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If you could ask Jesus any question what would it be? One would think a person would have some deep question about life, death, eternity, or the problem of evil. Would you ever ask about taxes?
In Luke 20:19-26, Jesus was approached by a couple of men, appearing to be sincere about following Jesus, with a question for Jesus. Of all the things one could ask Jesus, they chose to ask him about his thoughts on Caesar's authority to tax God's people.
Their real intention was to trick Jesus into saying something bad about the Roman Empire or the Jewish people. They hoped they could trick him into offending the Jewish people or offending the Roman officials. Either way, they sought trap Jesus with his answer.
Jesus's answer gives us a master class on discernment and some wisdom on the appropriate authority of governments to tax. Should Christian's have to pay taxes they do not agree with or to a government that is unrighteous?
Imagine you were given the opportunity of a lifetime. Someone gave you the resources to do something great in your personal life or career. Would you find this opportunity thrilling or paralyzing? Would you have a sense of fear or be invigorated with excitement?
In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus tells a parable of a nobleman who goes away to be appointed as a king. Before departing, he gives 10 of his servants 4 months' salary to use to operate and expand their business. Some embrace the opportunity, some are fearful of failing, and some are in opposition to the thought of this nobleman being their king at all.
Jesus presented to His followers the reality that will soon await them. Additionally, He promised that He would return and expect His followers to have expanded and multiplied what they have been given.
How prepared are you to give an account of what you have been entrusted with?
Independence and self-sufficiency play a defining role in many people today. If a person is not independent and self-sufficient they will be forced to rely on others. Few people today are willing to admit they have needs. Our culture has traded the concept of "needs" for "rights" to which people are entitled.
In Luke 18:35-43, Jesus encounters a blind man who cries out for mercy from Jesus. Those around demand that he be quiet, yet his desperation compelled him to cry out for Jesus even more loudly. Jesus was moved with compassion and healed the man's sight saying, "Your faith has saved you."
We can imagine this scene playing out today. The blind man would have demanded that Jesus help him, believing he was entitled to be healed.
There is much to learn from this passage as we consider the extent of our spiritual needs and spiritual blindness. Where else can one put their faith to gain the ability to truly see? What is this faith, shown by the blind man, that is able to save?
There is an ever-growing list of popular DIY projects on the internet and social media platforms. Among the most favored Do-It-Yourself options are home improvements, cooking, gardening, auto repairs, and even upcycling (also known as repurposing). Whatever your interest, skills, or resources, there is a DIY project for you.
Another field of DIY is self-improvement. There is no shortage of tutorials available to help you learn to journal, improve your health, practice mindfulness, set goals, engage in self-care, or learn the art of positive affirmation.
There are even DIY tips for those who desire spiritual growth. However, for those discontent with a vague sense of spirituality, there are some limitations. Is there a DIY solution for those who want assurance they will have eternal life?
In Luke 18:15-25, Jesus meets a young wealthy man who asks Him this very question. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" In other words, how can I DIY my salvation? When Jesus answered, the man walked away sad when confronted with the true cost.
Are all prayers equal or effective? It was once said that there will always be prayer in schools as long as there are tests. Another saying is that "there are no atheists in foxholes." Prayer may not be an important part of a person's life, but when bullets start flying, they suddenly learn how to pray.
One dictionary defines prayer as "a solemn request for help or success to God or an object of worship; an earnest hope, or wish." Based upon this definition, prayer can be a request, earnest hope, or wish. The object of one's prayers can be any god or object of worship (including themselves). People can pray to anything, for any reason, and in any way they choose. They can have a memorized prayer, a long prayer, or a short prayer.
If the options for how to pray or who to pray to are endless, are they equally effective?
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells a story of two men who went up to the Temple to pray. The men could not be more different. One was a respected Pharisee (religious teacher) and the other a despised tax collector. They had different prayers with different results.
In these verses, we discover the content of one’s prayers reveals a lot about the character of one’s heart. We can learn a lot about a person and their God by how they pray. How we pray, indicates what we really think about ourselves and God. In this message, we discover that not all prayers are equal.
