If a person can make it to heaven based on their goodness, then…'How Good is Good Enough?' Today we find out, and it might just surprise you to find out the well-known story that we learn this from.

As Jesus heads toward crucifixion in Jerusalem, He commands His disciples to take His urgent message out - to prepare the way of the Lord. Some surrender to His message and others stiff-arm His message. But which of Jesus’ commands to His ancient audience are we to APPRECIATE & which are we to APPLY?

You've got to hear Matt Chandler teach regarding giving and the 'Prosperity Gospel'. Nails it and you've got to hear it! (used with permission from The Village Church)

When one says “I will follow you wherever you go," what would YOU expect Jesus to say to him? 'Awesome! Welcome to the team!' Well, that’s not exactly how Jesus responds. Today we discover that following Jesus is costly, but that Life with the KING, IS worth the COST.

As mentioned last week, Peter wanted to stay on the mountain…to experience the joy of KINGdom Come. But they couldn’t stay there. It was time to get Back to Work. And like us, Jesus had to give them a course correction if they were going to accomplish KINGdom Work.

Don Williams writes, “The Christian life is then lived in this tension between the kingdom come and coming.” Jesus came the first time as a Suffering Servant, but next time...He'll come as the Conquering King. Today we get a glimpse of KINGdom Come and consider the BIG QUESTION: "When the KINGdom Comes, will He be pleased with me?"

While Jesus rarely gave clear answers to acquaintances regarding His identity, He both welcomed and invited His disciples to discuss the issue when He asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Interestingly, as was true in the first century, the identity of Jesus continues to deeply divide and uniquely unite people from all walks of life. Today we discover why.

While men & women will forever have different roles to play as designed by the Creator, some women during Jesus’ day - as women today - were treated like second class citizens. In contrast, the intertwined accounts we see today will show us the care and compassion Jesus has for women and their families. And most important of all, we will be reminded how Jesus - the Creator of all - can transform lives…bringing people from despair to hope, From Death to Life.

Today we discover the story of a man understood was it was like to be in bondage for a long time…a man who no one could help…a man who desperately needed to be Set FREE; and when he was, this man became a daily demonstration that…The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives.