Luke 15:1…

If you’ve ever lost anything you know what Jesus is speaking of in Luke 15.

The thing is - you HAVE lost something. That’s the whole point. Jesus wants you to know

exactly how God feels about what He has lost.

If you had lost a sheep, what would you do? Of course you would seek after it to try to find it. The sheep has both monetary and emotional value to you. You would do everything you could to find that sheep. You might re-visit the places the sheep had preferred. You might go back to the water hole, and you would definitely search the dangerous pitfalls the sheep may have gone down into.

When even a single sheep is missing, it is a very uncomfortable feeling, and that lack of peace will not be resolved until you know what happened to that sheep.

How interesting Jesus referred to His followers as ‘sheep.’ How good to know if we wander, or fall into danger, Jesus is going to come looking for us.

Or perhaps as a woman you have lost an important piece of jewelry. This ‘coin’ Jesus refers to is one which you would have worn in a ten-piece head-dress at your wedding. How important to you that missing coin would be. You would search high and low, and you would involve the whole family in the search. That silver coin has value in and of itself, but knowing it is part of your marriage head-dress only increases its loss when it is missing.

How interesting Jesus’ followers are referred to as ‘the Bride of Christ.’

But how can God ‘lose’ anything? Doesn’t He know all and see all. Doesn’t He know exactly where the lost item can be found?

Well, what if the lost ‘item’ is lost on purpose? What if the lost item has left of its own accord, and doesn’t desire to be found? What if the lost item that is lost intentionally and doesn’t want to be found is your own son?

We learn more about the heart of God and how He feels for His children in this chapter than perhaps any other. Jesus wants it that way.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 14:1…

Consider the invitation.

Who invited you? What are you invited to? What are the expectations for your attendance? What is the dress code? What time should you be there? What do you expect to happen when you arrive?

All of these questions and more flood our minds when we receive an invitation. The questions usually have simple answers. (Generally speaking none of this is difficult to figure out.)

Our response is most often driven mostly by who the invitation is from. Is it a person we regard as important – or someone we don’t care much for?

Luke 14 is all about invitations. Jesus is demonstrating and indicating how God views our responses to His invitations to us…

Here we are in synagogue service, and Jesus scans the room and invites a man with dropsy to come forward. It is Sabbath. What will Jesus do? (Notice the man with dropsy does not hesitate to respond to Jesus’ invitation.) We could ask, “Why not?” but the answer is obvious.

On the other hand the lawyers and Pharisees don’t respond to Jesus’ invitation to be about the business of healing broken people on Sabbath. All the while they do respond to the invitation of the needs of their animals without regard to the day.

Jesus again uses healing on the Sabbath to demonstrate how far askew their opinion of God’s Law is. This is an invitation Jesus offers over and over again during the course of His ministry because inviting people to be healed is such an important part of God’s program – and God hates it when His program is misrepresented by men invited by Satan to not do what God desires.

The point Jesus so vividly demonstrates is how we so often attempt to remain pious in appearance while we are answering invitations from the devil and denying those from God. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” That’s quite the invitation, isn’t it?

-Pastor Bill

Luke 13:18…

Have you ever wondered what the kingdom of God is like?

Considering heaven as an eternal destination makes it a worthy consideration. It is fascinating how much emphasis is placed on this life – which will end shortly – and how little emphasis is placed on the next life – which will never end.

So what do you think the kingdom of God is like?

How interesting Jesus tells us the kingdom of God begins in the here and now – and then spans on into eternity. We have a taste of heaven, and the rule of God in this life, and it is important we understand this because the kingdom of God comes to all those who desire it.

Doubly fascinating is how the kingdom of God may be corrupted in this life.

Jesus teaches the kingdom of God is in the heart of man, (the place God rules in those who allow it.) The extent of His rule in the heart of man determines how pure His kingdom is on earth.

Can we limit the rule of God in our hearts? Jesus indicates this is not only so – but prevalent. Jesus indicates the kingdom of God in this life is corrupted by the evil practice and influence of man upon it.

That Jesus teaches the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, planted in a garden, which grew and became a large tree may sound exciting, but in reality Jesus speaks of that which has grown grotesque through the influence of carnality upon that which is intended to be purely spiritual. The mustard seed - which normally grows into the form of an herb as a bush or small tree with wispy branches – has in this example grown into a large tree capable of supporting the existence of evil in its branches.

The kingdom of God is like leaven, which has corrupted the entire lump. (Leaven in God’s Word is always a ‘type’ of sin.)

It is important for us to live self-examined lives, in self-examined churches, determined to keep out the influences of entertainment and the world and the flesh.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 13:1…

Sometimes we may think of disaster as a form of judgement. An “act of God.”

