Mike Gordon - The Book of Esther

Bren Angelos - Matthew 8:23-27

In today's story two people come to Jesus to say they'll follow him: a scribe and a disciple. Bren describes how Jesus challenges each to follow him without contingency, without compromise. Bren shows how this fits into our lives ("Jesus, I'll follow you when..."). Ultimately he says Jesus asks us, "Am I enough?"

This week Bren teaches on a text where Jesus heals several people. He explains the significance behind each of these healings, but ultimately leads us down a path that should cause us I ask ourselves some very important questions:

Do I believe that Jesus did heal?

And if so:

Do I believe he still heals and can heal me and his church?

Love God. Love others.

Love God. Love others.

This week Bren takes a step back. Instead of narrowing in just on Jesus' resurrection, he focuses on the big picture of Jesus through the Old Testament and up into the new. He takes us through the story of the walk to Emmaus when Jesus did this with a couple disciples; and he notes the reaction it caused in those disciples' lives. Bren asks: what response does it evoke in us?

One week before Easter: Mike Gordon explains the contextual and current-day significance of the "triumphal entry" -- the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, declaring himself King. He not only explains the three ways in which Jesus was stepping out and saying he was King, but also says this leaves us with an everyday choice: to make Jesus King of our life or (in essence) kill him. As Mike put it, we have the choice to, "King him or kill him." The choice is ours.

This week Bren talks us through the Golden Rule, and the difference between the "broad gate" and "narrow gate." He explains that not only do we have to choose one path or the other, we're in danger of swinging to one of two extremes (neither of which are the narrow path). This is where the Golden Rule plays a part, and why it's so important. Ultimately, he challenges us to consider: What direction do you want you life to go in? Choose today.

Bren takes us through the progression of, "ask, seek, knock." He explains what each of them mean and, more importantly, talks about how this passage ties in with our motivation behind how we, "ask, seek, knock." He teaches that there are three ways we often view God and that only one of them, when coupled with the right motivation, falls in line with what Jesus is saying in this section.