Martin Luther is reputed to have said “every night I go to bed grateful for the saving grace of Christ, and every morning I wake up thinking I must earn my salvation.” Overnight hearts and minds reset to the restless default of fear. Our world seems to live in a relentless tug of war between grace and merit. Grace, simply put, seems too easy, too free, too…unfair. Yet grace remains the problem for a world full of people caught up in the grind of wearying restlessness. Wonder how the tug of war is resolved? You may be surprised.
Every generation has a moment of tragedy that leaves its mark. In the aftermath of tragedy, familiar questions rise to the surface: Why did this happen? Whose fault is it? What do we do now? These questions come from hearts trying to make sense of suffering. But as people of the Kingdom of God, how are we called to respond when tragedy comes?This Sunday we will look at the words of our King addressing real tragedy and pointing to the proper response of Kingdom People.
Pundits these days are ready and willing to interpret this cultural moment. "It’s the end of democracy! A (new) gilded age has arrived! These are desperate times for the environment! These are great days for the economy!"Few pundits dare to make predictions about “what time it is” in the advance of the Kingdom of God. God’s Spirit is moving to reconcile all things to himself—all things in heaven and on earth” (Col 1:19-20)—through the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection,, one carried in words and displayed in the deeds of a true and faithful church.Is progress evident? What are your metrics? In today’s passage, Jesus makes a prediction. It’s hard. It’s bold. It’s true. You ready?
Have you ever tried to tell someone who was upset to "calm down?" How did that work out for you? It's kind of like telling someone who's worried to "not worry about it." And yet, Jesus says to his disciples: "Do not be anxious about your life..." So what does the Lord mean by this command? Is it theoretical or practical? And how does he expect those in the Kingdom to respond today?
Ever been accused of being a hypocrite? Ever accused someone else of hypocrisy? In our world, hypocrisy usually functions as an accusation against Christians, people who are supposed to be living as an all-of-life-witness to Jesus the King. But in today's passage, we understand the deeper dangers of hypocrisy. It’s more than inconsistency; it’s fraud and it exposes a faith without loyalty to our Savior and King. And, as Jesus makes clear, loyalty to the King is at the core of faith!
Do you remember when Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit at the revelation of the Kingdom? His heart leapt for joy that what was once hidden had now been revealed! But as we come to Luke 11, that joy gives way to righteous anger—because what was revealed is now being concealed. Over the course of a single meal, Jesus exposes that it’s not just bad behavior or misguided morals, but an entire belief system that is blinding people to the Kingdom of God. Yet even in the midst of judgment, there is hope. As we come together to hear the Word of God, may we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us from blindness to sight, from warning to hope.
As the Iron Curtain was coming down in Eastern Europe in the 1990s, the gospel was on the move. Many in the “orthodox” churches were spiritually numb; they never read the Bible, never heard the gospel preached, and were, as a consequence, never changed by the Word of the King. But a gospel revival began as the Curtain fell, and those who came to a faith in Christ that transformed them were often mocked. They were called by a nickname called “repenters” for they were marked by soft hearts, their profound grief over their sins, and their willingness to turn from anything, everything, in their whole-hearted embrace of a completely new life as citizens of the Kingdom of God. I wonder if anyone would call us repenters? Let’s find out Sunday!
This Sunday we continue our series in Luke with a strange yet hopeful passage (Luke 11:14–28). When Jesus casts out a demon, the crowd is divided: some accuse Him, others demand another sign. In response, Jesus tells two parables — one about a divided kingdom, the other about an empty house. Both reveal the same truth: evil is real, but Jesus is stronger.In a time where evil feels so present, this text offers honest hope. Come and hear the good news of the King who defeats the “strong man” and fills the house with lasting hope.
The President visited the King. So, there are “royal protocol” issues. How to address a King? Do you reach out to shake his hand or wait for him to shake yours? What are the “no-nos”? Apparently, US Presidents don’t have a good track record with such things.Today’s passage raises the same concerns. How do we talk to our God? What may we say? What should we say? Are there tricks to assure we receive what we ask for? Should we recite this prayer, or is it more like an outline? What are the “no-nos”? Sunday, we’ll find out how Jesus’s answer to a simple question changes everything. Come, let's learn together how to pray!