We look back to 9/11, and we well-remember some who were prominently stating this to be “God’s judgment” upon our nation.

If it were so, this “judgment” would be well-deserved, as our nation has strayed far from God’s commands - but even more than that from devotion to and love for God.

Truly we can say this nation’s separation from God is not God’s doing but our own. The United States has turned away from God. This has happened so often and in so many ways it is probably impossible to note all them all at this point.

Our court system has certainly played a large part, beginning with a new doctrine supposedly based upon the 1^st Amendment to the Constitution, which since the 1940’s has been interpreted as a doctrine of ‘separation of Church and State.’ (That the 1^st Amendment to the Constitution says no such thing only makes matters worse pertaining to how we may view God’s opinion about this.)

Is God angry? Did He bring judgment against us on 9/11, or in any of the subsequent disasters that have seemingly become a regular feature of life in the United States? Did God pour out His judgment on secular-humanist France on November 13^th? Would God employ terrorists to be a thorn in our sides? Would wild-fire, hurricane, tsunami, earth-quake, rampant disease and the like be God’s means of communicating with His creation that He is displeased?

It’s easy to fall into this pattern of thinking isn’t it?

And so it was when it was reported to Jesus about the Galileans whose blood had been mingled with their sacrifices by Pilate. (The Galileans were known to be sinners as a people group. Indeed it was said, “Can anything good come out of Galilee?”) But what about those from Judea, killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? (These were Judean Jews, so they must have been “good” people.)

The real point Jesus makes here is life is fragile. Very fragile. Life teaches us this over and over again. We must be prepared to die, and repentance is the necessary preparation. To go on and pretend this is not so is foolhardy.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 12:49…

Usually, we think of anything which brings division as being harmful to the church. We are taught to desire unity in all things pertaining to Jesus Christ and His church.

In fact, in Proverbs 6:16-19 that God hates a divisive spirit. The final statement in that passage reads that “God hates…one who sows discord among brethren.”

How interesting Jesus concludes His teaching in Luke 12 by speaking about the fact He has come to bring division on the earth. (V51)

In fact, division is necessary to bring about true unity, rather than that which is false. That which is false may have the appearance of unity, but is most divided of all.

Remembering Jesus began this teaching with a divisive statement back in Luke 11, which was basically, “…you are either for Me or against Me.” The strength of this statement is it tells us there is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus Christ. You must stand with Christ, publically, personally, and philosophically in all things and in all ways – or else you are against Him.

All those WITH Christ are in unity. Those who are either fake or against Christ are identified in order to preserve the unity of those who are with Christ.

This is the “fire” Jesus speaks of in Luke 12:49. It is a ‘fire’ of judgment and/or persecution which burns away the chaff, the false, and the hateful, lazy, and the undermining. It is a purifying fire which burns away all those who come by pretense, or by feigning some sort of religious purity and piety.

Those who are with Christ are with Christ because they KNOW they are sinners in need of a Savior – and they know ONLY Jesus saves them from their sin. In a very real sense, they are desperate people. They are not ‘good’ people, and they are certainly no better than those who oppose Christ – but they have given their heart to Jesus, and they have lovingly submitted to His Lordship in every arena of life – while looking forward to eternal life with Jesus in His kingdom.

The price will be and always has been high to live with this kind of personal devotion to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ time, they knew to follow Christ would cost them everything. Why should we think ourselves different?

-Pastor Bill

Luke 12:22…

What do you have to worry about?

I imagine just about everything.

Worry is a peculiar malady of the human condition, but if you stop to think about it, it needn’t be. One thing we already know before Jesus tells us is worry produces nothing.

Except all kinds of health problems. It has become inarguable worry has a deleterious effect on our physical bodies. The list of medical issues brought on by hypertension and stress are seemingly endless.

And just thinking about the list of the physical disease and even death caused by worry causes me to begin to worry about it.

The very word ‘disease,’ if broken into syllables tells it all: dis – ease; or simply put, a lack of ease. How interesting that worry, (or a lack of ease about a particular situation,) would be so closely related to sickness - but it should be that way because we now know a lack of ease can cause sickness.

God has created man in His image with the capacity to think about the future. In part, this thinking about the future is where worry comes from. We wonder about our future welfare in this physical world.

If we are thinking correctly, this can be an amazing tool employed to tell us we are off track. A warning sign, if you will. An alarm to tell us the wrong door is being opened. Stop and think – what were you worried about at this time last year? You probably can’t remember - but even if you can remember - what happened to the worry you harbored then?

