Have you ever felt like quitting? 

In light of the hardships His disciples faced, Jesus anticipated that they might feel like giving up.  He offered today’s parable to remind all of us who God is, how He responds to His own, and to pray in belief as we wait on Him.

In our passage today, Jesus again focuses on the Kingdom of God. The challenge for both the Pharisees and the disciples is whether they can shift their point of view regarding the Kingdom. Our challenge will be the same. Will we live as if Jesus’ teaching is true: the Kingdom is here, in our midst?

Set next to the parables we have recently studied, Luke tells of Jesus’ encounter with ten lepers.  Like the parables, this story offers a surprise twist that highlights the actions of an unlikely follower.  We will learn that to recognize who Jesus is, supersedes the benefits of living under God’s healing power.

Today we see three short stories that Jesus told to show what humility looks like in real life.  Many people talk about humility but it is hard to picture unless you can see it in action.  These stories were told with the pride of the Pharisees as a backdrop, but it is just as fitting for 21st century Americans.

Today we continue our Stories and Parables series by looking at another very rich man.  But we also see an extremely poor man and find that riches aren’t a prerequisite for heaven. This story teaches us much about what matters to God and also gives us insight into the afterlife.

Today we begin a section of Luke where there is one story or parable after another, and each one seems to contain a surprise twist.  In each, we learn that God’s way of viewing things is often different than man’s.  In this study, we look at one of the strangest parables in the Bible, which, when understood, has a powerful lesson.

Today we conclude the Temple series by looking at the destruction of Herod’s Temple by the Romans in 70 AD.  We will see that Jesus told all those who would listen that this would happen.  Lastly, what is God’s plan for the future Temple and how does that affect each of us?

Today we see one of history’s most impressive buildings being built and we see how essential Herod’s Temple was for the life and ministry of Jesus.  

The Gospels are full of references to this Temple and, in all of it, we understand God’s miraculous timing.  For Jews and Christians, this is the world’s most famous Temple.

Today we see the Jewish people come back from captivity in Babylon and try to put the Temple back together.  We also will see how the Temple is abused, a foreshadowing of the Antichrist of the future.  In all of it, we see God’s patience and goodness.

Today we see that the great Temple of Solomon becomes less important to the Jews as the world and it’s temptations become more attractive.  People first lose the love for God’s Word, and then they lose God’s blessing.  Finally, they even lose the Temple.