Paid In Full

Our Gospel lesson this morning is a bit challenging. Because it seems that Jesus is holding up a crooked and corrupt manager as the example we should follow.

Is Jesus saying that the children of light should be corrupt? That we should learn how to bend the rules and beat the system?
No, of course not.

 
• Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113  • 
 
• 1 Timothy 2:1-7  • 
 
• Luke 16:1-13

The Finder's Joy

Our gospel lesson this morning gives us unique insight into the joy God experiences when we repent.

The parables of the lost coin and the lost sheep are really about the diligent ones who search and seek to find their lost possession - the man with the sheep and the woman with her coin - and the joy they experience in finding what they’ve lost.

This is the joy our heavenly Father experiences at our repentance.

 
• Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10  • 
 
• 1 Timothy 1:12-17  • 
 
• Luke 15:1-10

The Journey is Christ's Alone (Part 2)

Are we really thankful for this gospel lesson? Jesus tells us that if we want to become his disciples we must hate our families and our lives give up all our possessions, too.

Is this really the good news that we came to hear this morning?

Well, my hope is that by the time we're done this morning this will seem like good news; news for which we’ll gladly say, "Praise to you, O Christ!”

 
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1  • 
 
• Philemon 1:1-1:21  • 
 
• Luke 14:25-33

Our Unchanging Savior

Everything else is constantly changing.  No person, theory or thing remains the same. The number of planets will change.

The number of food groups will change. The theories about global climate will change. But Christ remains yesterday, today and forever.

• Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112  • 
• Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16  • 
 
• Luke 14:1, 7-14

Everybody Hurts Sometimes

Bum Phillips once said: “There are two types of coaches in the NFL; them that have been fired and them that are gonna be fired.”

And we might say that our lesson this morning reminds us that there are two types of people in the world; those who’ve been hurt and those who will be hurt.

We can’t escape it.  We can’t avoid it. At some time or another all of us get hurt.  Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from it.

What being a Christian does give us, however, is the ability to hope even in the midst of our hurting.

 
• Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8  • 
 
• Hebrews 12:18-29  • 
• Luke 13:10-17

Running the Race Well

This cloud of witnesses are the saints who inspire us and encourage us to faithfully run the race set before us.

They whisper in our ears when we grow discouraged or when we feel like we can’t endure another day –
They inspire us to fight the good fight and finish the race well.

 
• Jeremiah 23:23-29 •
•  Psalm 82  • 
 
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2  • 
 
• Luke 12:49-56

Selling Out for Christ

Sometimes there are parts of scripture that we’d rather not hear, and today’s lesson is one of those.

Sure, we’re glad to hear the first part; where Jesus tells us that the Father has chosen to give us the kingdom, but the second part?! Well, that’s another story.

Jesus can’t be serious when he tells us we need to sell our possessions and give all our money away? Can he?!

Well, he is .... and it isn’t.

• Genesis 15:1-6 •
•  Psalm 33:12-22  • 
 
• Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16  • 
 
• Luke 12:32-40

A Fool and His Money

The Rich Fool's problem is that he doesn't recognize the source of his blessing, and as a result he puts his trust in the blessing rather than in the One who blesses.

We, too, must admit that at times we measure our worth by the abundance of our possessions, rather than in the true wealth given to us by God in Christ Jesus.

• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 •
•  Psalm 49:1-12  • 
• Colossians 3:1-11  • 
 
• Luke 12:13-21