Life in Christ is to be a life free from worry, because worry produces nothing, and it also causes harm. If you have been walking with Christ long at all then you have noticed God’s spoken and written desire that nothing in this world would cause us harm. It is the reason for the Law. The Law protects us from harming ourselves. It is a manifestation of how much God loves us. When we worry, it is an instant reminder we have left dependency upon God and exchanged it for depending upon ourselves.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 12:1…

After speaking forcefully and truthfully to those who were demonstrably against Him while pretending to be for God, Jesus turns to His followers and begins to speak lovingly and truthfully to those who are for Him.

The loving truth is there will be a cost associated with following and gathering with Jesus, and He tells them God sees and God knows the extent to which they follow.

Remembering this teaching began with Jesus informing all who were listening and paying attention there was no neutral ground when it comes to being a child of God, and telliing everyone you are either for Him or against Him – He now warns His followers you cannot fake this.

The Pharisees were prime examples, and this is why He had scolded them so severely. The way Jesus spoke to the Pharisees would have been extremely shocking to those gathered to hear Him speak. Jesus has just accused the Pharisees and scribes and lawyers of being complete fakes. In essence, they were followers of Satan, not God, and any who chose to follow them were actually in danger of the judgment they were to receive. The days of pretending to follow God by religious external practice while your heart is wicked are over. (In reality they always have been.)

But can you speak like this to the powerful religious leaders and get away with it?

Ummm…No. And this will be the cost of being a genuine follower of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus is going to be killed by the fake followers of God as a demonstration of what it means to NOT be a hypocrite, and to not be one who fears those who can kill the mortal body but cannot touch the soul.

Obviously there is great fear induced by this kind of teaching, and explains why these eternal reminders are so important to us. If we value this life above the next, we may be inclined to recant under the pressure of the hypocrites who seek to punish those who are genuine children of God.

How comforting it is to know we are never alone in this pressure of punishment by external forces. Jesus reminds us God sees our plight, and God knows all we go through to follow Jesus. His eye is even on the sparrow. He knows the numbers of hairs on our head. He certainly watches over those who genuinely love Jesus no matter what.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 11:33…

Light has fantastic and phenomenal properties. It is impossible to imagine life without light.

As far as life is concerned, light has always been present because light preceded life, and light enables life both to exist and to thrive.

Since light has so many wonderful and necessary properties for life, we ascribe a literary quality to light.

We imagine ‘wisdom’ as a form of light, and we say wisdom ‘illuminates’ the ‘darkness’ - as if the absence of light equals the absence of wisdom.

For this reason, no one would take light and hide it or bury it or do anything to conceal it once it has been lit. Light is so special it is always given the lead position in our lives, because without it we cannot ‘see.’

Since our perception of light is a function of our sense of sight, Jesus warns us about the quality of the ‘light’ we choose to ‘see’ by. Of course this is the true function of light – it enables us to see.

But what if the things we choose to ‘see’ are not worthy of our God-given sight?

Jesus explains this would be ‘darkness,’ not in the literal sense, but figuratively. But this figurative sense of darkness has every bit as much potential to cause us real harm as literal darkness does – only more, since this (spiritual) darkness we invite has eternal ramifications.

Those who imagine no God are in this condition. By their own advanced educational ‘wisdom’ they imagine themselves not only to be ‘enlightened’ but also to be those capable and even insistent upon ‘enlightening’ others.

This is why Jesus says, “take heed the light you see is not darkness.” No one with any intelligence would take God’s true and pure light and replace it with an incandescent bulb. It is pure unadulterated ignorance which replaces God’s design with man’s ideas.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 11:24…

Jesus has announced His intent to bring to an end the spirit that would divide anyone from God. He has shared the strength required to do so, and demonstrated that He alone has that strength. The only way to drive the strongman from his palace is for a stronger than he to come.

Jesus has come to defeat Satan at every point, and He reveals the ease of the strength of God to do so. It is finger work for God.

In fact, it is only by our denial of the power of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit of God that we allow – and by default empower – Satan to accomplish his goal to divide us from God. Jesus opposes Satan at every turn and He has the power to defeat him.

Sometimes by what we regard as ‘clean living’ we deny the power of God. We may think the power of God is unnecessary in our lives.

The classic example is the person who after a long struggle with a particular destructive behavior finally summons up the will power, or employs some sort of support group, in an effort to succeed against that particular behavior – and is successful. By all outward appearance victory over bad and destructive behavior has taken place. Perhaps the person walking in this degree of victory may even become an example to many and write a self-help manual about gaining victory over the physical impediment by employing some sort of physical method.

Jesus pulls back the curtain to the spiritual realm and lets us know our enemy is spiritual not physical. All the physical methods and all the will power in the world cannot and will not defeat Satan.

