Thirsting Souls

A fish has no idea it lives in water. Most of us are just as blind to the beliefs our culture hands us, and we carry them straight into our Christianity. In this study, Pastor Daniel Steeves opens a short series on syncretism with 2 Kings 17:24-41, where the new settlers of Samaria “feared the LORD but also served their own gods.” Their fear passed the eye test but failed God’s test, and their children inherited the same divided worship. The story runs all the way to Jesus at the well in John 4, where He offers the descendants of those syncretists true worship in spirit and truth.

Jump into a Sunday class where we look at Christology, particularly the truth that Jesus is truly human!

A man once asked Jesus whether only a few would be saved. Jesus didn't give him a number. Instead, he turned to the whole crowd and told them to strive to enter through the narrow door while it still stands open.

In this Wednesday study of Luke 13:22–35, Pastor noDaniel Steeves walks through the shut door, the crowd who heard Jesus teach in their streets but never followed Him, and the guests coming from east and west to the kingdom feast. Jesus calls Herod “that fox,” keeps going toward Jerusalem, and weeps over the city like a hen longing to gather her chicks. The door is narrow because it is the only one, and the wonder is that it’s open at all.

Who in your life is standing outside that door?

In Luke 12:13–34, Daniel Steeves walks through the parable of the rich fool and Jesus' words on ravens, lilies, and treasure in heaven. The farmer hoards in plenty, the anxious disciple frets in lack, and both assume life consists in what they own. Jesus points us to a Father who feeds the birds, knows what we need, and is pleased to give us His kingdom.

Part of an ongoing study through the Gospel of Luke at First Baptist Church in Litchfield.

Substitutes are people made righteous to do righteous deeds for those in need, to the glory of God.

Come along as Pastor Daniel Steeves unpacks the theology of being a substitute through Job 29.

Scripture says, "Do not be afraid," and Scripture also commands us to fear God. Which is it? In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus takes up the question of fear and puts guardrails around it.

Daniel Steeves walks through the passage verse by verse: hypocrisy as leaven, working slowly and in secret until the day when everything hidden is brought into the light; the fear of God as the one fear that frees us from every lesser one; what Jesus means by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; and His promise that the Spirit supplies the words when His people are put on the spot for Christ. The God who holds authority over your soul is the same God who counts the hairs on your head.

How can you enjoy life without idolizing it? How can you enjoy life without it being vanity? Daniel Steeves moves through Ecclesiastes 9 to show that, with the right heart, enjoying God's gifts is part of enjoying God!

The disciples watched Jesus heal the sick, preach to crowds, and silence a storm, yet the one thing they asked Him to teach them was how to pray. Whatever they saw in Him, they wanted it.

In this message from Luke 11:1-13, Pastor Daniel Steeves walks through the model prayer and the parable of the persistent neighbor. Jesus offers His disciples something no rabbi before Him could offer: unhindered access to God as Father. The Father who hears is glad to be asked, and every petition, from daily bread to protection from temptation, serves the fame of God's name.

You can tirelessly serve Jesus for years and end up resenting Him. Martha did just that, and she managed to do it while Jesus was sitting in the next room.

In this study of Luke 10:38-42, Pastor Daniel Steeves leads us through four moevments of the passage: Martha welcomes, Mary listens, Martha complains, and Jesus corrects. Hospitality isn't the problem in the passage, and Jesus does not tell Martha to have a bett attitude while serving. Instead, He tells her that one thing is necessary, and that Mary has chosen the good portion, the one helping set in front of her that nobody can take back.

In the end, this passage shows us that service for Jesus that is not fed by Jesus will curdle into resentment every time.

Luke 10:38–42 — Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus tells His disciples that the least among them is the greatest, and most of us hear that as a call to think poorly of ourselves. I am convinced that is not what He means. In Luke 9:46–50 two scenes belong together: twelve men arguing over rank, and John shutting down a stranger who was casting out demons in Jesus' name.

This passage shows that "least" is a position you take rather than a feeling you work up about yourself, and Jesus makes it measurable by asking who you are willing to stand next to. The cost runs in two directions, and I work through both, along with the line between guarding the gospel and guarding your own circle.