Jesus taught us to pray as a means of not losing heart (Luke 18:1–8). Our prayers shape our inner life and relationship with God. They also reveal. In Luke 18:9–17, Jesus teaches us a simple and counterintuitive truth: being worthy to enter the kingdom of God requires knowing you're not. Self-righteousness is a problem made plain in our prayers to God—how we see ourselves in relation to God and others. So, it turns out, prayer is not the answer. The way into the kingdom is nothing nothing less—and nothing more!—than the mercy of God for sinners in Christ.

Waiting is hard when you know how long you'll wait. Waiting is near impossible when you don't. Jesus promised his disciples that one day the Son of Man will return and God's justice will reign. But first they must wait. And they don't know how long. Which might lead to great discouragement and doubt. Jesus prepares his disciples for those days with a parable of a persistent widow and an unjust judge. As we await the kingdom, Jesus means to strengthen our hearts from Luke 18:1-8, that upon his return he might find faith on earth.

Luke presents us with another conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees on a familiar topic. Jesus is asked "when" the kingdom of God will show up, and he begins a conversation across multiple audiences spanning multiple topics like lightning, marriage, sulfur, and even vultures. In this passage we receive a description of God's kingdom for the ages and pictures that will leave no doubt. "The days are coming", Jesus says, and we better not turn back from his words. In Luke 17:20-37 our Lord will instruct us on the aspects of God's kingdom in a way that we cannot miss.

This two-part series establishes a simple claim: the church is the beginning and end of missions. It is through the local church that the Holy Spirit sends out his workers. When God works through them the result is local churches that bear his name. Acts 14:19–28 sets our attention on that lofty goal of starting, strengthening, and ultimately leaving behind local churches that carry the work forward. Listen as we consider how the goal of global church planting shapes our missions aims and plans.

Luke's first work for Theophilus gave us all that Jesus began to do and teach, and his second work, Acts, gives us all he continues to do. Our risen Lord ascended to the Father and now continues his mission to spread his glory to the ends of the earth. That mission launches from his Spirit-empowered body, the church. In Acts 13:1-12, we meet the church at Antioch, a church formed by persecution and eager to get about that mission. How did they go about that work? What did they actually do? Listen as we learn from this sister church the work to commit ourselves to for the sake of this unstoppable mission.

Have you ever been so overjoyed that you shouted out loud? Have you ever been so overwhelmed with someone that you fell down in front of them? We see both of these responses in the life of one leper healed by Jesus. But what happened to the other nine? As we see in Luke 17:11–19, it is possible to be glad for Jesus' gifts without being grateful to Jesus and for Jesus himself. Thanksgiving sounds easy enough. We're taught to write thank you notes as children. But true thanksgiving in the heart is a miracle God works in those who are his children by faith.

Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to the church. This means local congregations bear responsibility for the gospel they proclaim and the people they identify with that gospel. Or, put simply and practically, the congregation is responsible for her confession of faith and membership rolls—the what and who of the gospel. Where do leaders fit? Leaders lead the church in her responsibilities. That's what we see in Paul's instruction to two New Testament churches: in Galatians 1:6–9, 1 Corinthians 5:1–13, and 2 Corinthians 2:5–11.

Who has the final authority to receive and release members in the local church? Who is ultimately responsible for Jesus' name in his heavenly embassies here on earth? Jesus concerned himself with this question when he gave Peter "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16:19). But Peter is dead. So, who holds the keys? And how should they be exercised? Read Matthew 18:15–20 and listen in as we explore these important questions.

Scripture gives us many metaphors for the church: a flock, a building, a bride, a body. Each metaphor teaches us about who we are, who Christ is for us, and how we're to go about our life together in his name. Here's another metaphor we need: a kingdom. In Matthew 16:19, Jesus said to Peter, "I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." What are these keys? Who holds them? What do they do? These are the questions that we'll address in this series, Who Holds the Keys?, beginning with Matthew 16:13-18.

Whack-A-Mole was a popular arcade game back when arcades were a thing. But the metaphor persists. We all have the experience of dealing with problems that just seem to keep coming back. Pride is that way. In Luke 17:1–10 Jesus addresses his disciples with a warning concerning the Pharisees' great problem of pride. Striving to enter the narrow gate requires humility. So does living together in the kingdom under Jesus' rule.