The BIG Idea: Forgiven people forgive people. Only through what Jesus did on the Cross can my sins be forgiven and not counted against me. This forgiveness is completely by God’s grace, but it is realized only by faith. Then, as one who is forgiven, He empowers me to forgive.

The BIG Idea: Jesus teaches us that prayer is one of God’s gracious gifts to His children. In prayer we worship the Lord, submit our lives to Him and His will, and acknowledge our absolute dependence on Him for what we need.

The Big Idea: Jesus teaches us that prayer is the primary expression of the connection we have to God who is our Father. As we pray, we pray for the already and future Kingdom of God to be seen and experienced now.

The Big Idea: Jesus teaches us that prayer is the primary expression of the connection we have to God who is our Father. The Father’s love is so great that He shows us Himself and invites us to come and speak with Him through prayer.

The Big Idea: Mary and Martha represent the two stereotypical types of Christians. Martha is a “do-er” – the quintessential servant who never stops. Mary is the one who wants to learn from Jesus how to “be” – she is a worshipper who wants to be with Jesus and take in every word He speaks. She wants her do-ing to flow out of her be-ing.

You can be an “expert” on Scripture without understanding its message. You can know many things about God without knowing God. Jesus teaches us that loving God and loving people is the evidence that we that we truly know God and have eternal life.

Jesus has sent out 72 unnamed disciples to preach and heal people. In their return they rejoice at the spectacular acts of God’s power through them. Jesus gives them a greater reason to rejoice and shares with them His own reason for joy.

Like helpless sheep, we need someone who is above us in wisdom, power, and goodness to save us. And we have just such a Heavenly Shepherd in Jesus Christ. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He meets all our needs beyond our expectations.

Previously, Jesus had sent out the 12 Disciples to preach and heal people. Now, he sends out 72 unnamed disciples to do the same. In a remarkable set of instructions, Jesus lays out the mission, the message, and the methods for taking the Gospel to the people of the world.

In a series of three brief conversations, Jesus lifts up the cost of following Him. Don’t think of his responses as harshness, but as honesty about what true discipleship looks like: times of sacrifice; recognizing Christ and His Kingdom as our highest priority; and an immediate and lasting focus on Him.