It is also revealed Satan does not respond to or respect neutrality when it comes to the things of God. We must be FOR God in order to access the power of God necessary to drive Satanic influence out of our lives once and for all.

Getting ourselves all ‘cleaned up’ by human effort just makes the place that much nicer for the demon spirit to inhabit once again, and explains the never ending cycle in the world of temporary victories followed by even greater falls.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 11:5…

How often then, should we pray? Should we keep asking for our un-met needs?

That’s a good question. After informing His disciples how to pray, Jesus teaches them about what it means to have a prayer life.

A life filled with prayer is a life filled with needfulness realized, needfulness fulfilled, and needfulness empowered. (Our weakness, our lack, becomes our strength.)

There is a question that goes along with the information Jesus provides His disciples, and it is almost an absurd one: If you knew that all your needs - every single one - would be or could be met by God, why would you ever fail to ask Him to meet the need?

It then comes down to a question of faith doesn’t it?

This is how Jesus explains it, and why He explains it in an almost absurd fashion. When you are out of bread, and you need bread, what would you do? What do you do? What have you done?

Well, you go to your neighbor, because you know he has bread when you don’t. It’s too late to make bread yourself, you need ready-made bread.

But wait, how can you be certain your neighbor has bread? The truth is the only thing you know for sure is that you don’t have bread. You go to your neighbor on the possibility he does. And also, faith in even the possibility your neighbor will give you of what he has.

You are completely dependent upon the benevolence of your neighbor, but you do not hesitate to ask – even after bedtime – because the need you have is great, and you are willing to risk begging because your reputation for hospitality is on the line.

In this case, will you take “No” for an answer? Why not? What propels you to keep asking? Is it because you now know for certain the neighbor has the bread you need? (He did not deny that he does.) Is it because it is necessary to keep asking in order to rouse him from his bed to meet the need? How does God fit into this example?

-Pastor Bill

Luke 11:1…

“When you pray…”

The operative phrase in the beginning of Luke 11 is, “When.”

Not so much how or why you pray, but when. There is an expectation that you will.

We learn, (I think,) an interesting fact here in that John the Baptist also taught his disciples to pray. We have no recorded information telling us how or what John taught his disciples to pray, but it must have been in similar fashion as Jesus makes no correction of John’s teaching about prayer, and the listeners do not say, “Wow, that’s different than what John said.”

Something else…perhaps the reason Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray is because John taught his disciples to pray. While that may be the case, their prompting presently comes from the fact Jesus IS praying. Jesus set the example for us to pray by praying Himself.

Once Jesus has taught His disciples what pray the emphasis becomes continuing in it.

The words Jesus taught His disciples to pray are so infamous even unbelievers and atheists know them by heart. We do too. Was that the point? Was Jesus teaching His disciples to literally pray these words?

Well, we have the obvious answer, since the words here in Luke 10 are not the exact words contained in Matthew 6. One of those examples is a paraphrase of the other. The point is the exact words do not matter, but to focus on the substance contained in those words does.

WHO we are praying to becomes of primary importance, especially when we hear so many ‘teaching prayers’ where people in prayer meetings seem to be praying in to instruct other people about things rather than talking to God. Our EXAMPLE is to talk to Our Father, Who is in heaven, and then to keep talking to Him as often as we can.

Jesus teaches His disciples to keep praying, and to keep praying, and to keep praying. Never stop praying. Part of the lesson here is God is moved by our continuing prayer.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 10:25…

The great question of life is: What shall I do to inherit eternal life?

But the question itself is not all there is - is it?

How you ask the question, why you ask the question, what you mean by asking the question – these are all part and parcel to the answer you receive from the Word of God.

In this case, it is a ‘certain lawyer’ asking Jesus about what he should DO to inherit eternal life.

There are some good things about his question, chief among them he apparently believes in eternal life and admits it publicly, which is a good starting point. Secondly, he appears concerned about his own eternal condition, but here it breaks down a bit. (Luke informs us he asked this question as a “test” for Jesus.)

So we wonder if the lawyer was genuinely concerned for himself, or if his main interest was to somehow expose or embarrass Jesus publicly about the answer He may give. (We know enough about human nature to know giving a true answer about how we may inherit eternal life will divide any crowd.) This is his probable motive.

A ‘lawyer’ in this case would be a man employed to examine and uphold Jewish Law. He would be a defender of the Jewish faith. This does not dissuade or dismay Jesus, reminding us how difficult (see impossible) it is to surprise, dismay, or win an argument with God. It ain’t happening…

In response to the lawyer’s question, Jesus appeals to the lawyer’s own reading of the Jewish Law. Listening to the lawyer’s answer we learn he is theologically correct about God’s idea of perfection. But here he has come under the weight of personal conviction about his own ability to perfectly keep this Law he has been charged to keep.

