Sin’s best hiding is in “righteous” places and “righteous” people. In fact, Sin, sin of the most base kind, can hide in the most righteous looking people in church on any given Sunday.

God exposes sin to reveal that all sin and every sinner needs a Savior--even Jesus Christ.

In world coming apart through sin, we can easily be distracted from the words that really matter: The Gospel. Lester reminds us that the eternal message of the Gospel is our Hope and Stay in times of earthly flux. Refreshingly simple with heavenly truth: Jesus holds all things together, Jesus has reconciled us and Jesus is over all and coming again.

In world that is coming apart, we need to be community that is coming together through Jesus Christ. More than ever, the church needs to be a living witness of redemption, reconciliation, unity and love. It takes a supernatural work of God in the heart to make that happen. That is something we have and it is what the world needs.

This parable is similar to another account of a friend who comes at midnight to seek bread for a visitor from out of town. Both parables stress the importance of prayer that perseveres, so we are using the same title for both studies. There are some contrasts. In the earlier account, a friend is praying for someone else; this is intercession and is about provision. In today’s reading, someone is praying for self; this is petition and is about protection.

This parable has a rigid feel to it. It would seem to “take the joy” out of the Christian life. It seems to paint the Lord as a strict taskmaster who over burdens his servants. But every lesson has a goal. This parable actually has a purpose to improve genuine service and to fuel faith in the work that we do.

When a believer dies, does he go to sleep until resurrection?

Is paradise heaven?

Will we recognize others in heaven?

What will our bodies be like?

Jesus' parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus gives us glimpse into what happens, one minute after you die.

An accounts manager was soon to lose his job for siphoning off money and the company materials. To provide for a future with no income, he contacted all of his master’s debtors and reduced their debts, thus obligating them to return a favor and help him when he was without a job.