Jesus healed all ten lepers knowing that nine of them would not be grateful for what he had done. His altruism shows that he would have done so even if none had returned to say thank you. It is part of our nature to want to attach strings to our gifts. To add a clause to every contribution. Jesus wasn’t that way.

People change when they encounter Jesus. Sometimes instantly; sometimes progressively (the Bible calls it sanctification). In every instance, acceptance precedes change. Jesus' accepted Zacchaeus before he changed. Why is it that we expect people to change before we love them? The love of Jesus accepts us as we are, but doesn’t let us stay that way.

When she is put in front of him, he already knows what he’s going to do. Those around him look to trap him. She’s naked and afraid for her life. Everyone has rights...but you must check your sin before you throw...you must check your sin, before you go. We’ll look at Jesus’ interaction with the men of the law and the woman caught in adultery today.

In Mark 10 Jesus started with the last five commandments because he knew that the rich man hadn’t kept the first five. He knew that the man did have a god that he put before Yahweh – money! Jesus didn’t condemn him; he didn’t chase after him; Jesus loved him. That didn’t mean ignoring the truth though.

Jesus chose his disciples on spec. He knew who they were but, more than that, he believed in who they could become. Jesus sees us for who we can become, but do we do the same for others? Do we judge people based on who they are, or do we believe in them based on who they can become?

God owns it all. With our titles, and deeds and portfolios it’s sometimes easy to forget that. But let’s be honest. The church has propagated that belief, too. For as long as most of us remember haven’t we been taught to “give God ten percent”? We don’t give God anything. He already owns it. Give God ten percent? More like he lets us oversee the other 90%. But, if “Jesus is Lord” is your Core, then, it all belongs to him and you will give accordingly.

There are times in each of our lives when we get so far out of balance that we are at risk of falling completely. When we’re desperate for the Lord’s intervention, God’s people engage in fasting – the spiritual discipline of denying something that is routine in order to make more room for God. Together with prayer, fasting helps refocus one’s heart and mind, strengthens The Core, and enables the believer to repent, find answers from God, or prepare for whatever God has next in one’s life.

Core training is cyclical. When your core is strong, you’re motivated to greater spiritual discipline; when your spiritual disciplines are strong, your core is strengthened. With “Jesus is Lord” at your core, you’re naturally motivated to pray, and when you pray your core grows stronger. This leads to a “peace that transcends all understanding,” something that is really missing in those whose core is weak.