Now, the inquisitor has snared himself, and we see his desperate attempt to wriggle off the hook. “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus’ answer would surprise everyone…

-Pastor Bill

Luke 10:1…

If I was following Jesus along with His disciples as one of His disciples, I think one of the things I would be most interested in seeing is this: What makes Jesus rejoice? What puts a smile on His face? What makes Him resound with joy?

The reason I think I would think that way is because of the clue it may give us all about heaven, and what we can expect from eternal life. What is heaven really like? What do they rejoice about in heaven?

We read in Hebrews 1:9, (quoting from Psalm 45:7,) that Jesus has been anointed by God with the “oil of gladness” more than any man. This means more than anyone who ever lived - however joyful they may have been - Jesus was more.

When I first got saved I used to think about Jesus smiling all the time. There is something about joyful people that makes you want to be with them. The Bible teaches us in Isaiah 53 there was nothing ‘comely’ about Messiah. People would not be drawn to Him by His looks. No, it would be the force of His joy-filled and joy-full personality.

To me this has always put Jesus in a different light than any description of Jesus I had heard in my early days in the church, and also any artwork I had ever seen attempting to portray Jesus. Movies, the same. Jesus was always shown as a very solemn individual. (In one movie, ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ the actor Robert Powell playing the part of Jesus never blinks while on-screen in an effort to depict Jesus’ Divinity.)

But what makes Jesus joyful? When do we really see Him smile?

The answer is found right here in Luke 10. The disciples have been sent out two-by-two, (seventy of them in all,) to go before Jesus into all the towns and villages Jesus was about to visit on His way up to Jerusalem. Jesus has appointed and empowered them to heal the sick there and to tell them the kingdom of God is near to them.

When the seventy returned they reported to Jesus all the things they had done, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Surely THIS was worth rejoicing about!)

Jesus, on the other hand, informs them NOT to rejoice about their ministry “success” but in the simple fact their names are written in the kingdom of heaven. And then - Jesus REJOICED!

-Pastor Bill

Luke 9:37…

When you’re on the mountain-top it can be easy to forget what is going on back down in the valley.

Of course, as Christians we are (hopefully) all aware of the ‘mountain-top’ experiences we sometimes have with Jesus. These may come in the form of retreats, or ‘after-glow’ gatherings, or special times of prayer, or just about anywhere we have a genuine experience with Jesus that reaches into the supernatural realm.

It may happen – and probably most often does – when we least expect it, but are just being faithful to what Jesus has told us to do. Then unexpectedly we somehow are able to see His glory in our midst. It is wonderful, and it is proof of all Jesus has told us.

Peter, James, and John have just had such an experience. Called by Jesus to go to the top of the mountain to pray, they were faithful to His call to prayer and saw what they had no expectation they were about to see: Jesus’ glory was fully revealed, as if veil between the material realm and the spiritual realm had suddenly been removed. And there were Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus about the plan for Jesus’ crucifixion. Too amazing to even begin to attempt to fully comprehend!

But back down at the foot of the mountain there was trouble. What had the enemy arranged for the remaining 9 disciples? You know; the ones who had just been given power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases a mere 35 verses earlier? The ones who had gone out through all the towns preaching the gospel and healing everywhere? The ones who had returned to Jesus telling Him of all they had done in His name?

Satan chooses this time to spring an intense spiritual attack on Jesus’ isolated disciples down in the valley, and it is two-fold: The disciples are surrounded by a great expectant crowd, but in that crowd is a group of scribes disputing with them, and evidently they are drawn into a contentious verbal exchange in the midst of the crowd of witnesses. Secondly, there is a man present in the crowd who has brought his demon-possessed son to the remaining disciples for healing. They could not ‘win’ the argument, and they could not heal the young man.

This is an important reminder our callings and giftings are specific, and apart from Christ we can accomplish nothing.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 9:1…

Talk about responsibility.

Can you imagine Jesus sending you out to represent His ministry? Would it be a heavy thing? Would it be a heady thing?

I try to imagine the meeting between Jesus and His disciples. He called them “together.” It would have been a very great thing to be called together to be given instruction by Jesus. What would the instruction be today?

To date, every time Jesus had called them together, it had been to teach them something, or show them something He wanted them to learn. That was always a wonderful experience, and I imagine whenever Jesus called them together they were excited and happy to come to Him. They had given their lives for these moments, but as yet, they probably didn’t truly understand why.

