Immediately after Jesus predicts his persecution and death, the disciples argue about who will be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. Jesus takes this opportunity not to scold, but to explain: the last are first, and the first are last. If you want to be great, you must become least; if you with to be first, you must become a slave. Jesus continues to overturn our expectations about status, reputation, and the Good life.

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, we learn that God's love defies our categories and logic. Just like the landowner in the parable, God's generosity is beyond reason: He loves being generous. The question then becomes, how will you respond to the generosity of the Father?

Mammon is deceptive; it deceived the ambitious, morally good, rich young man, and it can deceive us today. Jesus wants to free us from the yoke of slavery to Mammon and release in us the spirit of freedom: freedom to follow Jesus with everything we have.

The natural result of staying close to the presence of God, and being formed into His image is, simply, fruit. When we stay connected to the root, and we allow ourselves to be pruned by the Good Gardener, the fruit of His Spirit abounds in our lives!

The beginning of formation is beholding - we look like what we look at. What are you beholding?

We long to become disciples who seek the presence of God in all things.

Praying this final line of the Lord's Prayer forces us to realize that we are in a battle, a war for our minds, hearts, and souls. What does this line of the prayer mean? Why did Jesus finish the prayer this way? Listen in and find out more!

Praying this final line of the Lord's Prayer forces us to realize that we are in a battle, a war for our minds, hearts, and souls. What does this line in the prayer mean? Why such a haunting way to end a prayer?

The Lord's Prayer invites us to forgive as we have been forgiven. What does it mean to forgive? How do we pray for forgiveness? Listen in and discover more!