Parables
The Two Builders

Matthew 7:24-29
This parable comes at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7). Jesus ends the sermon not with a pep talk or a funny story, but with a series of warnings. This parable is the final warning.  Jesus says that the wise person is the one who not just listens to his words, but also does and that this is like a builder who builds their house on a solid foundation. Jesus says that th...

Parables
The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:29-37
Until we recognize Jesus as our Good Samaritan, we will not understand how to be one.

This story is often used to teach ethics.  "Help anyone in need" tends to be where we go with this.  While that is a true statement, this story can often be summed up as a "change your behavior" story WITHOUT proper context.

Jesus is directly addressing a religious leader who has no intentions o...

Parables
The Sower

Luke 8:4-15
This parable ultimately lays out the work of the parable.  The parable reveals how readily our hearts are to receive God's word.  Jesus tells the story but then he actually explains the story.  He doesn't always do that.  And he only lets the disciples understand this story - which is interesting because it's recorded for us - so it makes clear God's desire for US to also understand the t...

Parables
The Rich Fool

Luke 12:13-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool.

Jesus is inspired to tell this story because of a self-centered demand for justice.  Jesus does not entertain the man's request, but Jesus DOES deal with the heart of the man's request:  Greed.

The story is A GREAT picture of our American culture.  The man only speaks to himself (not his community or God), he does not think of his neighbor, and he becomes sati...

Miracles
The Get Out

Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus has just fed the 5000 and Matthew says, “Immediately” Jesus gets his disciples out of there. John’s Gospel tells us why so quickly: “the people wanted to grab him and make him king.” Jesus puts the disciples on a boat to consider all that they had just seen and heard. Jesus, knowing the crowd didn’t get who He was and that his disciples were still slow to understand His identity – He goes...

Miracles
The Get Loose

Luke 13:10-17 - Jesus sees a woman crippled by an evil spirit (Jesus actually tells us WHY this woman has been bent doubled over for 18 years – held in bondage by Satan). This DOES NOT MEAN all illness or disability is from Satan. In this specific instance, we know the reason – because Jesus lets us know. She is unable to even lift her head – lived a lifetime staring at the ground. Jesus calls out to her, touch...

Miracles
The Get Up

Luke 7:12-16 - This was an exceptionally sad encounter. A widow (having lost her husband), is leading a funeral procession for her now, dead son. As a woman and a widow, this was incredibly challenging as she had no form of safety or provision. The men in her life had died. This was a huge loss that probably stirred more than one question in the widow’s mind: “How will I survive? Will I survive? How will I continu...