Living in and around a city means that all of us have a lot of neighbors. We see them all the time. Life is lived in public spaces and we are surrounded by people – people of every background. This makes the Biblical command to love our neighbor an overwhelming task. How do we even begin to understand who our neighbor is? In this sermon, we continued in Luke’s Gospel with Luke 10:25-37. This is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus, “The Good Samaritan.” At times our familiarity can actually get in the way of clarity and understanding. We took a fresh look at this text to see how Jesus’ perplexing story serves to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

Living in and around a city means that all of us have a lot of neighbors. We see them all the time. Life is lived in public spaces and we are surrounded by people – people of every background. This makes the Biblical command to love our neighbor an overwhelming task. How do we even begin to understand who our neighbor is? In this sermon, we continued in Luke’s Gospel with Luke 10:25-37. This is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus, “The Good Samaritan.” At times our familiarity can actually get in the way of clarity and understanding. We took a fresh look at this text to see how Jesus’ perplexing story serves to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

Joy is ever elusive. We know it when we see it in others. We can even look back on times when we think we might have had it. Yet, in the present reality of our lives it is so hard to grasp, and the harder we try the more elusive it can be. In this sermon, we continued in Luke’s Gospel with Luke 10:1-24. This is a long section. In it Jesus again sends out His followers, but this time it is 70 rather than 12. As they return they are filled with joy at their experience. Jesus Himself is filled with joy through the Holy Spirit. We worked together to understand the source of their joy, and how we ought to pursue it.

Joy is ever elusive. We know it when we see it in others. We can even look back on times when we think we might have had it. Yet, in the present reality of our lives it is so hard to grasp, and the harder we try the more elusive it can be. In this sermon, we continued in Luke’s Gospel with Luke 10:1-24. This is a long section. In it Jesus again sends out His followers, but this time it is 70 rather than 12. As they return they are filled with joy at their experience. Jesus Himself is filled with joy through the Holy Spirit. We worked together to understand the source of their joy, and how we ought to pursue it.

In this text we see what happened after the disciples had identified who Jesus is and the glory of Jesus was revealed through the Transfiguration. What we see is not pretty. There are four short stories of discipleship failure. As we walk through them, each holds a lesson for us as we follow Christ.

In this text we see what happened after the disciples had identified who Jesus is and the glory of Jesus was revealed through the Transfiguration. What we see is not pretty. There are four short stories of discipleship failure. As we walk through them, each holds a lesson for us as we follow Christ.

This text is almost too glorious to preach. In it we see the glory of Jesus Christ revealed to three of the Apostles as they withdrew to a mountain to pray. There is so much for us to learn about the weight of God’s glory.

This text is almost too glorious to preach. In it we see the glory of Jesus Christ revealed to three of the Apostles as they withdrew to a mountain to pray. There is so much for us to learn about the weight of God’s glory.

One of the big themes in this chapter is discipleship – what it looks like to follow Jesus. So, we’re jumping a bit in order to draw out those themes. It’s an important issue for all of us to consider. The call to discipleship is costly and radical. It is also undeniably clear. So, beginning with the question from Jesus, “Who do you say I am?”, we will see what it takes to follow Him.

One of the big themes in this chapter is discipleship – what it looks like to follow Jesus. So, we’re jumping a bit in order to draw out those themes. It’s an important issue for all of us to consider. The call to discipleship is costly and radical. It is also undeniably clear. So, beginning with the question from Jesus, “Who do you say I am?”, we will see what it takes to follow Him.