In John 15, Jesus famously states, “…apart from me you can do nothing.”In the story of Mary and Martha, Jesus seems to be saying, “With me you should do nothing.”Such a familiar story. So easy to relate to Martha. So easy to misunderstand what Luke was getting at by including this passage where the did, the way he did. Looking forward to being together this Sunday to get clarity on what this story tells us about the identity and activity of a disciple of Jesus.
Most of us know the story of the Good Samaritan. But what if this parable is about more than just being kind to strangers? What if Jesus is showing us something deeper about ourselves, about God, and about what it really means to “love your neighbor”? Join us this Sunday as we explore one of Jesus’ most familiar, yet most surprising stories.
A child is born. A dragon roars. A war erupts in heaven. The dragon is overrun and hurled down like lightning, but the question echoes: Who is this child, born King of the Nations?In Luke 10, Jesus reveals Himself as the King of the nations, the defeater of the enemy, and the one who writes our names in heaven. Together we’ll discover that our greatest joy is not in what we do for the Kingdom, but in what the King has done for us.
We all want to be great at something. Even those who might appear to shy away from it or minimize it probably do so as a result of having failed to achieve it previously. Jesus’ disciples were no different. They find themselves in a disagreement about who is greatest…or which one will end up as Jesus’ right hand once the kingdom fully comes. Jesus offers several rebukes and rebuttals to patiently but powerfully reframe the conversation and redefine what true greatness looks like. The disciples are confused…and by extension, so are we today. What does true greatness look like in Jesus’ kingdom?Read Luke 9:46-62 and see if you can make sense of the greatness Jesus pursues.
I’m excited to have the added privilege of opening God’s word with you all this Sunday, we will pick up from last week in Luke’s gospel. Read Luke 9:29-45 in preparation for this Sunday. This text is so rich, and Lord willing we will be able to engage well with the passages before us.
Some argue the Christian faith is worthwhile for what you get out of it. “Enlightened self interest” it’s called. Heaven > hell.But Jesus’ approach is different. He calls us to bear crosses, to deny self, and per Bonhoeffer,“to come and die.” Are you all in?We learn Sunday just why his calling is infinitely better.
What if God called you to something big… and told you to pack nothing?This week we’ll explore Luke 9:1–17, where Jesus sends out the twelve with no supplies - only His power and authority. What follows is a story of empty hands, overwhelming need, and a King who provides more than enough. Join us as we discover what it means to carry the message of the Kingdom in a world that’s starving for life.
Ever been to a funeral? Ever touch the hand of the deceased, or kissed his/her forehead? Funerals aren’t as common as they once were, as cremation has taken the place of burial. Old practices of honoring the dead have given way to new customs. Ever wonder why? Might it be because we fear death?In today’s passage, we hear of Jesus’ power to “heal” death. To overturn all the ugliness of death in the world, in us, in you, in me. And to replace it all with LIFE. We will hear him say in the face of death: “Do not fear; only believe.” He’s not just talking about funerals. But I wonder what he does mean. Let’s find out together!
Chaos. It's a word that's hard to define but easy to relate to. It can be very personal, but it can also be communal, national, or even global. It can be an event, a season, a person, an inward feeling, and so on. It's the idea that things are unordered and out of place, not the way they're supposed to be. In Luke 8:22-39, we find one continuous story where chaos has been reigning. But the King has come and is making claims across land and sea. Evil is restrained, light invades the darkness, and chaos is turned into order. Join us this Sunday as we follow Jesus on His journey across the water and look at what happens when the King claims new lands for His Kingdom.
Ohana is the Hawaiian phrase for our word for “family,” but our English equivalent doesn’t do it justice. While it includes those within the immediate nuclear family, it goes way beyond the traditional sense of family in our Western culture. Beyond blood or genetics, this kind of family includes friends, neighbors, even those who just share a common passion or core values.In Luke 8:19-21, Jesus radically reframes the family. It looks more Ohaha than Israel. How would this change land for Jesus’ own family, and for those Israelites standing in his midst? How will it land for you?
Imagine with me…You are told in a vision from God to examine the life of X (a person or a family or a church like Eternal), and to report back to him.Most of us would tremble. A few, I’m afraid, might be too eager What to look for? Behaviors? How we speak to one another? Prayer life (or its absence)?Sunday we enter the world of the OT prophets. Jesus was steeped in their parables: they always taught in parables and he will too. They did it for a reason, always looking for one thing. Know what it is? Let’s find out together.