Now it would be brought out into the open a bit. This time, when Jesus called them together it was to send them away. Try to imagine how frightening it may have been to be sent away from Jesus just when you had staked your life on being with Jesus. There is no safer place known to man than to be with Him, why is He sending us away?

Would you be all for this? Confident? I doubt it. I think it would be more troubling than comforting. But Jesus often takes us outside our comfort zones – to the place ministry takes place - and that is what He is doing here.

Listen to the things He sent them to do: 1) to preach the kingdom of God, and 2) to heal the sick. Wow. I can certainly sense being totally overwhelmed by that assignment. I’m quite certain they were.

But before telling them to go and do, Jesus had given each of them both power and authority over both demons and disease. And this, I think is the lesson. Jesus never sends us to do without giving us the power to do. The temptation may be to attempt to do in your own strength, but the ministry won’t allow it. The task is impossible apart Christ. So how can I be ‘in’ the power of Christ even though I am apart from Him physically? You have to go and do to learn that lesson, once empowered.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 8:1…

How would you define success? How can success be guaranteed – and what is ‘success’ anyway? Can success be measured?

These are pretty important question when it comes to the gospel ministry of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important news and truth anyone ever has the opportunity to hear and deliver, as well as the most important decision anyone ever has to make in their life, and about their life and eternal destiny.

Again, with the degree of importance known, shouldn’t we do all we can to emphasize success?

Jesus speaks quite differently about His own gospel. He tells us our job is not to be successful, but faithful.

The reality is the success of the delivery cannot be immediately measured anyway, even with what we may regard as an immediate and ‘good’ response. (That may all be washed away fairly soon, by the devil, by circumstance, or by distraction.)

Another point Jesus makes is to not be so careful about who we share the gospel with.

In telling this parable of the soils, Jesus demonstrates a farmer who seems oblivious to where the seed lands. Since this represents potentially wasteful behavior, we are left to wonder what kind of farmer would throw his seed by the side of the road, or on rock, or in a field filled with weeds, left uncultivated. What kind of farmer concerned with results would do such a thing? What about the cost of the seed that has been ‘wasted?’

There is an absurdity to this parable if you happen to be a farmer concerned with producing a crop. A good farmer spends a lot of their time studying how to get a higher yield from his seed. A good farmer is concerned over the condition of the soil prior to investing any seed in it. A good farmer would certainly never place his seed anywhere a chance for success could not be somewhat guaranteed. The emphasis is completely on the method which will bring the highest opportunity for success.

Jesus says when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God is to be scattered far and wide, anywhere and everywhere. Success is not the issue but rather the faithfulness to deliver it. (Truly, success can only be measured by God.) And, the only cost of delivering the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the faith required to do it.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 7:1…

In Chapter 7 of His gospel, Luke tells us of extraordinary accounts of Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of Messiah, and of doing things only God can do.

His power, authority, might, and love are on full display.

How is it anyone can read through these accounts without being profoundly changed? If even one these accounts is true, than there can be no doubt Jesus is both Messiah and God.

We have the mysterious case of the Roman centurion whom we never meet. We only hear of his great faith, (all the more extraordinary since he is a gentile.) (Here in Luke’s account we get information not present in Matthew’s gospel.) Here we learn the communication between Jesus and the centurion was indirect, not face-to-face, and the agents of the communication between Jesus and the centurion were elders of the Jews.

This is a very mysterious case, and yet it reveals much that should be very important to our lives. It reveals how important faith is when it comes to healing, especially in a potentially fatal situation. It tells us of the love that necessitates or even precipitates faith in the first place. (If the centurion had not loved his servant, he would not have been so concerned for his welfare to consider how he may be healed.)

We can only speculate about his servant. In all probability he was a Jew, probably conscripted or enslaved into involuntary service of a (usually) harsh Roman master. Could the servant have been a Roman who traveled with the centurion wherever he went? (It’s possible.)

And what about these Jewish elders who thought so highly of this particular Roman that they willingly and wonderfully interceded on his behalf? They inform Jesus this gentile “loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Could this be why Jesus responded? Was it to reward the centurion for his fondness for the Jews, or was it because Jesus loved the Servant He never met? At any rate, we see Jesus respond greatly to intercession on behalf of others, and this is an important lesson for us as well.

But it is the faith of the centurion Jesus calls out for our special attention. Here is a man, (and a gentile no less,) who believes in the power of Christ. More than that he understands and believes in His Divine Authority and sovereignty. This, above all else, seems to prompt Jesus’ response to heal, even from a distance.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 6:37…

Those who follow Jesus Christ have more to offer mankind than anyone who walks according to religion or according to the world’s ways.

When I first got saved, the Lord would give me imaginations of the whole world being saved, and what it would be like if everyone was a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.

