All of the parables are meant to solve mysteries.  And the mysteries that this parable unravels are some of the most profound in life. To do so, Jesus points us to two fairly ordinary fields If you want to understand why the world is as it is…or why the church is as it is…or why you are as you are…you have to…

Several years ago someone recommended I read Kate Murphy’s book You’re Not Listening. I didn’t listen then…not really sure why they would recommend it 🙂 But I was reminded of it this week as I listened to an interview with David Brooks.He was citing research from the book to show that we have a serious listening…

Last week we began to look at Jesus’ focus on the family.  The church is probably the largest pro-family institution in the world. But the relationship between church and family can be complicated. To live rightly as families and as disciples, we need to get the relationship right. Matthew 12:46–50 can help us do so.…

The church is probably the largest pro-family institution in the world. But the relationship between church and family can be complicated. To live rightly as families and as disciples, we need to get the relationship right.  Matthew 12:46–50 can help us do so. In today’s message we take a look at Jesus’ focus on the family. We…

Matthew 12 is all about conflict. And in Matthew 12:38-50, we come to the final confrontation of the chapter. You could think about this section as the final battle of an epic confrontation trilogy.  In the first confrontation, we saw the Pharisees attack Jesus directly with false accusations of breaking the law.  In the second…

All kids know the rhyme: Sticks and stones may break my bones…but words can never hurt me.  And all know adults know this is ridiculous.  We all know few things can cause as much pain…or as much joy as words.  In Matthew chapter 12 we have one of Jesus’ strongest and most forceful statements about…

On the surface, the story we find in Matthew 12:22 seems like the simplest story:A man is hurting.He comes to Jesus.Jesus heals him.Some people get mad. Why does Matthew tell us this story? He says that Jesus healed all who came to him, so why does this story take center stage?  What we see in this…

Matthew 11 and 12 are all about misunderstandings and conflict. Times of conflict, times of misunderstandings, and rejection can be disorienting. In times like that, you need an anchor; you need something to reorient and remind you of what you know to be true.  Matthew 12:15-21 is that anchor. These 10 lines that Matthew quotes…

When we pause to review our lives, whether the occasion is a birthday, an anniversary, or the dawn of a new year, we tend to ask certain questions: What was the most memorable event of the past year? The most dramatic change? The greatest accomplishment? Our passage this week offers another set of questions: Where did…

Matthew 12 is all about conflict and controversy.  Here Jesus is publicly confronted and he has to defend his disciples, his ministry, and his message.  There are few things that matter more for the quality of your life, the health of your relationships, and the work you do than how you deal with conflict and…