us is available now, through the often quiet work of the Holy Spirit, calling us in our midst to live as disciples.

Luke 17:15–19

Luke 17:15-19 

English Standard Version 

  You've likely given and received lots of gifts in your life.  We can debate which is better, but regardless of where you land, a gift between people who know each other very well is something wonderful -- the gift is special, but it's special because it's wrapped up in the midst of a relationship.

  That's what Jesus is getting at here.  The gift of healing is a wonderful thing, and Jesus doesn't take the gift away from any of those who were healed.

  But one of the former lepers realizes that there is more than just a gift.  There is an opportunity to have a relationship with the one who gives every good gift.  His life has been transformed in more ways than just one -- he wants to enjoy God.  

  It's a fine thing to enjoy God's gifts, whatever those may be.

  But may we never lose sight of the reality that the gifts are meant to encourage us to dive deeply into a relationship with God, to immerse ourselves in the love and grace of the one who gives.

Luke 17:11–14

Luke 17:11-14

English Standard Version 

  Lepers stayed at a physical distance -- they were separated in so many ways from the community.  Jesus, at a distance, tells them to go show themselves to the priests, and they are healed.  

  Notice when they're healed.  It's as they are going.  It wasn't as soon as Jesus spoke.  They started to go before they were healed, and it was in the process of obeying Jesus that they were healed.

  Sometimes, we need to move before we see results.  So often, we do the reverse -- we wait for God to show us something dramatic or move in some way, telling ourselves that we'll move once God does.  

  But Jesus sometimes sends us with a command, and then results happen along the way.  So let us focus on obedience, and trust Jesus to be at work as we live.

Luke 17:7-8

Luke 17:7-10 

English Standard Version 

  Here, I believe Jesus is trying to ensure we don't develop a sense of entitlement, where we start thinking that God is the vending machine in the sky, where we deposit an act of faithfulness and get a reward.  The expectation is that we ought to be faithful in response to the grace that God showers upon us.  We have not earned it, and yet salvation and hope are given to us.  

  So we're encouraged to live and interact with humility.  All that we have is gift, and we should live with that in mind.  Our Christian duty is a response to God's initiating love.  We love and serve because we have been loved and served.

Luke 17:5–6

Luke 17:5-6

English Standard Version 

  This reminds me a little of the idea that we'd be more generous once we have more money, or that we'll do something differently once we have more time.  It's easy to imagine how things might be different once we have more of something... but the reality is that we often don't change like that.  We like to imagine that we'd live differently if we had more faith, or stronger faith, which is what the apostles said to Jesus.  They hear about so many amazing things, but they don't think they have enough faith.

  Jesus tells them that it isn't about the size of their faith, but rather about who they are placing their faith in.

  The reality of our lives is that we often place our faith in ourselves, and we think of relying on God as a backup plan.

  Jesus wants us to flip those things, and to rely on God completely.  God is strong enough and faithful enough to support us.  Start your day, Jesus encourages us, by casting ourselves upon Christ, and depending completely upon God.  Place our faith in God first, who cares for us, and we'll discover that our faith is strong enough as long as it is in God.

Luke 17:1–4

Luke 17:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  What does it mean to forgive someone?  Let's say I let you borrow my car, and it comes back with french fries spilled everywhere, two unpaid parking tickets shoved into the glovebox, and three new dents.  I would be somewhat unhappy with this development.  Would I lend you my car again?  Absolutely not. Would I expect you to provide financial compensation for the damages incurred?  Absolutely.  Could I approach you without a desire for vengeance in my heart, with grace in our conversation and a willingness not to allow my anger to define our relationship?  I would hope so.  This is the important part.  Forgiveness doesn't mean there cannot be repercussions for actions.  Forgiveness means that we do not keep score, that grace defines the relationship, that we seek what is best for the other, rather than allowing our desire for punishment to be the most important thing.  

  Jesus was open and honest about the reality that we will fail.  We will sin, and others will sin, and we'll be frustrated and upset.  That can pass.  What matters is that we're striving to help one another grow and that we're practicing extending the same grace we receive from Christ to one another.

Roller Coasters and the Gospel

Luke 16:25–31

Luke 16:25-31 

English Standard Version

  If you decide to do the rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon, linking the North Rim to the South Rim, you'll hike about 24 miles and deal with over 10,000 feet of elevation change.  Serious preparations are advised.

