One of the most nerve-racking parts of the parenting experience happens around year fifteen or sixteen. The parents move to the passenger seat, and the son or daughter steps behind the wheel. Lord, have mercy!

You forget how many moving parts there are in this process of learning to drive–signs, lane changes, lights, gas pedals, brakes, merging, yielding, and most of all, stopping. You’ve been doing it for decades, and now you’re tasked with the job of teaching your child something that’s second nature to you.

In Luke 17, Jesus is preparing to hand over the keys to a fledgling group of disciples. He’s pressing them toward a mature faith. ”

We find ourselves exclaiming, “Go! Go! Go!” “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” “Now!” “Don’t drift!” My son’s favorite: “Watchawatchawatcha!” They still tease me about that one. In Luke 17, Jesus is preparing to hand over the keys to a fledgling group of disciples. He’s pressing them toward a mature faith. We get to listen in and learn what mature faith is all about.