It is inarguable many of those who have called themselves Christians have NOT followed the teachings of Jesus down through the centuries. There have been many atrocities committed “in Jesus’ name” as ‘Christians’ that are completely contrary to all Jesus taught. These people were not born again – they were carnal. They were not Christians at all.

This is why we are to follow Jesus and no man. It can be helpful to have a man as an example for us of what it means to follow Jesus Christ, but we must be careful to make certain the man we follow is genuinely following Jesus Christ, and not some version of Christianity of his own making.

But oh what a world it would be if everyone did genuinely follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. How different it would be from the exceedingly cruel and petulant world we experience on a daily basis.

When we consider the cruelty man is obviously capable of, it can be a fearful thing. It scares me to think under the right circumstances I may be capable of the very things I regard as the worst human atrocities imaginable. But I know myself well enough to know apart from Christ, I am capable of extreme wickedness.

This is why Jesus commands those who will follow Him in the way He does. He knows what we are capable of apart from His instruction and guidance. He also knows His instruction and guidance may fall upon deaf ears apart from the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. This is why being born again and being filled with His Holy Spirit is the bare minimum of what it means to follow Christ.

But what if everyone was born again? What kind of world would that be? Well, it still wouldn’t be a perfect world, because born-again people live in fleshy bodies prone to sin. But it would be a loving, non-judgmental, forgiving, and giving world. And what a wonderful place that would be! (It would be a glimpse of heaven.)

-Pastor Bill

Luke 6:27…

Love is…?

As Jesus continues teaching His ‘sermon on the plain,’ He turns our thoughts to the subject of love.

There has probably been more written on the subject of love than any other topic. There have certainly been more songs written about love than any other subject.

What is it about love that so captures the human experience? We love love, we love to be loved, and we love to be in love.

For many people love is the answer, inevitably, to every human problem and need. If love could only be applied, all problems would be solved, they might say.

How is it then humans know so little about love, even though so much has been written about it, sung about it, and thought about it for so many thousands of years? Why is it with a knowledge ‘love is the answer’ humans act as if they have no answer at all for the needs that exist?

And we continue to ask the question, what is love, really?

And, since love is arguably the very thing humans need most, why is it that so little actual love is practiced? (Much is done in the name of love that neither love nor loving.)

We have to admit most of what we have called or felt as ‘love’ has actually been an emotional experience, either from us or for us. That definition of love makes us ‘feel’ good, so we seek it from others and desire to give it to others when we can, simply because it makes us feel so good - and because it makes us feel so bad to not be ‘loved’ or to be able to give ‘love.’ But all of this kind of love is based upon a bargain we work out pertaining to the worthiness of the other person to receive the ‘love’ we would give only if we could.

This definition of love is about as silly and frivolous as all the silly love songs written down through the centuries. It makes no logical sense to make love a bargain. Jesus says if love is a bargain, it isn’t love at all.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 6:12…

Again we see the issue of choice. Who would you choose to represent you?

This being such a serious issue, Luke notes Jesus continued in prayer all night about which disciples He would call to be apostles. (Interesting He chose twelve, knowing Jewish history as we do.)

Surrounded by many disciples, the calling to be apostles of Christ is a great distinction. A fine one. These, of all the men following Christ and hanging on His every word, would be those who were to continue His ministry after He was gone.

These were to be the men who would found His church, and set the course for all of Christian history. Apart from Christ Himself, these were to be the men who would set the direction we still follow today. If not for these very apostles, it is likely we would not be here right now.

How interesting it is we know so little about these men. Biographical data was not recorded during the time of Christ for any men, let alone these. Whatever biographical data may have existed was recorded by historians, and then only centering around events that transpired, rather than things like birth, childhood, adulthood, influences, death, etc. During these days no one had any interest in anything other than what had been done by that person.

The main reason we know anything at all about these men is because at this time they were called by Christ to be His apostles. The word ‘apostle’ means ‘sent.’ These were to be the men Jesus would send.

How overwhelming and yet exciting it must have been for these men to be called in this particular way. But also how sort of frightening it must have been as well. While this would mean you were to become one of those closest to Christ, it would also mean you were to be one of the ones bearing the greatest responsibility for Christ. You would be identified with Him through all the turmoil He would experience on earth, and then you would be identified with Him in all the turmoil to come after His departure. There would be no escape. A disciple may melt away into anonymity. An apostle never could.

Only Judas sought to escape. He was crushed by the weight of the responsibility he bore.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 6:1…

With no fast food or convenience stores available in those days, we find Jesus and His disciples cruising through a farm field on the Sabbath Day, and they are hungry.

There are a number of laws in play here, for those who govern themselves according to God’s Law.