  In this story from Luke, a rich man is in torment in hell and asking for comfort.  Abraham replies that there is a great chasm fixed between heaven and hell, and there is no passing over.

  It's easy to think of this chasm as the Grand Canyon -- something that might be challenging, but ultimately overcome-able through a great effort.

  But we cannot atone for our own sin.  We keep sinning, and are unable to make the perfect sacrifice.  Only Jesus can do this, and thanks be to God that he has done just this -- he has stood in our place and done what we could not do.  Because of Christ, we have hope.

  So give thanks that the chasm is not our destiny, because of what God has done.

Sermon on the Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 16:19–24

Luke 16:19-24 

English Standard Version 

  The rich man and poor man in this story live very, very different lives, and yet they both die.  Death is the great equalizer -- and here we discover these suffer very different fates.  The poor man, who is given a name, is taken to heaven, and the rich man, who has no name, ends up in torment.

  Is it because he is rich?  No, for Abraham was very rich.  The rich man never noticed the poor man who lived at his gate.  He believed that his wealth was all that he needed, so he lived in comfort, unable to open his eyes to the opportunities that God had placed before him.

  What opportunities has God put in your midst?  How can we pray for God to open our eyes to what surrounds us, to the people near us who are in need?  May we look to serve others first.

Luke 16:18

Luke 16:18 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is in the midst of talking about the Pharisees and money, and suddenly he mentions divorce.  What gives?

  Remember, the Pharisees' hearts had drifted from God, and they looked to the letter of the law and tried to find loopholes to justify whatever behavior they wanted.  For example, in those days, divorce was almost always initiated by the man, in which case he left his wife without income or social standing.  There were religious teachers arguing that a man could divorce his wife for almost any reason, such as spoiling dinner.  They were trivializing the covenant of marriage and leaving women incredibly vulnerable.  

  Jesus, as always, is looking out for the vulnerable.  Just a chapter ago, we had the parables about how God sought out the lost coin and the lost son.  The theme has not suddenly pivoted away from God racing to protect and embrace the vulnerable and those who have erred.  Jesus is still welcoming and restoring, but he's also warning those who see people as disposable.  He's rebuking religious leaders who are missing the point and using the law as a weapon against others and as a way to bolster their own power.  He's pointing to the faithfulness of God, calling us all to reflect on the unfailing love of God and to seek to reflect that in every corner and aspect of our lives.

Luke 16:14–17

Luke 16:14-17 

English Standard Version 

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  Imagine that you're hearing Jesus critique your behavior.  How do you respond?

  The Pharisees, who were likely defensive, ridiculed Jesus.  It must have been terribly uncomfortable for them to hear Jesus speaking directly to them.  They loved money, and they wanted to keep loving money.  They had wandered into a land where they loved money more than God... but when they heard someone confront this, rather than wrestle with the uncomfortable reality, they simply laughed at the one who was criticizing them.

  None of us like criticism.  It stings.  But Jesus doesn't criticize because he wants to hurt the Pharisees.  He wants them to grow into the disciples they were called and created to be.  He loves them too much to leave them as they are.

  Jesus likely has harsh words for us, too.  We are far from perfect.  My heart certainly wanders.

 Can we find the humility to go to God daily and ask for God to shine a light on where we need to grow and change?  God wants you to grow into the disciple you were crafted to be.  God loves you too much to leave you where you are, no matter your age.  So ask God to show you how to grow, how to change, that we may all be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 16:10-13

Luke 16:10-13 

English Standard Version 

  It's easy to be envious of other people's lives.  Every day, there are reminders of people who have far more material wealth.  In my parking garage, there are countless cars that serve as status symbols and cost more than I make in a year.  

  Jesus tells us that being faithful isn't about waiting until you've made it big.  He says that what you have now matters, regardless of how much or how little it is.  If you focus on faithfulness every day, whether it's in little moments or big choices, then we train our hearts to learn how to handle bigger things.  

  In all of this, we're leading our hearts.  If we allow the world to lead them, our appetites will devour us.  We'll get caught in an endless cycle of wanting more.  Jesus talks directly about the dangers of money... if we allow our hearts to serve wealth, that ends up first in our hearts and we miss serving God.  Jesus doesn't say there's anything wrong with possessing wealth, but the moment we stop thinking of it as a tool and we start looking to it as part of our identity, then we crowd out God.

  So think of some small moments that are upcoming in your day.  How can you pray your way through them?  Who will you talk to today, and how can you pray ahead of that for God to lead the conversation in a way that is a blessing?