Luke 18:14 contains one of the basic principles of Jesus’ teaching: the exalted will be humbled, and vise-versa. While our world rates people on what they can do for us, in God’s Kingdom, people are rated differently. Those who can contribute least are welcomed the most. What kind of a church are we? One that values the next generation – a part of our church consumes church resources.

Luke 18:14 contains one of the basic principles of Jesus’ teaching: the exalted will be humbled, and vise-versa. While our world rates people on what they can do for us, in God’s Kingdom, people are rated differently. Those who can contribute least are welcomed the most. What kind of a church are we? One that values the next generation – a part of our church consumes church resources.

Parable of the sower. What kind of a church are we? One that scatters seeds. We create environments for people to seek, study, and serve God. God brings the growth.

We get a brief look into the growing up life of Jesus in the beginning of Luke. After angelic fanfare and some Christmas hoopla, Jesus is like any other Jewish boy. He learns Torah and his dad’s profession. The community is sold out to make sure he learns Torah. How have we done that as a church? What more can we do over the next 70 years.

Joseph tests his brother and then reveals his identity. Jacob and his family move to Egypt. In the mist of that, Judah stood up to the-then-unknown-powerful-rule to protect his father and honor his commitment to him. Big idea here could be something along the lines of honoring your father and mother. Lots of what happens online and offline today is complaining about parents, when instead we should be thanking God for them and for their influence in our lives.

Jacob’s response to his sons when they insist on taking Benjamin to Egypt with them pulls back the curtain on what’s been going on all along in this family: destructive favoritism. Favoritism breaks down families, while love builds them up. When it comes to us today, each of our kids should be fully known, fully celebrated, and fully guided.

Genesis 38 is an odd digression in the Joseph narrative, and it shares some sordid misdeeds of Jacob’s family. Sexual sin (and other sin) has brought conflict and pain. Even so, God is able to deliver on the promise of his covenant through this family. Similarly, God can life to your marriage covenant, no matter your past. While sex beyond marriage brings brokenness, as the Holy Spirit grows self-control in us, he can heal our divisions.

The unresolved conflict between Joseph and his brothers led to pain, harm, and regret. In our families, unchecked conflict can lead to the same. Jesus calls his people to be people of peace, and peace starts with forgiveness. Forgiveness itself is a choice – letting go of anger and our need to retaliate.

As we look at the mess of Jacob, Esau and their families in Genesis 34-36, we turn to Deuteronomy 6 and Galatians 5:19-23 for direction. If we allow God to be the center, we will be able to purposefully teach the next generation. We will also help them to watch and learn from our examples.

As Jacob journeys back to his homeland, he’s faced with the threat of Esau and his 400 men coming to meet him. In his distress he turns to God as his only recourse. When it comes to our relationship with problematic siblings, we are often powerless to fix things on our own. Our best option is to pray and then be patient. Rather than inaction, patience is expectancy.