The first law in play is that a farmer could only go through his field once, and would not glean every last leaving of his crop for himself, in order that passers-by and those who are hungry may be fed.

A second law in play was those who were passing by or hungry were not to make a harvest from the farmer’s field for themselves, as this would be stealing. A passer-by was only allowed to gather what he could with his hands to feed himself in the moment.

A third law in play was the Law of the Sabbath. This was the Sabbath Day. A man was not allowed to do any work on the Sabbath. Additionally, by Jesus’ time, the Sabbath Law had been extended to include what was known of as a ‘Sabbath-Day’s journey,’ that a man could only walk a certain number of steps on the Sabbath Day, and it would be considered a work to walk farther than the allowed distance.

For Jewish people in those days, as it is for Christians in our day, there was/is always to be a consideration of God’s desire for us in everything we do or say. The question is who is to govern this behavior? Is it to be an external person or governing body enforcing God’s Law, or is it to be our conscience guided internally by God’s Holy Spirit?

There is no question the ‘enforcers’ in those days were the religious leaders, be they Pharisees or Sadducees or religious lawyers. This is what is taking place here.

The question is: What were the Pharisees doing following Jesus? We know why His disciples were present. They had a genuine interest in Jesus ministry, and were being fed Spiritually for the first time in their lives. They were hungry for God.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, were only present to find fault. Their hard hearts prevented them from being fed Spiritually, and so they would seek to prevent others from being fed physically. In reality, their desire was to starve the ministry of Christ.

-Pastor Bill

Luke 5:27…

We have an expression which deals with our existence. We refer to the ‘fabric of our lives.’ While I’m not exactly sure where that expression comes from I do think I understand what it means…

I also understand when fabric gets old and inflexible it tears.

You might think Jesus, as THE gentle Master, would be very sensitive and tender with a ‘fabric’ He is aware is old and thin and thread-bare.

But when that old thread-bare inflexible fabric represents what relationship with God is meant to be, Jesus tears that fabric apart.

Would the people of faith allow a tax-collector to fellowship with them? Certainly not the tax-collectors who took advantage of the people, the tax-collectors who profiteered from the people’s misery, and the tax-collectors who preyed on the people’s property.

Certainly not.

Jesus saw a tax-collector named Levi at the tax office and invited him to be His follower. (To date, this may be the most radical thing Jesus has done. It is certainly the most plainly offensive.) The Pharisees and the scribes ARE offended. I can feel their offense all the way across the span of time. (After all, I’m not a big fan of tax-collectors either…)

Even worse, Jesus goes TO Levi’s house for a feast provided by (presumably) tax-payer funds, and He enjoys a time of fellowship with all of Levi’s tax-collector friends and associates.

Who would do such a thing, knowing these men are evil?

This is the question the Pharisees understandably ask. What kind of Holy Man would associate Himself with those He knows are sinful? There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. Sinners must be rejected and abhorred and denied ANY opportunity for fellowship until and unless they have completely reformed.

Hasn’t that always been the brittle, thread-bare position of religion?

-Pastor Bill

Luke 5:17…

If you were to define the word ‘friendship,’ what would you say?

A dictionary definition would probably fall far short of what we know ‘friendship’ to be. More than merely a word, acquaintance, or association, true friendship implies a concern equal to the concern you have for yourself.

The Bible has much to teach us concerning friendship and brotherhood and what it means to us to be a friend or a brother or sister to someone.

Here in Luke 5, we see what friendship does.

We are told of a man who has probably recently been paralyzed, perhaps in some sort of accident, or as the result of disease. This man, unnamed, has some really great friends. They have supported him and helped him through the tragedy of his present condition. There is no hope, save for Jesus.

If only we could all see our friends in this way. There is no hope for them save for Jesus. Paralysis is the true condition of all who are separated from Christ. They can do nothing to affect their salvation. They are immobilized and desperate, and there is nothing they can do for themselves.

Fortunately for this paralyzed brother, he has a group of friends who will not be dissuaded by anything or anyone from bringing him to Jesus. Perhaps if he had not been paralyzed he would not have been brought. Sometimes the very thing which brings desperation into our lives is the only thing that brings us to Jesus.

Stopped at the door by the size of the crowd, the friends transport the man to the roof and dig through the tiles to lower their friend into Jesus’ presence. Jesus saw their faith.

Truly, whose faith did Jesus see? Was it the faith of the paralyzed man – or the faith of his friends?

It is this unstoppable, immovable expression of faithful friends which leads to salvation and healing for this paralyzed man. (And I suppose his friends as well.)

Friends bring their friends to Jesus. It is worth it all, no matter the difficulty faced.

-Pastor Bill