How crucial is prayer? While most believers acknowledge its significance, many allocate minimal time to prayer, often limiting it to meal or bedtime rituals. Yet, the God of the Bible is relational, personal, and accessible, extending an invitation to commune through prayer. Without an active prayer life, one cannot confidently assert a relationship with God.
Andrew Murray captures the necessity of prayer stating, "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister, that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness.”
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus underscores the imperative of persistent prayer, urging his disciples to remain steadfast in their supplications. Through the parable of the persistent widow, he illustrates the efficacy of perseverance in seeking help when wrongly suffering.
Jesus imparts a vital lesson on prayer, emphasizing its indispensable role in the life of faith. Jesus was calling His followers to an unwavering commitment and resilience in prayer.
In this message, we explore the necessity of prayer as a vital and irreplaceable aspect of the believer's journey.
What kind of worker are you? There are a lot of different styles and outlooks on work ethic. There are overachievers and there are those who do just enough. Some people are highly efficient and able to accomplish a lot in half the time while others seem to always be busy with low production.
We live in a time of participation trophies and weighted standards. Many struggle to strive to reach their potential if the reward would be no different than the person who gives the bare minimum. Most people can see this is a problem for society but how does this translate to our spiritual lives?
In Luke 17:5-10, the disciples of Jesus seemed overwhelmed by Jesus's description of what His disciples are to live like. They even asked if Jesus would "increase their faith" (v.5). Jesus answered with a parable in which He gave them the minimum, though radical, standard for God's servants.
Are their different standards for some Christians, requiring modified levels of commitment? Or is there a radical minimum?
Years ago, there was a viral video about fishing. There was a man fishing at a lake. While waiting for a fish to bite, he noticed a crisp red apple sitting on a rock near him. He reached over, picked it up, and took a bite. Suddenly, something started to pull him towards the water. There was a line attached to his mouth pulling him into the lake and eventually, the fisherman disappeared under the water. A few moments later, another apple shot out of the water, line attached, and landed back on the rock. The fish had turned the tables.
Temptations are like an alluring bait with a hidden barbed hook within. There are no shortage of baits or hooks that we see in our daily lives. These traps are hard to avoid.
In Luke 17:1-6, warns his disciples to be on guard against temptations that are ready to trap them. Jesus then warns them of an even greater danger. He says what is even worse than giving into temptation is to lead vulnerable ones into temptation. The consequences of tempting others are far worse than even death.
Most importantly, the best way to avoid temptation is to never walk alone and when someone sins we are to patiently call them to repentance and forgive them. The disciples knew this wouldn't be easy so they asked for more faith.
Many people are living for the moment. At the same time, others are just working their daily grind and routine to get through the week, until they start the next week. Some are striving to live their best life now.
Few live with the understanding and forethought that this life is preparation for the next. How you live this life will have an eternally significant impact on your afterlife.
In Luke 16:14-31, the Pharisees continued to be offended by what Jesus was teaching. Jesus challenges their understanding of the Law and confronts their self-righteous pride. They had been using the Word of God for selfish gain while neglecting the needs of others. Jesus gives the parable of the rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lives in abundance while Lazarus suffers from great physical needs. After they both die and in the next life, the roles have changed. Lazarus is now experiencing his reward in heaven and the rich man is now suffering in torment.
The shocking truth is that this life is temporal and the next life will be permanent. How are you preparing in your life now for the afterlife?
“Man has always lost his way. He has been a tramp ever since Eden; but he always knew, or thought he knew, what he was looking for. ...For the first time in history, he begins really to doubt the object of his wanderings on the earth. He has always lost his way, but now he has lost his address." – G.K. Chesterton
We are all prodigals. We may differ in the particular way we are lost but we are all born with a sense that we belong to a different world. As Chesterton explains, man has wandered so far that “he has lost his address.” We struggle to find our way forward and no longer know what it means to be home.
This is powerfully revealed in Luke 15:11-32. Last week we looked at the younger brother, the defiant prodigal who left his father for freedom only to find himself in greater bondage. He comes to his senses and clearly sees it would be better to be a day worker in his father’s house than starving for pig slop.
This Sunday, we will look at the older brother, the dutiful prodigal (v.25-32). If you have ever questioned if you were good enough for God to love you or struggled with understanding how certain people could truly be Christians with their sordid past, then you need to meet the dutiful son.
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