Today we enter into one of the most difficult narratives of the passion week, when Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and abandoned. The question we will look at is "why?"

Could there be "pop quizzes" that we're not prepared for in life?  Do you ever find yourself in dismay as to the seductiveness of sin and temptation, and are you tired of battle?  Jesus gives his disciples a key resource in fighting the "good fight" with the spiritual discipline of prayer.

Its far too easy in our world today to simply be concerned with self.  We want to be GREAT, like our idols and role models found in movie stars, professional athletes, and the powerful movers and shakers in our world.  However, Jesus calls us to a deeper understanding of what it means to be "Great."

There are many voices calling out for our allegiance in our world today. The problem is we can only follow after 1 master. Jesus is up-front and clear about the demands of becoming a disciple, and His challenge from Luke 9 focuses us to ask the question "how committed are we" to following after Jesus?

There is a challenge we face in our world today, which is identifying sin.  Unfortunately much of the world has found a way to condone, ignore, or whitewash sin.

We've all heard the "Golden Rule," but I suspect we've missed the really difficult part of it. Culturally, we all know its "nice to be nice." However, Jesus will show that His followers are called to go above and beyond in their expression of care and love to their neighbors.

Faith is a difficult thing to practice today. For many reasons we've crafted around us a world that minimizes the need for genuine faith. Insurance companies, investments, accessibility of modern conveniences, even the lack of expectations in church: from our jobs to our devotional life, very few of us are challenged towards defining actions of faith.

We live in a world where temptation is hiding around every corner and under every stone.  Sadly, most of us find few victories and are left with a faith that needs to continually play catch up between our desires and our actions.

The Reformers creed, declaring salvation by grace through "faith alone," requires a very important asterisk. While its true that salvation is in no way earned or contrived through our effort or works, it is only through the evidence of the "fruit of repentance" that our faith is shown to be genuine.

Download Small Group Study Guide HERE The story of Mary and Joseph forgetting Jesus in Jerusalem highlights for us some of the uniqueness surrounding their child, and Jesus’ perspective in terms of application of the question “What is the most important thing in life?” Observations & Conclusions 1 – “Life” can draw you away from Jesus 2 – If you’ve lost Jesus, go back to where you found him before 3 – Genuine faith in Jesus means adoption into a […]